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The
Brewster Ferry at Gerome |
Gerome: A River Home
William and
Grace King came to Gerome in 1893. They picked a good location at the
mouth of Oropotham creek on the banks of the Columbia. Their lives were
connected to the river by the rich loamy soil and by the steamboats that
hauled their loads on the river. The soil was good for growing peaches,
apples, cherries, berries and much more. The boats took the produce down
to larger markets. Much fruit was hauled to the Colville Valley, which
was too frosty to grow fruit. Wheat was shipped to Creston or Davenport
after bridges and roads were built across the Spokane River. The Emerson
family and Dan Layton both ran sawmills, some people cut cord wood for
the steamboats and others mined.
William King
was an innovative thinker and introduced the ideas of telephones, home
water systems and listening to music through phonographs. He operated
the first Post Office out of his store in 1903. Frank Long operated the
first ferry and Melvin Mattison was the last operator.
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Resident
Frank Long, Ferry Operator |
Gerome was
difficult to reach by road. The only access was a steep narrow road
along the creek, then down Miller Mountain Road. The river road was
built in 1913. Dean Gabber and Joe and Albert Wood using only a level
and a 100 feet of wire stake it out. Other citizens put their skills to
use; Carl Boawn built houses, installed water and was a "renowned
chimney builder." A school was built between Gerome and Fruitland.
They named it Pine View School and twelve students attended the first
year. More families moved to town and the little school grew. Church was
also held in the schoolhouse. In 1942 the schoolhouse was moved to
Fruitland and later became the home of Virgil and Ruth Kemmerer. The
waters of Lake Roosevelt now cover the original town-site of Gerome. (Pioneers
of the Columbia)
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