Former Mormon-Owned Building to be Razed (Riverfront revived)
Spokane WA Spokesman-Review 8Dec99 B2
By Mike Prager: Staff writer

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON -- The city of Spokane plans to raze the turn-of-the-century Spokane Casket Co. factory to make way for a new riverfront park. The building housed the firm from its construction in 1899 until 1954 when it was purchased by then stake president Derald P. Romney and partners. Romney was a half-brother to former Michigan Governor George Romney.

The article doesn't say exactly what Romney and his partners did with the building before they sold it in 1983, when it was purchased by another casket company, but presumably it was still operated as a casket factory. The article does say that Romney was featured in a 1962 article. In the article Derald P. Romney explained that his branch of the family went to Mexico to escape a "period of persecution of the Mormon Church over the polygamy issue."

The demolition of the building, which will begin after any asbestos is removed, will mark a step in the city's plans to create a continuous park downstream from Spokane Falls on both sides of the river.