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• La Conner ×

1. The River Opens: First Steamboat Conquers the Skagit's North Fork

   After settlers cleared the jam at La Conner, Captain Hill’s vessel became the first to navigate the treacherous waters of the North Fork, unlocking a new era for the region.

   Jan 13, 1877The Northern StarLa Conner, Skagit CountyBoom & Bust

2. The Incorporation of La Conner

   A local correspondent reports on the first election in the newly minted city of La Conner, following the 1884 legislative session.

   Feb 6, 1884Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerLa Conner, Skagit CountyCity Hall

3. Freight Steamer Destroyed by Fire

   The steamer City of Denver is lost to fire in the Sullivan Slough, destroying its cargo of hay.

   Jul 6, 1904The Tacoma TimesLa Conner, Skagit CountyDisasters

4. The Jailer's Hospitality

   Skagit County prisoners find their incarceration is surprisingly comfortable.

   Feb 13, 1884Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerLa Conner, Skagit CountyCity Hall · Strange But True

5. Harvesting Begins on the Skagit Flats

   Farmers in the Skagit Valley report massive yields, even as they face challenges with potato blight and the historic Skagit River 'jam.'

   Aug 25, 1876The Daily IntelligencerLa Conner, Skagit County

6. The Boom Town of La Conner

   A report from 1878 highlights the explosive agricultural potential and rapid development of the Skagit Valley's 'thrifty little town.'

   Nov 2, 1876The Daily IntelligencerLa Conner, Skagit CountyBoom & Bust

7. The Boom Town on the Skagit

   As La Conner transformed into a bustling grain-shipping hub, new docks and storefronts sprouted along the Swinomish Slough to accommodate the region's agricultural explosion.

   Dec 14, 1878The Northern StarLa Conner, Skagit CountyBoom & Bust

8. The Temperance Experiment: A Dry Billiard Parlor in La Conner

   An 1878 advertisement for a local business offers a look at the unconventional rise of 'temperance billiard halls' that combined community recreation with strict abstinence.

   Feb 1, 1879The Northern StarLa Conner, Skagit CountyNightlife

9. The Gold Rush at the Swinomish Flats

   While miners chased gold in the mountains, early settlers on the Swinomish tide lands found that dyking and ditching the soil offered a far more reliable fortune.

   Sep 21, 1878Puget Sound DispatchSwinomish Channel, La Conner, Skagit CountyFollow the Money

10. The Tide Marsh Farmer's Million-Dollar Pitch

    A La Conner entrepreneur calls for local investment to stop the exodus of grain wealth, offering land to any miller willing to set up shop.

    Jul 20, 1878The Northern StarLa Conner, Skagit CountyBoom & Bust

11. The Social Pulse of La Conner

    A historic advertisement for a local billiard saloon highlights the center of community life in 19th-century La Conner, where the rules of order were as important as the game itself.

    Jun 12, 1878The Northern StarLa Conner, Skagit CountyNightlife

12. The Maryland House Offers a Temperance Haven

    An early advertisement for a boarding house in La Conner promises 'No Liquor Sold,' marking a firm stance against the rowdier trade of the era.

    Jun 19, 1878The Northern StarLa Conner, Skagit CountyHousing & Rent · Nightlife

13. The Temperance Hotel of La Conner

    An 1880s hotel proprietor promises a clean, quiet, and liquor-free establishment for the weary traveler.

    Nov 30, 1878The Northern StarLa Conner, Skagit CountyHousing & Rent · Nightlife

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