Placement On Historic Register Recommended For Three Buildings

North Side industrial buildings that used to produce brushes and brooms are getting a new life and were given a boost by the local landmarks commission.

The W.P. Fuller & Co. buildings at 111 and 115 E. Desmet, and the Gustav Meese Building/Washington Broom Factory at 1727 W. Sinto were both recommended by a local panel to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The local committee made the recommendation at its Sept. 20 meeting. The state advisory council on landmarks, which meets in Spokane Friday, must approve the action before sending it on to the National Park Service, which has the final say.

Both buildings were the first of their kind in their respective neighborhoods and helped provide a manufacturing base for north Spokane.

Built in 1915, the Fuller Building is one of the earliest examples of fireproof, steel-reinforced concrete construction in Spokane.

“Although there are a few other intact and, arguably, more aesthetically pleasing concrete buildings in Spokane, none is as illustrative of the construction methods applied,” wrote Teresa Brum, Spokane’s historic preservation officer.

The new owner, Jim Delegans, hopes to convert the building to “artist-type” housing on the upper floors with commercial areas below.

In approving the nomination, one panel member, Fred Long, said many old commercial building are perceived as “ugly ducklings,” never recognized as historic structures, yet were very important to their neighborhoods.

The broom factory in the West Central neighborhood, though not as well preserved, falls under the same category, the panel decided.

It still shows unique architectural features along the roof and exterior brick.

Built in 1904, the building was recognized for housing the largest commercial broom factory in the region. It was then bought by Northwest Pea and Bean, which attached metal storage bins to parts of the original building. The new owners, John Davis and Nancy Santschi-Apodaca are removing those to bring back its original appeal.

The building now houses two businesses, a custom door and moulding manufacturing operation as well as a retail outlet for Little Tikes play equipment.

After refurbishing, there may be office space on upper floors, which can provide 2,500 square feet of space, the owners said.

Asteroids on Hamilton

Bret McCallum’s hobby got too much for his basement, so he opened the Spokane Spacefront and Science Center, 2158 N. Hamilton.

The business has no telephone yet but he does offer astronomy books, magnets, calendars, posters, sky charts, globes, videos and telescopes.

“There’s really not much competition for it, that’s for sure,” the 32-year-old McCallum said.

McCallum said the best selling items so far are posters and bumper stickers. “I brake for Asteroids,” reads one.

There’s also been interest in his collection of Astronomy Magazine with issues back to 1964.

“It was all stacked about my house, I got my home back since I opened the store,” he said.

Got a tip about a North Side business? Call 459-5425.

, DataTimes