History of early Spokane brought to life with Lou Carver’s help

It doesn’t take much to make history come alive. A photograph, the sound of a tinny voice on an old record or the ruffles and tucks in an article of vintage clothing can take us back to another time and place.

Spokane’s schoolchildren are lucky. History comes to them.

Lou Carver, through her “History to You” presentations, brings the past into classrooms. She arrives with bins packed with artifacts, a wind-up phonograph and household items and entertains with stories of life in early Spokane.

Carver, who moved to the area in 1973, worked as a volunteer at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

In that capacity she created a traveling history exhibit. “I’ve always had a streak of drama,” Carver says. “I’m an artist and a seamstress, so I made a costume, and with all the things I’ve gotten from family and friends, I went to work.”

Now she is independent of the MAC and frequently performs for women’s groups and senior citizens in addition to elementary schools.

“I especially like to do this for third-graders,” Carver said, “because-third graders study Spokane history.”

Most of Carver’s presentation tools are family heirlooms or were gifts, but she does know antique dealers who keep an eye out for unusual items.

One of the newest accessories is an unusual item. It was made to help women lose that “glow” that was a byproduct of crowded rooms in the days before air-conditioning.

The “Sweat-pat,” a leather “powder puff” on a long wand, was used to delicately dab away perspiration.

The owner, a young woman from around Uniontown, Wash., traveled to San Francisco each year to attend the opera. Carver has her photograph.

“That’s what she would have used to pat her brow, or her neck, when the room got stuffy and hot,” Carver said. “She could pat away the sweat.”

Much more ladylike than a fan, I guess.

This summer, Carver will bring her gear to the Tinman Gallery for two performances .

“We’ll make tea and I’ll talk about the history of Spokane,” she said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”