A-Z History of Sumner, Washington - Valley Freeway Provided in part by Daffodil Valley Times and the City of Sumner.

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Valley Freeway Cultural Resources Notes: In 1968 the Valley Freeway was completed and extensions through the Sumner area were completed in the 1970’s. This new freeway replaced what had been the West and East Valley Highways as the connection to the north. In approximately 1974 the by-pass of State Route (SR) 410 opened, markedly shifting traffic patterns. The highway oriented commercial development in east Sumner is a remnant of the old SR 410 route through town. When Sumner celebrated its centennial in 1991, Mary Elizabeth wrote "Yes, this freeway serves our needs and was necessary for growth". She came by her perspective the hard way. The Valley Freeway disrupted life on a number of farms. Mary Elizabeth reports that feelings against the freeway ran particularly high in an area called Strublow’s Corner. Seven to eight homes on one corner were affected by the State of Washington’s decision to build the freeway through their property. Owners had to choose: They could buy their house back and move it to another location, or sell it to the state. Her own farm, called Montmorenzie after the Montmorency cherry trees they cultivated in their orchard, was divided in three places by the Valley Freeway. The state wouldn't build a tunnel for the transport of animals and equipment under the freeway, a common practice in eastern Washington. So the farm broke up. Previous Page | Next Page List of cited resources Information on these pages is provided in part by Daffodil Valley Times Staff and The City of Sumner, Wa.

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