Valley: Schoolhouse History, Fair and Mountains

Valley offers two distinct starting points for planning a vacation: the history of a place whose platting was connected to railroad construction, and the nearby North Huckleberry Mountains. Schoolhouse, cemetery and fair history add to the picture. You can shape your stay around whether you mainly want to explore the town’s history or also plan an outing into the mountain area. For families, this offers a way to alternate between local history and planning time in nature.

Local History: Railroad, School and Community

Valley got its name because it lies in the Colville Valley at the entrance to the main valley to the north. On July 29, 1891, Daniel C. Corbin platted Valley as the Spokane Falls & Northern Railway was being built. The two details offer different points of reference: the name refers to Valley’s location in the Colville Valley, while the platting date connects it to railroad construction.

The “Little White Schoolhouse” was built in 1916 as an addition to the original schoolhouse, built in 1905. Of the three historic school buildings in Valley, only the addition remains. The Valley Schoolhouse was moved to the Valley Fairgrounds on July 15, 2020. The construction dates of 1905 and 1916 show the sequence of the original schoolhouse and its addition; the 2020 move is another dated aspect of local history.

The Old Valley Cemetery was the first cemetery in the Valley area and is also known as Abrahamson Graves. Kulzer's Mercantile was built in 1908. Together, these topics draw attention to different aspects of the past: education, burial and commerce.

For families, the history can be explored through several questions: What role did the railroad play in the platting, how did the schoolhouses develop, and what topics are central to the Valley Fair? In this way, individual dates become different strands in the story of the place.

North Huckleberry Mountains and Outdoor Planning

The North Huckleberry Mountains are near Valley and are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. From Valley, the route via Waitts Lake Road and Klines Meadow Road runs 8.75 miles to the boundary of public BLM land. Road conditions and seasonal access can change; check both before your drive.

This presents two distinct focuses for planning your trip: Valley’s historic topics and the route into the nearby mountain area. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Valley, consider whether you want your stay to focus mainly on local history or to include planning an outing to the North Huckleberry Mountains. The described route is a specific planning consideration, while local history offers a different focus.

The Valley Fair: Origins and Goals

The first Valley Fair was held in 1932 as a school event. The Valley Community Fair Association aims to preserve an “old-fashioned” fair atmosphere, strengthen community spirit, offer learning experiences to local young people, and promote interest in agriculture, livestock and rural life. The year marks the fair’s origins; the Association’s goals identify the themes it highlights today.

Visitors choosing Valley for a stay can therefore explore its history from different angles: railroad construction and the town’s name, schoolhouses and other local topics, as well as the themes of community and agriculture. Together with the nearby mountain region, these topics offer a clear choice for vacation planning: should the focus be on the town’s history, or would you also like to include the route to BLM land?

Discover more destinations: Kettle Falls, Northport, Loon Lake.

For the broader travel overview: Stevens County.