Name Was Right The First Time

Maybe I was hypnotized by the swollen, foaming Spokane River. Maybe I caught the infectious enthusiasm of the little man standing beside me.

Whatever it was, the waterfall walk he took me on Monday led me to a wild idea:

I think we should rename our burg.

No I’m not suggesting we change Spokane’s name to something silly like Pothole Acres.

I’m dead serious. We should capitalize on the scenic appeal of the city’s original name:

Spokane Falls.

“They’re the jewels in Spokane’s crown,” says Nate Grossman as we stared at the raging, near-record falls at the viewpoint just below the old red-brick Monroe Street power plant. “They’re horrific. Stupefying. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe them.”

Grossman, 66, is a rabid booster of the majestic falls too many of us take for granted.

His dad, Manuel, introduced him to the river’s singular beauty as a kid. After decades of regular pilgrimages, Grossman knows every foamy twist and turn.

Last year, he helped the city’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau create a map showing the 17 best spots for viewing the series of waterfalls that run along the north side of Riverfront Park.

The map was displayed prominently in color in the popular guide given to 100,000 people each year. As an example of how fickle we are about our falls, the much-touted map was left out of this year’s guide.

Grossman, a member of the city’s tourism committee, is heartsick about the omission. He’d like to publish the map on a separate brochure, but so far can’t drum up a sponsor to foot the printing costs.

Restoring the city’s name to Spokane Falls would be a huge marketing tool. Just the word “falls” adds a romantic image to plain-Jane Spokane.

Imagine how dull some towns would sound without the “F” word: Niagara. Twin. Post.

Poor Idaho Falls would turn into Idaho, Idaho.

Here’s a plus: A name change would justify spending $2 million-plus to buy Steve and Leslie Ronald’s proposed riverfront condo site and save the new downtown library’s priceless view of the falls.

“You don’t have to come to Spokane to go shopping, you can do that anywhere,” argues Grossman. “But this is the only city in North America to have a major falls running right through the middle of its downtown.”

With the river roaring, the falls are on our minds. But they are something special even during low water. No wonder James Glover dubbed this spot “Spokane Falls” in the early 1880s.

In 1891, city fathers foolishly dropped “Falls” from the name, believing it made us look like hicks.

One reason was that rivers had a low regard in those days. They were mainly used to carry away human and factory wastes.

“I remember the river being brown and smelling bad when I was a kid,” says Grossman. “Now it’s a beautiful waterway we should exploit more as a destination.”

If you think changing the name of a city sounds goofy, just ask the residents of Baker, Ore.

Make that Baker City.

Ten years ago, residents of that Eastern Oregon town amended their charter and restored the town’s original name. Similar to the Spokane Falls’ story, early Baker City leaders decided to dump “City” from the name because it sounded too provincial.

Today the original name is embraced as a way to capitalize on the city’s rich history.

Could it happen in Spokane?

“I’ll be first to sign on,” says Grossman. “Spokane Falls. It’s a way to let people know what the hell is here.”

If that doesn’t work, we’ll try Pothole Acres.

What do you think? Is Spokane Falls a sexier name than Spokane? Call and tell me at 459-5432. Or write Doug Clark at 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mailers use DougC@Spokesman.com. Leave your name and telephone number so I can get back to you.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo