Meyers Falls

Meyers Falls is now named after Louther Meyers, an early settler who bought the rights to use the water power from the Colville River from the Hudson Bay Company.  Hudson Bay had a grist mill here in 1830, 4 years after they set up Hudson Bay Fort Colvile just north of the Kettle Falls on the Columbia in 1826.

It has been a working source of hydro-power ever since, making it the oldest source of water power in continual use west of the Mississippi River.

In 1843 the grist mill was upgraded with new stones and a professional miller, Mr Goudy.  This mill was a critical factor in the production of flour supplied to Hudson Bay outposts throughout the region.  The international border was not agreed on until 1846 and not established until 1860 when control of the region went from Canadian to American hands.  Even after the transition from Hudson Bay to US control this mill supplied flour to settlers and military at Military Fort Colville and later at Fort Spokane.

Louther Meyer built a saw mill on the site of the present day interpretive center on the flat above the falls in 1890.  It produced up to 20,000 board feet of lumber in a day.  He also established the town of Meyers Falls on the site of present day Kettle Falls.  It was renamed after Old Kettle Falls moved when Grand Coulee Dam was built in 1938.  (see Old Kettle Falls - stop 8 on this tour).  The main street is Meyers St.  Stops 3 and 5 also deal with Louther Meyers, a major developer of both Kettle Falls and Colville.  He started a brick factory just upstream from this site from 1900 to 1908.

Hydro-electric power from the falls started in 1903, was upgraded in 1910 and 1915 and with further development is still generates power for about 1000 homes today.

This site is open for daytime use most days.  It is privately owned but there is a great deal of interpretation available and it is still a nice spot to enjoy the river and the falls.