(Click on picture to view larger image)
"Spokane and The Spokane Country - Pictorial and Biographical - Deluxe Supplement." Vol. II. The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912. (No author listed.) pgs. 146-149.
"THERE'S a whole lot of us that are poorer since he's gone, for he was a man
whose friendship was worth more than money," was a tribute paid to Harry Green
when he was called from this life. It was but one of many such expressions
that were heard on every hand and among all who knew him, for he was a
whole-souled, generous man, possessed of a large fund of humor and a kindly
disposition.
He was born at Prenn, in the province of Poland, August 10, 1863, and
was therefore more than forty-seven years of age when he passed away at the
Hotel Ridpath in Spokane on the 14th of December, 1910. His parental name was
Harry Gurinsky, which by due process of law he had changed to Green after
coming to Spokane. After coming to America, when fifteen years of age, he
spent several years in Texas, where he was engaged in various pursuits, and in
1891 he arrived in this city. From that time forward he was particularly
prominent in the sporting circles of the Pacific coast as the owner of fine
racing stables, as a breeder of fine dogs, as a promoter of baseball and in
other ways. The element of chance in anything always awakened in him interest
and yet he had the qualities too, of a conservative business man of sound
judgment, as was manifest in his investments in property and valuable stocks.
In October, 1900, he acquired a one-half interest in the Club cafe, being an
equal partner with Messrs. Scott and Sorg, this relation continuing for ten
years or until the death of Mr. Green. He owned a racing stable for several
years, entering his horses for the big stakes offered by the Oakland, Los
Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Spokane racing associations. His horse Royalty
was the winner of the Seattle and Spokane derbies of 1903. In California he
was a conspicuous figure for the heavy stakes which he put upon his favorites
and one of the San Francisco papers therefore called him "The Duke of
Spokane", which sobriquet clung to him for years.
It was Mr. Green who took hold of the baseball team of Spokane when it
was at the bottom of a long list of city teams and promoted its interests
until the team became a recognized factor in baseball circles in the
northwest. In 1902, long before baseball had been placed on its present
businesslike basis, Mr. Green purchased an interest in the Spokane
Northwestern League Club and as the result of his efforts he gave Spokane one
of its best and most popular ball teams. He promoted Spokane's first aviation
meet, largely financing the movement which brought Hamilton, the well known
aviator, to this city. He likewise became interested in the theatrical world
through his intimate friend, John Considine of Seattle, and was the owner of
stock in the Orpheum and the Washington theaters of Spokane and also in
Vancouver theaters. He was a promoter of boxing contests and the owner of one
of the finest kennels of the northwest.
On the 18th of June, 1892, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss
Emma Thatcher, of Spokane, who survived him together with three brothers, an
uncle, a cousin and an adopted child, Helene J. He left his widow most
comfortably provided for by reason of his well directed investments in
business. He at times met heavy losses in his sporting interests but no one
ever heard him complain of this.
When he passed away words of regret were heard on every hand and such
tributes were paid to him as: "I knew him for twenty years and I never knew
him to do a mean trick." Another said: "Harry Green was the most popular man
Spokane ever had. He had a personal speaking acquaintance with thousands and
always a good word for all of them." Another said: "When you say that Green
was a lover of fine horses and fine dogs, you can pay him no higher
compliment, for there's always a lot of good in such a man. With animals he
was gentle just as he was with his friends." Death came to him after a twelve
days' illness with pneumonia and impressive funeral services were held in the
Eagles Hall, which proved entirely too small to accommodate his many friends
who gathered to pay their last tribute of friendship and respect to him. One
of the local papers said: "Scarcely less impressive than the outpouring of
friends at the funeral exercises were the floral tributes. The entire south
end of the hall, the rostrum and the casket in front of it were literally
buried in flowers. There were roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, lilies and
smilax worked into the most elaborate designs." Judge J. Stanley Webster,
president of the order, paid high tribute to him in a brief address, saying:
"He was both a friend and a brother. He valued liberty, love and the truth and
was just in his dealings with all men. He believed in the hereafter and in
God. He did what he thought was right at all times and he has gone to his
reward." His friends were found in every rank and walk of life, a fact which
indicated his intellectual hospitality. He had the faculty of putting all at
ease in his presence and his whole life seemed to radiate good nature and
kindliness. It is said that he was particularly the friend of the man who is
"down and out"-a characteristic that is found in few and indicates a nature
that is indeed commendable. He was indeed always held in high esteem for his
personal integrity, his thorough manliness, his whole-hearted spirit and his
generosity.
Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton
* * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individuals featured in the biographies.