According to the book, “Manito
Park: A Reflection of Spokane’s Past”:
Thus far, we have learned about Mr. Cook and what an
interesting character he was in early Spokane.
As a prominent newspaperman, he has now begun buying up property which
would eventually become our beloved Manito Park.
Now, two years later, Cook made one of the most significant
real estate purchases in the history of Spokane’s South Hill. On February 4, 1886, he purchased 160 acres
from the Pend Oreille Land Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company. This purchase encompassed the
area surrounding and including the present Manito Park. With this purchase was a “certificate of lake”
which Cook later named Mirror Lake. It
included the present Manito duck pond and a channel extending to Grand
Boulevard, like the handle of a mirror. Much of the Manito plateau was rather barren,
dotted by pine and cedar trees. The
future park site was an exception. Wild
roses grew in profusion. There were
numerous bubbling springs throughout the area, and a large grove of trees,
mostly alder, between Grand and the lake.
From the highest point in present Manito Park, Mt. Spokane was visible
to the north. Cook called this area
Montrose Park (officially changed to Manito in 1903). His Manito plateau investments eventually
grew to over 60 0acres, which he planned to develop and sell. Though not officially designated, the Manito
plateau became known as Cook’s Hill.
Stay tuned and next time we’ll
explore other investments and “firsts” that are attributed to Francis Cook.
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