(Blogger’s note: You can read at Part 1 of this story here.)

In 1982, I could see there probably wasn’t much future for me at Spokane Steel Foundry due to the collapse of the steel industry in the United States. Since there was little for me to do, and seeing the writing on the wall, I began to look for more woodworking opportunities on my own time.

As things progressed I started a small business and registered it as The Design Factory. I was awarded a few wood sign and landscape structure design and build jobs for Clyde Haase Landscape Construction. With this start I was able to hire a few people and obtain work with other landscape architects and contractors.

The first person I hired was Fred Ploeger, a friend and artist who was going through a difficult time in his personal life. By the time Spokane Steel Foundry was forced to let me go in 1984, I had found enough woodwork projects to employ 3 or 4 more persons, and after working out of our house in Painted Hills for a short time, I rented a 20’ X 40’ shop in the metal building at the corner of Argonne Rd. and Sprague Ave. from Andy Dahlman.

In this shop we completed some interesting work including a 20’ gazebo for the Seventh-Day Adventist Retirement Home in Lewiston, Idaho, several deck and patio enclosures for Clyde Haase and Environment West Architects, signs for a private residence in Hawaii and the Northtowner Restaurant, five apartment complexes in Seattle, several glass-walled hot tub enclosures, a large sign for Sunrise Farms, and various other things I can’t remember.

Ken Kaiyala
09-05-2023