Historic Register Tour

HISTORIC NAME	Finch House
COMMON NAME	Finch House
DATE BUILT	c. 1897
ARCHITECT/BUILDER	Cutter & Malmgren
PROPERTY STYLE	Beaux Arts/Neoclassical
ON THE SPOKANE REGISTER	No
NATIONAL REGISTER	No
IN A DISTRICT	Yes - added 7/12/76
DISTRICT	Browne's Addition Historic District
NEIGHBORHOOD	Browne's Addition

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Kirtland Cutter and Karl Malmgren designed the Neoclassical-style Finch House in 1897 for John Aylard Finch and his wife Charlotte Swingler Finch. Born in England, John Finch came to America when he was a boy and eventually settled in Spokane where he partnered with Amasa B. Campbell, who became his neighbor in Browne's Addition. Together, Finch and Campbell invested heavily in Coeur d'Alene mining operations and developed the Gem, Standard, and Hecla Silver Mines. Finch was also president of many businesses including the White and Bender Company, Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company, Blalock Fruit Company, and the National Lumber and Box Company. He was elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1891. John Finch died in 1915, leaving 60% of his fortune to his wife and 40% to charity and civic enterprises.

In 1927, the Finch Mansion was remodeled and called the Virginia Apartments, one of the first luxury apartment houses in Browne's Addition. The apartments have been in use for over 70 years.