Watson's Harverene™ Resort

CHELAN FALLS WATER POWER COMPANY
And the Men behind this Vision

Hydroelectric power has played a major role in the history of North Central Washington. While the Chelan Falls Water Power Company never came to be, this group of men did help lay the foundations of water power in North Central Washington.

David W. Little

David W. Little, the primary financer and president of the Chelan Falls Water Power Company was a successful Illinois dairyman prior to traveling west in 1891 in search of the perfect location for himself and his family to settle down. He heard about the Lake Chelan area and after visiting, he fell is love with what Lake Chelan Had to offer. Its natural beauty as well as it business potential.

Prior to Mr. Little bringing his family West, land was secured and the construction of a beautiful lakeside home was begun. In April of 1892, Mr. Little's family made the trip West, but it was not an easy one for them. Mrs. Little was not excited about relocating. She enjoyed her life in Illinois, but she was loyal to her husband and his pioneer dreams.

The Little's trip west was uneventful as far as Spokane. While in Spokane, they purchased furniture for their new home. This furniture was the finest in quality. As they traveled from Spokane westward, travel conditions worsened. The road from Coulee City to the Columbia River was little more than a roughed-out trail. It was full of bumps, rocks, ruts and dust. Once they arrived at the breaks of the Columbia River, the Little family was faced with the 2,000-foot drop from the plateau to the river below. One of the youngsters was so fearful of the steep grade that he refused to ride in the stage coach. He walked to the river below on foot. Mrs. Little did not know what to think. She had left the lush green farmlands of Illinois. The new home site was a mystery. She felt as though she were leaving civilization altogether.

Clara Little wrote:

Once the Littles had made it to the Columbia River, there was a feeling of relief, but next came an all-new challenge for the family. That being the crossing of the Columbia River itself. Clara Little said:

Crossing the Columbia river was a terrifying experience for the Littles, but like the descent from the Plateau high above to the valley below, and crossing the river itself, they still had to make the trip back up the hills to reach Chelan. That was the only route into the lower regions of Lake Chelan. The stagecoach and some freight wagons that traveled up this steep road used a four up hitch (four horses) for additional pulling power. Some wagons had to rely on people to help push the loads up the hill. This was the route all supplies and passengers had to take in order to get to the lower end of the mighty lake.

Mrs. Little did not feel her husband's excitement about Chelan, but nevertheless, she accepted the move. She would make the necessary adjustments in her new life and would support her husband's desires and dreams.

Once Mr. Little had decided to make Lake Chelan his home, he had immediately begun to invest in real estate and business. He set up his own real estate firm, "Little and Hammon." Mr. Little became involved with various business ventures. Unfortunately, his death from appendicitis would come within a month, and just after his family arrived. His death at age 42 would end the new power project and leave Mrs. Little to look after the family in her strange new home.

David W. Little's life was taken far to early. Who knows what other contributions he would have made in the Lake Chelan area? One can be certain that his enthusiasm, spirit and financial position would have been of great value the new growing community.

Clara Little would remain in the Lake Chelan Valley by her husband's side in death as in life. She would not return to the Illinois lands that she loved, but would remain loyal to her husband and his love of the Lake Chelan area. The story becomes her own, for she settled into the pioneer life and raised a family that would grow up and themselves become successful citizens in the North Central Washington area; and she would live to a grand age before being reunited with her husband.

J. Howard Watson

It's no surprise that J. Howard joined in the Water Power venture. He'd have had much to offer. He showed his intelligence and his adventuresome, forward-looking spirit in many ways throughout his life.

Laughlin MacLean

The Treasurer of the Chelan Falls Water Power Company, Laughlin MacLean, was born in the Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1856. He first came to Washington in the 1830's with a party of railroad survey engineers. After arriving in Washington, he worked as a brakeman and later a conductor on the Union Pacific. After working for the U.P., he was employed by the Northern Pacific as a conductor. Mr. MacLean operated some of the area's first trains that ran between Pasco and Ellensburg.

MacLean was later involved in the Insurance business in the Puget Sound area, then in the Yakima Valley, and after that, in Spokane.

In 1888 Mr. MacLean developed a cattle ranch business near Bridgeport, but continued to stay involved with Real Estate.

As for residing in the Chelan area, mention has been made in the book "Homesteaders of the Chelan Butte" that Mr. MacLean resided in Chelan Falls in 1891. He is on record as Notary Public for Sarah J. Snow's homestead filings (more on Sarah and her homestead below). Mr. MacLean is credited as being inspirational in the founding and organization of the Chelan Falls Water Power Company and influenced the choices for its two sites; where he also had plans to develop an irrigation system. Other projects at Chelan Falls included a hotel, real estate office and a newspaper.

Later, in 1897, Mr. MacLean took up a homestead on the east side of the Columbia River. This was in an area across the river from Dover and the present day Knapp's Coulee Tunnel. With all that he was involved in, many wondered how he could do that which was required in order to "prove up" on his homestead. Mr. MacLean apparently relocated to Wenatchee in 1901. He opened a real estate office there but still received his patent for his Columbia River homestead on September 11, 1903.

It was during Mr. MacLean's Wenatchee years that he set out to develop a irrigation canal and district in the Wenatchee area, which came to be known as Highline Canal. After the completion of this project, he continued on with his real estate business, which included properties throughout Washington and into British Columbia. Eventually he relocated to California.

In the sources I used for these writings, there did seem to be some conflict as to Mr. MacLean's time of moving and death. In the older history book "History of Central Washington" by Lindley M. Hull, it stated that Mr. MacLean relocated to California about 1915 where he soon passed away. In the book by Ford Van Voorhis, it would indicate that Mr. MacLean had moved to California and passed away prior to September 24, 1910. Regardless of when he died, Mr. MacLean played a major role in the promotion and development of the North Central Washington area.

Judge Joseph M. Snow

Judge Joseph M. Snow, General Manager of the Chelan Falls Water Power Company, was born in 1850. Little is known about Mr. Snow until he moved to the Oregon Territory with his widowed Mother in 1869. This was prior to Washington becoming a state. Judge Snow and his Mother settled on Whidbey Island where they farmed. Mr. Snow also taught school while on Whidbey Island.

In 1870, Judge Snow obtained a contract to perform survey work for the government. He performed this work for several years until he was offered the job of city engineer in 1883 by the Mayor of Seattle.

When Judge Snow's engineer position expired, he did some farming and real estate business in the Chelan and Waterville areas of Central Washington.

The historical record shows that in 1889, J. M. Snow was elected "joint Senator" in Yakima, beating democratic contender R. M. Starr 538 to 523 votes.

Meanwhile:

At that time, Chelan Falls was in Okanogan County.

While researching the history of Judge Snow, there seemed to be uncertainty as to who exactly Sarah J. Snow was. The author Ford Van Voorihis seemed to think that she was perhaps Judge Snow's mother or perhaps a sister-in-law. Brude Mitchell, a historian for the Wenatchee World and proof reader for Mr. Van Voorihis, stated that his father was well acquainted with the Snows and knew Sarah as being Judge Snows "Cherished wife".

One would have to question why then, Sarah J. Snow was stated as being a widow? We know that Judge Snow came to Washington with his widowed Mother. Could it be that Sarah J. Snow was in fact Judge Snow's widowed mother?

According to the book "History of Central Washington" by Lindley M. Hull, Judge Snow arrived in the Central Washington area in November of 1891. While he had been in the area prior to this time, November may have been the time he took up a homestead, which was located in Douglas County.

Also according to Mr. Hull:

And it was in May of 1892 that J. M. Snow was listed as General Manager to the newly formed "Chelan Falls Water Power Company".

In 1896, Judge Snow accepted the position of "land Examiner" for the Northern Pacific Railway which lasted until he was elected as County Engineer of Spokane County in 1902.

In March of 1905, the Washington Legislature created the Washington State Highway Commission to which Judge Snow was appointed. The purpose of this commission was to oversee road building throughout the state of Washington. On April 17, 1905 the newly created Highway Board had its first meeting.

Prior to this, most road building was done by counties and cities, and many times by local citizens themselves, when and if funds were not available. The State was not involved with road building with the exception of State Road #1. State Road #1 was the project in which J. Howard Watson was involved several years prior to Judge Snow's appointment. The Road #1 project was approved in 1893 with the intent of finding a wagon road route across the North Cascade Mountain Range from Marble Mount Washington to Winthrop Washington. By 1905 the state had ended up with little more than a widened out horse trail. Wagons never did cross these mountains as planned.

During the April 17, 1905 meeting, the State Highway Board affirmed the Legislature designation of Washington's first dozen state roads as follows:

1. King County - Naches
2. Newport - Orient
3. Chelan - Skagit
4. San Poil - Republic
5. Cowlitz Pass
6. Waterfront (Whatcom County to Blanchard)
7. Snoqualmie Pass
8. Lyle - Washougal
9. Montisano - Port Angeles
10. Wenatchee - Johnson Creek
11. Marble Mount - Mill Creek.
12. Methow - Barron

During Judge Snow's 1906 commission year, he suggested that the state appropriate in excess of $100,000 and suggested that a state highway be constructed from Blaine to the Columbia River, a project that had failed in earlier years.

In 1907 the Legislature authorized aid for these improvements that were recommended by Judge Snow. As with prior attempts, this route was never accomplished during this time.

Judge Snow remained on the commission until August 1, 1909 at which time he became a Ferry County Engineer. He later moved to Spokane where he died in 1929 at the age of 79.

While Judge Snow may not have been in Chelan for long, he was in Chelan and his impact was huge. He played a very important role in North Central Washington's early development as well as the development of Washington State.

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