Brookside Acres Vacation Rental

Access Eastern Washington, North Idaho & British Columbia

It was early in the 1880’s that Louis Poirier made his way north, walking an old Indian trail from where he debarked in Rathdrum, Idaho, from the Northern Pacific Railroad. According to his son, Fielden, while he was setting up one night’s camp, Louis noticed a large flock of geese flying overhead toward the west. He made it a point the next day to search for a possible body of water in that direction. He found what is today known as Blanchard Lake.

Louis, who was French Canadian, invited his older brother Albeni to join him and there near the lake established the first farm in Blanchard Valley. Some of their descendants still reside near the town of Blanchard which was established in 1906. Notably, Albeni started a mill near Newport what is now known as the Albeni Falls Dam.

Logging and timber became the major industry in the Blanchard Valley after the railroad came through in 1907. The Blanchard Lake became a major supplier of ice to the Spokane area some 30 miles away. The Ice House still stands, as does the Blanchard Trading Company building. The population of Blanchard has exploded and waned over the years, from thousands to now fewer than 100 residents.  The Poirier ranch still exists and has a museum well worth visiting by appointment only.

Brookside Acres is located at the far west end of Blanchard Valley and, since 1939, has been a diary farm, a cattle ranch, has been logged numerous times as has the surrounding area. Larry and Bonnie Reichert are taking a more conservative approach and continue to raise hay for sale and their own livestock.

History of Blanchard Valley   

Above photos: 

Far Left: Louis Poirier.

Middle-Top: Blanchard Grange Hall.

Middle-Bottom: Fielden Poirer.

Far Right: Fielden Poirier Senior