This building is a blended addition to 424 1st Street.
The building we see today was erected in 1924 as a two-story addition to the Masonic building facing 1st Street. The ground floor and basement were built to house the Cheney Free Press newspaper office, while the second floor was laid out for the Mason’s and Eastern Star lodge functions.
What was here before? There had briefly been a small wood outbuilding behind the 424 1st Street business.
The Masonic Building Association approved plans for the two-story addition adjoining the back of the Security National Bank building that had been built in 1910. They carefully replicated the elements of the original Kirtland Cutter designed building, though they opted for a less expensive metal cornice rather than the sandstone used on the bank.
The 32 by 50-foot ground floor and basement spaces were designed to house the Cheney Free Press office and all of its printing machinery. The newspaper’s 28 November 1924 edition reported:
The move of the Free Press from its old location on 1st Street [today’s 510/512 1st] was completed under the direction of A.D. Rolfe’s Cheney Transfer Company, alongside the newspaper employees and volunteers. Most of the heavy printing machinery had to be taken apart and hauled piece by piece to its new location, then re-assembled. Mr. Rolfe was praised as a mechanical genius by installing the various line shafts, motors, and other equipment in splendid shape.
Description of the 1924 Free Press Office from the 21st November paper:
With the exception of the business office, which is 22 feet in width, the first floor is 32 feet wide, and is 50 feet long. The front, facing on Normal Avenue [today’s College Ave], has two neat display windows and an attractive entrance. The front business office, which will be separated from the mechanical department, will be 22 feet square and will be attractively furnished with office equipment, and a glass showcase for display of printing samples.
At the rear of the first floor will be a large part of the printing equipment. Included in this will be the Free Press’ new model 14 Linotype, a typesetting machine of the latest and most expensive type, and a size and range usually found only in the large metropolitan printing offices. This machine is virtually a complete plant in itself, being equipped to set type in all sizes from 6-point to 24-point, in many styles and [illegible]. It has been but recently purchased at a cost of many thousands of dollars.
The Free Press’ three platen presses will be installed also on this floor, as will the many complete(?) [illegible] of h??? Type, in [illegible] — off cabinets beneath the [illegible] stones, and other equipment used in producing the newspaper and all classes of job printing. On this floor, also, is a separate cloak room and wash room, for the convenience of employees.
A wide stairway leads to the basement which has been neatly finished with cement floor and walls, with the room designed particularly to fit the newspaper’s needs. Near the center of the room the big Cranston newspaper press, which prints copies of the Free Press at a rate of 1800 an hour, has been installed.
Nearby is the Mertges newspaper folder, which automatically inserts and folds the sheets as they come from the press, and the front part of the room, beneath the sidewalk, is a conveniently arranged mailing room, where the hundreds of copies of the Free Press will be addressed and wrapped for mailing as they come from the folder.
Other equipment on this floor will be the stereotyping machine, which casts ad illustrations and cuts; a power saw, used in cutting cut bases, Linotype slugs, used in making cuts; a paper cutter, which will cut from 400 to 1000 sheets of paper at one slice; a metal melting furnace where all “dead” type is melted for resetting; a wire stitcher for “sewing” [stitch binding] books; stock and paper [illegible], small elevator, etc.
The building will be heated with a hot air furnace; and the lighting, power, and water systems have been installed in accordance with the particular needs of the Free Press.
The Free Press moved to 412 1st Street about 1938.
In 1942, the Masonic organization converted the ground floor space into a private dining hall for themselves and the Order of Eastern Star lodge.
Ed Huber and his wife Ella came through Cheney in 1960 while they were preparing to open a shoe shop in Prosser, Washington. Finding that Cheney was a pleasant community that had a need for his specialty, Huber changed his plans and opened Eddy’s Shoe Shop in another location on College Avenue, moving into 108 in 1964. Eddy operated his business at the location for 16 years, retiring 16 October 1980.
John and Donna Bruce, along with Bob and Kris Stengle bought Eddy’s shop. They held their grand opening of Eddy’s Boot & Tack on 5 December 1980, with the name honoring the former businessman.
A series of businesses took turns in the location including the Junque Store (1982), Wheatheart Handmade Gifts (1982-1985), Velo Sport (1987-1989), DARE center (Drug Abuse Resistance Education, 1990ca-2000ca),
Trendy Tots (2013-2015), and Sweet Pea Boutique (2015-2018).
On 26 November 2019, Andy and Hannah LaBolle took a leap of faith to open West Plains Roasters, a café and small batch coffee roasting operation. They survived the COVID pandemic restrictions, building a clientèle by offering good coffee, teas, small eats, and a welcoming space.
Joan Mamanakis
