A historical property
The history of a pioneer home in pateros
The history behind cooper creek manor
The story began in the early 1990’s. John Larrabee was an Indiana man who came west to Washington at that time. he was a lawyer that set up a law practice in Seattle. However, the rainy, damp weather of that area aggravated his asthmatic condition. there was land for sale in the sunny, arid lands along the lower Methow river. Joh. Larrabee put in his bid, literally tossing it into a hat. He submitted the highest bid and the land was then his.
There wasn’t much need for a lawyer in the Methow Valley at that time. Mr. Larrabee put away his law books and began to plant apple trees. The site the Larrabee’s chose for their home was on the bluff overlooking the Methow river where the Manor sits today. Originally, this house was a wood shingle-sided house.
Demise of the original Larabee home
A fire of undetermined origin destroyed the home of John Larrabee on July 22, 1927. The home was completely destroyed and only a few pieces of furniture and personal belongings were saved. A year later the home was rebuilt by Gene Colyer of Okanogan. Above is a photo of the original home on the left, and the rebuilt home on the right.
Pioneer Orchards
John Larrabee was a pioneering orchardist who established one of the earliest fruit opperations in Pateros. The Larrabee’s were known for producing top-quality and prize winning fruit. They set regional records for their quality and hard work.
Explore the entire history in our historical book while visiting!