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24 stories

  1. Spokane Falls Wiped Out by Catastrophic Blaze

    A massive fire destroys the heart of Spokane, leveling banks and landmarks while the city's future hangs in the balance.

    Aug 6, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyDisasters

  2. 1889 Spokane Falls Fire Destroys Nearly Forty Blocks

    A catastrophic fire destroys thirty blocks of Spokane's business district, echoing the recent destruction in Seattle.

    Aug 5, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyDisasters

  3. Spokane Falls Devastated by Fire

    Following the Great Seattle Fire, the sister city of Spokane Falls faces its own catastrophic conflagration, with millions in damages.

    Aug 6, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyDisasters

  4. Spokane Falls Fire of 1889 Destroys Thirty Blocks

    A detailed account of the massive conflagration that leveled thirty blocks of Spokane, leaving thousands homeless and causing an estimated $12 million in damages.

    Aug 8, 1889The Yakima HeraldSpokane, Spokane CountyBoom & Bust · Disasters

  5. The Iron Flash: How Spokane Fell for a Railroad

    In a daring midnight maneuver that bypassed local obstructionists, the Oregon and Washington Territory railroad laid its tracks through downtown Spokane in a single night, turning a political standoff into a civic celebration.

    Jan 16, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerWhitman, Spokane, Spokane CountyBoom & Bust · Strange But True

  6. The Day the Bridge Fell: A Tramp’s Fatal Ride and a Railroad’s Collapse

    A westbound freight train on the Northern Pacific line was derailed when a stowaway fell under a car, triggering a chain reaction that plunged nine cars into Hangman's Creek. One man died; the rest were spared.

    Jan 22, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyDisasters

  7. The Real Estate Frenzy that Built Spokane

    An early reporter’s account of Spokane’s explosive growth, driven by railroad speculation and the 'lucky' millionaires of the mining boom.

    Apr 26, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane Falls, Spokane, Spokane CountyBoom & Bust

  8. The Night Cheney Burned to the Ground

    A pre-dawn fire decimated half of Cheney’s business district, leaving city officials to suspect arson as the town vowed to rise again from the ashes.

    Apr 19, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerFirst Street, Cheney, Spokane CountyDisasters

  9. The Morning After the Fire: Spokane Wakes Up in Tents and Vows to Rebuild

    A day after the great conflagration swept the city, Spokane's banks reopen, merchants trade under canvas, and outside capital pours in — even as thousands who were prosperous on Sunday night are left homeless.

    Aug 7, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyBoom & Bust · Disasters

  10. Railroad Agent Disputes Spokane Fire Loss Estimates

    A freight agent reports on the aftermath of the devastating Spokane fire, highlighting the community's resilience in the face of immense loss.

    Aug 15, 1889The Yakima HeraldSpokane, Spokane CountyDisasters

  11. The Swindler of Spokane Falls

    After the great fire, a relief distributor made off with the city's food and funds, establishing a private grocery store on the backs of the desperate.

    Aug 28, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyCity Hall · True Crime

  12. The Spokane Relief Scandal

    Accusations emerge that funds meant for fire victims were diverted to municipal infrastructure projects.

    Oct 17, 1889The Yakima HeraldSpokane, Spokane CountyCity Hall · Scandal

  13. The Con Man Who Conned a Town

    Before he was caught, a master swindler known as 'Gen. Ward' charmed the elite of Spokane Falls and eloped with a banker's daughter.

    Mar 14, 1889The Yakima HeraldSpokane, Spokane CountyTrue Crime

  14. The Rapid Rise of a City from the Ashes

    After a devastating fire nearly destroyed Spokane, the community bypassed despair, opting instead for an immediate, high-velocity reconstruction effort that saw the city rising before the smoke had even cleared.

    Aug 25, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyBoom & Bust · Disasters

  15. The Scandal of the Relief Committee

    When Spokane city officials were caught raiding the relief pantry, the resulting arrests shocked the community and exposed a deep-seated culture of graft.

    Sep 18, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyCity Hall

  16. The Tragedy at Trent: A Deadly Railroad Collision

    A passenger train and a freight train collide in a fatal error, killing a brakeman and prompting a rare condemnation of corporate negligence.

    Sep 21, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTrent, Spokane, Spokane CountyWork & Pay · Disasters

  17. Spokane Relief Funds Vanish

    A local official jumps bail after being accused of stealing supplies meant for the relief of those in need.

    Sep 19, 1889The Yakima HeraldSpokane, Spokane CountyCity Hall · True Crime

  18. The Boomtown Blueprint: Spokane's Rapid Rise

    A vivid 1889 account of how an empty wilderness became a bustling metropolis, and the speculative fever that drove early Seattle-era pioneers to transform Washington's landscape.

    Aug 30, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane River Falls, Spokane, Spokane CountyBoom & Bust

  19. The Price of Small Change on the Rails

    A passenger sued the Northern Pacific Railroad for $3,000 after being forcibly ejected for failing to provide exact change for his fare.

    Mar 7, 1889The Yakima HeraldSpokane, Spokane County

  20. The Great Wheat Heist

    Spokane elevator manager S.F. Sherman and aide E.C. Loveridge were arrested for stealing 27,290 bushels of wheat.

    Aug 14, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyTrue Crime

  21. A Bloody Melee at the Saloon

    A violent brawl involving 'tramps' and razors spills out onto the streets of Spokane Falls, ending with multiple arrests.

    Apr 14, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerSpokane, Spokane CountyNightlife

  22. The Unflappable Horsewoman of Riverside Avenue

    Before she was a Washington local, she was a Civil War guerrilla and expert rider, breaking 'refractory' horses that no man could handle.

    May 1, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerRiverside Avenue, Spokane, Spokane CountyLocal Legends

  23. The Peril of Backyard Marksmanship

    A Deep Creek Falls woman’s attempt to shoot a hawk ends in a gruesome accident that serves as a cautionary tale about home gun safety.

    Sep 23, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerDeep Creek, Spokane, Spokane CountyDisasters

  24. The White Doe of the Cascades: A Rare Albino Captured in the Wilds

    A peculiar white deer, killed north of Cascade Valley and brought to Spokane for exhibition, offers a glimpse into the region's untamed wildlife.

    Mar 3, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerPost Street, Spokane, Spokane CountyStrange But True

Download all 24 as a spreadsheet (CSV)