With the sudden passing of the zoo, the only tangible
reminder of the Balzer era was the bandstand (torn down in 1946). However, Charles Balzer had left a legacy –
he secured Manito’s place in the hearts of the Spokane residents. His contribution could be summarized by a
sentence in a 1907 brochure on Manito, prepared by the Spokane-Washington
Improvement Co. as part of their intensive marketing campaign. It read:
“The district now occupied by the city’s largest park was but a few
years ago a succession of barren ledges, and to the genius of the landscape
gardener has fallen the task of bringing beauty from the rough.” During Balzer’s tenure as park
superintendent, his main focus was on Manito Park. Much of what he did was at his own expense and
beyond the expected duties. Park records
reveal his dedication to Manito; the early photographs attest to his
accomplishments. However, the park board
wanted more.
In 1908 Aubrey White, president of the park board, addressed
the board with the following letter:
I think we all realize
that very excellent work has been done under trying conditions, and yet I think
we can all see many mistakes in judgment have occurred and are occurring which
will justify at this time certain necessary changes.
Mr. Balzer, our present
Park Superintendent, was advanced to that position from City Florist, because
he was the only local man available at the time, and his Commission lacked the
means to look for a properly qualified man….
Mr. Balzer has good
recommendations and certificates as a gardener, and his success with plants and
flowers has been very satisfactory, therefore as City Florist having charge of
the Greenhouse and flower gardens, his service would be valuable to the park
department, but he is not an engineer and cannot take the necessary levels nor
run his lines when required, neither can he work out his own plans to scale, as
such work has been outside of his experience.
I can therefore see at
this time the necessity of employing a man as superintendent of parks who is
qualified by experience and technical education to do the planning and laying
out of our new development work….
Following White’s advice, the board ordered the Park
Improvement Committee to investigate Balzer’s work as superintendent and make a
recommendation. On August 6, 1909, the
committee reported the following:
The Park
Superintendent, Mr. E.C. Balzer, has failed to comply promptly with the orders
of this Board and has shown a disposition to evade the spirit of his
instructions. We recommend the Secretary
be instructed to write Mr. Balzer that the Board insist on prompt and complete
compliance with its orders….
Mr. Balzer having
undertaken park improvements on his own initiative without consulting your
Improvement Committee, we advise him that park improvements outside of
maintenance, are under the direction of the Improvement Committee, and orders
for such improvements must issue from the Chairman of Improvements direct,
through the Secretary of this Board.
In order to enforce
discipline without delay, your Improvement Committee requests complete
authority to discharge the Park Superintendent, with the wages necessary to
obtain a man equal to the responsibility and dignity of the position – one who
will have the personality requisite to assist the Board in promoting the work
of impressing the urgent need of funds for park areas upon our community.
Next week we will hear more
about what happens after this report is released. I’ll bet you can already guess….
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