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.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A fire swept over thirty blocks in the very heart of Spokane, running from the Northern Pacific railroad tracks to the river. The fire department was insufficient, and by the time streams were playing on the blaze, the city was doomed. Every building of importance was lost, including hotels, banks, and dozens of businesses. Losses are estimated in the millions. Charles Davis, a civil engineer, was tragically killed, and many others were severely burned. Despite the devastation, banks have already begun resuming business in temporary quarters, and the city’s resilient spirit remains undaunted by the catastrophe.
“The fire originated at 6 p.m. in a block of frame buildings, which burned like tinder, and four hours later the fiery demon had done its work.”
Spokane's 1889 fire was a pivotal moment of 'urban renewal' that forced the city to redesign its downtown. Today, the scale of such a loss remains a nightmare for civic planners and residents alike, reminding us how quickly our built environments can vanish.
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