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January 9, 2012 in City
Public transit turned Spokane into urban center
Then and Now photos: Streetcars
August 1936: Spokanites bid farewell to the old streetcars owned by Spokane United Railways in a downtown parade. The last car in line, No. 202, was cremated at Natatorium Park following the parade, ending an era in city transportation.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
The streetcar parade of 1936 marked the end of an era and showed that Spokane held its lumbering streetcars in great affection even as the public bus, more versatile and efficient, took over the role of people mover. Since the 1890s, horse-pulled, and later electric, trolleys had trundled along rails laid in the middle of streets, picked up workers and housewives from nearby neighborhoods and brought them downtown to work, shop, see a movie or have a soda. Real estate developers laid rails to new housing areas to entice buyers. Public transit allowed Spokane, the former frontier train stop, to become an urban center, where those without a healthy horse or personal motor car could participate in modern city life. Washington Water Power ran the electric streetcar system, which spawned Natatorium Park, an amusement center on the Spokane River.
On the Web: Find more historic photos and present-day comparisons at spokesman.com/then-and-now.
– Jesse Tinsley
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lewis8457 on January 09 at 7:16 a.m.
the lady i have watching my house, said she likes our STA she is from California, i told her i used the Bus system in Portland for 12 years and our STA does a better job then they ever did.
Thank you STA.
If you want to meet the nice and kindness city employees ride the bus, talk to the driver.
Jim9876 on January 09 at 9:00 a.m.
I agree that STA does a good job and that the drivers are nice. I just wish STA would give up wrapping buses in advertising. It diminishes transit users’ pleasure to obscure the view from the inside of the bus. It insults us by implying that we do not deserve a clear window from which to view the passing scene and make sure we do not miss our stop.
By the way, Portland has an excellent transit system that puts Seattle to shame. STA is not really comparable to either city.
drywitt99 on January 09 at 9:50 a.m.
Big area for STA improvement:
Realize that people work BEFORE 8:00am and AFTER 7:00pm on Sunday.
gmorton on January 09 at 10:01 a.m.
It’s time to send the STA and its buses the way of the streetcar.
DickAdams on January 09 at 10:53 a.m.
I noted in the story re a century ago, the writer refers to a “public transit” system. I know at one time, the transit system was privately owned and I wonder when? Maybe I`m reading too much into what`s published.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on January 09 at 11:05 a.m.
I think its time gmorton went the way of the streetcar and disappeared. And please take all your fellow idiots who wish to keep Spokane in the 1850’s with you.
detroitdude on January 09 at 6:12 p.m.
@gmorton: Just curious, are you suggesting there be no method for public transport in Spokane or are you suggesting that we do away with the buses for something better?
sowinso on January 09 at 8:48 p.m.
The term “public transit” was being used in the form of “transportation provided to the public” as opposed to private vehicles used only for the people who owned the vehicle. “Public transit” does not necessarily mean that it is provided by the public, though that is pretty common these days with all the sunk costs associated with auto use and cheap oil. (Yes, I know, it seems expensive, but that’s only because we use a great deal more now.)
Previously, places that were more than walking distance from the core of the city were too far away to allow significant development. As a way to cause the use of the copious electrical energy being generated, Washington Water Power (now Avista) created rail lines. The land adjacent to the lines were then subdivided and “trolley suburbs” were created, giving them the chance to make money through land development. It is impossible to imagine the creation of the neighborhoods surrounding downtown Spokane at that time without the trolley’s assistance in moving people to and from downtown.
Natatorium Park was not unique—it was pretty common throughout the United States for trolley companies to create a destination at the end of one of their lines to encourage people to pay for the trolley ride (and show how easy it is to get around, increasing trolley suburb sales). It was also pretty typical that when auto suburbs were being created, the amusement parks turned into malls. Spokane is different in that respect—ours turned into a mobile home park.