Duvall Tavern

Description

The City of Duvall (pronounced DOO-vahl) sits alongside the historic Snoqualmie Valley River nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains approximately 25 miles northeast of Seattle. Over 7,000 people live in Duvall, currently recognized as one of the fastest growing communities in the state. The area that has become known as Duvall was historically the home of the Snoqualmie Native American tribe. The center of the present-day town was located on a hillside homesteaded by brothers Francis and James Duvall, loggers who arrived in 1871. At that time, logging and farming were the driving economic forces in Duvall which utilized the Snoqualmie River for transportation. The Cherry Valley School, the first school in Duvall, was built in 1879 and was constructed from the wood of a single tree. Until 1890, the river was the main lifeline to the Puget Sound. Trees were transported down river and goods were floated up. After much of the land had been cleared, logging companies moved in, bringing with them rails and roads. The abundance of jobs in the logging camps helped Cherry Valley to grow in the early years. By this time, cattle and dairy farms dotted the fertile valley. Many farm families built on higher ground to accommodate the flooding, which occurred almost every year. In 1892, the Valley House was built as the first hotel for travelers. Soon after, the first Methodist Church and a new school were constructed. In 1905, a swing bridge was built across the river