411 1st Street

Second story of building

The upstairs rooms of the Pomeroy building were originally numbered 409, but now 411 1st Street.

building, architecture, horses, wagon, men,
Pomeroy Building July 3, 1891 - courtesy Mobley family

When the building was completed in 1891, the first tenants on the second floor were Dr. Pomeroy and dentist, Dr. J.B. Wells.

print ad
print ad

After a fire destroyed the original Normal school August 27, 1891, Pomeroy and Wells moved quarters to allow classes to be held in the upstairs rooms when school opened in September. Students continued to use the space for the next two years.

The original training school was organized here in January 1892 to give the Normal’s student teachers real classroom experiences.

Normal classes moved to the new Cheney Public School building in September 1893, located where the former Cheney High School, now Schoolhouse Lofts, is today.

Students sitting on steps

In 1904, the Interurban Hotel opened as Normal school faculty lodging, run by Mrs. Cora Mitchell who also had a faculty boarding house on 4th Street across from Schoolhouse Lofts. Their dining room was downstairs, students also could rent lodging at the Interurban.

runners on street hotel at left
The Interurban Hotel lodging. Below is the sign for Cheney Cafe, about 1913

A newspaper article on January 21, 1915, announced,

“Mrs. Majors of Spokane has taken a lease of the upper floor of the Pomeroy building and intends opening a new hotel in this city. She intends to renovate the rooms, of which there are 10, and will install an entire outfit of new furniture.”

By 1920, Dr. Pomeroy, again had his office on the second floor along with new physician, Dr. Mell West. In a 1927 advertisement, attorney, J.S. McDonald listed his office as above Cheney Drug Company.

Print advertisement
1924 ad

When the Moose lodge purchased the building in 1929, they converted the upstairs rooms to suit their organization’s needs for a hall. The lodge hall was used by several other organizations as well.

cover of Moose Lodge booklet
Moose Lodge Women's auxiliary
duck pin bowling
Duck-pin bowling

On August 22, 1940, Bob Watson opened a 4-alley duck-pin bowling alley upstairs in the Moose Hall.

The upstairs rooms were later converted into small apartments. Part of the upstairs space continues that use today.

Image of Gerald the Museum Mouse

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Cheney Historical Museum main logo in green.

We are passionate about sharing & preserving our local history. You make it possible! Every dollar goes to funding research, preserving our history, and most importantly, sharing those stories with you, at the museum & beyond its walls. We are operated completely by volunteers and through your donations. We receive no government funding. Whatever you give, you are awesome and you make a difference to us.