This building at 412 1st Street was erected by L. Jack Riddle in 1908 to house his full-service barber shop with baths.
Jack Riddle had operated a barber shop in Cheney for two years. Construction of the 20 by 75 foot building began in October 1908 and was completed before year’s end.
What was here before? A small wood-frame building had housed a drug store, barber shop, and office prior to L.J. Riddle Barber & Baths opened in 1905.
The Cheney Free Press described the new venture this way in the October 9, 1908, paper:
“The new building which Mr. Riddle is erecting will be 20 x 75 feet, with basement. The first floor will be used for a barber shop, equipped with all the modern conveniences connected with that line of business, while the basement will be fitted up with bath rooms and heating plant. The building will be built of brick and will be put up in a substantial manner. Besides the barber shop and bath rooms, the building will also be occupied by Rubey Kelly, who at present is located in the building adjoining. The construction of this building on First street will add much to the attractiveness of the business section of this street and will do away with one wooden building. Mr. Riddle has implicit confidence in the future business prosperity of this city and is making notable improvement in adding a brick building to the business houses on this street.”
The following year, Pete C. Hansen, Mr. Kelly’s brother-in-law, purchased the building as an investment. By 1910, the barber shop was gone, and Rubey Kelly’s cigar shop and pool parlor occupied the building. Hansen remodeled the building, extending it 15 feet back to the alley allowing Kelly to add additional tables to the parlor.
Rubey Kelly applied to the city for a pool room license in 1911. Cheney had enacted a local alcohol prohibition in 1910, and though Kelly wasn’t going to serve liquor in his pool hall, it was still a controversial request – some on the council suspected that the parlor was seeking a way to serve liquor after hours.
In 1933, after the end of the national prohibition, the parlor became Kelly’s Tavern. Kelly’s moved to larger quarters next door at 414 1st about 1934.
Very briefly, Weaver’s Variety Store occupied the space before the next long-term tenant moved in.
Around 1938, the Cheney Free Press moved from Normal Avenue (now College Ave) to this building. During World War II, local soldiers’ photos and sometimes letters were posted in the front display window. The Tilicum Club women gathered the images and information from the families and were in charge of updating the display.
The Free Press remained here until the end of 1981. Bill Bradshaw’s New York Insurance office occupied the building from 1982 to 1989. He was followed by Just Kids Clothing store until May 1993.
Tom Showalter then purchased the building in order to expand his tavern next door, Showalter Hall, also known as Showies Tavern. Today the building is part of Eagles Pub.
Joan Mamanakis
