100 years ago today in Coeur d’Alene: Site of Fort Sherman for sale after lumber company declares bankruptcy

Old Fort Sherman in Coeur d’Alene, “one of the historic spots of the Northwest,” was up for sale.

The site of the old army post had been owned by a lumber company for many years, but the company went bankrupt. The 60-acre site was now up for bid as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

“With the exception of a few residence lots which have been planted, this includes all of the old Fort Sherman grounds,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “It is considered a very desirable lumber mill site, and is said to have once been much desired by the Weyerhaeuser interests.”

From the vaudeville beat: The Orpheum vaudeville circuit, “the deluxe” circuit in America, was returning to Spokane after a five year absence.

The Auditorium Theater signed a deal with Orpheum to provide shows to Spokane “three days and possibly four days each week.”

That meant the “greatest vaudeville artists of the world” would be finally coming to Spokane. The first show would be headlined by “Gertrude Hoffman, the world famous dancer” in three weeks.

The Auditorium Theater manager said he had been working tirelessly for 32 months to bring the Orpheum circuit back to Spokane.

An Orpheum executive had a word of warning for Spokane. He said, “it remains to be seen whether Spokane wants the Orpheum shows here or not,” and it would all depend on ticket sales.