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100 years ago in Spokane: Plans announced to build new Episcopal cathedral in honor of soldiers killed in World War I

Light shines on the World War I memorial plaque at St. Johns Cathedral in Spokane on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The idea of building of new Episcopal cathedral in memory of soldiers killed in World War I was proposed in 1919 as a replacement to All Saints Episcopal church. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Light shines on the World War I memorial plaque at St. Johns Cathedral in Spokane on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The idea of building of new Episcopal cathedral in memory of soldiers killed in World War I was proposed in 1919 as a replacement to All Saints Episcopal church. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Jonathan Brunt jonathanb@spokesman.com(509) 459-5442

All Saints Episcopal Church announced it would build a cathedral dedicated to those killed in action during World War I.

The Victory Memorial Cathedral, as it was to be called, would be built on the site of the present All Saints Church on the northeast corner of First Avenue and Jefferson Street.

“Victory in this war has come from God and we feel we should in some measure consecrate it to him with some fitting memorial,” said William C. Hicks of the All Saints congregation.

A grand Episcopal cathedral eventually was built in Spokane, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, at 12th Avenue and Grand Boulevard. Three congregations – All Saints, St. Peter’s and St. James – merged to create St. John’s, which opened in 1929. Inside, a large bronze plaque lists the names of 128 “Spokane soldiers, sailors and Marines” who gave their lives during the war.

From the automobile beat: Charlie Connell, a former Ryan Fruit Co. salesman, claimed “the distinction of being among the first this season to drive a car from Tacoma to Spokane.”

He left Tacoma on May 1 and arrived May 4 in his Ford. His 673-mile journey used 85 gallons of gasoline. He avoided mountain passes and traveled along the Columbia River. He proclaimed the roads “in fine shape.”

“There was no mud at all, except in a few small creeks we had to go through. In one or two places there were some sand banks blown up, and we had to detour around them.”

From the flu beat: Maj. Ralph Hendricks, Spokane’s new health officer, said there had been no new cases of influenza reported since he took over from J.B. Anderson, the previous health officer who led the city through the recent flu crisis.

From the war finance beat: Spokane was one of six Western cities that had reached their goal for selling Victory bonds. The others were Portland and the California cities of Alameda, Eureka, Bakersfield and Vallejo. Meanwhile, the “civilian army” created to lead the city’s efforts to sell Victory bonds decided not to disband so it could focus on other “civic purposes.”

“I have in mind a special organization to keep alive the spirit and personnel of the wonderful organization,” said Aubrey White, a longtime parks leader in Spokane.

From the streetcar beat: A 6-year-old was struck and killed by a Washington Water Power streetcar near Liberty Park.

Bessie Eyre was a first-grader at Lincoln Elementary. She had been let out of school at 11:30 a.m. and was on her way home. The streetcar driver said he did not see the girl until it was too late.

Jim Kershner is on sabbatical.