Inland Grange gets a facelift
On the wall above one of the doors inside Inland Grange in Elk is a sign that reads “Our Grange is the Center of the Community.” Those are the words that inspired Irl Sowle to not only join the Grange, but become one of its most ambitious volunteers who this summer led an effort to put new siding on the historic building’s exterior.
Sowle, who is about to turn 79, says he gets a vision of something and knows he can accomplish the job. He has always loved working with wood. When he was 14, he was instructed on how to build a small parking attendant building in a lot in downtown Spokane. That structure still stands today.
Sowle said his dad told him if someone can do a job, he can learn to do it, too.
Sowle was born in South Dakota and came to settle in the Windsor district of Spokane as a child. He purchased some acreage near Inland Grange in Elk in the 1960s. He wandered through the property and sat on a stump enjoying the beauty of the area. He thought, if he were ever able to build a home, this would be the spot. Though he sold the property, through an auspicious series of events, he ended up with a portion of the property. And as fate will sometimes have it, the piece of property he ended up with was the same spot where he sat on that stump. He introduced his wife, Karen, to the spot where they picnicked and befriended a fawn they call Velvet. Karen was as taken by the beauty of the area as her husband and several years ago, they built their home on that property; and yes, Velvet is still around along with a few other resident deer.
Inland Grange was organized in 1921 and incorporated in 1930. The original building is a large hall with a stage, an adjoining hallway, kitchen and restrooms. The old Deer Creek Schoolhouse was added to the original Grange building as a dining area. The basement was home to many community dances, gatherings and activities. In June 1967, one of the earliest rural neighborhood centers in Spokane County was housed at Inland Grange. The Riverside Neighborhood Center served several hundred families in a 150-square-mile area. As you can imagine, the Grange, being more than 80 years old, has been repaired and updated many times. The outside of the building was worn and dilapidated, and the members were considering painting it.
Sowle had a vision that it would be much better and more attractive to put siding on the building. So, he worked over the summer to side the Grange. If you haven’t driven by Inland Grange, you may not know how large this building is. We are talking about a lot of work. Sowle completed the task happily as it is “easy to do a job you can quit.” He loves to stay busy, and he loves to help others.
Karen Sowle is just as caring and giving as her husband. She runs the Free Clothing Bank every Monday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Grange. The clothes bank has a lot of nice, gently used clothing, and it is all free.
Irl Sowle said he had several helpers during the re-siding project, and the Inland Grange sign was repainted by another longtime member and volunteer, Mary Lee Rozelle.
If you get a chance, drive by Inland Grange and you will be surprised at how this grand old building has been revived by a caring volunteer who loves to do things to enhance his community.