History:

Born in the Netherlands in 1862, F. Robbert Insinger was educated in Holland and came west to Canada in 1885. At twenty-two years of age, Insinger arrived in America, and by 1897, he had settled in Spokane. Initially manager of the Holland Bank, Insinger became the manager of the Northwestern & Hypotheek (Dutch Bank) by 1908. Insinger married Julia C. Nettleton, the daughter of William Nettleton who platted both Nettleton's 1st and 2nd Additions in 1887. Robbert retired in 1939 and moved with Julia to La Jolla, California. At that time, Insinger was toasted by the Chamber of Commerce as the oldest surviving Chamber president. Insinger was involved in numerous groups and businesses in Spokane including the Spokane Reconstruction congress which was created in 1918 following World War I, president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1912, director of the Phoenix Lumber Company, the Spokane Eastern Trust company, and the Spokane Title Company, president of the Western Union Life Insurance Company, and chairman of the Washington State Good Roads association. 

The Insingers acquired the lot on the corner of W. Maxwell and N. Lindeke in 1904 and had this house constructed in 1907. The Insingers, along with Helen M. Nettleton, Julia's mother, occupied the home through 1912. By the 1930s, the home had been converted into four apartments and by 1937 was known as the Welcome Apartments. The home is currently utilized as an eleven unit apartment building.

Architectural Description:

The Robbert and Julia Insinger house is a two-and-a-half-story side-gable Arts and Crafts style apartment complex with a river rock or cobble foundation and multi-level eaves. The front (north) facade is characterized by oversized beams, exposed rafter ends, and large fascia boards. 

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