The Slice: Since 1907, he’s really gone to pot

The water trough at Manito Park turns 100 this year.

Located just west of Grand Boulevard at the top of a rise, it’s now used as a planter. This concrete South Hill fixture has seen it all.

So The Slice interviewed the historic trough.

Here is a transcript. You won’t believe what the time-honored flower pot had to say.

Slice: Happy birthday. How are you feeling?

Trough: Not bad, all things considered. I could do with a few less dogs stopping to visit me, if you catch my drift.

Slice: Well, how has Spokane changed in 100 years?

Trough: There are a lot fewer horses. And men’s beards used to seem less affected.

Slice: Anything else?

Trough: Well, these huge vehicles people drive now. Did it really take big brains to figure out that there would be a price to pay for crummy gas mileage?

Slice: Has Spokane’s climate changed in the past century?

Trough: Yes. Winter has turned into a wimp. Why, when I was young, sledding season used to last…

Slice: How about the people? Have those who live here changed over the years?

Trough: I can tell you that I hear kids say things to their parents nowadays that they never, EVER would have gotten away with once upon a time. Let me tell you, parents back in 1907 didn’t put up with a lot of lip.

Slice: Is it fair to say your expertise is pretty much limited to the South Hill? I mean, what about the rest of Spokane?

Trough: The rest of Spokane?

Slice: Did you have a favorite horse back when they used to stop and get a drink?

Trough: Look, there’s no such thing as a bad horse. I liked ‘em all. But there was this one wagon team — Buttermilk and Viola. Those girls had a twinkle in their eyes. When they stopped coming, I wanted the snow to cover me up and never go away.

Slice: Do you ever correspond with historic troughs in other cities?

Trough: I used to. But they’ve all been pushed aside for condos and strip malls.

Slice: Spokane cares more about historic preservation, huh?

Trough: Well, that and a lethargic local economy.

Slice: What do you expect from the next 100 years?

Trough: I predict more Spokane residents will discover the joys of walking and home prices will climb.

Slice: Thanks for your time.

Trough: Sure. I’m not going anywhere.

“Today’s Slice question: Were little kids tougher way back when because they endured cross-country car trips in smaller vehicles that lacked the ability to play movies and what not?