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Curlew is a small village situated twenty miles north of Republic, on the Washington & Great Northern and Kettle Valley railroads. It is also on Kettle River and Curlew Creek, the latter emptying into Kettle River at this point.
Many years prior to the advent of white men in the Colville reservation, the Indians operated a flat-boat ferry at this place. Starting their craft at a point above the eddy of the Kettle river, the red men would allow their boat to be carried down stream, and at a convenient spot, by the use of paddles, would dexterously swing the boat to the desired landing. Beyond a doubt it was due to the fact of the location of the old ferry here that the site was selected for a town. In the autumn of 1896, a few months following the opening of the "North Half" of the reservation to mineral entry, G. S. HELPHRY, a Spokane real estate dealer, and Mr. WALTERS, a merchant of Davenport, Lincoln county, Washington, rented a log cabin from an Indian on the present site of the town and established here a general mercantile store. Their stock of goods at first was limited but the rush of prospectors to the reservation contributed to the upbuilding of a good business. From this store and others which were opened in the new town later, merchandise was supplied to the prospectors on Eureka Creek where is now the town of Republic and to other prospectors' camps in the vicinity. Mr. WALTERS later disposed of his interest in the store to Mr. HELPHRY's brother in the east, and the pioneer business house of Curlew is now conducted under the firm name of HELPHRY Brothers.
In the spring of 1897, the first building was erected in the new town. This was put up by C. H. LEWIS, who opened an eating house, and who has been engaged in the hotel business at Curlew ever since. During the year, a cable ferry was constructed across the Kettle river to replace the flat boat formerly operated by the Indians. This ferry remained in use until 1901, when a substantial bridge was thrown across the river at this point. In the early days of the town's history, the mail was distributed from Curlew by means of a "private" postoffice, the mail being brought down from Nelson, the nearest office. In 1898, however, the citizens succeeded in securing the establishment of a regular postoffice, at Curlew, and G. S. HELPHRY, the pioneer merchant, was made the first postmaster. This gentleman has continued to hold the office ever since.
Curlew has suffered but one loss by fire. In the fall of 1903, six buildings in the town burned, causing a loss of about $3,000. During the year 1902, owing to the construction of the two railroads, Curlew enjoyed most prosperous times and many new business enterprises were placed afoot. The town gained a population of several hundred people; at present the inhabitants number about two hundred. Here are located two general stores, a gentlemen's furnishing and dry goods store, two livery stables, two saloons, a hotel and several other business houses. There is also a saw mill, but it is at present idle. In the vicinity of Curlew are Ferry county's richest agricultural lands. Along the small streams tributary to the Kettle river, near the town, are many fertile ranches which add materially to the prosperity of Curlew. A valuable mineral belt is located in the country about Curlew, and within this area are a number of promising prospects. The Drummer mine is the principal property in this vicinity, and considerable development work has been done upon it.
The land upon which Curlew is located has never been patented, consequently no townsite has ever been platted. For some time the property has been in litigation, and the case has been appealed from the Spokane land office and is at present awaiting decision from the United States Interior Department. From Curlew the Great Northern Railway Company has surveyed an extension to the coast, and doubtless some day this line will be constructed as proposed. The fight of way from Curlew to Midway, B. C., has been secured.
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