Newman Lake

Spokane, Washington

History of Newman Lake

Newman Lake in 1914

Newman Lake in 1914

Brief Summary

Newman Lake was named after William Newman who settled on the southern portion of the lake around 1860. Many explorers and traders from the Hudson's Bay company constructed gardens at Newman Lake more than 145 years ago, just as they did on the west side of Liberty Lake.

Early inhabitants of the area were Indians who roamed the lake and hillsides for berries and game. In the 1880's, pioneers caught trout in Liberty Lake and transplanted them to Newman Lake. A federal government fish tank railroad car was parked at Moab, on the Northern Pacific main line. In 1887, residents carried carp to Newman Lake in buckets.

Excursion trains from Spokane use to run to Moab, where busses and stages took passengers three miles to the lake. At one time on the lake there were four hotels, each one doing a brisk business. The earliest was W.J. Day's place at the south end of the lake. E.J. Chingren bought the Gillett Park hotel in 1912 and subsequently sold it in 1933 after making some add-ons to the place. The Day place was still standing in the late 50's as a farmhouse, but today it is history. Chingren built an extension of the old road from Sutton bay to Gillett Park, as well as about 15 cabins. His hotel and cabins were sold to F.W. and Robert Kolbe in 1933. In the late 1950's they were owned by the Evangelical United Brethren church, which built a chapel in the grove in the rear of the property.

On the east side of the lake in the 1920's were the Newman Lake hotel and the 26-room Taylor hotel near the eastern extremity, which burned in 1934. A rancher named G.L. O'Neil, from the north end of the lake bought the location now called Honeymoon Bay for a down payment of $45. He later sold it for more than $35,000 to Ray Hathaway, who later developed and ran the spot, with its dance hall, restaurant, store and cottages for some 15 years. Hathaway later sold it to Ed Letzring who operated it in the 1950's.

William Newman

William Newman, after whom the lake was named, was from England. He sailed from Liverpool to New York City in 1858 and there he joined the US Army for 5 years and was sent out to the Washington Territory with the 9th US Infantry. William Newman was selected as one of a 25 man escort for the Boundary Commission where he first saw the lake.

Newman married Elizabeth Barnaby, one of the three daughters of Joseph Barnaby and Isabelle Boucher. Isabelle's mother, was named Josephte Kanhopitsa who was of Colville Indian descent. Newman farmed an area bordering the lake and with his wife raised nine children. He died in 1887 at the age of 49.

William Newman

William Newman

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Moab

The Moab area was originally settled by Martin O'Brien who came to Spokane County in 1880.

Moab in 1922

Moab in 1922

Moab as it looked in 1922. Martin O' Brien's store is on the right with their barn in the background. The barn was moved to the Maurer residence and is still in use today. Johhny O'Briens garage is on the left.
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Sam Sutton

Sam Sutton was an early settler with his family on the lake, whom Sutton's Bay is named after.

Sam Sutton

Sam Sutton

On the bow of this transport boat which he built called the Gypsy.

Joe Engeser

Joe Engeser was a self-sufficient homesteader who built a cabin off the Peninsula Road.

Joe Engeser

Joe and his Horse Team

Ragged Mountain in the background covered with snow. Photo taken in the 1920's.
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Outhouses

History of Newman Lake wouldn't be complete without a collection of outhouse and other old building photographs. Many outhouses around the lake were first built by the early homesteaders and most remaining ones today were constructed by the WPA's during the Roosevelt administration of the 1930's at a cost of $20.00 to the property owner.

As silly as it sounds, if you are lucky to still have an outhouse on your property, be sure to take good care of it. A little paint and TLC can keep it it good shape for those special emergencies when your water pump or power goes out.

Outhouse

Outhouse

This outhouse was nicely repainted to blend in with the flora and fauna. This WPA version was a popular model around the lake.
Outhouse inside

Inside an Outhouse

Notice the exquisite woodwork and craftsmanship of this beauty.
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Historical Photos

View a collection of historical pictures of Newman Lake, old buildings, and other related things.

Cooler

Typical Cooler

Located on the Peninsula. This was typical of early refridgeration methods on the lake.
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