Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine2 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 730 |
| 1904 | 60 |
790 stories
- A Nighttime Intimidation at Dreamland Park
The proprietor's wife turns the tables on two would-be robbers, prompting a new era of vigilance at the local attraction.
- The Suspicious Death of the Mull Baby
A coroner’s inquest is ordered to investigate conflicting medical reports over an infant's sudden death in Walla Walla.
- The Stupendous Dam Proposal for the Walla Walla River
Engineers are eyeing the Reddin place for a massive masonry dam intended to transform the valley’s irrigation potential.
- The Petty Feuds of Walla Walla's Elite
A satirical chronicle of the local political war between 'Ankeny' and 'Boxer' factions.
- The Fair Moves for a Mill
Walla Walla's annual fruit fair loses its historic grounds to industrial development as a new steam chop mill prepares to grind.
- Mayor Hunt’s Vision for a Growing Walla Walla
Facing a housing and infrastructure boom, the mayor calls for a new city charter and a shift toward modern public works.
- The Marriage Trials of Jack and Mrs. Smith
A domestic dispute over alleged infidelity and threatening letters spills into open court, captivating a curious Walla Walla public.
- Prison Guard Shoots Inmate in Jute Mill Fight
A convict is wounded during a prison brawl after guards are ordered to use live ammunition to stop frequent fighting.
- An Ecological Disaster on Pine Creek
Local farmers find hundreds of pounds of dead trout after a creek is diverted into an irrigation ditch.
- The Garrison Creek Brawl
A horse trade gone wrong ended in a violent, multi-generational melee that left an entire family bloodied in court.
- A Father’s Final Afternoon
A reunion thirteen years in the making ended in sudden tragedy over a watermelon in a Walla Walla shop.
- A Neighborhood Terrorized by Revolver
A domestic dispute turns volatile at Third and Poplar streets.
- Walla Walla Commits to Major Infrastructure Overhaul
City Council moves to shore up Mill Creek and repair crumbling streets in a session of ambitious public works.
- Left to Fend for Herself
A Colfax mother files for divorce while her husband serves a five-year sentence in the Walla Walla penitentiary.
- The Midnight Hotel Fire
A suspected incendiary targets a local hotel, only to be thwarted by staff before the flames reach the dining room.
- The Traveling Salesman Who Out-Wrestled a Footpad
When an armed robber tried to hold up a local salesman late at night, he found himself in a Greco-Roman wrestling match instead of an easy mugging.
- The Unkept Promise of Walla Walla's Telephone Wires
City council is urged to enforce a year-old franchise agreement requiring the telephone company to bury its unsightly street-level wires.
- The Persistent Loophole in Walla Walla's Temperance Laws
While the city restricts alcohol sales to 'probated' drunkards, families find that local saloons are ignoring the law—leading to a potential wave of civil litigation.
- The Walla Walla Divorce Mill
Superior Court sees a surge in filings, including cases of domestic violence and substance abuse, as Judge Brents returns from vacation.
- The Privatization of the Walla Walla River Basin
Wealthy sportsmen have locked up local hunting grounds behind fences and permits, shutting out the public to ensure a private preserve for their weekend outings.
- The Musicians' Union Feud at the Fruit Fair
A local labor council boycott of a touring band crumbles after discovering the group had quietly unionized weeks earlier.
- The Price of a Senate Seat
A political operative visits Walla Walla to lobby for a candidate, candidly admitting that securing a U.S. Senate seat in 1903 requires a $300,000 bribe to the legislature.
- The Mystery of the Plummeting Balloonist
Two hunters near the Blalock ranch witnessed a terrifying mid-air event: a man plunging from a balloon into the clouds.
- The Struggle for Walla Walla's Water
An engineer’s report declares Mill Creek the city's only viable future lifeline, dismissing local springs and wells as inadequate for a growing population.
- A Young Man’s Six-Month Jail Ordeal
After being duped into helping a stranger load stolen goods, a teenager from Prescott spent half a year behind bars simply because he could not afford bail.