Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1861 | 1 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 4 |
| 1876 | 121 |
| 1877 | 188 |
| 1878 | 155 |
| 1879 | 36 |
| 1880 | 7 |
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 11 |
| 1884 | 5 |
| 1885 | 17 |
| 1886 | 12 |
| 1887 | 4 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 12 |
| 1890 | 2 |
| 1891 | 8 |
| 1892 | 104 |
| 1893 | 88 |
| 1894 | 34 |
| 1895 | 27 |
| 1897 | 1 |
| 1898 | 3 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1900 | 1 |
| 1902 | 1 |
| 1903 | 22 |
| 1904 | 16 |
| 1907 | 1 |
| 1909 | 125 |
| 1910 | 136 |
| 1911 | 140 |
| 1912 | 60 |
| 1914 | 1 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1922 | 3 |
| 1923 | 3 |
| 1924 | 2 |
1,373 stories
- The Price of a Debt: A Legal Battle in Snohomish
A legal summons filed in 1877 reveals the high stakes of commerce and personal liability in the early days of Snohomish County.
- The Price of a Bed and Board: A Snohomish Debt Lawsuit
In 1878, a Snohomish resident was taken to court over a $236 unpaid bill for room, board, and dry goods—a reminder of the precarious credit-based economy of the frontier.
- The Snohomish Hotel: A Hub for Loggers and Travelers
An 1870s advertisement captures the life of a frontier hostelry, promising 'first-class board' and the best liquor north of San Francisco for those taming the Pacific Northwest wilderness.
- A Frontier Oasis in Snohomish
A look at the amenities of the premier boarding house in Snohomish, promising first-class board and the finest spirits in the territory.
- The $242 Debt That Haunted the Frontier
A legal summons from 1878 reminds us that even in the budding town of Snohomish, debt was a serious, court-ordered business.
- The Social Anchor of Snohomish City
Before the boom, Isaac Cathcart’s hotel offered more than a bed, functioning as the premier hospitality hub of Snohomish County.
- The Snohomish Exchange Hotel: A Frontier Hub
Before the city grew into a modern commercial hub, Isaac Cathcart’s Exchange Hotel stood as the cornerstone of early Snohomish hospitality.
- The Snohomish Exchange: A Hub for Travelers and Libations
An early advertisement for Isaac Cathcart’s hotel reveals the social heartbeat of 19th-century Snohomish, highlighting the importance of the town’s first-class accommodations and social spaces.
- The Goddess of Slang: A Poetic Flirtation in the Territory
A whimsical verse from the late 19th century captures the playful, rhyming courtship rituals of Snohomish Territory, offering a glimpse into the lighthearted side of pioneer life.
- H.H. Light Offers First-Class Lodging at Riverside Hotel
Under new management, a classic local establishment promises a 'first class' experience for weary travelers in the Washington Territory.
- The Dolly Varden Hotel: A New Era for Snohomish Hospitality
A newly renovated landmark on the frontier promises travelers the finest accommodations and premium spirits in the territory.
- The Snohomish Land Grab: How Original Owners Inflated Prices and Plotted in the Dark
A scathing review of the town's growth reveals a community divided by greed, where original plat owners are accused of hoarding land and manipulating records to squeeze newcomers out of the real estate boom.
- The Boomtown Hopes of Marysville, 1885
Before it was a suburban hub, a settler reports back on the 'tender years' of Marysville and the desperate need for roads to connect the new frontier.
- The Paradox of Plenty: Seattle’s Lumber Boom Leaves No One to Live In
In August 1872, the city's primary industry is churning out lumber at a staggering rate, yet the town faces a bizarre crisis: there are simply no houses left to rent.
- The Hustle of the Frontier Mercantile
A deep dive into the aggressive marketing and 'work-from-home' schemes that fueled Snohomish's early economy.
- The 'Rich Deed' That Wasn't: Snohomish’s Wild Gold Rush Hoax and the Community’s Reality Check
A sensational tale of a legendary gold mine in Snohomish captivated locals, but the paper quickly pivots to a sobering assessment of the lumber industry's financial struggles and the region's agricultural potential.
- The Moral Gatekeeper: Snohomish’s New Battle Over Who Gets to Sell Liquor
A new state law requires liquor license applicants to prove 'good moral character,' turning county commissioners into judges of private virtue and sparking a fierce debate over who gets to define morality in the Territory.
- The Man Who 'Bled' His Town Dry: The Rise and Ruin of Eldridge Morse
A 1876 traveler’s letter to the Oregon City Enterprise paints a damning portrait of Snohomish’s most energetic citizen, accusing editor Eldridge Morse of draining public funds for private ambition.
- The Schoolmaster’s Plea: Why Snohomish Needs Better Classrooms
In January 1877, Superintendent A.L. Fuller warns that poverty is no excuse for neglecting education, urging citizens to tax themselves for healthy schoolhouses before ignorance breeds crime.
- The Skeleton Bridge: A Warning to Newcomers
A local correspondent details the perilous state of the Pill Chuck bridge in Snohomish County, describing it as a 'monument of goshend ativeness' that forces travelers to crawl on all fours across a single stringer.
- The Intellectual Promise of Women in the Frontier
A bold 1877 editorial argues that forcing women into 'drudgery' and loveless marriages serves only to limit society, calling for full access to higher education and the professions.
- The Struggle for Dignity in the Logging Camps
A historic appeal from 1880s Snohomish invites laborers to seek fair wages and better conditions amidst the grueling demands of the frontier timber industry.
- The Wild West of Washington Land Speculation
A 19th-century land agent pitches the 'script' system for acquiring Snohomish homesteads, revealing the complex, sometimes predatory, machinery behind early settlement.
- The Boom That Never Was: How Utsalaay Tried to Steal Seattle's Thunder
In 1901, a rival town on Puget Sound launched an aggressive land sales campaign, claiming its harbor was superior and its resources 'inexhaustible,' while Seattle’s own economy sat in a dull slump.
- The Ghost of Marysville: A Town That Forgot It Was Dead
In 1886, the once-thriving settlement of Marysville (now Snohomish) was still trying to convince itself it existed. A local correspondent reports on a town struggling with identity, mail routes, and real estate in the shadow of its neighbor, Seattle.