Exiting the front door of the Falls Printing Co. building in Snoqualmie, a young boy pulled a wagon loaded with the latest copies of the Valley Record as his younger brother pushed from behind.
Such was the scene on a summer day almost 65 years ago as Johnny and Hi Groshell (sons of then publishers Charlotte and Ed Groshell) delivered that week’s edition of the Valley Record. Although many things have changed since Charlotte Paul’s 1955 best-selling book “Minding Our Own Business” related life at the Valley Record, much has remained the same for the weekly paper that has covered news in North Bend, Snoqualmie, Preston, Fall City, Carnation, Novelty, Vincent, and Duvall for over 95 years. The paper first began operations in the Tanner district east of North Bend on October 16, 1913, published by B.N. Kennedy.
The Record traces its roots back to the North Bend Post, which was later published and distributed as the Snoqualmie Post on the other side of the Upper Valley. The name of the paper evolved slightly over time, from the Snoqualmie Valley Record and North Bend Valley Record to today’s Snoqualmie Valley Record.
Falls Printing Co. and the Valley Record became separate business operations in 1996, after long-time publishers Scott and the Buchman family sold the newspaper to Karen and Jim McKiernan. However, the newspaper remained in the family; Karen is Scott’s daughter.
In Dec. 2000, the newspaper was sold to King County Journal Newspapers, owned by the Horvitz family. They published several newspapers, including the King County Journal. In 2006, the company was sold to Sound Publishing, and a new chapter started for the Valley Record.
The current publisher, William Shaw, took the reins of the paper in October of 2008. Shaw is a fourth generation Eastside native. His family were early homesteaders who worked the log and shingle mills in Issaquah, Redmond and the Upper Snoqualmie Valley from 1910 onward. “We loved the area so much, we put down roots throughout the Eastside,” he said. “The Snoqualmie Valley is as beautiful and dynamic a place as it is a great community to live, play, work and do business in,” Shaw added. “I’m honored and thrilled to be a part of a newspaper that has reflected and communicated the stories of the unique people, events and issues that continue to make the Valley … such a very special place.”
The Valley Record is delivered on Fridays; you can also pick up a copy of the paper at these locations:
- Carnation IGA 31722 Eugene St
- Carnation Carnation Post Office 4440 Mckinley Dr Carnation
- Fall City Market And Deli 4224 Preston/Fall City Rd SE Fall City
- Fall City Post Office 4225 335th Pl SE Fall City
- Farm House Market 33521 Redmond/Fall City Rd SE Fall City
- North Bend Shell And Towing 225 E North Bend Way North Bend
- Union 76 104 North Bend Way North Bend
- QFC 460 E Northbend Way North Bend
- North Bend Post Office 451 E Northbend Way North Bend
- Twedes Restaurant 137 W Northbend Way North Bend
- Safeway 460 SW Mt Si Blvd North Bend
- Riverbend Cafe 14303 436th Ave SE North Bend
- Country Pride Restaurant 46600 Se North Bend Way North Bend
- Union 76 8250 Railroad Ave SE Snoqualmie
- Snoqualmie Market 7939 Railroad Ave Snoqualmie
- Snoqualmie Laundry 38845 Railroad Ave Snoqualmie
- Snqualmie Post Office 8264 Olmstead Ln SE Snoqualmie
- SVR Office 8124 Falls Ave SE Snoqualmie
- Safeway 34828 SE Douglas St Snoqualmie
