The Iron Heart of Hillyard
đźš‚ The Iron Heart of Hillyard
đź“ŤHillyard | Born 1892
Before Hillyard was a Spokane neighborhood, it was a city built around steam.
Founded by James J. Hill, “The Empire Builder” himself, Hillyard was the creation of the Great Northern Railway. Hill picked the spot to build a massive rail yard and locomotive repair facility—and like magic, a town grew around it.
(That’s where the name comes from: Hill + yard = Hillyard 🔧🚂)
By the early 1900s, Hillyard was booming. It had its own mayor, newspaper, saloons, schools, and a whole lot of grime and pride. Kids grew up listening to the clang of wrenches, and families lived by the rhythm of trains.
👷‍♂️ Workers in the yard repaired steam locomotives the size of small buildings.
They were some of the best mechanics in the West, and they passed their skills down through generations.
🧱 Fun Fact:
Many of the original brick buildings from the rail yard days still stand—and the neighborhood is fiercely proud of its blue-collar roots.
