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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Residents of the eastern part of Spokane south of the Spokane River were mounting a campaign to change the name of their district from Union Park to East Side.

They said the name Union Park had become “grossly misleading.”

The area originally known as Union Park was a small residential area between Perry and Napa streets and Sprague and Third avenues. Yet, somehow, the entire eastern portion of the city south of the river had become labeled Union Park on maps and streetcar routes.

The area now contained 20,000 residents, many of whom “lived several miles from Union Park proper.” The commercial and real estate interests in the area were especially anxious to get out from under the name Union Park because Union Park was apparently prone to flooding.

The members of the East Side Commercial Club did not think changing the name to East Side would be much of a problem because many people were already “beginning to know this section of the city as the East Side.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1868: The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson ended with his acquittal on the remaining charges.