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Noble A. Rolfe

Noble Ardillas Rolfe was born in Burnside, Iowa on July 6, 1870. At the age of 23 he married Clara Melissa Hammerly of that city. During the next six years they became parents of three sons, Verne, Cyril and Hollis, all born in Burnside.

The early 1900's found the family moving to the State of Washington. They first settled in Almira where Noble's interest in fine furniture led him to operate a furniture store there. A few years later the opportunity to establish his own privately owned bank in Oaksdale encouraged him to move his family to that location.

The next step was to establish his own bank in the larger city of Cheney. This proved to be a wise move financially coupled with the advantages of living in a locale which offered better educational facilities for his family. The Rolfe's settled in quickly and were welcomed by the community. Noble entered into the civic affairs of the city. His knowledge of good business practices soon gained him a seat on the city council several times before he was elected Mayor in 1919. He was administered the oath of office by retiring City Clerk, J.P. Lasher.

As in preceding administrative terms the city was plagued by water problems. Mayor Rolfe appointed E.F. Betz as Water Superintendent with the added responsibility of acting as Street Commissioner.

One of the primary questions to arise in the first year of Mayor Rolfe's administration was that of installing water meters. Due discussion among the city governing body resulted in the decision to install the meters.

Along with the usual business of paying current bills from the appropriate funds the Mayor and council were faced with the controversial subject of removing trees growing in the middle of Second Street between Union St. and the Township Hall. The order was finally given to cut them down.

The City apparently had control of the Fairview Cemetery in the early 1920's as Mayor Rolfe appointed a new cemetery committee composed of A. Betz, Chairman; Mrs. Laura Tyler, Mrs. Ray Peterson, Mrs. Van Patten, J.F. Spangle, Mrs. N. Page and Mrs. Lasher.

In 1919 special bills presented the City was one for fighting fire. Thirteen men were paid $13.00 for fire fighting, based on the pay scale of $1.00 per hour.

Salaries for the year 1920 (yes, for the entire 12 months) were set as follows:

• Police Dept. $1,050.00
• City Attorney $ 300.00
• City Clerk $ 300.00
• City Treasurer $ 180.00
• City Health Officer $ 120.00
• Water Superintendent $ 600.00
• City Fire Commissioner $ 120.00
• Deputy Day Marshal was appointed to act without compensation.

Improvements of many types were on the agenda for approval of the council as suggested by Mayor Rolfe. In the spring months of 1920 a drinking fountain was installed in the park and in use. The city put in a fire plug at Second and Normal (now College Ave.) using a second-hand fire plug. $500.00 was spent by the City on improvements at the Fish Lake Municipal Park. This amount met with protest from some of the citizens but the council passed the budget anyhow. These are but a few of the matters settled by the Mayor and council in the four years of Mayor Rolfe's term.

Aside from City duties Mayor Rolfe was an accomplished speaker in demand for organizations and other groups who needed advice on the subjects of money management, medium of exchange and banking systems of the era.

Socially the family made many friends. Noble Rolfe especially enjoyed the company of Sam Webb, Clarence D. Martin and George Craig. He and the latter were good fishing partners, fishing the local lakes as well as often going to Lake Pend Oreille.

In the early 1930's Noble and Clara Rolfe left Cheney. He again invested in his own bank, this time in Opportunity, a section of the Spokane Valley. Some time later he and his youngest son, Hollis, by then a man in his 30's, bought and operated a downtown Spokane service station. In 1939 Hollis bought out his father's interest and Noble decided the time to retire had arrived. From that time on, his consuming love of creating items from wood occupied his life. His skill in woodworking earned the admiration of viewers. His grandson and namesake, N.A. Rolfe, who still lives in Spokane prizes several beautiful and functional pieces of furniture made by his grandfather.

The active and creative life of Noble A. Rolfe ended on May 16, 1947. He was interred in a Spokane cemetery.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.