Return to Addy

Wednesday, May 19, I drove to Spokane to visit my dad.  We went out for two meals and a movie then made plans for driving to Addy the next day.  Thursday we drove to Addy and, referring to a photo from 1949, looked for a house which had been owned by Robert and Rose Staeheli.  Unable to find the house we spoke with a local who informed us Addy had suffered numerous fires over time so many old homes had been destroyed.  He suggested we check the post office for photos and more information.

The woman at the post office was very helpful.  Some old town photos were displayed there and copies from several publications.  One told a story about Robert Staeheli and his goat.  Another had a group school photo with Waldburga Staeheli.  We were referred to the Mission on Main street to speak to a woman who had knowledge of the Addy Cemetery.  The woman and her daughter who operated the mission did provide information about Russell Gusdal who maintains the cemetery.  Also, the woman lives in the home, outside of Addy, originally owned by Robert and Rose Staeheli.

Leaving Addy, dad and I drove to Blue Creek to meet Russell Gusdal.  Russell gave us a map with dimensions of the cemetery so we could precisely locate the gravesite of Albert Staeheli.  At the cemetery dad and I did find the unmarked graves of Albert and his relative, Peter Staeheli.  Russell told us we could place gravestones ourselves when we were ready to do that.

From the cemetery we drove along Swiss Valley Road to the Staeheli Homestead near the intersection with Marble Valley Road.  The property is divided and part is for sale in two lots totalling 116 acres.  Logging is being done, too.  We drove a primitive road onto the property and located the remains of two structures.  One looked like it had been a home with a foundation made of large stones.  The foundation was collapsed on two sides with timbers lying around.  Some of the timbers were charred indicating there had been a fire.  A short distance away was a chicken coop made entirely of wood.  The design and condition of this building were consistent with having been built 100 years ago.  A stream ran through the property and large fruit trees and other non-native trees were growing on the property.  Ground near the home had been cleared and five large piles of stones were spaced along the fence line at intervals.  Dad and I believe this was likely the Staeheli family farm but must verify that. 

Chicken coop on Staeheli Homestead

From the homestead we drove to Colville to locate the Staeheli Dairy.  First we went to the museum where we spoke with two people who said the Staeheli Dairy had been in what is now Stephani's Oak Street Grill at 157 Oak street.  Ruth Ray kindly put us in phone contact with Gladys Staeheli who had been married to Lester Staeheli, a son of Robert and Rose.  She lives in Colville but had no information for us.  She recommend we contact Lillian Staeheli who had been married to Robert Staeheli, another son of Robert and Rose.  Lillian lives in Spokane and has a daughter, Sharon Thompson.

We located the former dairy on Oak street and I spoke with two workers inside who did not know much about the building's history.  We had been told the dairy was built and began operation in 1947.  Leaving the dairy site we drove a few blocks to the local newspaper, The Statesman-Examiner.  After explaining we were looking for news from 1912 we were directed the an area behind the counter.  From an enormous wall storage area a bound volume of newpapers from 1911/1912 was placed in front of us.  It took only a few minutes to find an article from The Colville Examiner dated Saturday, June 15, 1912 titled Stachli Commits Suicide.  It began, "Alfred Stachli, farmer, aged about 65 years, native of Switzerland, and resident of Stevens county for the past fifteen years, committed suicide...".  This article confirms family lore about Albert's death and relates details explaining the loss of the home to fire the day before.  I will publish the entire article on my website.

Dad and I returned to have dinner at Stephani's Oak Street Grill.

The Colville newspaper is a new valuable resource and when we return there I will research Peter, Robert, Rose, Lester and Ernest Staeheli.  I will look for information about the Staeheli Dairy.  I want to contact the realtor selling the homestead to help verify that the structures are truly the Staeheli farm.  There may be relevant information in the Chewelah museum where we will look next time.  Dad and I will go back in August or September.  In time I will have markers made for Albert and Peter to place on their graves.

The former Staeheli Creamery now a restaurant