Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now

The Chancery is a gem

Timely, or timeless? This quip comes to mind when talking about obliterating a historic Spokane resource, scraping the terra firma clear and rebuilding.

I spent a good amount of time phoning historic advocacy groups, preservation offices and interested folks, and this is the conclusion I came to: it’s a David and Goliath battle. When plans are in process and a decision of demolition is made, it’s very difficult — but not impossible — to save a structure.

There is that very small aperture of hope, however: that the light of the knowledge of what’s come before (think Walt Worthy & Spokane Symphony) in saving the Davenport Hotel and the Fox Theater from destruction can be recapitulated. That by preserving adaptively, selective demolition will save a partial or full Chancery Building facade for future generations of Spokanites to enjoy. That a timely cookie-cutter of an apartment building cannot ever fit aesthetically on such a grand boulevard as Riverside Avenue without looking like an afterthought coming from a real estate company or architectural firm.

I do not have a fancy quote from the famed architect Kirtland Cutter to share; rather I ask you to go into the Campbell House, have a cup of coffee in the Davenport Hotel lobby, ask for a tour of the Patsy Clark Mansion. Then decide for yourself if losing this Cutter masterpiece even matters. Chances are, if you value Spokane history, you will also value its future in proudly saving this timeless and stately gem.

Morgan W. Wade

Spokane



Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy