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Happy Spokane’s Day

June 21, 2009 3 Comments

We’d be curious to find out how many people on the street are aware that a dedicated Spokane advocate is credited for Father’s Day gaining national recognition in 1972. Maybe 20+%?

The oft repeated storyline explains that Sonora Smart Dodd first thought of creating the holiday one Sunday in 1909 while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at the Central Methodist Episcopal Church in Spokane. While Sonora has a tombstone over in Greenwood Memorial Terrace, there is another rather unassuming marker to her father’s day efforts near her home. This modest pillar of concrete topped with an iron plaque was once pointed out to me by my mother on a busy road somewhere between downtown and East Central Spokane. Can anyone confirm the location of this monument?

The Battle of the Fatherly Flowers

In early times, wearing flowers was a traditional way of celebrating Father’s Day. Mrs. Dodd favored the red rose to honor a father still living, while a white flower honored a deceased dad. J.H. Berringer, who also held Father’s Day celebrations in Washington State as early as 1912, chose a white lilac as the Father’s Day Flower.

VS

Funny how these are the same flowers of Portland vs Spokane, no? Sonora is often mentioned as a poet, but attempts to find any samples online were unsuccessful. I wonder if a trip to the Northwest room would turn up some of her work?

Before we go, let’s pay picture tribute to the Father of the Father’s Day city:

Thanks for the rad old mansion old man!

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3 Responses to “Happy Spokane’s Day”

  1. laura June 22, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    what I want to know is where is the rock denoting this event that was at river front park. ?

  2. laura June 22, 2009 at 9:10 pm

    I forgot to add that I have a picture of it from a few years ago but when I went past the spot I remember it being at (near the y next to the bridge) the rock was gone.

  3. Rachel June 22, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    The marker for Sonora Louise Smart Dodd is located at the YMCA:

    http://www.fathersdaycelebration.com/sonora-louise-smart-dodd.html

    Keep up the great work your’re doing with Spovangelist- I love reading it over on the “wet-side” of the state.

    :-)

    Cheers!