1Uba1 - Spokane Historic Landmarks...Name pi Propetly Montvale Block WA 8. S18tement of S nlflcance...

NPS Form 10-e00 •(0cI 1990)

UnItad Stat8s o.p.rtment of the InWricrNatIonal Park Servlc8

, 'ional Register of Historic Places..._.gistration Fonn

• OMS No 'OO24-W'B

:;,2 - SSo

Tba lcm1 Is tor _ In n"nunallng '" _ng """'"""'"' 10< .ndMduai po coert>eo and clIslnc:> s.. lnottue:lcna In _ to ~ tf>o_ ~ rI HIstDnc Plaau R .' • aJlaI Fonn (N&tlcnaI Regl5t8t' Bu».bn 160'.) Compleco NC!l 118m lly rnal1Ung "x ' In l!lO _na'o bOx orlly""'*'"G IllO II'Itorma%Icn O'ql_" non dceo na ~ to tno prq:erIy berngclcoe.J.-ned. _ar "N/A" 10< "na apphClble" F", lunch"",art:lUtlICllnl d lIudb I. mal8naII. and 01 oiQnrf\CInc:a enter only ~ and 1Uba1_ !rem tno Instrucocns PIaca _IlIona,..".. and ....- _ on a:r.anuallCn __ (NPS Form lOollOOa) lJae a typewnter. word plccosa>. CO' a:mputor. to ccmpIOlo all ooms

1. Name of Prccerty

hlSlCnC name T.:..:h.:.:e:......:.M:.:°.:..:n..:.t.:..:va~l:..:e:.....:B:.:l..:.o..:.C_k _

other namesIsrte number The Montvale Buildlng, The Montvale Apartments

2.~n

stree1 & number ~1..:0..:0...:1_-...:1 ::.0:.0°:..../_w:....e.:..:s.:..:t:-F...:l:..:r_s_t_A_v_e_n_u_e _ o r.et for punhcanonSpokanec:ty cr tewn _

stale ---'W""A"--_ code ~ county __ ..:.SPc..0.:..:k:..:a:....n..:.e _

o V1Clnrty

.......~ 063 cod 99204........"__ Zlp e _

Aa tho ~ auttlcnty unclOr tno NatJcn.ol HIIlCnC P,_.1ItJCt I Ad.. eo 1IITlot'oC»d. I I>orwt>y cartrly _ ttus ~ """,,"anono_ tor _11.-'" 01 ~ ..- tho dcx:-....... 1ta!IW _ tor rwglSlonng POC(Af1_ In tno NatJcnaI RogaIor ot- "'-cas and ..-. l!lO Il"X*iUtlII and po 0/ NIl O'q"rornon15 _ tortn In 35 CFM Pan 60 In my cpon"", lI'Io ~o .....P dceo I1Cl ..- l!lO NmIcnal "-or C:T1otna. I rea:mmend __ prq:erIy be ccnsodor1Id aognrlic3nto ~O _ 13IcaIy (0 s.. ccn<onuallcn __ tor ax:tlcnaI ccmrnenu )

,L. ""'''0 < ~ Q?~"'lqL"",~,- ,\C n,<I, ~ I • J ..

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Date

I -.cy ca'UIy _ tho prq:erIy ..

o .....,.,tno Nec::Nl Re;azoro See =mn"",,,," II-.

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O' II.... na eIIQble 10< lI'IoNob:x1aJ Roc;ISlor

- '""" lI'Io NlmcnalAo9s<orLJ ClIW (nplaIn) _

Cate 0' Ac1lOn

- - -- --------

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0wnerahIp of Plupeny e.tegory of Property Humber of ReIourcea within Property(Cllod< .. IIE1)' - u IppIy) (Cllod< only one ball) (00 IlCl Incluclo pr-.oIy bled ...,.",.. In tho coum)

Iil private [l!l OOlldlng(5)o pUbhc~ocal 0 dlstncto pubhc-State 0 srteo publlC-FederaJ 0 8lnJClure

o object

Harne of reIat8d multiple property II-'ln9(Enler "NlA" N ~ • IlCl perl 01 • fI\IlIIIIIIe -'" ~ )Slnqle Room Occupancy HotelS' In tneCentral Buslness Distrlct of SpokaneA WA190u-1910.

Contnbuting NoncontnbUllng__ "-, --:°:....- bUildings_.....::.0 --....:::0~ 1Iles

__ :::.0 --:0:....- slructure5

-~O_---_....:O::....-_-- objects_---: ..:.0 Total

Humber of contrtbutIng I1I8OlIrcea prevlouaIy listedIn the HatIonIJ Register

°6. FunctIon or UlleHI lu1c FUllctiona(EnMr I • .. Iran inIlrucIIono)

COMMERCE/TRADE: business, speclalty storeDOMESTIC: hotel

Current Func:tlollS(En18r ~_ from inIlrucIIono)

COMMERCE/TRADE: business, specialty storeon f i rs t floor

VACANT/NOT IN USE on 2nd & 3rd floors

7. D IpIlcMArdlIt8cturm n "bllllil(Erar 2 • .. from inIlrucIIonol

COMMERCIAL STYLEIIatertaIlIlEn*' CDglIrieo from inIlrucbons)

foundaIlon --:S;..T..:..ON.,:E=---- _

~ BRICK

~ BUILT-UP TARolher _

.... '.11 .. D I Iplkw.g; Ibi .. _ ......... w 7' iol .. ~ ...... or_w ... I' ._,

See Contlnuatlon Sheets Sectlon'7 pages 1 through 5.

Name pi PropetlyMontvale Block WA

8. S18tement of S nlflcanceApp'!clIbie NIItIonal Register CrIteria(Marl< "x" In one or morw boxes lot the cmena qua/lIylng the propertylot _ Regosrer .... ng )

, Property IS associated WIth events that have madea SIgnificant contnbut,on to the broad paaems ofour hIStOry

o B Property IS assoaated WIth the Irves of personssagnlficant m our past

Ii] C Property embodl8S the dlSlinclJve c:haractensbcsof a type, penod, or method of construCllOn orrepresents the work of a master, or possessesIlIgh arlISlJC values, or represents a SIgnificant anddislJngUlShable entrty whose components lacklIldMdual dlstJncllon.

o 0 Property has YHJlded, or IS likely to YHJld,Informll!Jon mponant In prehlSlOry or hIStory

Crtteria Considerations(Marl< "x" In III tile box .. 1l1li IppIy ,

Ploperty IS'

o A owned by a ,ellglOUS mstilutlOn or used torreligious pwposes.

r' III IIIITlll\I8d from lis anginal locatJon

LJ C a buthpIace or grave.

o 0 a cemetery.

o E a reconstrucllId buddtng, ObJllCl, or structure

o F a comrnet1lOiative ploperty

o G less than 50 years of age or achI8ved SIgnificancewrth,n the past 50 years

Areas of Significance(Enter caIegones from .... 'UCIlOnS'

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY

Period of SIgnificance1899-1910

SIgnificant Dates1899

SIgnificant Penon(Complele dC_ BISrnartoed above'

CultuI1lI Affliidon

ArchltectIBu1IdUNKNOWN

NIl '8t1.. SIIbwMnt at Slgilllfica w::e\EllpI8In tile 1IgI" .. GllIIe..-., ...... or ..... CiOi" I_, See Cont inuat icn Sheets Sect ron 8 pages 1 through 'I ..... BIIOailiYIiWi RIJiINIKWMpa",¢,(c..lIIe -. -.1IId -- _In iii pac"lg'" _ ...... or ..... --I',ulla. deculr.ulll ...... onftIu (NPS): ~ Ioeallolli of eddItIon8l datil:o preliminary dUlllmdnidloi I of Indivldual IlatJng (36 0 SlaIu HiItoric PnIservatJon Office

CFR 87) has been ruquestect 0 Other State agencyo pruvIouIIy IiIlud In the NatIonal Register 0 Fudural egencyo pruvIouIIy deturmtllud eligible by the NaIIonaI 0 LoceI governmentRegiItur 0 UnIverartycllIsIgnidIId a N8IIonaI HIstorlc Landmark 0 Otheri8COldlid by Hi8tonc Amencan Buildings Survey Name of I1Ipos1tory:

0' by H......... A __ EngI Spokane City/County Historic Preservation Office-i8COldlid -..oJ... ............... ""'ngRecord , _

Montvale Block • Spokane c..,ty, WACounty _ Slat

10. G!olp'!phlcal DlIta

~~p~ less than one (1) acre

unt Relel 811Cel1IP*e edlIIIionoJ Ul\I 1.... 180•••"'..... ona collb,- -,

3W lL...L....LJ l...L.L...1....ZOne EulJng Northing

4W lL...L....LJ l...L.L...1....o Sea c:onlJnualJlln __

Verbel Boundary D II :.lpllon(Deaci1ba1lle_oIl1lelll-'Yona_II_l) Rallroad Addition Lots 5 and 6, Block 18

Parcel Number 35192.1104Boundary JuitllIcIdIon(EIplIIn wily IIle ona __ I The nommated property Includes the entire parcel and=-::=~====~ ..J'.J.:1ru;b:l<alLOuJ"ee:gg.aa.l.) ... dQle;::Si>lc;"JT;,j'.j;pLtt.l.' .oOl:lO ... 'IllINb;l.'l.lc;:J:bl.,J;C:l;OlJ;io.t,t.aaJ.' OD:ss..Jtu;b .. ewMOQ t Yj31e Bloc11. Form Prep!r!d By

nameIbIIe --=L:..;I;;.n:.:;d:.:;a....;..Y::.eo:::m:::a:::n,;;s:- _

org&IUZ8bOI1 .....:C:..;o;;.n::;:s::.u:.lt::.;a:;.n;.::t:....- date __ 1:....:0c::ec::c;;;;em.;;;b;.;e:.;:r'--'1;:.99:;.7:..-_

IIIgel & number __ ..:5c::0:..:.l...;W:.:.;e:..::s:..::t~27;.;t:.:.h:....:..:A..:.;ve~n.:.::u:::e'__telephone 509-456-3828

city or tDwn Spokane stale WA zip code _...::.:.99~2~0...3 __

AddIlIonal Docume"lIl1loilSublrilllle -.g IIamI _ IIle COl ~' I lad farm:

A USGS mep (7,5 or 15 minute series) indicating the P1operty's locaIJon.

A SUtch mep for hIBlDric dlsUldB and P1cpet11es having large aaeage or numerous 11lBOU1'C8S.

PIootujpephe

Rep;_iilllthI9 bI8cII: and white photognipha of the P10perty

AddItIOl. IlIeme~ _ IIle SHPO 01 FPO lot.., I I 71 ill_I

(Cui' • __ wille __ 01 6HPO ar FPO~

Robert Brewster, Jr.1lIm8 ---:"""':"'--:-_-.;~:....:.....;~ :..___5.2049 OneIda Place 509-838-3041

IlnIlIt & number or 615 E. 14th Avenue. # 107 li6IephoI. _ ...8ll;81'l6""-,,,260ll0.l.:-:.JlwQ~6~7:,,:,,::-:-__Spokane WA 99203

city or town ~S~eai!.lt..lt""l.5.e IllIl8 WA zip code _ ...9:.18..l.' ..12'-- __

P $ _k n $ U ,Act, _It: 11* II*,,, ' 'II bI*Ig 7 2 1 tor .. d" !.tEl tM HIIIaMI ~ 01HIIIDrtc ,... CD10'._pupa'" tar IIIIng or' " •• ~ tar liang. to .. Pi ........ Iftd to ..... aa.dng IIIIngL P $ wID ....... II rIqUIrwd to 0bI8in• Ilanl!IIIIn _daia _ IIle __ p,_ III INA.. _,._ (18 u.s.c.410 ., _I.Erg ..... 8 .'It: PubIc '''.iQ bufdIft tar .. tInn ...... , .1 to ... 18.1 ..... 1* • ! • IncIucIng time far """"big..... ' .. _.biQ and " .... ibiQ ...... Wi'C I' iQand MU.wt:iQ the tarm. 0Irw:I CO", ••• agwdblU ltD bUidIn eI1IrnIIiI CI" any apKl01_ tann .. 1Ile QlIol, Adi'." __ llMIIon. _ Pale ....... PO. Ilclor 37127. WuI.'IlIUi" DC 2lllI13-7127. and IIle 0III0e 01... , ,=. end 8udgIi.. P8;»awwk P 1 'h. PrafIdI (1024:0018), Walth"""' .. DC 205Q3,

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• •United States Department 01tte lntencrNabDnaJ Pari< Se""ce

National Register of Historic PlacesContinuation Sheet

Section 7, Page 1

The Montvale BlockSpokane County, WA

Narrative DescriptionSummary StatementLocated on the southwest comer of First Avenue and South Monroe Street, the MontvaleBlock IS the cornerstone of a row of single room occupancy (SRO) hotels that line thesouth side of West First Avenue for two blocks from Monroe to Jefferson Street. BUilt in1899, the Montvale Block IS one of Spokane's oldest and best-preserved examples of theproperty type "Single Room Occupancy Hotels" as rdennfied 10 the National RegisterMultiple Property Listing (MPL) Single Room Occupancy Hotels tn the Central BusinessDistnct of Spokane. Washington. 1900-1910 The unremforced red bnck building retainsexcellent upper-level mtegnty, and meets the registrauon requirements for SROsestablished 10 the MPL The Montvale Block sets the stage for other West First AvenueSROs built 10 the early 1900s that form the last rernammg uruntruded continuous facades ofsingle room occupancy hotels 10 Spokane

1997 - Present Appearance and ConditionsThe Montvale Block IS located on Lots 5 and 6, Block 18 in Spokane's Northern PacificRailroad Addrtion withm the City'S central busmess district The building compnses afootpnnt measunng 100 feet square WIth 10, 000 square-feet on each floor A thick stonefoundanon of basalt supports the building and houses a full basement divided into fivespaces conforming With the ground-level commercial bays A three-story brick burldmgbuilt 10 1912 ISattached to the Montvale Block's west wall The building fills two-thirds ofIts lot space, a 55 by l00-feet paved parking area abuts the Block at Its south (rear)elevauon Twelve-foot Wide Sidewalks along First Avenue and Monroe Street separate thebuilding from the street.

ExtenorThe three-story Montvale Block nses nearly 50 feet and retains excellent mtegnty abovestreet-level Red bnck laid 10 common bond measures sixteen to twenty inches thick, andforms the buildmg's bnck-beanng structural walls Veneer bncks fired a deep red colorcompletely clad the buildmg except for the street-level commercial bays Lacking terracotta, granite, or other decorative matenals often used in Spokane commercial buildings,the red brick veneer IS used to create panerns of decorative relief across the buildmg'sextenor surface A stepped roof parapet nses above a corbelled corruce on the buildrng'snorth facade and east elevanon The roof IS flat With layers of built up tar. An addinonalcentrally placed parapet on the Block's north face proclaims the building's original, andpresent, appellation. "MONTY ALE" Symmetncally placed ongmal, one-over-one,double-hung, wood-sash wmdows open from the buildrng's north facade and eastelevauon reveal109 the Montvale Block's mtenor single-occupancy room arrangementThese windows are arranged 10 groups of two and three, and are capped With flat arches orround connecting arches Bnck pilasters separate the window groups

• •• United Slales Department fA tte lntenor

NallOnaJ Pari< serw:e


Section 7, Page 2


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Five commercial bays, each measunng twenty feet wide, Ime the burldmg's north street-level facade Each bay IS supported by cast Iron columns and hntels The columns areencased wrthm fluted brushed a1ummum The storefronts are composed of plate glasswindows supported by bases clad m a veneer of sandstone-colored stone cut m the shapeof elongated bricks Of the five bays, only the center bay IS recessed With a protected frontentry A narrow honzontal space spanning the building's north face IS composed ofpanels designed to hold srgnage, and separates the street-level bays from the second floor.A revolving vertical, fluorescent-lit sign suspended on the buildmg's northeast corner ISattached above the signage panels and nses to roof-height

The building's east elevation features one commercial bay on the southeast corner Anongmal recessed entry supported by a full brick arch IS located adjacent to the corner bay,and leads to upper-level residennal rooms. Small black and while ceranuc hies form apanern and cover the floor of the recessed entrance Block letters attached to the buildmg'sextenor bnck surface cap the arched entry and spell "MONTY ALE .. A tall, verticalwmdow composed of square glass-blocks IS located between the arched entry and anotherrecessed entry added m 1967 that leads down to the buildmg's northeast corner retail bayThree small wmdow openings located over the newer entry are closed and mfilled Withbnck Paint covers the extenor street-level east elevation.

A hne of roof tar and a row of cement-filled holes where roof rafters once jomed thebuilding are located on the burldmg's rear (south) elevation. and reveal evidence of a one-story buildmg once attached to the Montvale Block. Ongmal upper-level, one-over-one,double-hung, wood-sash wmdows are symmetncally placed and capped by a segmentalbnck arch The base of the wmdows on the second floor were filled m With bncks toaccommodate the mtersecnng roof of the once-adjommg buildmg. Metal fire escapes areattached to the buildmg's north, east, and south elevations.

InteriorA Significant feature of the Montvale Block IS the upper-level room arrangement andfloorplan that clearly conveys the histone use of the buildmg as a smgle room occupancyhotel Sixty-one smgle-occupancy rooms remain extant Double-doors open from anarched, recessed entrance at South 108 Monroe Street to a five-foot Wide staircase thatleads to the Montvale Block's upper-level residennal rooms and lobby. Separated from thestreet-level commercial space of the buildmg, the lobby and upper-level rooms areaccessible only from the Monroe Street entrance The second and third floors of theMontvale Block share an identical floorplan and room configuration The third floorfeatures 30 single-occupancy rooms The second floor holds 29 residennal rooms; anmtenor wall was removed m a southeast corner room creating one large room The upper-level residennal rooms, washrooms, and hallways wrap around a large mtenor lobby andmezzarune With natural hght provided through an expansive tJurd-fioor skyhght that nses

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• •United States Department of It"e lntencrNabonal Parle ServICe


Section 7, Page 3


nearly 25 feet from the lobby floor. The mezzanme ISsupported by square columns and isprotected by a rarhng and turned-post balustrade that looks down upon the second-floorlobby. Hallway widths measure four to five feet, and ceihng heights m residennal roomsexceed eleven feet Most smgle-occupancy rooms measure ten by sixteen feet and containthe openings where transom wmdows were once mstalled All rooms are designed withmtenor doorways that open to the adjouung room which allowed for the possibihty oftenants renting rooms en SUlIe Plaster and lathe cover the walls and ceilings; some of thewalls and ceilmgs have succumbed to decay and are detenorated Mopboards, wmdow,door, picture rail and chair rail moldmgs are made of fir and stamed a red tmt, or pamted anIVOrycolor Most of the room's doors have been removed, but the exrstmg doors show amaple-stained firnsh with a six-panel design Each room receives natural hght and has oneor two wmdows that open to the outsrde, to mtenor hghtwell shafts, or to the mam skyhtlobby area EVidenced by exposed drain pipes, wall basm bracmg and a few rernarrungfixtures and closets, all rooms contaIned a pnvate washbasm that hung on the wall and wasonce posrtioned next to a built-m closet, or armoire. Plumbmg, installed m front of theongmal floor moldmg, was added after the nunal construction of the rooms, and IS hiddenwithm some of the built-m wardrobe closets Each floor has two common washrooms thatwere shared by the residents of the Montvale. Each washroom contains two toilets, awashbasin. and a bathtub area Intenor wmdows above the bathtub area open to ahghtwell shaft leadmg to the roof Floor surfaces in the bathrooms are composed of smallceramic tiles, while floor surfaces m residenual rooms are made of fir planks A few of theresrdential rooms feature floors With a pamted geometnc border design Wiring and hghtfixture remnants mdrcate that each room once contamed electnc hghnng and a telephone callbutton actrvated from a central SWitchboard

The street-level mtenor space of the buildmg was ongmally divided mto five evenly spacedretail bays However, the walls definmg the five bays have been removed over the years toaccommodate the needs of vanous commercial tenants The burldmg's First Avenueentrance opens to an mtenor wall that spans the length of the burldmg and divides the first-floor commercial space m half An opemng m the Block's west wall allows entrance to theadjacent buildmg attached to the Montvale's west elevation The rear third of the mtenorspace that abuts the buildmg's south wall IS composed of small rooms with office/storagespace and a first-floor mezzarune The mezzarune IS closed off from the building and ISencased behmd a wall Four separate staircases lead to the mezzanme, the basement, andexits to the alley and Monroe Street A fifth staIrwell located behmd the First Avenueentrance also leads to the basement. A platform has been built around and over thestairwell which ISno longer used

A water-powered hydraulic freight elevator (no longer m operation) IS located next to thealley entrance and drops down to the basement The basement ISdivided into five bays by

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• •Unned Stales Department of 1I"e InlenorNational Park SeTVIce


Section 7, Page 4


walls constructed of bnck and rough-cut boards of fir. In addition to the walls, massivewood beams support the first floor Large wood piers are held by cement fooungsImbedded In compacted sorl, and extend through the ceiling to the street-level bays Abasement floor IS suspended twelve to tlurty Inches over the uneven soil, and IS made ofrough-cut planks of fir A small basement space IS located under the Monroe Streetentrance and staircase that leads to the upper-level resrdennal rooms A massive coal-fireddouble boiler built of bncks and Iron IS located In this space Coal was dropped throughmetal grates that open from the sidewalk Into a storage area at the basement's east wall

1919 - Historic AppearanceAs viewed m a black and white photograph taken m 1919 by Charles Libby, the MontvaleBlock's north facade remains unchanged above street-level The photograph shows fivenorth-face commercial bays With the two east bays and two west bays featunng recessedentrances Plate glass Windows and multi-paned transom windows hght the storefrontrntenors Cast Iron piers drvidmg the five retail bays are visible The bases of the bays arenot vrsrble m the photograph, but were, most probably, covered with the same red bncksthat clad the buildmg's extenor The photograph shows a sign attached to the buildrng'snorth facade that reads "MONTYALE APARTMENTS" With "HOUSEKEEPING" Otherattached signage and Window stencrhng advertise the buildmg's commercial tenants. Threesmall WIndows opened from the building's east elevation and are capped by segmentalarches Dwelhngs and other buildings were located behind the Montvale Block as shownon a 1902 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map After 1910, the buildmgs were replaced With onesingle-story bnck building that joined the south wall of the Montvale Block

Ongmal burldmg penruts designate Citywater was supphed to the Montvale Block m 1899,and specified the washroom facrhnes located in the upper-level common bathrooms. Theburldmg was steam-heated from the coal-fired boiler In the basement. Flue openings arelocated m some of the upper-level rooms that have outside walls, and mdicates auxiharyheat was provided from stoves that burned OIl, wood, or coal Food may have beencooked on the stoves as well In 1914, hot and cold running water and wall-mountedwashbasins were added to each room Wood-paneled wardrobe closets were constructedm each room, and some of the closets were bwlt around the exposed water pipes Polk's1914,CIlYDirectory advertises the Montvale as offenng "furnished rooms"

1930s-1970s - Appearance, Condition, AlterationsA black and white metal sign With an Art Deco design spelled "MONTYALE HOTEL-APTS .. and was attached to the building and suspended over the arched Monroe Streetentrance probably m the 1930s, the sign was removed by 1980 The Montvale Block'sstreet-level commercial bays on First Avenue were brought flush with the buildmg'sextenor surface resulung In a continuous facade of plate-glass storefront windows The

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• •United Stales Department "'the Inteno,N_Mool Parl< SeIVlC<l


Section 7, Page 5


center bay was then recessed and constructed to hold two entrances Alurnmwn sheathmgwas wrapped around the cast Iron piers, and the street-level bnck surface of the east facadewas painted Three small wmdows on the building's east elevation were filled m Withbricks, and a street-level entrance was added below the wmdows in 1967. The smgle-storybnck building attached to the Montvale Block's south elevation was demohshed m 1967In preparation for a parking lot, the space was graded, leveled, and paved In 1971, anopemng m the Block's west wall was created a1lowmg access to the attached burldmg to thewest In 1980, the buildmg's owner stnpped the upper-level resrdennal rooms of theirmtenor doors, transoms, plumbmg and light fixtures, and paneled wardrobe closetsExposed copper pipes, radiators, and stoves were also removed In the street-level bays,ongmal walls and hght fixtures were removed and the mezzarune was encased behmd awall Acoustic ceihng tiles and air conditioners were mstalled Signage located on thebuildmg's north facade was changed to meet the demands of changmg commercial tenants,and a revolvmg sign ht by fluorescent hght was hung on the bwldmg's northeast corner.Aside from the street-level commercial bays, the extenor of the Montvale Block abovestreet-level retains excellent mtegnty The mtenor of the upper-levels clearly conveys thelustonc use of the building as a smgle room occupancy hotel datmg from the turn of thecentury

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• •Unned Stales Department 01the IntenorNabonaJ Park ServICe


Section 8, Page 1


Narrative Statement of SignificanceSummary StatementBUiltm 1899 for civic, social, and business leader Judge John W Binkley, the MontvaleBlock ISone of Spokane's oldest and best-preserved examples of the property type "SingleRoom Occupancy (SRO) Hotels," and IS eligible for hsting m the National Register ofHrstonc Places under Cntenon C for Its arclutectural mtegnty as a tum-of-the-centurycommercial bwldmg and as an excellent representation of the SRO property type TheMontvale Block IS identified m the National Register Multiple Property Listing (MPL)Single Room Occupancy Hotels In the Central Business Dtstnct of Spokane. Washington.1900-1910, and meets the National Register of Histone Places requirements for SROsestabhshed in the MPL

Historical ContextEarly SpokaneIn 1870, t1urtyyears before the Montvale Block was constructed, the tiny commumty calledSpokan Falls consisted of a trading post, a sawrrull, and a small cluster of shacksNestled next to and named for the cascading waterfalls spilhng forth from the SpokaneRiver, the town was also named for the Spokane Indians who regarded the falls as a majorfishing site The town's name was changed to Spokane m 1891, two years afterWashmgton Temtory became a state m 1889 The commumty grew and gamed mcreasmgrecogmnon as a center for rmrung, lumber, agnculture, and rail transport. The area'seconormc chmate, along With nationally Improved financial condinons, led to a bustlingbuilding boom Expenencmg phenomenal growth, Spokane's population tnpled from36,000 m 1900 to over 100,000 by 1910 Thousands of men, women, and cluldrenseeking employment and a better hfe flocked to Spokane Local histonan Orville Prattreports, "So many homeless men were thronging in that the hotels and lodging housescould not care for them. Many slept on chairs or floors m hotels and saloons." Workingclass housing was at a premium Answenng the call for hvmg space, hotels, apartmentsand lodging houses were built to hold the growing number of homeless immigrants,laborers, and fortune seekers The Montvale Block was one such facihty

The aenal perspecnve Spokane 1884 and the 1891 Sanborn Ftre Insurance Map show thespace where the Montvale Block now stands as previously occupied by frame dwellings.One of the houses, located on the southwest comer of First Avenue and Monroe Street,was used as a roommg house by Mrs. Clara Dobson, and housed five boarders (Hyslop)By 1899, Just before the Montvale Block was constructed, Mrs Hilma Anderson washsted m Polk's City Directory at 1001 West First Avenue where she offered "furnishedrooms." Other small dwelhngs lmed West First Avenue and were advertised as lodgmg

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and boarding houses that helped house the growing numbers of Spokane's Itinerantworking class Located between downtown and fashionable Browne's Additron, WestFirst Avenue was becoming highly desirable real estate Mixed-use buildrngs pronusedgreater returns than did frame boarding houses Spokane probate Judge John W Binkleyrealized the need for housing to accommodate the rush of working class people arnvmgdally In the city SeIZIng his chance for speculative success, Binkley bought Lots Five andSIX In Block 18 at First Avenue and Monroe Street In March 1899. He replaced the framedwellings With a large, three-story red bnck burlding Judge Binkley named his new Blockafter "Montvale Farms," his beloved country estate on the Little Spokane River.

Meeting the need for Increased housmg, the Montvale Block was the first SRO built alongWest First Avenue from Monroe to Cedar Streets, and provided an example for theconstrucuon of many other Single room occupancy hotels In 1904, four years after theMontvale Block was erected, the New Madison Hotel was built on the corner of FirstAvenue and Madison Street From 1900 to 1910, other SROs were erected along WestFirst Avenue. the Commercial Block In 1906, the Parsons and the Norman Hotels In 1908,the Jefferson and Darby Hotels In 1909, and the Atlantic (or Willard, now the Otrs) HotelIn 1911 Begmmng at Monroe Street with the Montvale Block as the street's anchor, WestFirst Avenue's south Side retains a chain of buildings originally built as SROs that present astreetscape rerrumscent of the turn-of-the-century penod from which they date

John W BtnkleyJohn W Binkley was born In Ontano, Canada In 1856 After receivmg a law degree fromToronto Umversity, he came to Spokane and formed a law partnership With his COUSinJacob R Taylor. Together they orgaruzed the Northwestern and Pacific MortgageCompany which subsequently merged with the noted Dutch-owned Northwestern andPacific Hypotheek Bank--the lender responsible for providing the rmlhons of dollars thatfueled Spokane's most prolific buildmg boom from 1900 to 1910. A CIVICand financialleader, Binkley served as a Spokane probate Judge, organized Spokane's first mdustnalexpositions and fruit fairs, and helped establish the Fort George Wnght Army Post On theeve of Spokane's population explosion In 1899, the Montvale Block was constructed Withover 60 Single-occupancy rooms, and offered a clean, affordable place to stay forSpokane's growing working class Judge Binkley owned and operated the MontvaleBlock as an SRO for 32 years unnl hrs death In 193 I. Binkley's Montvale Block--morethan any other building he owned--symbohzes hrs CIVICand philanthroprc contnbunons toSpokane where he was praised as an "eminently pubhc-spmted citizen, and one whoseInfluence has been very sensibly felt In the development of the City" (Edwards)

The Montvale BlockThe Montvale Block was commonly known as the Montvale Apartments and features thename "Montvale" In the building's roof parapet. It IS listed In Polk's City Dtrectones

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from 190 I to 1974 under the apartment house classification, and as the "Montvale Block"In the alphabetical index of names Raymer's 1906 DIctionary of Spokane also hsts theMontvale as an apartment house However, exterior signage attached to the Montvaleannounced Its dual use as a hotel as well as an apartment house, complete withhousekeeping Helping to serve the housing needs of Spokane's Itinerant working classpopulation, the Montvale Block serves as the typical tum-of-the-century SRO Author andpreservanomst Craig Holstine best descnbes SROs and their use.

"The concept of single individuals occupying a pnvate room was not new,first-class hotels had always met the needs of travehng business persons whocould afford to pay for the space and accompanying service SROs, on theother hand, had pnvate rooms furnished only WItha bed, sometimes WIthaSink and portable closet, In moderate burldmgs offenng lodging at pncesaffordable to the legions of working class imrmgrants arnvmg to fill the ranksof new and expanding industnes" (The Commercial Block Nattonal RegisterNomtnatton}

The three-story Montvale Block offered street-level commercial space and two upper-levelfloors With 30 residennal rooms on each floor Fresh air and natural light were providedto every room through a window, hghtwell, or skylight. Mens' and womens' commonwashrooms held two toilets and one bathtub respectively, and were shared by the residentsof each floor. Steam-heat was provided to every room, and In 1914, all residential roomsoffered washbasins WIth hot and cold runmng water, built-in wardrobe closets, andfurnished rooms Room rates for typical turn-of-the-century SROs were adverused at $1 to$2 per week, or $5 a month (Spokane Spokesman-Review, Dec 1899). Although farfrom the opulence offered In grand hotels, the Montvale Apartments provided a measure ofpnvacy, rest, and comfort for the weary traveler arnving In Spokane With no place to stay,and served as a welcome respite from the overcrowded, and often-reponed, filthy lodginghouses of the day (Single Room Occupancy Hotels III the Central Bustness Dtstnct ofSpokane, Washlllgton, 1900-1910 Nauonal Register Nomtnauon].

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Census records of 1900 and 1910 reveal nearly equal numbers of males and females livingIn the Montvale Apartments The tenants' places of on gin were recorded as Canada and theeastern Umted States as well as Germany, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, and other Europeancountnes LIsted occupations Included a predominance of working class stations' laborer,farmer, rnachrmst, tailor, candyrnaker, dressmaker, cook, and waitress Farruhes Withcluldren lived In the Montvale Apartments as well as Single men and women By 1930,more than half of the residents of the Montvale Apartments were women hvmg alone asnoted by their names being preceded by "MISS and Mrs" Working class occupationsremained the norm After 1965, fewer and fewer rooms were rented, and by the nuddle1970s, the Montvale Apartments were advertised as the "Spokane Youth Hostel" In theCtty Directory Dunng the summer of 1974, Spokane was host to the World Exposition,

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and recognized the increased need for temporary lodging facihties Along With motels,hotels, bed-and-breakfast facrhnes and pnvate residences, the Montvale Block responded tothe City'S call for help and opened Its doors to the influx of people corrung to see Expo '74The Block's single occupancy rooms were rented for $2 a night, and a make-shift kitchenand dmmg room were installed m two resrdennal rooms on the second floor After Expo'74, mterest in the Montvale Apartments waned, and the resrdennal rooms were closed m1980

Street-level commercial bays m the Montvale Block numbered SIX, with five spacesfronnng First Avenue and one facmg Monroe Street The bays housed vanous service andmercantile enterpnses over the years. Both the Ideal and the Montvale bakeries, along WithIsbister Plumbing and Healing Company, leased space m the early 1900s soon after theMontvale Block was constructed KIlmer and Sons Hardware occupied the first four baysfrom the northeast corner of the buildmg begmnmg rn 1911, and was addressed as 1001 to1007 West First Avenue KIlmer and Sons also used the buildrng's basement for storageThey secured a room in the basement, covered the floor With cement, and used It as anemergency ammurunon supply room dunng World War 11 Myer S. Rubens Stove andFurnace Repair Works leased the fifth bay at 1009 The sixth commercial bay was locatedat South 110 Monroe Street and opened from the burldmg's east elevanon. The space wasused by an early Ice-maker, and later by a tailor, a typesetter, an architect, a realtor, amusician's associanon, and a carpet broker A single-story bnck burldmg was attached tothe south end of the Montvale Block after 1910 and served as a motorcycle shop, a batteryrepair, a store for Northwestern FIre Apparatus, and an extension to KIlmer's HardwareThe building was demohshed in 1967 and was replaced by a paved parking area.

After a long and prosperous career, Judge John W. Binkley died m 1931 Binkley'sdaughter sold her father's Montvale Block to hrs close fnend and longest-standmgcommercial tenant Wilham KIlmer (KIlmer Hardware) m 1936. KIlmer and hrs hardwarestore occupied the entire FIrSt Avenue street-level space until 1967 Sam A Postell, aproperty management owner of Postell Enterpnses and the Towne Center Motel, purchasedthe Montvale Block m 1966 for $125,000 He leased the FIrst Avenue street-level space toClark Evans MUSICCompany and MUSICCIty Postell sold It to Spokane attorney WernerRosenquist m 1980 Since that time, Stark's Vacuums and MUSICCIty have occupied theFirst Avenue commercial space. The current owner, Robert C Brewster, Jr. bought theproperty m 1996.

Architectural Significance (Criterion C)The architect and builder responsible for the Montvale Block remain unknown However,the well-built bnck building's load-beanng masonry construcnon and spacious skyhtmtenor suggest the work of an expenenced architect The Montvale Block retains excellentextenor mtegnty above street-level, and the building's facade of decorauve bnckwork

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bespeaks the artistry of a skilled craftsman Judge Binkley's SOCialstanding allowed himacquaintance With popular architects, and his financial success provided abundant capital tohire the arclutect of his choice

The Montvale Block IS architecturally sigmficant as one of Spokane's oldest and best-preserved examples representmg the property type "Single Room Occupancy Hotels." Thebuilding's commercial style and room configurauon exemplify the typical tum-of-the-century SRO a two or three-story buildmg constructed of unremforced masonry Withstreet-level commercial bays and upper-level Single-occupancy rooms. The rooms sharedcommon bath and toilet facihues, and were sometimes furnished With washbasins andclosets, or armoires. Intenor centrally placed skylights and light wells werecharactensncally surrounded by Wide hallways and rooms that nnged the building's mtenorparameter The Montvale Block IS a hallmark example of the property type and has anespecially signrficant upper-level atnum. Unlike the smaller skyht stairwell and lobby areasof the Commercial Block (built In 1906), the Globe Hotel (1908) and the Grand Coulee(1910, now the Upton), the Montvale Block's upper floors are dominated by an expansive,vaulted, 25-foot-hlgh skylight that crowns a large lobby area surrounded by an extensivemezzanine. The skyht atnum IS the buildmg's intenor focal point and serves to anchor the60 smgle-occupancy rooms of the second and third floors

Until recently In 1980, the Montvale Block served as an SRO for more than 80 years. Itholds a unique distinction In Spokane as one of the City'S oldest, best-preserved, andlongest-funcnonmg SROs Unlike other downtown SROs, the Montvale's upper-levelfloorplan and room configuration remains extant With few alterations. A companson canbe made with other SROs in Spokane's central busmess drstnct For example, upper-levelmtenor mtegnty has been compromised at the Transient Hotel (built in 1904, now theMinnesota Burldmg), the New Madison Hotel (1904), the Parsons and Globe Hotels (both1908), the Darby (1909), and the Grand Coulee. The New Madison and Parsons wereremodeled extensively, and the Parsons no longer functions as an SRO. Upper-levelrooms In the Transient Hotel were altered, and now serve as law offices. The GrandCoulee added pnvate bathrooms to resrdennal rooms, the second floor of the Globe Hotelwas completely gutted, and the Darby was demolished. Most of Spokane's early SROshave been destroyed by fire or the wrecking ball Of the few SROs that survive, theMontvale Block remains one of the most Important. Many downtown SROs retamarclutectural mtegnty on their upper-level facades, but the Montvale Block IS one of theCity'S oldest SROs to retain upper-level exterior mtegnty. In addrtion, the Montvale Blockserves to anchor a row of burldmgs ongmally constructed between 1900 and 1910 as SROsalong West First Avenue from Monroe to Cedar Street. They represent Spokane's lastremairung umntruded connnuous facades that charactenzed turn-of-the-century single roomoccupancy hotels Of these buildings, the Montvale Block ISthe oldest and best-preserved,and remains aWest First Avenue focal point.

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Major Bibliographical ReferencesBibliographyDurham, N.W HIStory of the County of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington,

VoL I & II, Spokane SJ Clarke, 1912Eastern Washington State Histoncal Society, archives and photo collection.Edwards, Reverend Jonathan An Illustrated HIStory of Spokane County, State of

Washington, Spokane W H Lever, 1900First Amencan Title Company, warranty deedsGates, Kenneth J W. Binkley House, Local Spokane Register of Histone Places

Normnation, Spokane City/County Histone Preservation Office, Spokane, 1986Holstine, Craig The Commercial Block, Natronal Register of Histone Places Nommatron,

Spokane City/County Histone Preservation Office, Spokane, 1993.Single Room Occupancy Hotels In the Central Business Distnct of

Spokane, WA, 1900-1910, National Register of Histone Places Nomination,Spokane City/County Histone Preservation Office, Spokane, 1993.

Hyslop, Robert B Spokane's BUilding Blocks, Spokane Standard Bluepnnt Company,1983

Polk, R L City Dtrectones, Spokane, 1889-1997Pratt, Orville Clyde. The Story of Spokane, Unpublished MS, Northwest Room, Spokane

Public LIbrary, 1948Raymer's Dtcuonary of Spokane, 1906Rovtar, John. Architectural drawings of the Montvale Block, 1997Sanborn File Insurance Maps Spokane Pubhc Library, Spokane, 1882-1952Spokane 1884 Aenal perspective, Eastern Washington Histoncal Society, Cheney

Cowles Museum, SpokaneSpokane County Assessor RecordsSpokane County Burldmg Perrruts Records.Spokane Dally Chronicle, vanous articlesSpokane Spokesman-Review, vanous articles.Stark, Gary Personal interview with Linda Yeomans, June & July, 1997Willis, Charles Personal mterview With Linda Yeomans, July, 1997

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Section Additional Information, Page 1


Additional InformationMapsUSGS map mdicanng the property's location and UTM references

PhotographsTen (10) black and white photographs to include

photograoh number daleof photo photographer negative locauon descnpnon

I 1919 Chas Libby EWSHSoclety north facade2 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO NWfacade3 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO sign4 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO NW facade5 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO north facade6 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO south rear7 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO 2nd floor stairs8 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO 2nd floor room9 1997 L. Yeomans Spokane HPO mezzamne and

skylight10 1997 L Yeomans Spokane HPO lobby and

mezzamne

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• •United States Department of the InteriorNational Park Service

National Register of Historic PlacesContinuation SheetSection: Photographs, Page 1


Photograph Number 1: Circa 1919 photo of Montvale Block, north facade

•Untted States Department of 1Ile InteriorNational Park Service

•National Register of Historic PlacesContinuation Sheet

Section Additional Information, Page 1


MapsUSGS Map including the property's location and UTM references: 11 468060 5278000

~~~~~rJ..1'jr:t;::a:~~~~rn1III~~~;~32~N~tt~~~~~;~~2~~~~-47'3~'30"1 1 70'l'l'.,,..,,, .

• •• United States Department of1t'e Interior

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Photograph Number 2: Circa 1997 photo of Montvale Block, northwestfacade

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Photograph Number 3: Circa 1920-1930s sign for Montvale ApartmentsPhotograph Number 4: Montvale Block, northwest facade

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National Pan< service



Photograph Number 5: Montvale Block, north facadePhotograph Number 6: Montvale Block, south rear and parking lot

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National PaI1<Service



Photograph Number 7: Montvale Block, 2nd floor stairsPhotograph Number 8: Montvale Block, 2nd floor room

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Photograph Number 9: Montvale Block, mezzanine and skylightPhotograph Number 10: Montvale Block, 2nd floor lobby and 3rd floor

mezzanine

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1Uba1 - Spokane Historic Landmarks...Name pi Propetly Montvale Block WA 8. S18tement of S nlflcance...

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