Old Apple Warehouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Apple Warehouse |
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| Former names | Meyers Falls Apple Warehouse |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| Address | 130 E 3rd Ave |
| Town or city | Kettle Falls, WA |
| Country | United States |
| Current tenants | Red Apple Trading Post, Crandall Coffee Co, Meyers Falls Market |
| Completed | 1906 |
The Old Apple Warehouse is a famous building in Kettle Falls, Washington. It's a special place because it shows the history of apple farming in the area and is still a busy spot today!
Contents
History of the Old Apple Warehouse
How Apples Grew Big in Washington
Long ago, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, growing apples became very popular in Washington state. Many apple farms, called orchards, started popping up around Meyers Falls (which is now called Kettle Falls). Because so many apples were grown, packing them up became the most important job in the town.
Building the Apple Warehouse
The Old Apple Warehouse was built in 1906. It was built by a group of apple farmers, called a co-op. They built it right next to the railroad tracks on land owned by the train company. This was smart because it made it easy to move apples.
The building was designed in a clever way. Horses pulling wagons full of apples could drive into the basement from one side. They would drop off their apples and then leave from the other side. This made loading and unloading very smooth! In 1910, the warehouse got even bigger when an addition was built. This made the building twice as large. They also added porches and big doors to help with moving apples in and out.
Apples on the Move
The warehouse was very busy! For example, in 1906, enough apples to fill 40 train cars were processed there. That's a lot of apples!
Later, in 1939, a big flood happened because of the Grand Coulee Dam. After this, fewer apples were processed. But the warehouse was still the main place for packing and shipping fruit for the whole northeastern part of Stevens County.
What the Old Apple Warehouse Is Today
A Busy Town Center
Today, the Old Apple Warehouse is like a mini-town center for Kettle Falls. It's easy to spot when you drive through the main part of town. Inside, you can find a grocery store, a coffee shop, and an antique store. There's even a beauty salon!
Still Selling Apples
Even though it's old, the Old Apple Warehouse still lives up to its name. You can still buy apples there! These apples come from orchards that have been growing fruit since 1874.
A Historic Landmark
A writer named Ron Drake visited Kettle Falls in 2017. He wrote a book called "Flip This Town." He thought the Old Apple Warehouse was a very important historic and cultural place. He believed it could help bring more visitors to Kettle Falls.
