Building History

The wood-frame Echo Roller Mills, owned by Albert Keats and Beven Bravinder, suffered a fire in 05/1892 causing about $90,000 worth of damage. Of this amount, Keats and Bravinder had insurance covering $22,000. They chose to rebuild the mill after the fire, choosing to build its exterior of brick to resist future fires.

The mill was still in use in 1907, as a Spokane Press article noted. (See "Who Owns the Wreck?" Spokane Press, 06/22/1907, p. 3.)

Demolition

The Great Northern Railway obtained some of the Echo Roller Mills' land on Havermale Island in 1902 to erect a depot. The railroad acquired a portion of the mill's property through a liberal interpretation of eminent domain that enabled railroad entities to seize land to enable greater, general, economic development. The Great Northern demolished the mill and its structures finally in 1927 to reposition its tracks. (See Jesse Tinsley, Spokane Spokesman-Review.com. "Then and Now: Echo Roller Mill," published 06/01/2020, accessed 11/03/2025.)

PCAD id: 25874