Desmet Avenue Warehouse Historic District - Spokane, WA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 47° 40.041 W 117° 24.545
11T E 469288 N 5279409
Though just two thirds of its former self, the Desmet Avenue Warehouse Historic District remains an integral part of Spokane's northside commercial area.
Waymark Code: WMTZX4
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 01/29/2017
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Outspoken1
Views: 0

Originally containing six turn of the century warehouse and factory buildings, the district has been reduced to just four, consisting of Burgan's Furniture Warehouse #1 (1905), the Market Equipment Company Office and Warehouse (1946), the W.P. Fuller & Company Paint Warehouse (1915, 1938-39) and Peerless-Sunpuft Inc. Office and Warehouse (1925, 1933).

Burgan's Furniture Warehouse #2 (1904) and Burgan's Furniture "E" Building Warehouse (1907) have since been bulldozed in the interest of "civic improvement", as has a 1957 noncontributing building in the group. The demise of three buildings between Division and Ruby Streets leaves quite a hole in the district, doubtless one day to be filled with contemporary buildings, leaving the district split in two, with the Burgan's Furniture Warehouse #1 se

For the most part the buildings have been well maintained, with the furthest east building, the Peerless-Sunpuft building, having been recently renovated. The removal of the loading docks on the east side has once again exposed the original east facade and the same has been done on the south side, leaving the building much as it was when built.

Three buildings appear relatively unchanged over the years, but the furthest west building, the Burgan's Furniture Warehouse #1, has recently undergone major surgery. We assume it was Burgan's Furniture Warehouse #2 which adjoined the building on its east side, and which has recently been removed. The east side of the building, the lower two floors of which have long covered by the adjoining warehouse, is now home to Caruso's, a sandwich and artisan pizza joint, and Qdoba, a Mexican restaurant. On the third floor, never covered by the second warehouse, one may still read the painted sign of the building's original inhabitant, the Parlin & Orendorff Company, purveyors of farm implements.

Desmet Avenue Warehouse Historic District
The Desmet Avenue Warehouse Historic District is comprised of six commercial buildings constructed during the first half of the twentieth century as warehouses and factories. Located north of Spokane, Washington's historic city center hi an area which has long housed manufacturing, wholesale and retail sales, and storage-type businesses, the district represents a tight configuration of buildings with like associations. Not all contributing buildings are contiguous: some buildings being presently separated from other structures by streets and vacant lots; a pattern which continues from the historic era.

Preferred construction materials for these types of structures were brick or concrete; five buildings have exteriors of brick with the remaining building of reinforced concrete. Height of individual structures varies from one to four stories, and all have full basements. Only one building (Market Equipment Company Office and Warehouse) does not contain a freight elevator. Built by a melange of architects and builders over a period of 42 years, all structures share features which typify their similar functions, including large open ulterior spaces with limited partitioning; high ceilings; fenestration that allowed for maximum interior illumination; loading docks which adjoin a partially removed railroad siding; and a relative lack of exterior ornamentation. All buildings have experienced design changes to their interiors and facades; however, these are largely minor on most exterior elevations. Each building maintains an appearance as an intact historic structure.
From the NRHP Nomination Form
Photo goes Here
Along Desmet Avenue, looking west
Street address:
Desmet Avenue and Division Street
Spokane, WA United States
99202


County / Borough / Parish: Spokane

Year listed: 1997

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture, Commerce

Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1900-1924

Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Industry/Processing/Extraction

Current function: Commerce/Trade - Specialty Store, Office, Restaurant

Privately owned?: yes

Primary Web Site: [Web Link]

Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]

Season start / Season finish: Not listed

Hours of operation: Not listed

Secondary Website 2: Not listed

National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
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