Hidden Gems: The Home of Jacob "Dutch Jake" Goetz
In Spokane’s historic West Central neighborhood stands the home of pioneer Jacob Goetz—better known as “Dutch Jake.” A native of Frankfurt, Germany, Goetz made his fortune alongside his friend and business partner Harry Baer through grubstaking miners in the Coeur d’Alene district, eventually striking it rich with the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines.
With their newfound wealth, the two men left the Silver Valley and settled in Spokane Falls in 1887. By April 1888, they laid the cornerstone for the Frankfurt Block, a grand four-story brick and granite building on the corner of Main Avenue and Howard Street. Designed to house a hotel, casino, and saloon, the project was nearing completion by the following year. Elaborate fixtures worth $30,000 had just arrived from Chicago when disaster struck: the Great Fire of August 4, 1889, swept through downtown Spokane, reducing the Frankfurt—and everything they had invested— to ashes.
Undeterred, Goetz and Baer quickly regrouped. They had a massive circus tent shipped from Portland and erected “Dutch Jake’s Beer Garden”—a 200-by-50-foot venue that would entertain hundreds of guests every night and up to 1,000 guests on a Saturday night. The temporary structure proved wildly successful, generating enough revenue to fund the rebuilding of the Frankfurt.
However, the economic downturn following the Panic of 1893 brought another misfortune, and the men lost the Frankfurt. Refusing to give up, the partners pivoted and constructed the Coeur d’Alene Hotel at the southeast corner of Front Avenue and Howard Street. More than a hotel, the Coeur d’Alene became a sprawling entertainment hub with a restaurant, saloon, theater, dance hall, and gambling room. At its peak, it was the largest gambling establishment in the Northwest and helped cement Goetz and Baer’s reputation as visionary entrepreneurs. Though gambling was technically illegal, the establishment was considered so respectable that local law enforcement largely turned a blind eye. Known for their generosity, the two men gave freely to local charities and causes, becoming beloved figures in Spokane Falls. This was the legacy they left long after their passing.
In 1895, Jacob Goetz purchased four lots in Nettleton’s First Addition and built a handsome eight-room home at 2420 W. Gardner Avenue—just a few blocks from Harry Baer’s residence on Broadway Avenue. In 1923, an addition was built onto the east side of the house, adding three large rooms and a bathroom. Jacob and his wife Louise raised their three children—Harry, Helen, and Jacob Jr.—in the home.
Louise passed away in 1912, and Jacob followed in 1927. The family sold the home in 1930, and it was subsequently converted into apartments.
As the neighborhood declined, the once-stately house fell into disrepair. By the late 1980s, it had become a source of concern in the neighborhood, plagued by safety violations. In July 1989, the City of Spokane condemned the property and ordered the demolition of the home and its carriage house. As it stood vacant, it was frequently vandalized and nearly gutted of it's fixtures. It appears that the owner at the time may have forfeited the home or otherwise lost possession of it to the city.
But fate had one more turn in store. In 1990, the home was sold at a sheriff’s auction to its current owners under the condition that the home would be restored and maintained as a single family home. They undertook the monumental task of restoring it to its former glory. Thanks to their dedication, both the house and the carriage house have been masterfully restored and now stand proudly as a testament to Spokane’s rich architectural and pioneer heritage.
Please be mindful that this home is a private residence. Do not disturb the occupants.
©2025 Erika Deasy, unless otherwise noted.