Peoples Park

These pictures are of parts of Peoples Park in Spokane at the confluence of Latah Creek and the Spokane River. The park is about a mile to the west of downtown Spokane. A railroad high bridge used to pass over parts of the park area. And, at one time the area was populated with many houses. The park was puchased just prior to Expo '74. Use of the land is restricted to a natural use. At one time some in the city wanted to build a golf course in the park. That effort came to an end when the politicians were reminded of the restrictive covenants.

Graineries South of Wilbur, Washington

These two structures are old wooden graineries built before the use of steel in the area. They probably date back to the 30's.

Eastern Washington Scab Land

The Missoula Floods passed through here many thousands of years ago. This road in Eastern Washington south and a bit west of Creston is heading into the scab land area. Soon it will drop down into valleys carved out by the floods.

For more on the floods see this piece in the Seattle - Times by Ron Judd -- Route to trace wonders of Central Wshington ice-age floods.

Geiger Field (World War II)

This picture is of the area of Geiger Field during the War (World War II) used for office and support buildings for the airport. The airport, Geiger Field, was used for support for the Air Force and Navy during World War II. Some of the infrastructure is still is place, waiting.

Lawyer Advertising

Lawyer advertizing in downtown Spokane.

One Room School On the Palouse

Spent many hours wandering about the Palouse in eastern Washington. A few nights ago I came across an old building nestled in some trees. I thought is was an old farmhouse. But, it was not. I was a turn of the century one room school. What a find! Imagine what it must have been like back then. In the fall weeks after harvest and just as the field were finished being seeded with winter wheat the children would be back in school. School, then, as now had a purpose and had its pleasures. For the children one of the pleasures would have been seeing other children every day.

Palouse Harvest 2010

Harvest in the Palouse in southeast Washington is coming to an end. This picture was taken near Plaza, Washington. The combine came to the end of its run and pulled along side the second truck from the left. It then filled the truck with is load of harvested wheat from the elevator on board the combine. I hear wheat is selling at a good price this year. Trouble elsewhere makes this so.

Highway 195 and Cheney - Spokane Road

The intersection at Highway 195 and Cheney - Spokane Road.

A Carnegie Library Bldg.

Years ago a man by the name of Andrew Carnegie made contributions of libraries to towns and cities all across the United States. Here is one of of those libraries. What a fine contribution to our people. We are indeed blessed by the generosity of those who have made fortunes and then have decided to make those fortunes available to the people from which they came. This is truly an American phenomenon. The point may be this: There, in the end result, are no real distinctions between us. We all come from the same immigrant stock. We are all immigrants. We are the new world. We are the new being. And, to realize this new being we have to continue to be an immigrant United States of America. It will be risky, but it is the only thing we can do to be what we are, a light in the world.

Travels With Charley, J. Steinbeck

Years ago, John Steinbeck wrote a book called Travels with Charley. It was about his travels from the East Coast to the West Coast and back to see America when he was in his late 60's with his dog Charley and his GMC Truck with a camper on the back. The truck and camper were named Rocinante, the name of Don Quixote's horse. This past week I had a chance to see Rocinante in the John Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California.