Valley connects the history of its schoolhouses with the Valley Fair, whose first event began as a school function. The area’s history in the context of the railway and the nearby North Huckleberry Mountains are also part of the picture. This gives you a way to distinguish between historical local landmarks, the Fair’s community and agricultural themes, and access to public BLM land when planning your trip.
Local History and Schoolhouses
The name Valley comes from its location in the Colville Valley, at the entrance to the main valley to the north. One precise date in the area’s history is July 29, 1891: Daniel C. Corbin platted Valley as the Spokane Falls & Northern Railway was being built. The place name and date provide different kinds of context: the name explains the geographic designation, while the platting and date are connected to the railway’s construction.
The Little White Schoolhouse in Valley was built in 1916 as an addition to the original schoolhouse, constructed in 1905, on the property. Of Valley’s three historic school buildings, only the addition remains. The years mark two phases of construction: the original schoolhouse from 1905 and the addition built in 1916. The Valley Schoolhouse was moved to the Valley Fairgrounds on July 15, 2020. Unlike 1905 and 1916, this date marks a change of location.
Other historic landmarks also add to the area’s history: 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. Alongside the schoolhouses, a cemetery and a store are therefore named points of interest in the area’s history. The years 1905, 1908, and 1916 can be understood as different construction dates.
Valley Fair: Origins and Goals
The first Valley Fair was held in 1932 as a school event. Today, the Valley Community Fair Association aims to preserve an “old-fashioned” fair atmosphere, strengthen community spirit, provide young people in the region with learning experiences, and promote interest in agriculture, livestock, and rural life. The Association’s goals connect the Fair’s school origins with education and community; agriculture and livestock add to its rural focus. If the Fair is important to your trip, check the event dates in advance.
North Huckleberry Mountains and Access
The North Huckleberry Mountains are near Valley and are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). From Valley, access leads west via Waitts Lake Road and Klines Meadow Road for 8.75 miles to the boundary of public BLM land. The distance refers to the route to that boundary. Road conditions and seasonal access may change. Check access conditions and management status before setting out.
Planning options therefore include different points of focus: the dated local and schoolhouse history, the Valley Community Fair Association’s goals, and the named road route to the mountains. You can decide which matters most for your stay based on your interests, without equating the historical information with a current Fair date or the route with a travel time.
Discover more destinations: Kettle Falls, Loon Lake, Northport
For the broader travel overview: Stevens County.
