The City Hall Tug-of-War Over the Stubblefield Estate
A heated city council session highlights the frantic effort to secure a charitable home, pitting real estate values against public trust.
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Floundering about like a rudderless ship in an angry sea, the council spent two solid hours in special session this morning trying to evolve a scheme for securing the proposed Stubblefield home for Walla Walla without donating any of the city's lands. A resolution was adopted, offered by Councilman Glasford, stating that it is the sentiment of the council to make up the remainder of the $5000 required for the home if it does not exceed $1500. It developed that W. W. Baker had consented to sell his suburban home of 40 acres to the trustees for $16,000, while donating $5,000 of that price toward the project. However, debate erupted over the value of the property and the proposal to use Ladies' Relief Society assets, with Councilman McLean vigorously opposing the use of city land for fear of contaminating the water supply.
“Floundering about like a rudderless ship in an angry sea, the council spent two solid hours in special session this morning.”
Municipal debates over 'donating' city property to private or charitable entities remain a perennial source of friction in Walla Walla politics, especially when public infrastructure or tax assets are on the line.
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