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The John A. Finch house is a
Georgian Revival mansion representing three interrelated aspects
of Spokane's history: mining, wealth, architectural excellence
and the development of Browne's Addition - Spokane's first
society district. Kirtland Cutter, the city's most
prolific and influential architect from 1889 to 1923, designed
the house in 1898 for John Aylard Finch, developer of the Hecla
Mine. The Georgian Revival was a relatively new departure
for Cutter - only a few other Cutter houses were executed in the
same style. One of three Cutter-designed houses built in
1898 on the same block of First Avenue in Browne's Addition, the
Finch Mansion firmly established the elegance of the district,
and helped to set the high architectural standard of Spokane
residences. The home was occupied by the childless Finch
family until 1915, and continued as a private residence until
1927. More recently known as the Virginia Apartments, the
house remained a luxury dwelling until the end of World War II
when the original furnishings were auctioned. Despite
alterations, the Finch Mansion retains enough of its original
grandeur to very convincingly communicate the tremendous wealth
and expressive lifestyle of its builder.
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