Spokane in Spokane County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Byron C. Riblet
1865-1952
| | Inventor, Surveyor, Engineer | |
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, August 30, 2025
1. Byron C. Riblet Marker
Hallie Jane Chapman Riblet
1873-1959
Daughter
Josephine Alice Riblet
1893-1961
Byron Christian B.C. Riblet was born at Osage, Iowa, on February 20, 1865, to William Jackson and Annie Bell (Sutherland) Riblet. Byron was raised on the family farm with his older brother, Walter, and younger siblings, Royal and Nelly. Graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1885 with a degree in civil engineering, he first worked for the Minneapolis & Pacific Railroad Company survey crew as a rodman.
Byron's experience with railroad surveying brought him to Spokane in 1886, during the early street railway period. He was involved with surveying the route for Francis Cook's steam-powered Spokane and Montrose Park Railway line, the first motorized street railway in Spokane, serving Spokane's south hill. Byron also surveyed and designed the layout of tracks and bridges for the Spokane and Palouse, Railroad Company line and the Washington and Idaho Railway line connecting the Cataldo Mission to Wallace, Idaho. Byron conducted a general engineering business, designing and constructing the Ross Park Electric Railway, the
this page online
Byron served as designing engineer for the City of Spokane's Upriver Dam, drawing the plans for its pumping plant and distribution system. He also designed 40 miles of electric rail lines throughout the city for the Washington Water Power Company. During this time he and his business partner, John W. Strack, laid out many of the original plats for the City of Spokane and the surrounding area, including the Twickenham Addition (near Natatorium Park), Havermale Island, and the town of Mead.
In 1895, Byron became chief engineer for the Noble Five Mining Company at Sandon, British Columbia, installing a hydroelectric plant and his first aerial tramway. He devoted the following year and a half to engineering for various mining companies in British Columbia. Byron developed and patented improvements to aerial tramways, including self-dumping buckets and cable connections. His new business venture was born and, with numerous mines installing and rebuilding his tramways, success was guaranteed. The Riblet Tramway Company was
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, August 30, 2025
2. Wide-angle view of Byron C. Riblet Marker
During the Great Depression, the mining business suffered an economic downturn. Around 1933, Riblet Tramway Company employee Carl Hansen convinced Byron to shift the focus to ski lifts, and, in 1938-39, their first chairlift was installed at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon. Soon after this success, the company began to win contracts to design and build ski lifts around the country. In 1945, they helped the Mount Spokane Ski Club erect Washington State's first chairlift on Mount Spokane. This is considered the first double chairlift in the world. The Riblet Tramway Company supplied their lifts, to around 500 ski resorts across the country and designed and installed the A&W Skyride and gondola for Expo '74 in Spokane.
On February 14,
3. Byron C. Riblet marker dedication
Byron passed away on July 5, 1952, and his ashes were placed at Fairmount Memorial Park in storage. As wife Hallie, and daughter Josephine passed away, their ashes were placed with his. In 2021, the Spokane Historical Monument Committee and Fairmount Memorial Association collaborated with family members to have their ashes interred with this monument in memory of one of Spokane's earliest prominent citizens and his family.
Byron's former partner John Strack's family graciously donated the land that this monument is standing on.
This Monument was Erected and was Dedicated August 28, 2021
Erected 2021 by Fairmount Memorial
4. DAR with the marker at dedication.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 20, 1865.
Location. 47° 42.159′ N, 117° 29.364′ W. Marker is in Spokane, Washington, in Spokane County. It can be reached from West Wellesley Avenue west of N Hartley St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5200 W Wellesley Ave, Spokane WA 99205, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Herbert Bolster (within shouting distance of this marker); Elizabeth Tappan Tannatt Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas Redding Tannatt / Elizabeth Forster Tappan (about 300 feet away); Matsutaro and Hatsume Kawaguchi (about 400 feet away); A Legacy of Joy and Wonderful Memories (about 700 feet away); Jesse Ray Drowley (approx. 0.3 miles away); Never Forget Garden (approx. 0.6 miles away); Whist-Alks Way (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spokane.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Col. George Wright (was approx. 2.3 miles away but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . Byron C. Riblet. Fairmount Memorial Association (Submitted on October 20, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 3, 4. submitted on October 27, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
