Meyers Falls: The City of Prosperity

A brave young carpenter from Ontario founded Meyers Falls. The founder’s name was Louther Meyers. He married Mary E. Spaulding in 1854 in Hudson, NY. They moved back to Ontario and Meyers found that it was a hard time to support a family. So, he left them, and at age 29 set out to seek his fortune in the West. He carried his compass, a muzzel-loading shotgun and a few carpentry tools. He arrived in the Colville Valley in 1862 and worked as a carpenter for various homesteaders. He was part of the crew that built Angus McDonald’s new home. Next, he worked for a flourmill on the Little Pend Oreille River near Hart, WA. He also dabbled in prospecting on the Big Bend region of the Columbia River. In 1869, after being separated for seven and a half years, Louther Meyers sent his wife $700.00 to pay for her to come out west with his two sons. The trip took eight days from New York to Utah on the Pacific Railroad and four days from Utah to Walla Walla. Finally the family was reunited and settled near the 133 foot waterfall in the Colville River now know as Meyers Falls.

In 1872-1900 Meyers operated a trading post on his ranch, three miles east of Meyers Falls. They also ran the gristmill and a sawmill on Meyers Falls. Louther Meyers built a bridge across the Colville River in the same place where a newer bridge stands today. In 1890 the town of Meyers Falls was platted and the newly constructed railroad ran right through town. It was a good location for a town, flat with a ready supply of water. Soon stores, hotels, a pool hall, a barbershop and various other businesses filled in the new town. A power plant was eventually put in at Meyers Falls. (Speech by Dr. Lee Cagel from "Pioneer Picnic" 1987)

A promotional flyer for Meyers Falls declared that "Health, Wealth and Happiness may be found in the Meyers Falls Valley." The pamphlet encourages people to move to Meyers Falls for opportunity, prosperity and scenic beauty. The pamphlet goes into detail about the amount and type of fruit grown in the valley. "For the season of 1910 our commission men handled over 120 cars of fruit, apples, pears, prunes, plums, peaches, cherries, apricots and other small fruits and vegetables." (Steven’s County Historical Society Archives) The pamphlet also encourages people to enjoy the temperate climate "And right here our enthusiasm waxes warm, for no two persons can disagree on our climate. With an elevation of 1600 feet above sea level, light breezes in the summer, no snow drifts in the winter, but fine sleighing, we possess the climate of all climates, from which may be distilled more health, happiness and vim than can be obtained from any other similar area in the state." (Steven’s County Historical Society Archives)

Meyers Falls has not lost its history, but it has been meshed with the history of the relocated town of Kettle Falls. Meyers Falls changed its name to Kettle Falls in honor of the town and the falls that were lost when Grand Coulee Dam was constructed. Meyers Falls is still flowing and is a great place to visit for scenic and historical reasons.