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Constructed
in 1909, Jack & Dan’s was originally constructed as a two-story
brick commercial building for Gonzaga’s Pioneer Education Society. The
north half of the building, by 1910, was utilized as a pharmacy or drug
store, while the south half of the building was a variety store. By
1915, the Polk Directory listed Lewis B. Sperry at the druggist at 1228
North Hamilton. Sperry resided upstairs in one of the two second floor
apartments. Various druggists followed Sperry through the 1920s. By 1940, the University Pharmacy was occupying the space.
During this same time, P.P. Sontag Meats occupied the south half of the
building. Peter P. Sontag had previously operated a meat market across
the street, known as Buffalo Meats. Sontag’s Meats operated until
1932. By 1933, the Snappy Beer Parlor had opened in the storefront with
Russell E. Harding as proprietor. The Snappy Beer Parlor sold numerous
times, although it retained its name. By 1947, Joey August had purchased
the building, renaming the tavern for himself. August sold the building
in 1952.
Jack & Dan’s Tavern is significant for its association with Joey
August, the Spokane sports scene, and as a neighborhood gathering place.
Until a few years ago, when purchased by John Stockton, the
building and land were owned by the Pioneer Educational Society.
Although a tavern since the end of the Prohibition, it was under
August’s ownership that the present configuration of the building was
completed and its strong association with Spokane sports began.
Even though long a hang-out of Gonzaga University students and
local neighborhood residents, August, a Gonzaga University boxing coach,
established the tavern as a place for sports enthusiasts in the 1950s.
The sports tradition, through Spokane sportswriters making
fantasy baseball picks in the back room, Spokane Indians baseball
players, including Tommy Lasorda, former Spokane Indians and L.A.
Dodgers manager, recapping a game over the other kind of pitcher, Utah
Jazz fans watching Jack Stockton’s son John, play his way to NBA
stardom, and especially Gonzaga basketball.
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