Beautiful morning at Sonora Smart Dodd House

There was quite a house full of people this morning when the Sonora Smart Dodd House received it’s official designation and was added to the National Historic Register. And it was no doubt just the way Dodd - the founder of Father’s Day - would have liked it.
“Thank you all so much for coming this morning, and for being part of helping us with this process,” said Jerry Numbers, who owns the house together with his wife, Beverly.
Mayor Mary Verner said she was delighted to be at such a beautifully restored home in a neighborhood she calls her own.
“In the last year we have learned so much about Sonora Smart Dodd, the founder of Father’s Day,” said Verner. “This year’s centennial celebration was the focus of the entire city of Spokane.”
Dr. Allyson Brooks, Washington State Historic Preservation Officer, said she loves Spokane.
“Spokane is really ahead in acknowledging its historic places in comparison to so many other towns,” Brooks said.
Just before the dignitaries each got a screw so they could mount the new plaque on the house, U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers added her voice to the congratulations: “Today we get to recognize the original owners of the house, the Dodd’s and Jerry and Beverly Numbers,” said McMorris Rodgers. “This is one of only three buildings in the state that are deemed nationally historically significant.” Reverend Happy Watkins then gave the home a short blessing and everyone went inside for cake.