The Confluence Gallery
Much like today, the Confluence Gallery resides in a part of the valley that was bustling with commerce and social activity in the early 1900's. Henry C. Glover, for whom Glover Street is named, once homesteaded on land where the Confluence Gallery is located.
Henry Glover's cabin was located near present day 2nd Ave. in Twisp
Glover STREET
Before Twisp was established, Glovers-ville was attempting to take root. The 160-acre homestead of Henry Glover, who arrived in 1887, was platted into 12 blocks and 114 lots. Eventually, Glovers-ville merged with Twisp, which was platted by Amanda Burgar in 1899. Glover Street, where the Confluence Gallery is located today, is named for this early settler.
PAST AND PRESENT
Glover's homestead was located along the convergence of the Twisp and Methow Rivers.
The Confluence Gallery is the yellow outline in the middle of the photo. The Twisp River is the bend in the top left and the Methow River runs along the right side of the photo.
The building where Confluence Gallery resides was likely not built until the 1940's. Tax records indicate 1946 as the construction date and the property was likely owned by George D. Zahn. In the 1970's, the building housed Hank's grocery store before Hank's relocated to their current location.
While the Shafer Museum doesn't have many photos of the exact building site where the Confluence Gallery sits today, there are many records about Twisp's downtown area. Twisp started to emerge as a commercial center in the early 1900's and businesses came and went through the years. The town suffered two major disasters - the 1924 fire and the 1948 flood. Both of these events impacted the area where the Confluence Gallery is located today.
Downtown Twisp in the early 1900's.
Glover Street in the 1940's
SCENES AFTER THE 1924 FIRE
Around 1:30 in the morning on July 24, 1924 a fire started at the home of Twisp resident, Dr. Holmes. Aided by strong winds, the fire quickly spread through Glover Street, engulfing 23 buildings within half an hour. A gas tank exploded at the Twisp Mercantile and the fire hose cart burned before it could be pulled out of its location in a burning building. A couple hours after the initial fire had started, only a few buildings managed to survive the flames.
The Moore Hotel (present day Methow Valley Inn) sustained some damage, but survived because of wet towels and blankets that were placed on the roof by firefighters.
Despite the extensive damage to the valley's commercial hub, rebuilding efforts started quickly.
SCENES AFTER THE 1948 FLOOD
The white building pictured above is still standing today at the corner of Glover Street and 2nd Ave. The building to the right is where Confluence Gallery is located. The truck parked in front is for distributing drinking water after the 1948 flood that destroyed buildings and bridges.
The spring of 1948 started out warm in March, but winter circled back around with weeks of cold weather in April and May, adding more snowpack in the mountains. The apple trees weren't blossoming and people began to wonder if spring would ever arrive. Then suddenly, it did, and many folks who had experienced a bad flood year in 1894 began to wonder if the conditions were ripe for another one.
In late May the weather turned hot and the rains came pouring down. The river started rising swiftly, at first carrying soil from eroded banks, then trees, then buildings and infrastructure. Not a single bridge remained after the flood waters receded and locals were left isolated. The only way into the valley was by cable car or airplane and only a few brave pilots risked the short runway, which was a local ballfield with just enough room and not more than 10 feet to spare.
Crossing the river via cable car was the only access (except by plane) until the bridges were rebuilt
Debris and damaged roadway after the flood waters started to recede
The Confluence enriches the communities of Okanogan County with a quality art gallery, art education programs, and artist cultivation efforts.
104 S Glover St, Twisp, WA 98856