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• 1870–1879 ×

1. The Road to Riches: Seattle’s $33,000 Gamble on the Snoqualmie Pass

   In March 1877, local editors urged citizens to fund a toll road through the mountains, arguing that the vast grain fields east of the Cascades were Seattle's only true economic future.

   Mar 27, 1877The Daily IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyBoom & Bust

2. The Schoolhouse That Wasn't: Seattle’s Bureaucratic Battle Over Public Education

   In 1877, a local dispute over the construction of a new school in Helltown reveals the early struggles of civic infrastructure and the tension between taxpayer demands and administrative delay.

   Apr 11, 1877The Daily IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyCity Hall

3. A Heartbreaking Reunion Aboard the Dakota

   The final journey of a dying man and his devoted wife captures the cruel reality of terminal illness in the pioneer era.

   Apr 26, 1877The Daily IntelligencerPort Townsend, Jefferson County

4. The Steamboat Duel: Annie Stewart vs. The Messenger

   In a race for passengers and profit on Puget Sound, two steamers engaged in a high-speed chase that ended with the Annie Stewart arriving five minutes ahead of her rival.

   May 11, 1877The Daily IntelligencerSeattle, King CountyFollow the Money · Strange But True

5. The First White Family: A Pioneer’s Log-Cabin Legacy

   An excerpt from the diary of a local historian recounts the arrival of Mr. Thompson in Snohomish in 1864, detailing the rugged journey up the river and the humble beginnings of what is now a thriving town.

   Jan 22, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust · Gone Forever

6. The Dead Man with the Tattoo: A Sailor’s Body Washes Ashore in Snohomish

   Identification of a drowned sailor near Jewett's logging camp reveals a life marked by ink and industry, closing a chapter on the Snohomish River.

   Feb 5, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

7. 1876 Snohomish Court Targets Indigenous Gatherings and Brothels

   In March 1876, Judge Lewis charged the first Snohomish County District Court grand jury to address public nuisances, including Indigenous gatherings and brothels, while also holding county officials accountable for fee books.

   Mar 25, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyExclusion & Resistance · Nightlife

8. The Centennial Call: Snohomish Citizens Urged to Claim Their History

   As the nation prepares for the 1876 Independence Day celebration, local leaders in Snohomish argue that the county must stop waiting for Seattle or other larger towns to represent them. Instead, they propose a unified county-wide gathering to preserve the region's unique settlement history.

   May 13, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

9. The Great Unknown: Snohomish’s Centennial Celebration and the Rise of a Logging Empire

   On July 4, 1893, the community gathered at the River Side Hotel for music, oratory, and history, marking a decade of growth in a county defined by its forests.

   Jul 8, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

10. The Riverfront Factory Boom

    New manufacturing operations along the Snohomish River signal a growing industrial future for the region.

    Jul 15, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

11. The Case for Universal Schooling in the Territory

    An early local advocate argues that education, not incarceration, is the only path toward ending poverty and crime in the Washington Territory.

    Jul 15, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

12. The Sudden Passing of Captain E. A. Starr

    A beloved community leader and steamship captain dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances.

    Jul 22, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

13. The Parson’s Secret Ringer

    When a local sexton entered a decrepit, bony carriage horse into a high-stakes town race, nobody expected the old animal to outrun the finest steeds in Snohomish.

    Aug 5, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

14. The Strange Disappearance of a Logger

    After a camp cook vanishes with his employer's belongings, the logging crew is left baffled by his sudden and inexplicable departure.

    Aug 19, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

15. The Steamer Nellie's Grand Entrance

    Snohomish celebrates the launch of a custom-built steamer, signaling a new era of river navigation.

    Aug 26, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

16. The Con Man and the Widow

    A crafty imposter poses as a weary veteran to swindle a charitable widow out of her supplies.

    Sep 9, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

17. The Struggle to Build a County Fair

    Citizens push to establish the Snohomish County Agricultural Society despite massive logistical hurdles and limited resources.

    Sep 16, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

18. Burglar Nabbed After Jewelry Store Heist

    A bold thief who robbed a jewelry store of $400 in goods was apprehended in Seattle after a sharp-eyed witness spotted him breaking the glass.

    Sep 30, 1876The Northern StarWashington Street, Seattle, King CountyTrue Crime

19. The passing of a pioneer sheriff

    Edwin T. Dodge, a veteran of the California gold rush and early lawman who helped dismantle legendary highwayman gangs, has died at the Occidental Hotel.

    Oct 28, 1876The Northern StarSwinomish, Skagit County

20. The Struggle for School Space

    A call to stop patching the Snohomish public school and instead plan for the city's inevitable future growth.

    Nov 25, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

21. The Price of a Leg: How Snohomish Neighbors Funded a Stranger’s Recovery

    In the spring of 1877, when a man named Samuel Smallman lost his limb, the community didn't just offer sympathy—they pooled their cash to buy him a state-of-the-art prosthetic from Philadelphia.

    May 12, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

22. The Mill That Could Have Been: A Snohomish Tragedy of Ambition and Illness

    In June 1877, the Northern Star reported on the collapse of a massive new mill project at Port Ludlow, blaming the death of its owner, Arthur Phinney, for halting construction that promised to rival any in the territory.

    Jun 16, 1877The Northern StarPort Ludlow, Jefferson CountyWork & Pay

23. The Presbytery’s Verdict: A Minister’s Scandal and the Price of Repentance

    In a trial that captivated Snohomish County, Reverend H.P. Dunning faced charges of domestic abuse and neglect. The court’s nuanced ruling offers a rare glimpse into the moral policing of 19th-century clergy.

    Jun 30, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

24. The Impending Conflict: Labor and Capital in Snohomish

    An urgent editorial from 1876 calls for the wealthy to heed the growing unrest of laboring men before the struggle turns from strikes to bloodshed.

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

25. The Great Snohomish County Fair of 1877

    A town rally for local pride and agricultural ambition, as Snohomish citizens prepare to showcase the best of the valley’s soil and handiwork.

    Aug 25, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

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