Framer of the Institution
July 20, 2010 
4 Comments
I compulsively chit-chat with strangers wherever I go. So while I was running an errand at the courthouse the other day, I saw this man in the stairwell and asked him, “Do you know why Spokane has such a fancy courthouse?”
He started to explain, “Well back in the late 1890s they held a design competition and this was the winning design. The architect was French, or maybe he wasn’t French, but at least I know he was European.” Then with a note of pride, “My wife actually went to high school with the artist of this painting,” then finally the big reveal, “and I built the frame myself!”
“Wow, that is so cool!” I exclaimed. I don’t think that was the response he was expecting. The eyebrows went even higher when I asked to take his picture.
How neat that this guy, who has presumably worked at the courthouse for goodness knows how many years, hand made this enormous frame to set off this triumphant work of what I used to think was Cinderella’s Palace.
“There are actually several of these period buildings throughout the region,” he admitted as we walked away, “but Spokane does have one of the nicest.”
About the Author
One of the things I like best about Spokane is the great opportunity for stumbling across cool connections like this.
that guy is funny.
also, well writ!
CMTV has a great locally produced documentary about the history of the courthouse (by our very own CeCe Marie
)
James Francis Lavigne
http://www.jameslavigneart.com/about