Private Residence

The Smith Cottage is both architecturally and historically interesting. Built in 1912 by Charles R. Wood, the Smith Cottage is also commonly referred to as the Smith House (not to be confused with the Dorthy Darby Smith House, also in Spokane). The cottage is a well-kept example of a Tudor Style, or "Tudor Revival Style," house with a high, steep roof, and characteristic half-timbering siding.

Edwin A. Smith, with a background in law and the news industry, came to Spokane in 1892 and soon found a job working for the Spokesman Review. He commissioned Charles R. Wood to build his house in the West Central neighborhood because it was conveniently located near his wife's sister's residence at 1408 N Summit Blvd. His wife's sister was the second wife of the "Father of Spokane," James N. Glover. Also of note, Charles Wood supposedly worked for Kirtland K. Cutter, who was a renowned architect who built many prominent and lasting structures in Spokane.

By 1915, the ambitious Smith was editorial manager of the Spokesman Review, the magazine Agricultural Age, and the journals The Washington Farmer, The Oregon Farmer, and The Idaho Farmer. Smith was also an active advocate of rural life - supporting agricultural education and farming clubs.

Smith passed away in 1938, but is remembered as "a tireless crusader for improving farm life" according to Spokane's Historic Register.

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Private Residence

James Nettle Glover is commonly referred to as the "Father of Spokane." He, accompanied by his wife Susan Tabitha Crump Glover, essentially created the city after purchasing 160 acres of land and giving chunks of it away to anyone who promised to build a business there. He relentlessly promoted the growth of Spokane's economy and founded several businesses of his own.

After separating from, and subsequently divorcing Susan in 1891 in order to marry the much younger Esther Emily Leslie, Glover's life was slashed by scandal. Susan, who had moved home to Oregon after their separation, returned to Spokane after Glover married Esther in 1892. Susan claimed that she had not been treated fairly in the proceedings of the divorce, but could find little support. Distraught, she was eventually hauled away to the Eastern State Hospital after being "declared unable to care for herself."

A year later, James Glover was forced to move to the residence at North Summit Boulevard as a result of financial instability. As the leading banker in Spokane, the Panic of 1893 hit Glover the hardest. He ended up losing "over $1,500,000" according to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Edwin A. Smith. However, even in financial hardship, Glover still managed to hire the most prominent architect in Spokane, Kirtland K. Cutter.

Cutter designed and built the "modest" home for Glover in 1909. The steep roof and columns add drama to the overall appearance of the house. Cutter also masterfully designed the cedar shingled roofing which reflects the pattern of shingled siding. Though it may take some imagination today, the house was originally accompanied by manicured flower beds and maple trees. Glover resided there until his death in 1921.  

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Private Residence

Charles Prentice Richardson, a successful gold miner originally from Illinois, had this American Foursquare Style home built in 1906. The American Foursquare Style is typified by the many horizontal lines and a very low pitched roof, as well as the simple box shape of the Richardson House.

Charles Richardson struck gold after buying the Moose Creek Placer Mine in Idaho. Charles, his wife Frances, and their two daughters Annice and Katherine, toiled at the mine together until they decided to move to the city in 1906. With the hard earned wealth that came from the gold, they were able to hire the renowned architect William Wallace Hyslop to build their house on Summit Boulevard. W. W. Hyslop designed several well-known Spokane buildings including the Folsom House at 528 E. 14th Ave, and the Marlboro Apartments at 180 S. Cannon St., as well as many others. W. W. Hyslop was originally from Minnesota, but became a well-respected architect in Spokane because his designs were "particularly innovative in style, quality, and durability" according to HistoricSpokane.org.

The Richardsons didn't stay put for long. Just two years after their house was built, the family moved to Oregon. The house then passed through several owners, some of whom altered the appearance to suit their needs. The most outstanding addition came in 1912 with a carriage house built behind the house. The owners at the time, Charles and Ninah Jackson, owned the Jackson & Walter Real Estate Company. The two structures, though built by different architects, complement each other in style. The carriage house (which is now used as a garage) features the same attractive horizontal lines and low roof as the main house.

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Private Residence

The Blake-Ahlquist-Woolcott House (or just the "Woolcott House") was built in 1902 for Jacob M. Blake, an attorney at the Blake and Adams firm. Blake was the son of a noteworthy judge, Richard B. Blake, who served in the superior court of Spokane county and Stevens county districts. Judge Blake was known for being "faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation," according to early Spokane historian Nelson Wayne Durham.

The Woolcott House is typical of Craftsman Style with its low pitched roof, shingled siding, artisan crafted details, and use of local materials, like basalt. After the house was bought by Dr. Tory Maurice Ahlquist in 1912, a second story was added in 1917, and then a carriage house was also built on the property in 1919. Both of these additions maintained the Craftsman Style.

Dr. Ahlquist was a surgeon who was born in Sweden and raised in Nebraska. During World War II, Dr. Ahlquist helped recruit young doctors to assist in the war effort. He was recognized for his efforts with a certificate of commendation from President Harry S. Truman, and a selective service board medal.  

The last of the house's namesakes, Bloys and Marie Frances Woolcott, moved-in in 1949. Marie was an accomplished Washingtonian woman. Graduated from Wenatchee High School, she went on to study interior design at the University of Washington and Columbia University. She became a member of the Business and Professional Women's Organization and served as the organizations president in 1941 and 1942. Her most renowned accomplishment, however, was her involvement in selling war bonds during World War II. She managed to band together 3000 women who raised 97 million dollars towards the war effort. Marie and Bloys resided at the Woolcott House until 2001 when Marie passed away at the age of 93.

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