Post Falls' past comes to life
BRIAN WALKER/Press Monte Martin, the great-great-grandson of Post Falls founder Frederick Post, shown on left, reads about the city’s history at City Hall on Friday.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Monte Martin, the great great grandson of Post Falls founder Frederick Post, and his wife Marisol pose by at statue of Post at City Hall on Friday. They are in front of a stained glass window by local artist Kathy Pierce of Herborn, Germany, which is Post's birthplace and Post Falls' associate city.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Monte Martin, the great great grandson of Post Falls founder Frederick Post, and his wife Marisol chat with Post Falls Historian Kim Brown on Thursday at Post Falls Brewing.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — As Monte Martin continued to receive Post Falls Historical Society newsletters, he figured it was time to head to the River City to take a personal look at its roots.
As the great-great-grandson of Post Falls founder and German immigrant Frederick Post, Martin had an obvious reason to.
The timing of his visit, with the historical society's Oktoberfest celebration and fundraiser that he attended at Q'emiln Park on Friday night, was impeccable.
"This place has a lot of sentimental value, and now I'm at the point in my life that I appreciate it," the 44-year-old Martin said on Friday while reading at City Hall how Post in 1870 claimed Post Falls as the site of a water-powered lumber mill at the falls on the Spokane River.
"We've been reading every year about Oktoberfest, and this is a wonderful time of year to celebrate heritage and people."
Martin and his wife, Marisol, who live in Las Vegas, took a morning jog by Treaty Rock, where Indian pictographs signifying a treaty between the U.S. government and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe remain on granite rocks. In the treaty was a title stating that in 1871 Post had purchased land from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for $500.
"Treaty Rock is an inspiration because it still exists," Monte said.
The couple also took in other historical spots, including Falls Park next to the falls and the museum, before toasting Post Falls' German heritage and roots with locals during Oktoberfest.
"There's a strong sense of pride about being here," Monte said. "We're very happy and proud to be able to participate."
Monte said he was impressed with the city and society's historic preservation efforts.
"I definitely value the signage recognizing not only my family's contribution, but Post Falls' other history," he said. "Some communities only have a plaque here or there."
Monte said a contribution he'd like to make to the society — if he had it — is a photo of Post smiling, because all those on display depict a more serious figure. He said he has some mementos of other family members with ties to this area he may donate to the society, but none of Post.
Monte said he has made other trips to Post Falls before — to visit his second cousin and the late World War II pilot Jack Fay — but this is the first time he has paused to soak in his ties to Post Falls' roots.
After learning more about the city's history, Monte said he envisions a trip to Germany to dig even deeper.
"I want to go to Herborn (Post Falls' associate city and Post's birthplace)," he said with a wide smile.
Marisol, who also has German roots, said she had driven through Post Falls before but this is her first stop.
"My family is relatively new to America — not a lot of roots — so it's cool to be married to someone who has roots in this country," she said.
While Post is the most common name associated with Post Falls' past, Monte has other relatives who helped shape the community.
Alice Martin Williams, Monte's great aunt, was a charter member of the historical society. Clair Martin, his great uncle, was the first World War I soldier to be buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls.
Post Falls historian Kim Brown visited with Monte about his background on Thursday. She's written articles about Post and other family members' contributions to the region and noted similarities between Post's entrepreneurial mind and Monte's job as an aerospace engineer.
"In today's world, (Post) would be an engineer," she told Monte. "I'd say that's in your DNA."
Herborn and Post's name, and those of his brothers, William and Henry, are on streets in Post Falls.
Brown said it's an honor for the society to have Monte visit Post Falls.
"History is the gift of one generation to the next," she said. "Connecting the dots always relates in some way to the present."
Monte said he was proud to hear that Post, according to historians, was respectful of the Tribe. As Post's businesses developed, he was fair and honest in his dealings, whether it involved grinding wheat or selling lumber.
Monte said he takes his family ties to Post in stride and with pride as a fun conversation piece.
"I pale in comparison to him," he said, with a laugh.