Valleyford Train Days...A Century Ago

Do I hear a refrain from "Alexander's Ragtime Band" by Irving Berlin? It was his first major hit in 1911.

Come on and hear, come on and hear,

Alexander's Ragtime Band.

Come on and hear, come on and hear,

It's the best band in the land!

They can play a bugle call like you never heard before.

So natural that you want to go to war.

That's just the bestest band what am, honey lamb.

Come on along, come on along,

Let me take you by the hand.

Up to the man, up to the man,

Who's the leader of the band!

And if you care to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime,

Come on and hear, come on and hear,

Alexander's Ragtime Band!

If so, I must be sitting in the 'old' train depot in Valleyford, WA on Saturday, May 4th at 11 AM or 1 PM at 12212 E. Palouse Hwy (corner of Palouse & Madison)

The Valleyford Historical Club, Dr. Muschler (Archival Librarian at EWU) and Jerry Quinn (Evergreen Model Railroad Club) will help recreate the days of the Electric Interurban Railway that operated in the Northern Palouse at the turn of the century. 

During a one hour program, participants will view displays and artifacts about the railway and people from that period. Advance reserve tickets (that are free) are available from Elaine Rising at On Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop. Each excursion is limited to about a dozen. Weather permitting, a walking tour of Valleyford will be offered at noon. CDs of the historical tour will be available for $12.00 A limited number of souvenir items will also be available for purchase.

A box lunch of a hog dog, sarsaparilla and a 'local' apple can be reserved at a cost of $6.00  For more information, contact Elaine at 509-747-6294 or by e-mail onsacredgroundsrising@gmail.com