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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 53 |
| 1858 | 2 |
| 1859 | 6 |
| 1860 | 12 |
| 1861 | 60 |
| 1862 | 65 |
| 1863 | 44 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 14 |
| 1876 | 10 |
| 1877 | 12 |
| 1878 | 8 |
| 1879 | 4 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 4 |
| 1883 | 39 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1885 | 19 |
| 1886 | 11 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 58 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1891 | 218 |
| 1892 | 194 |
| 1893 | 111 |
| 1894 | 19 |
| 1895 | 112 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1902 | 1 |
| 1903 | 24 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 95 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1912 | 4 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1919 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1924 | 4 |
| 1925 | 10 |
1,327 stories
- A Thief in the Night at the Bremer Home
A burglary attempt leaves a family home ransacked, leading to a warning for Olympia's citizens.
- An Election Scandal in Mima Prairie
Cyru Vau defends his political integrity against accusations of back-room deals and ballot-box trickery in a letter to the editor.
- Plumbing Failure Floods State Capitol
A clogged flush tank at the Olympia capitol caused hundreds of dollars in damage to government records.
- An Ill-Fated Fishing Excursion to Brown's Wharf
Local residents charter a boat named 'Union' for a fishing trip, only to end up mud-bound and fishless.
- Potato Showdown in Thurston County
A father and son compete at the county potato show, highlighting the success of youth agricultural clubs.
- The Olympia Bear Escape
A dangerous confrontation unfolds in Olympia when an employee of the local power company is mauled while attempting to recapture escaped bears.
- The Final Chapter of an Argonaut and Indian War Veteran
James Camby, a pioneer who arrived in Thurston County in 1853 after a failed stint in the California gold fields, has died at 87.
- The Vulgarity of Legislative Gratuities
An editorial critique argues that tipping public officials during legislative sessions undermines the dignity of the state.
- Washington's Insane Asylums Need Nearly Half a Million Dollars
A legislative committee reports that the state's two insane asylums require $459,757.55 for maintenance, new buildings, and deficiencies — a staggering sum for 1893.
- The Day Seattle’s Water Pipe Factory Saved Itself
While the rest of the country sweats through a historic heatwave, Tumwater’s industrial engine roars night and day to keep the city supplied.
- The Woman’s Club Banquet That Defined Olympia’s Elite
Six years after its founding, the city's most prominent ladies gathered for a 'horseshoe' dinner and silhouette presentation to celebrate their social influence.
- Major W. W. Miller’s Wartime Appointment
Local Democrat and loyal Union man W. W. Miller secures a commission as Quartermaster in the volunteer service.
- Federal Crackdown on Illegal Trade on Reservations
Superintendent of Indian Affairs issues a stern warning that trading, selling, or gifting liquor to Indigenous populations in Washington Territory is a federal crime punishable by imprisonment.
- Olympia’s Civil War Thanksgiving
A local service in the new Presbyterian church raises funds to support the Sanitary Commission's war relief efforts.
- The Call for a State Constitutional Convention
In 1878, Governor Elisha P. Ferry issued an official proclamation calling for a special election to select delegates for a convention to draft a state constitution for Washington.
- The Art of Keeping Clean Swine
A century and a half ago, local hog farmers were advised on the strict management of breeding and hygiene to improve their stock.
- The Tale of Jonathan Homespun's Granary
A cautionary tale of a farmer who learned the hard way that 'everybody's business' is nobody's business.
- A Wartime Thanksgiving in 1862
Governor William Pickering issues a formal proclamation calling for territorial prayer and unity amidst the 'monstrous conspiracy' of the Civil War.
- The High Price of News
Skyrocketing costs during the Civil War forced the Washington Standard to raise subscription prices to survive.
- The Forgotten Youth of Washington Territory
A minister's impassioned crusade to establish the territory's first state-funded school for the deaf, blind, and feeble-minded.
- The Woolen Mill That Never Was: Tumwater’s Lost Industrial Dream
Eastern capitalists promised a massive factory in Tumwater, but the deal collapsed before it broke ground—leaving the town with nothing but hope and a Supreme Court case.
- The Pre-emptor’s Ledger: A Blueprint for Owning Olympia
In November 1860, the federal government issued a rigid, almost theatrical checklist of requirements for settlers hoping to claim land in Washington Territory. It wasn't enough to just show up; you had to prove your worthiness through a litany of domestic and agricultural details.
- The Unspoiled Wilderness of the Cowlitz
A scenic journey along the Northern Pacific Railroad reveals a pristine landscape of rolling prairies, rich farmland, and the challenges of carving a home from the forest.
- The Great Legal Squabble of 1871
A simmering territorial dispute over the 'Big Wigs'—the lawyers and judges—debating exactly when a law becomes a law.
- An Invitation to a Vanished Olympia Homestead
A real estate advertisement from 1872 offers a glimpse into a long-lost residential property on the site of the original Thurston County Courthouse.