HISTORY VISITING OUR STORIED PAST
some de Medici collar. The braid down the front of her gown was trimmed with pearls. Diamonds and a corsage of tea roses com- peted her attire. The groom wore the regulation black. Two hundred twenty-four
guests greeted the couple while the Spokane Brass Band played serenades in the background. About 11:00 p.m., after refresh- ments had been served, the band played waltz music for several hours of dancing. A newspaper write-up waxed eloquent: “The brilliant array of costumes has never been equaled in the city and would have done credit to a formal reception in the hub city of the universe.” On December 5, 1889, report-
A.M. and Jennie Cannon’s home in Spokane Falls.
she loved and caring for those who needed her care. Her presence in a sick room was likened to a ray of sunshine for the sick and suf- fering. As a result, Jennie Cannon became one of the most respected and beloved members of the little town. Jennie’s generous contribu-
tions to charitable causes were to become widely known. She sup- ported Home of the Friendless, the Woman’s Exchange, and the Fireman’s Fund. It was said that she had a standing offer of $1,000 to any member of the demimonde (ladies of the night) who wanted to give up that profession, leave Spokane and start a new life. When the city of Seattle burned June 6, 1889, Jennie was one of 15 women appointed to solicit relief funds. Jennie covered Cannon’s Addition while Anna Browne can- vassed Browne’s Addition. More
than $11,000 was collected in Spokane. Jennie was an independent
woman. It would certainly appear so when she traveled to Portland alone to accompany one of her daughters home from school. The journey was arduous at best before the railroad came through. It meant a ride to the Snake River or Wallula by stagecoach to get a river steamer. In mid-February, such a trip would be quite miser- able with open or poorly covered windows, drafty doors, and buf- feted by wind, rain, or snow. Com- fort stops were not frequent. On the return trip five weeks later, Jen- nie’s daughter’s trunk fell off when the stage was crossing a swollen stream below Colfax. It remained in the water three hours. In the fall of 1884, with winter
approaching, Jennie began mak- ing plans to spend the winter trav-
eling. She confided in a visit to Anna Browne that she knew times were hard, but she had made up her mind that they were going anyway. Apparently, whenever Mr. and
Mrs. Cannon entertained, the party was heralded as the social event of the season. So it was with the reception they gave June 29, 1887, for Jennie’s son, Ralph L. Clarke and his bride, Jennie G. Sheppard of Portland. Following their wedding in Portland on June 15, and a wedding trip to Victoria, B.C., the Clarkes made their home in Spokane where Ralph was the assistant cashier at the Bank of Spokane Falls. Japanese lanterns
lit up the
lawns and verandas, while ever- greens and flowers decorated the inside of the Cannon home. The bride wore a beautiful pale blue moiré with a train and a hand-
ing on another wedding, the Spo- kane Falls Review began: “The most brilliant social event that ever occurred in Spokane Falls took place at the Cannon home last night.” It was a double wed- ding ceremony. At 7:15 p.m. the stringed orchestra struck up Men- delssohn’s Wedding March. Down the broad staircase came Rev. Dr. Crawford of All Saints Church with the two grooms, followed by others in the wedding party. A.M. Cannon descended next with a bride on each arm. The two cous- ins, Katharine Clarke and Mary Evelyn (Mamie) Pope, wore iden- tical dresses of heavy cream-col- ored silk with long trains trimmed with duchesse lace. About 30 people witnessed the ceremony. The list of guests for the reception that followed resembled the social register of Spokane. Afternoon parties for the ladies
were also held at the Cannon home. With daughter Marie Ben- nett and daughter-in-law, Jennie
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SPOKANE CDA • February • 2012
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