Medical Lake is located in the West Plains of Spokane County.  With a population of approximately 4,700, Medical Lake has many unique features and services to offer our small City. Whether it's our wonderful lakes, abundant wildlife, seasonable weather, comprehensive trail system, our close proximity to Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane or the friendly and caring people that make up our community; we have something for everyone. Medical Lake is a nice place to visit, but a great place to live.

History

The history of Medical Lake is closely tied to the natural features of the area. Before European settlers came to the area, many native American tribes inhabited the region. The Native Americans believed in the healing properties of the lake water. All of the tribes in the area traveled to Medical Lake with their sick on a bed of hot stones, and splashed lake water upon the stones. The hot stones turned the water into steam, which then engulfed the sick people. Tribal members also boiled the water to extract mineral salts for medicinal purposes. 

The first European settlers in the area were also attracted to the lakes and other natural resources found nearby. In 1872, Andrew Lefevre, a French-Canadian, Discovered the lake while searching for lost sheep, and decided to bathe in it. He found that the pain from his rheumatism was gone, and thus named the lake "Lac de Medicine," or Medical lake, as it is still called today.  Lefevre soon set up a homestead near the lake, farming until the area became too crowded.  Lefevre then turned his attention to real estate development, including the platting of his own addition. He continued these pursuits until his death in 1900. 

Stanley Hallett was another influential person in the history of Medical Lake and Eastern Washington. Hallett was born in England in 1851, which he left in 1872. In 1877, Hallett arrived in Medical Lake. He realized the value of the land in the area and soon became one of the town's largest land owners and wealthiest entrepreneurs. Hallett profited from the economic boom the lake's reputation provided by marketing Medical Lake soap, salts, and powders. According to distributors, these products could cure most health problems. People began to flock to the lake to see and experience the healing powers of the lake for themselves. 

Medical Lake soon had an excellent reputation as a health spa and vacation area. Hallett, who became wealthy from his holdings, built the magnificent Hallett mansion between 1900 and 1903.  This eclectic brick building was designed to represent an old English castle.  In 1883, Medical Lake had only one saw mill and few settlers. By 1889, the town experienced tremendous growth, featuring eleven hotels and boarding houses, nine liveries, two granite quarries, two lumber yards, eight real estate and insurance companies, twelve general stores, and four saloons. In 1888, due to the influence of Stanley Hallett, as a Representative in Olympia, the Eastern Washington Hospital for the Insane was established. Today, the complex is known as the Eastern State Hospital which continues to specialize in the treatment of individuals with mental
disorders. 

From the 1880's to the early part of the century, Medical Lake remained a flourishing town and popular vacation destination, and boasted a growing community. The lake, however, was dredged of most of its minerals deposits over the years and people began to wonder if the lake ever had the ability to heal its users. The lake showed the effects of the adjacent land developments. Algae blooms destroyed everything, except for the lake's recreational value. When tourism plummeted, many people left Medical Lake and businesses followed in rapid succession. 

In 1943, Fairchild Air Force Base was constructed five miles north of Medical Lake.  This offered the community and the region new economic growth. In 1964, the City installed a sewer system, but by this time the lake quality had degraded to the point that it could not recover to its original pristine state. In 1977, the lake was treated with liquid alum to reduce phosphorous levels. The quality of the lake changed dramatically when the phosphorous levels decreased. In1986, an aerator was installed in the lake to increase oxygen levels and decrease algae blooms. This has helped to improve the lake quality so that it isonce again safe for recreational use.