The Incomparable Clayton, Washington, Terra Cotta
Scattered through out Stevens and Spokane Country are many images created by a very exclusive group of artists who most likely never even realized they were talented. But they were and now we pay tribute and we don't even know most of their names. So we'll just let these wondrous artifacts speak for them.
On March 14, 1976, the above article written by Staff writer Larry Young ran in pages of the Spokesman Review. Clipped and saved by Mr. Eddie Olson, one of three remaining early Clayton natives dating back to the first quarter of the 20th century. Passed on to the next generation, Warren Nord, who put it gently in the hands of the Webmaster. Please read every word if you are indeed interested in the importance of a tiny town that played the part of a giant.
Perched on the crest of the Washington State Armory in Spokane, WA, stands the American Bald Eagle depicted by the above Spokesman Review article. This is a Vintage Postcard which can be viewed along with an untold number of others from every walk of life at www.cardcow.com It is an unbelievable collection.
Rather a majestic scene. FURTHERMORE THIS SCEN E MAY CHANGE DRASTICALLY. OUR SOCIETY HAS BEEN GRANTED SOLE POSSESTION OF THIS ARTIFACT. The only provision that it be removed before it's destroyed. May the Saints be with us. UPDATE . As of Dec. 4th 2009 arrangements are being made through Mr. Lonnie Beatty U.S. Army to assist our Society in making certain our Eagle will be retured to Clayton WA. Stand by.New update. Confirmation, we have been given the go ahead to take it home. The next step, get a crew & get to work.
There are several dozen rams' heads around the hotel as well as additional numerous decore. The Terra Cotta plant made an extra ram's head, and it decorates the entrance to the Clayton School shown below.
The magestic Rams Head.
Gargoyles galore at the main entrance of the Davenport Hotel.
There is no other Terra Cotta that comes close to the magnificence of this building. The Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington.
With the authorization of the University of Washington it is possible to share what we believe to be the most perfect image depicting the craftmanship in our Clayton plant. Taken inside on the top floor with a skylight for best visibility you can see the precise detail after final inspection, prior to firing in special kilns to a temperature so high the figures glow a brilliant red. This is the single known photo taken from the interior of the the Washington Brick and Lime Terra Cotta plant in Clayton, Washington.
Although there is ample Terra Cotta on the Spokane County Courthouse and from time to time you read articles with reference to Clayton Terra Cotta involved. History records that brick from WB&L in Spokane was extensive there is no mention to date of the source of the Terra Cotta. There is one fact for certain. It didn't involve Clayton. The Courthouse was designed in 1893 with completion in 1895. The Clayton Terra Cotta Plant was completed in 1907.
And to think the Union Pacific Depot was destroyed with the Terra Cotta as well because of the upcoming 1974 Expo World Fair. Some treasures were lost but it was the turning point for Spokane is now a Metropolis.
The storage shed or warehouse at theTerra Cotta Plant in Clayton?
Ole Wind is on the right facing the camera in this Professional Photograph inside the Terra Cotta plant..
Inside the Clayton Terra Cotta plant. Young man in the center with the cap is Harry Cowan. Identified by Susan Wind Simpson of the Wind Cowan Olds family.
This discribes the building to the left, The new fitting shed in conjunction with the Terra Cotta plant. This article was gleened from a newspaper from Vera Spaulding never before seen or heard of from Clayton Wa. by the title of. The Clayton Critic.
Please note the two photos to the right. See how the Review building grew. Duplication of discription above. REVIEW OFFICE CORNER OF RIVERSIDE & MONROE STREETS IN 1889. Frame shack in front was used as business office and Editorial room. First Presbyterian Church in the rear housed the mecanical department. The low frame on the left was the City Hall & Police Station.
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This photo extracted from the article to the left was authorized and permission received from Laura Lee, Director of Rights and Permissions, copyright 1976. It is reprinted with permission of the Spokesman Review. Permission is granted in the interest of public discussion and does not imply endorsement of any product, service or organization otherwise mentioned herein.
Through an unimaginable array of circumstances we have the privilege of seeing this art work created in Clayton and still existing at the Spokane International Airport in conjunction with Geiger Field and Fairchild Air Force Base and under the auspices of the Washington State National Guard.
The Davenport Hotel, a haven of Clayton Terra Cotta in the early years. Planning and building the Louis Davenport Hotel began in 1906. Construction was complete in 1914 at a cost of $1.75 million.
The Davenport's Hall of Doges
The Hotel is adorned with Terra Cotta inside and out from the Terra Cotta plant from Clayton Washington. This is but one corner of the masterpiece.
This is most likely Clayton Terra Cotta at the Spokane Cl ub in Spokane WA.
The Clayton Moose Lodge was dedicated in the year 1926. This photo of the Moose and accompaning glazed workmanship is a prime example of the talents of the artists.
The lone remaining RAM'S head from the Davenport Hotel project in 1914 hangs proudly over the entrance to the totally restored Clayton School. Clayton School is on the Washington State and National Historic Registers of Historic Places.
This 8' X 8' mural hangs in the stairway on the main floor of the Spokane County Courthouse. An ornate structure desined by an architect with no formal architectural training. W.A. Richie competed against a raft of competitors of which the second place finisher was none other than Spokane's most prominent architect. Mr. Kirkland Cutter. Construction was completed in November 1895.
We are therefore witness to a fact. Clayton was not in sole possession of artistic, talented personnel.
In the year 1874, Charles Gladding came to the city of Lincoln, California. His mark in life was to be a manufacturer of practically any product that could be made of clay. Brick, pottery, tile, and yes even Terra Cotta. His plant was set up and running a decade before the first brick plant at Cannon Hill in an area uninhabited way up to the south of Spokane town. To this very day, the Terra Cotta plant is churning out Gargoyles and magnificent artistry just like the good old days. Further more Gladding McBean had a hand in the operation of this Washington Brick and Lime facility that bears further study. In the meantime you just may be peering at a Gladding McBean artifact at this very moment.
Although this historic Desert Oasis Hotel is no longer on 1st Ave. in Spokane, WA, this vintage photo renews fond recollections. One of the many Chefs, Mr. H. l. Byers prepared gourmet meals. Please bear with one personal memory. In 1939 while visiting from Rock Lake, North Dakota my Grandmother Mamie Pauline Madean Kendig took our entire family to dine in these gorgeous surroundings. We had roast turkey with all the trimmings, $60 cents each not including the Desert’s specialty, a generous slice of five layer chocolate cake. You can only imagine the thrill to a couple tow headed lads from the wide open plains of N.D. In addition this post card from Cardcow.com, which has been sold, was sent by a Deer Park, WA, resident January 2, 1941, with message to the immediate left.
When the article to the left was discovered in the Clayton Critic news paper it was revealed this buildng is identified as the Fitting Shed. It is dated 1/20/21. Ole Wind and Harry Cowan are pictured inside this building dated the same day or the Terra Cotta plant.
The Masonic Temple in downtown Spokane. A solid mass of Terra Cotta.
In less then a quarter century the Review was growing by leaps and bounds., thanks to a little rain water and the Stages going by & dropping a bit of fertelizer and here it is another 4 or 5 stories taller.
Here it stands with the very same impressive cone today as in the years of your. Courtesy of the one and only Spokesman Review
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