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• 1870–1879 ×

1. The Log Jam That Held Back the Skagit

   Settlers bet their savings on cutting a channel through a massive timber jam—and begged Sound steamboat captains to link the Skagit to Seattle.

   Dec 16, 1876The Northern StarConway, Skagit CountyBoom & Bust · Strange But True

2. The River Eats the Office: A Snohomish Flood Story

   In January 1877, the Snohomish River rose so high that it swallowed the rear of the Northern Star newspaper office, threatening to wash away the town's press along with its ink.

   Jan 13, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

3. The Great Grasshopper Panic: Why Washington Farmers Are Bracing for a Locust Apocalypse

   Professor Riley predicts an unprecedented crop of grasshoppers across the Northwest and beyond, urging immediate preparation as eggs hatch in offices from Minnesota to Missouri.

   Feb 10, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

4. The Man Who Lost His Mind to a Will: A Snohomish Tragedy

   A wealthy local man, stricken with paralysis after a legal dispute over his inheritance, is now confined in the Washington Asylum for the Insane. His family’s fortune may have cost him his sanity.

   Feb 17, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

5. The Engineer Who Tamed the Tides: Col. Wilson’s Blueprint for Snohomish’s Future

   A master engineer presents a radical plan to dredge the Columbia and Willamette rivers, promising to unlock Seattle's potential by reshaping the very geography of the Pacific Northwest.

   Feb 24, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

6. The Day the Silver Rush Hit Snohomish

   Local merchants and miners report a 'considerable excitement' as rich silver ore is discovered near Mud Springs, promising a new boom for the region.

   Mar 10, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

7. The Great Log Jam: How a River of Timber Threatened to Wash Away Snohomish

   A massive tow of logs broke loose near Priest Point, sparking fears of a disaster that could have swept away the town's waterfront—and highlighting the precarious nature of life in the logging boomtown.

   Apr 7, 1877The Northern StarPriest Point, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay · Disasters

8. The Moonlit Confession: A Romantic Friendship in Snohomish

   A local resident’s poetic declaration of love to a companion named Fidencia, published in the 'Wonders' column, reveals the tender, coded language of queer intimacy in late-19th century Washington.

   May 12, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyLGBTQ+ Lives · Strange But True

9. The Postal War: How Snohomish’s Star Exposed Seattle’s Corrupt Postmaster

   In June 1877, the editor of the *Snohomish Star* launched a blistering public attack on the Seattle post office, alleging that political cronyism and negligence were deliberately delaying his paper to protect local rivals.

   Jun 2, 1877The Northern StarCommercial Street, Seattle, King CountyCity Hall

10. The Town That Rose from the Jam: Mount Vernon’s Wild Start

    A new settlement is sprouting along the Skagit River, fueled by loggers, surveyors, and a patriotic name change.

    Jun 9, 1877The Northern StarMount Vernon, Skagit CountyBoom & Bust

11. The Day the River Ran Red: A Tacoma Tragedy

    In a brutal dispute over territory and pride, 'Negro Bob' was shot dead by Kennek Joe in Tacoma, highlighting the violent intersections of race, labor, and frontier justice in 1877.

    Jun 9, 1877The Northern StarTacoma, Pierce CountyExclusion & Resistance · True Crime

12. The Log That Almost Killed: A Logger’s Narrow Escape

    In a dangerous era of manual labor, Mr. Howard of Eddy & Howard survived being crushed by a rolling timber on the Snohomish log road.

    Jun 16, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

13. The Governor’s Visit and the Militia’s March: July 1877 in Snohomish

    Governor Perry addresses a rapt crowd on Independence Day, while local men scramble to organize volunteer companies for the Nez Perce War.

    Jul 7, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyExclusion & Resistance

14. The Town That Wouldn't Sleep: Snohomish’s Fourth of July Overflow

    When the steamers arrived with guests from Seattle and upriver, two hotels couldn't hold them all. The town celebrated with a reading by a woman, a poem by a local man, and a boat ride that nearly capsized on the Skagit.

    Jul 14, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust · Strange But True

15. The First Cannery on the Sound: Vining’s Giant Fish Factory Opens in Mukilteo

    A new industrial giant rises on the Puget Sound waterfront, promising to feed Seattle and bring prosperity to a small town.

    Jul 28, 1877The Northern StarMukilteo, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

16. The Hoodlums of Snohomish: A Night of Guerilla Warfare

    In August 1877, a 'protective force' and the police clashed with gangs of young men in downtown Snohomish, destroying saloons and quelling what officials called 'riotous conduct.'

    Aug 4, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall · Nightlife

17. The Forgotten Strike of 1877 in Snohomish

    A radical labor meeting calls for an eight-hour day and government intervention, warning that starving workers 'don't reason' when pushed to the brink.

    Aug 25, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

18. The Great Log Jam of 1877

    Heavy autumn rains trigger a massive flood on the Snoqualmie and Skykomish rivers, sweeping timber mills and millions of feet of logs downstream.

    Sep 15, 1877The Northern StarEbey Slough, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

19. The Case for Decentralizing the Timber Industry

    An 1870s editorial argues that Snohomish County loggers are being exploited by giant corporations and proposes a localized milling model to ensure economic independence.

    Sep 15, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

20. The River’s Treacherous Grip

    A routine canoe trip on the Snohomish River turns into a life-or-death struggle when a sudden collision with a snag leaves a laborer fighting the current.

    Sep 15, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

21. Squall Capsizes Boat Near Discovery Bay; Thomas Quinn Drowns

    A logging excursion near Discovery Bay ends in a fatal struggle for survival when a sudden squall capsizes a small boat.

    Oct 13, 1877The Northern StarDiscovery Bay, Port Townsend, Jefferson CountyDisasters

22. The Shadow Ledger of 1877 Snohomish

    A grand jury investigation reveals that local commissioners were caught undercutting liquor licensing fees, triggering a deeper probe into potential corruption and the misdirection of public funds.

    Nov 17, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

23. The Intellectual Meritocracy of the East

    In an era of intense anti-Chinese sentiment in the West, a Snohomish lecturer finds a startling, counter-intuitive argument for the superiority of Chinese governance: a rigorous, education-based civil service.

    Dec 8, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

24. The President's Vision for Reconstruction

    In an era of deep national division, President Rutherford B. Hayes addresses Congress on the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, the restoration of civil order, and his hope for the rights of the newly emancipated.

    Dec 22, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

25. The Magic Well of the Upper Skagit

    An 1877 expedition pushes beyond the edge of known maps into the upper Skagit wilderness, encountering glowing tunnels, giant eagles, and the promise of a rugged agricultural frontier.

    Feb 27, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

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