Maple Valley Historical Society (Out of Many, One display)

W.D. Gibbon General Store

The W.D. Gibbon General Store began its life in 1894 as an addition to Maple Valley’s first general store. The original store was purchased in 1891 by early pioneer W. D. Gibbon, and it quickly became far more than a place to shop. It sold groceries and supplies, housed the post office, and served as a gathering place where news, mail, and daily life passed through one doorway.

Originally located in Maple Valley’s historic business district at the Cedar River, the store grew as the town grew. Additions were built, functions changed, and the building adapted—always serving the same purpose: meeting the needs of a rural community shaped by logging, coal mining, farming, and the railroad. In 1906, the arrival of the Milwaukee Railroad forced a dramatic change. Tracks were planned to run directly through the Gibbon’s property, so the building’s 1894 addition was moved across the road, closer to the railroad depot. There, it was expanded again to handle grain, feed, and bulk goods, reinforcing its role as Maple Valley’s commercial center during the railroad era. By the late 1920s, the store entered a new chapter under Joe Mezzavilla, first as manager and later as owner. The business continued to evolve—selling groceries, hardware, fuel, and even offering haircuts in the back of the store. Eventually, a brick building replaced the aging wood structure on the original site, continuing the store’s legacy under many names over the years.

How it represents the community’s American experience:

This fully restored 1894 building, long displaced and deteriorating, was donated to the Maple Valley Historical Society by Joe Mezzavilla in 1999 and relocated to its present location. Carefully refurbished and filled with commercial goods from the early 1900s, it now serves as part of the Maple Valley History Museum, offering a rare chance to experience commercial life in early Maple Valley. The building was declared a Maple Valley Landmark by the King County Historic Preservation Program and Landmarks Commission in 2020 for its representation of the Western false front style of architecture and depiction of pioneer daily life. It was chosen as the item that best represents the daily life experience of pioneer families.

On display at the Maple Valley History Museum, open the first & third Saturday of each month, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., or by appointment.