The Monaghan Mansion in Spokane, Washington has been dear to my heart for over 30 years. It’s home to the Gonzaga Music Department. I’m in Spokane this week teaching social media clock hour classes for local real estate agents. My hotel is only a few blocks from here by the Convention Center. I've been thinking about this pilgrimage for many years and I finally have the opportunity to drop by this Tuesday afternoon, March 27, 2012 after work. It was almost 5:00 pm and closing time but I had a few minutes to realize my long time quest and give quiet thanks to this wonderful place.
I'm delighted I remember this place so well and happy to see it in such a beautiful state of repair. I first came here in the summer of 1976 as a starving artist who needed to find a place where I could use a piano to practice and compose. It was providence I'm sure, for this was the first place I discovered. Both faculty and students were truly gracious and welcoming. I was here almost every day after school hours, weekends, and often worked into the wee hours of the night.
It was life changing. There were several rooms, each with a grand piano. I had a job at a local hotel restaurant washing dishes and though the job was grueling and thankless I looked forward every day to getting off shift and couldn't wait to get here to sit down at one of these beautiful instruments.
You couldn't ask for a better setting than this lovely old place with it's grand staircase, high ceilings, and leaded glass windows. I can’t begin to express how important this was to me. My favorite room was up those two flights of stairs and to the left. It had a beautiful Steinway 6 foot grand.
The years have passed so quickly and I’ve sadly forgotten the names of those individuals that so graciously accepted and supported me and my time here. I am eternally grateful to you all for this creative period in my life. Thank you Gonzaga! I'm so happy I got to stop by, say hello, and give thanks.
Gonzaga University Music Department
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