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• The Northern Star ×

1. The Great Snohomish Shake: A Tremor That Shook the Skykomish Valley

   Just after midnight on Thursday, a distinct earthquake rattled Snohomish, with heavier tremors felt in Northern Montana and Idaho.

   Jul 28, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

2. Baseball Fever in Snohomish: The Sport’s Dangerous Beginnings

   Before the professional era, Snohomish locals engaged in the early, rugged version of the game, resulting in more black eyes than home runs.

   Aug 18, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyNightlife

3. The 1877 County Fair: A Snapshot of Snohomish Ambition

   A meticulously preserved premium list from the Snohomish County Agricultural Society reveals the crops, crafts, and civic values that defined the valley's identity in the late 19th century.

   Sep 8, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

4. A Steam-Powered Saturday at the Ballgame

   In 1877, a merry crew boarded the steamer 'Nellie' for a day of baseball and feasting at Port Gamble, capturing a rare moment of community harmony on the Sound.

   Sep 22, 1877The Northern StarPort Gamble, Kitsap CountyNightlife

5. The Burning Monuments of Snohomish

   Two massive, blazing cedar trees lit up the night sky, transforming a local forest fire into a spectacular public display for the riverfront town.

   Sep 22, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

6. The Snohomish Athenaeum’s Grand Ambition

   In 1877, a group of citizens drafted an ambitious charter for a local society dedicated to 'literature, science, medicine, or law,' dreaming of a regional hub for intellectual progress.

   Oct 13, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

7. The Hard Luck of the Northern Mines

   When the Snohomish River ran too shallow for navigation, hopeful miners found themselves stranded, forced to trade their picks for cobbler's benches.

   Oct 20, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

8. A Merchant's Plight: The Cost of Overstocking

   A Snohomish businessman faces financial ruin after a bad season leaves his shelves full and his creditors at the door.

   Nov 3, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

9. The Steamer's Narrow Escape

   A brush with disaster on the Snohomish River turns into a local scandal involving the engine room and a bottle of spirits.

   Nov 3, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

10. Midnight Fire at the Mill

    A sawmill employee barely escapes a late-night cabin blaze, losing his winter supplies to the flames.

    Nov 10, 1877The Northern StarDiscovery Bay, Jefferson CountyDisasters

11. Puget Sound's Salmon Industry Still Dependent on Out-of-State Supplies

    While Washington's salmon industry continues to grow, it relies heavily on Portland for barrels and packaging materials.

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

12. The Cost of a Bed and Board

    A legal dispute from 1877 highlights the precarious nature of early pioneer housing, where unpaid tabs for room and board could lead to courtroom showdowns.

    Dec 22, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyHousing & Rent

13. The Logging Kings of the Snohomish River

    A single drive of 300,000 feet of lumber marks the success of the Elwell family, who dominate the regional timber trade.

    Dec 22, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

14. The Scandal of the Masquerade

    A local Catholic publication condemns the 'burlesque' of religious habits at public costume parties, threatening to publicly name and shame attendees.

    Mar 13, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyNightlife

15. The Unintended Leap in Snohomish

    A local restaurant owner’s attempt to mimic the athletic feats of his neighbors ends in a public, pants-splitting embarrassment.

    Apr 17, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

16. The Lovers’ Lane of Snohomish

    A newly constructed plank road, intended for industrial timber transit, becomes an unlikely promenade for the town's romantic youth.

    Apr 24, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust · Strange But True

17. The Neighbors Who Saved the Harvest

    When an ill farmer and his preacher could not tend their fields, the community of Semiahmoo mobilized as one to save their livelihood.

    May 29, 1878The Northern StarBlaine, Whatcom CountyStrange But True

18. The Dream of the Mukilteo Homestead

    Developers pitch the promise of self-sufficiency and deep-water access to prospective homesteaders in a growing Mukilteo.

    Aug 24, 1878The Northern StarMukilteo, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

19. The Wedding of the Marsh

    A satirical look at a rural wedding that turned into a chaotic, memorable spectacle, as reported by the local paper.

    Sep 14, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

20. An Hydraulic Solution to Snohomish’s Water Woes

    Innovation at the eastern edge of town brings running water to the school house flat.

    Sep 21, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

21. The Washer Invention at the Snohomish Fair

    A local demonstration of a new, lightweight washing machine promises to revolutionize labor for households across the Puget Sound country.

    Oct 12, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountySnake Oil

22. The Promised Land on the La Grande Marsh

    Developers in the late 19th century marketed Snohomish's tide lands and marshy acreage as prime agricultural real estate, promising fertile soil and easy access to market.

    Oct 12, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

23. The Rowing Invention That Changed the River

    A Snohomish local debuts a mechanical rowing gear that allowed boaters to steer and power their craft with ease, signaling a shift in daily river navigation.

    Oct 19, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

24. The Invisible Army Under the Microscope

    A scientific lecture delivered in Snohomish contemplates the origins of life, the invisible world of bacteria, and the processes of decay.

    Nov 23, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

25. In Defense of the Old Hat

    A Snohomish resident offers a defiant, humorous ode to a battered, three-year-old hat that refuses to quit.

    Nov 30, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

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