The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

When I mention the town of Starbuck to non-locals I'm invariably met with wide eyes and an intake of breath. "You mean there really is a town called Starbuck?!" they ask. Even after learning that the town was named after a railroad man and not the coffee (nor was the coffee named after the town), they remain impressed. On more than one occasion we've driven friends and family out simply so they could say they've been there.

We visited Starbuck last Sunday to pick up our boys who had been visiting their grandparents, and to hear a presentation by professor and historian Mahlon Kriebel, who has studied the area extensively in his research of the 1800's Plateau Indian Wars. As we arrived in town, I was reminded that even this little burg of 129 (according to the 2010 census) has some unique points of interest.

If you enjoy geocaching, there are several caches in the area so print out coor- dinates or load your GPS before you head out

One of the most obvious stops in town is the tiny one- room Starbuck Jail located on Railroad Street, just off Main as you enter town from Highway 261. It's a fun photo opportunity, though it doesn't appear you can go inside the building like you once could.

Another couple of blocks down Main Street you'll find the relatively new Rawhide Bar N Grill. In all honesty, I've yet to eat there, but my kids say it's great and I know plenty of folks from Dayton, Waitsburg and even Walla Walla who drive down just to hang out and enjoy the food and atmosphere. We stopped to take photos in the cowboy and cowgirl wooden silhouettes as well the "outhouse." While there, I noticed they'll be hosting a Redneck Game Day on August 31. Now that might be worth checking out!

If you head east on Baxter Street, you'll find yourself on a dead-end facing a rim rock cliff - referred to by locals as "The Wall." Follow the path over the bank to a great little swimming hole.

Of course, you'll also want to be sure and visit the famous Darver Tackle shop on McNeil Street while you're in town. Touted as the "Best Lil Tackle Shop by a Dam Site," Darver's is chock full of pretty much anything and everything. They also offer RV spots, two of which are located right by "The Wall".

Are you curious about that history presentation I mentioned? Sometime last year my mother-in- law, Jill Wood, mentioned she'd been contacted by Mr. Kriebel and had given him a tour along a ridge that runs along the Tucannon Ranch property where they serve as caretakers. I recall her saying, "He was like a kid in a candy store; he was so excited!"

Kriebel has spent the last seven years studying the Steptoe and Wright cam- paigns, which preceded the building of Mullan Road, the first wagon road to cross the Rocky Mountains to the Inland of the Pacific Northwest. Using recently discovered Field Note Maps made by T. Kolecki during the Wright Campaign as his source document, Kriebel has been able to locate and walk out all 35 campsites of the Wright and Steptoe campaigns.

The aforementioned ex- citement was in response to finding what Kriebel believes to be the original ruts from General Wright's march through Starbuck on that Tucannon Ranch ridge. Kreibel was back in town last weekend to share his dis- coveries of what happened "in Starbuck's backyard" with local residents.

Below: Skylar and Brayden Wood pose in front of the infamous Starbuck Jail.

I think the historical tidbit I found most interesting was the origin of the name Tucannon. The original Kolecki Field Notes refer to the Starbuck area as "Two Canyons" or even "Two Ca- ñons", which later became Tucannon. One look at the map and the name makes perfect sense.

Those interested in learning more about local history will likely enjoy Kreibel's book, "Battle of To-Hots- Nim-Me," which details his research on events between the U. S. Cavalry and the Coeur d'Alene Indians in the 1800's. The book is avail- able online at both Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

Whether you're looking to experience a bit of his- tory, out for a relaxing day trip or making a quick stop on your way to Lyons Ferry or Palouse Falls, Starbuck is well worth a visit.