Andrew LeFevre (Medical Lake)

"The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest." Portland, OR: Oregonian Publishing Co., 1894. pg. 446.

Around the shores of the Great Medicine Lake as Medical Lake was called by the Indians, camped the sick and the afflicted members of the Colville and Coeur d'Alene tribes of Indians long before the white man invaded this part of Washington. To this little lake, nestling beneath a granite cliff at the edge of the Big Bend country, came the Indians from the tribal lands many suns distant. To them it was a sacred spot furnished by the Great Spirit for the benefit of the sick and debilitated who found renewed vigor by bathing in its waters.

The healing and curative properties of the waters of Medical Lake have given it a wide-spread reputation, and it is not infrequently referred to as the "Modern Pool of Siloam." The density of this water is as great as is that of Great Salt Lake in Utah. The least rubbing of the surface of the body touched by the water immediately produces a lather equal to that produced by the best soap. Medical Lake salt evaporated from the waters of the lake now finds a sale in all parts of the United States. It imparts to water in which it is dissolved the properties of the waters of Medical Lake itself. During the summer months thousands of tourists and invalids visit the lake, and excursion trains are run tri-weekly during the season between Medical Lake and the neighboring city of Spokane.

In 1872 Mr. A. LeFevre, a native of France, visited the lake and pre-empted a claim of 160 acres of land along its shores. For years he had been afflicted with paralysis of the right arm caused by rheumatism. Noticing one day some sheep that had the scab plunging into the lake his curiosity was excited. An inspection a few days later of these same sheep led to the discovery that the scab had entirely disappeared. Mr. LeFevre at once determined to apply a little of the water to his arm. To his great surprise the blood soon began to circulate naturally in the afflicted member. A few weeks later the last trace of the former paralysis disappeared and today Mr. LeFevre, who is a highly respected and wealthy citizen of Medical Lake, emphasizes the story of his cure by gesticulating with the very arm of which for years he was denied the use.

Rapid settlement followed Mr. LeFevre's location at Medical Lake. It at once became a great resort for invalids. On the east bank of the lake has since sprung up an attractive and prosperous town which bears the name of the lake on it which it is located. The town of Medical Lake contains today about 1,000 people. It is in Spokane county, 20 miles west of Spokane by the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern branch of the Northern Pacific, and 10 miles west of Cheney by the Central Washington branch of the same road. Immediately west of Medical Lake and occupying a commanding and picturesque location on the summit of a high hill overlooking the placid waters of the lake is the Eastern Washington Hospital for the insane. A short distance from the immense structure occupied by the asylum are great granite quarries. Stone from these quarries is in great demand in Washington, and the quarrying of this stone is Medical Lake's most important industry.

Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.