Editing Moscow, Idaho (section)

===1970 to 2009===
The opening of Moscow Mall (now Eastside Marketplace)<ref name=mmlmt78>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tb5eAAAAIBAJ&pg=1866,2615177|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Moscow Mall moves closer to completion|date=July 9, 1978|page=1D}}</ref><ref name=bfbmml>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z7sjAAAAIBAJ&pg=2421%2C1429588 |work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |last=White |first=Vera |title=Bennett family buys Moscow Mall |date=December 18, 1993 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=emrmmll>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=78EjAAAAIBAJ&pg=4909%2C2965670 |work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |last=White |first=Vera |title=Eastside Marketplace replaces Moscow Mall |date=August 29, 1994 |page=1A}}</ref> and Palouse Empire Mall (now [[Palouse Mall]]) in the late 1970s<ref name=ofacil>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nE9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=6683%2C3561694 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |last=Cross |first=Helen |title=Mall, other facilities rising at Moscow |date=April 30, 1976 |page=3 }}</ref><ref name=ismmfs>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fspeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2613,6006881|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Is Moscow Mall for sale? It depends on who's talking|date=November 15, 1979|page=2C }}</ref> shifted many retail businesses away from the aging city center, with buildings dating to the 1890s.<ref name=midbrickmap>{{cite news|url=http://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ott/id/105|publisher=University of Idaho Library: Ott Historical Photograph Collection|title=Moscow, Idaho (original brick buildings map) |date=c. 1970|access-date=September 5, 2012}}</ref> The&nbsp;city developed a revitalization project for downtown in the early 1970s that included a major traffic revision,<ref name=traf72>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YO9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=1971,2023217|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|title=Road cost cut seen|date=June 21, 1972|page=7}}</ref><ref name=pondrcup>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IpRfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2384%2C5292300 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Joint meeting to ponder Moscow couplet system |date=October 21, 1973 |page=11}}</ref> which was enacted in&nbsp;1981.<ref name=skepcoun>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Yc5eAAAAIBAJ&pg=4820%2C1290114 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |last=Moulton |first=Kristen |title=Moscow developer draws skepticism from council |date=August 4, 1981 |page=6B}}</ref><ref name=dwntwnkm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ys5eAAAAIBAJ&pg=5647%2C1716181|work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |last=Moulton |first=Kristen |title=Downtown |date=August 5, 1981 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=mmstrdy>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a85eAAAAIBAJ&pg=5421%2C5532888 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Moscow Main Street will be ready for traffic Aug. 24 |date=August 14, 1981 |page=2B}}</ref><ref name=uig82>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1982/39|publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Which way do I go?|date=Spring 1982|page=34}}</ref> Traffic from [[U.S. Route 95 in Idaho|US 95]] on Main Street was diverted a block away to one-way corridors on Washington (northbound) and Jackson (southbound) streets, to alleviate congestion and improve pedestrian safety and the overall city center experience.<ref name=onewayor>{{cite news |url=https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/argonaut/id/9738?_ga=2.19858941.474210526.1503119308-374550616.1499903542 |work=Argonaut |publisher=University of Idaho |title=One way or another |date=August 25, 1981 |page=4}}</ref> Main Street was converted from four busy lanes with metered parallel parking to two lanes of local retail traffic with free diagonal parking; its sidewalks were modified and trees were added.<ref name=decdff>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IZMrAAAAIBAJ&pg=3591%2C2596123|newspaper=Idahonian|title=A decade of difference|last=Long|first=Ben|date=July 27, 1991|page=1A}}</ref> At the north end of Moscow, southbound highway traffic divided west at 'D' Street to Jackson and returned to Main at 8th; the northbound route divided east at 8th, but returned to Main four blocks earlier in the north end, {{nowrap|at 1st Street.<ref name=first80>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CINfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3432,1587237|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Moscow agrees to traffic changes|date=July 8, 1980|page=1B}}</ref><ref name=uplbfmc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qoNfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3434%2C1041959 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=United Paving low bidder for Moscow couplet|date=December 3, 1980|page=8B}}</ref>}}

The original 90-degree [[Couplet (traffic)|couplet]]s of 1981 used existing streets of the grid.<ref name=uig82/><ref name=onewayor/> Planners intended these as temporary,<ref name=first80/> but they remained for years. The primary safety hazard was inexperienced truck drivers—excessive speed through the tight corners led to toppled loads and subsequent traffic snarls, with occasional damage to adjacent structures.<ref name=intrs89>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=29ctAAAAIBAJ&pg=5004%2C878655|newspaper=Idahonian|last=McCann|first=Sheila R. |title=Interest stirs again for long-delayed interchange on U.S. 95|date=June 23, 1989|page=1A}}</ref> The new, straighter couplets at the north end are both over a block in length and eliminated existing structures. The return couplet from Washington Street runs from 1st Street to beyond 'A' Street; it eliminated the original front portion (white stucco chapel) of the Corner Club tavern at the northeast corner of 'A' and Main, which was demolished in early 1991<ref name=partyover>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2026&dat=19901207&id=e5MrAAAAIBAJ&pg=2366,638830
|newspaper=Idahonian|last=Long|first=Ben|title=Roadwork ends party in half of Corner Club|date=December 7, 1990|page=1A}}</ref><ref name=ccdem>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cJMrAAAAIBAJ&pg=3129,4216759|newspaper=Idahonian|last=Long|first=Ben|title=A real bar bash: Corner Club demolished|date=January 9, 1991|page=1A}}</ref><ref name=arg191>{{cite news |url=https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/argonaut/id/9072?_ga=2.217479762.57567899.1505954049-374550616.1499903542 |work=Argonaut |publisher=University of Idaho |last=Bartlett |first=Maureen |title=Local "watering hole" torn down |date=January 15, 1991 |page=17}}</ref> after staving off its elimination for over a decade.<ref name=tub>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=isNeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5285,296618 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Johnson|first=David|title=To the Club for a tub!|date=September 2, 1979|page=1B}}</ref> The building on the southeast corner, {{nowrap|the Idaho Hotel,<ref name=idah75>{{cite news|url=http://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ott/id/1|publisher=University of Idaho Library: Ott Historical Photograph Collection|title=Idaho Hotel |year=1975|access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref>}} {{nowrap|built in 1890,<ref name=midbrickmap/>}} was razed for the traffic project in 1977 and was a vacant lot for {{nowrap|over a decade.<ref name=idhtommc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PlZOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5587,3502524|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|last=Cross|first=Helen|title=Hotel yields to cars|date=May 27, 1977|page=3}}</ref><ref name=ottw77>{{cite web|url=http://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ott/id/67|publisher=University of Idaho Library: Ott Historical Photograph Collection|title=Formerly the Location of the Idaho Hotel |date=July 13, 1977|access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref>}}

The first of the new couplets was completed during the summer of 1991.<ref name=crewstart>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2026&dat=19910604&id=7ZMrAAAAIBAJ&pg=1627,523166 |newspaper=Idahonian|last=Long|first=Ben|title=Crews start rerouting Moscow street|date=June 4, 1991|page=12A}}</ref><ref name=frtrffc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G5MrAAAAIBAJ&pg=2509,958861|newspaper=Idahonian|last=Goetsch|first=Lara|title=1st traffic flow through Moscow couplet|date=July 10, 1991|page=12A}}</ref> The new southbound couplet to Jackson Street was completed the following year in 1992<ref name=pave92>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=scUjAAAAIBAJ&pg=2082,5543532|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|title=Clarkston firm wins Moscow project|date=March 27, 1992|page=12A}}</ref> and begins north of 'C' Street. It eliminated a former service station at the northwest corner of 'C' and Main, which had been converted to other retail <!--(305 N. Main, Sea Swiper, Moreno's, Northwestern Mountain Sports)-->for over a decade. The critical couplet at the south end of the city was delayed several times for various reasons.<ref name=intrs89/><ref name=scoupdec94>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tookAAAAIBAJ&pg=6351,1584546|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|last=LaBoe|first=Barbara|title=South couplet back to drawing board|date=December 17, 1994|page=10A}}</ref><ref name=citypitch95>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tookAAAAIBAJ&pg=6351,1584546 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |last=LaBoe |first=Barbara |title=City makes pitch for south couplet |date=May 16, 1995|page=10A}}</ref><ref name=cplt96>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Xs0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5154%2C2138057|work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |last=Burton |first=Gregory H. |title=New state plan will remake Moscow's southern entrance |date=October 25, 1996 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=aheadcp98>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MookAAAAIBAJ&pg=5793,1977440 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |last=Boswell |first=Nina |title=Moscow will move ahead with couplet |date=April 25, 1998|page=1A}}</ref> Completed in 2000,<ref name=scoupfin>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1rVeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2016,3190670 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Moscow work will divert traffic |date=July 27, 2000 |page=7A}}</ref> it is two blocks south and one block east of the 1981 divider at 8th Street. After Sweet Avenue, northbound Main Street bends a block east to align with northbound one-way Washington Street, intersecting the two-way [[Idaho State Highway 8|Troy Highway]] from the southeast. Southbound US 95 traffic joins the intersection from the northwest, arriving on a one-way diagonal from Jackson Street. Agricultural buildings on the block between Jackson and Main (College St. to Lewis St.) were razed in the late 1990s to complete this new corridor.<ref name=citypitch95/> The&nbsp;completion of the south couplet allowed [[Gritman Medical Center]] to expand southward, over Eighth Street.

Another significant change to local commerce was the increase of the state's legal [[U.S. history of alcohol minimum purchase age by state|drinking age]] to 21 in April 1987,<ref name=idnow21>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sZMrAAAAIBAJ&pg=3109%2C1088682|title=Late birthday means two-year wait to drink|newspaper=Idahonian|last=Trillhase|first=Marty|date=April 10, 1987|page=1}}</ref><ref name=id21sc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g4NOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5045%2C2169544|newspaper=Spokane Chronicle|agency=Associated Press|title=In Idaho, be 19 today, or gone tomorrow|date=April 10, 1987|page=1}}</ref> after nearly fifteen years at age&nbsp;19.<ref name=srid190772>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ae9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=7404%2C5645510|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|title=Bar business boom?|date=June 30, 1972|page=9}}</ref><ref name=sdcid19072>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MaNYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7224%2C4260481 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=UPI |title=Idahoans to see several changes|date=June 30, 1972|page=6}}</ref> Many establishments that relied on revenues from 19- and 20-year-olds from the two university communities had to adjust or cease operations.<ref name=newage21>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RpQrAAAAIBAJ&pg=2211%2C141287 |newspaper=Idahonian |title=The Palouse in review: #3 - A new legal drinking age |date=January 1, 1988 |page=1A}}</ref> Prior to the lowering to 19 in July 1972, the drinking age in Idaho was 20 for beer and 21 for liquor and wine.<ref name=bldat19>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B9ovAAAAIBAJ&pg=4452,1019951 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Bills lower drinking age to 19 in Idaho |agency=Associated Press |date=March 18, 1972 |page=1}}</ref>

[[File:Moscow-id-us-main-st-rain.png|thumb|right|Downtown Moscow in 2007, at Main & 5th streets]]
A fixture of the Moscow skyline for nearly a century,<ref name=aerph52>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WnxWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6990%2C3987271 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |agency=(aerial photo)|title=Moscow, Idaho, second in air series, shows its postwar growth |date=July 21, 1952 |page=14 }}</ref> the concrete grain elevators on south Main Street were demolished in March 2007.<ref name=feb07lmt>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OXhfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5983,3668137 |newspaper=Lewiston Tribune |last=Mills |first=Joel |title=Moscow skyline is getting a new look|date=February 13, 2007|page=1A}}</ref> Located on the southwest corner of 8th & Main, the elevators were last operated by the Latah County Grain Growers.<ref name=eight30>{{cite web|url=http://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ott/id/421|publisher=University of Idaho Library: Ott historical photograph collection|title=SW corner, 8th & Main streets|year=1930|access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name=main8elev>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7alfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4716%2C2614089 |newspaper=Lewiston Tribune|title=Going down|last=Mills |first=Joel |date=March 25, 2007 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=wboc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wNsyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3358%2C1985932|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|title=Wrecking ball of change|date=March 16, 2007|page=1A}}</ref> The other major concrete elevator complex, on Jackson Street south of 6th,<ref name=six80>{{cite web|url=http://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ott/id/447|publisher=University of Idaho Library: Ott historical photograph collection|title=6th & Jackson streets|date=July 31, 1980|access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name=waymrk>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCCPP|work=Waymarking.com|title=Latah County Grain Growers Inc - Miller Elevator - Moscow ID.|access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref> was also slated for the wrecking ball. Idle since 2005, a preservationist group saved it in 2007.<ref name=mpdn2007>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xF4zAAAAIBAJ&pg=1992,2310110|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|last=Drawhorn|first=Omie|title=Grain elevators to be spared|date=February 20, 2007 |page=1A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2007 |title=Group buys Moscow grain elevator, saving it from destruction |url=http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2007/07/28/news/ag_news/news14.txt#selection-1313.9-1313.22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116150932/http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2007/07/28/news/ag_news/news14.txt#selection-1313.9-1313.22 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=September 1, 2012 |website=Ag Weekly}}</ref><ref name=invgrp>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VGpfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4259%2C2231778 |newspaper=Lewiston Tribune |last=Mills |first=Joel |title=Investment group keeps Moscow elevator standing|date=July 23, 2007|page=4A}}</ref> Its newer large-diameter metal silo hosted summer theater productions in 2011.<ref name=theatersilo>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2017482540_apidshakespeareinasilo1stldwritethru.html |newspaper=Seattle Times|agency=Associated Press|last=Geranios|first=Nicholas K.|title=New Moscow theater located in grain silo|date=February 11, 2012}}</ref>