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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 5 |
| 1883 | 19 |
| 1884 | 18 |
| 1885 | 43 |
| 1886 | 10 |
| 1887 | 17 |
112 stories matching read
- The Perils of the Telegraph
A look at the chaotic and often hilarious errors produced by local telegraph operators.
- The Seattle Hides: An Early Civic Mystery
A brief, mysterious mention in the 1885 local notes reveals the existence of an organization known as the 'Seattle Hides,' a group that appeared in the local news alongside fire companies and land deals.
- Books for the Common Good
An anonymous businessman donates $100 in gold to expand the Y.M.C.A. reading room for the working men of Seattle.
- Seattle Labor Unions Boycott Local Papers
The Knights of Labor organize against the 'importation of reading matter' intended to displace local printers.
- The Scandal at St. Mary’s
A Seattle Episcopal rector faces a congregation-led revolt after rumors of 'immoral practices' turn an ordinary service into a chaotic public showdown.
- The Business Men's Club Picks Its Candidate
A rowdy, divided convention at the Standard Theater results in John Leary’s nomination for Mayor of Seattle.
- A Labor Solidarity Pact in 1887 Seattle
When local shopkeepers were pressured by long hours and the threat of boycotts, the trades unionists of Seattle stepped in with a formal resolution to end their shopping by 6:00 p.m.
- The Struggle for Seattle’s First Classrooms
Before the city became an educational powerhouse, Seattle’s early schools were built on the backs of local volunteers, rented rooms, and desperate community fundraising.
- The Mayor Bows Out of the Political Fight
Mayor H. G. Struve declines a nomination for re-election, citing a desire for 'common sense' government and the unity of local business interests.
- The Governor’s Message and the Territorial Legislature
As the territorial assembly gathers in Olympia, lawmakers debate office furniture and hear the Governor's address—while a member from Yakima keeps his feet on the table.
- The Kendall Combination Delivers a Moving Performance of 'M'liss'
Seattle theatergoers are captivated by Mrs. Julia Kendall’s portrayal of the waif M'liss at Yesler's Hall.
- The Palace Coup at the Young Men’s Independent Club
A political faction attempts to seize control of a local club through backroom deals and 'gag rules,' only to be met with a revolt by the membership.
- The Old Guard’s Grudge: Territorial Pioneers Clash Over Seattle’s Reputation
A simmering resentment against Seattle in 1885 threatened to derail the annual meeting of the Territorial Pioneers of Washington, sparking a debate about civic unity that feels remarkably familiar today.
- The Powder Barrel Scandal: Seattle’s City Council vs. The Police Chief
A fiery public dispute over missing dynamite and unauthorized absences exposes deep friction in the Seattle city government of 1885.
- The Irish Question in 1887 Seattle
A fervent mass meeting at Frye’s Opera House saw Seattle residents packing the rafters to protest British 'coercion' of Ireland, drawing parallels to American liberty.
- A Tragic Disappearance at the Occidental Hotel
After arriving in Seattle alone, a young woman known as Nellie McNiel left behind a letter claiming she had been seduced, betrayed, and intended to take her own life.
- Real Estate Standoff Paralyzes Whatcom
A townsite dispute between original owners and a land colony halts development and freezes local business.
- The Unfinished Business of Reuben Doyle
A legal notice from 1882 reveals the quiet end of a pioneer's estate in early Seattle.
- A Diplomatic Salute in Fort Blakely
A French ship captain, confused by the celebratory shouting in a local harbor, fires a salute in honor of the wrong man.
- The Speaker’s Gavel Clash
In the Territorial House, a subtle procedural error leads to a public confrontation over how legislation is truly passed.
- The 'Habitual Drunkard' List
A proposed law would have forced Seattle barkeepers to publicly post a list of 'habitual drunkards' in their establishments, effectively blacklisting them from purchasing alcohol.
- Gambling in the 'Chicago Dollar Store'
A call for city officials to shutter a fraudulent lottery operating in a Yesler building.
- The Struggle Over Mount Rainier
A traveler in 1885 recounts a journey from Portland to Seattle, noting the locals' intense and 'desperate' campaign to rename the iconic peak dominating the Tacoma skyline.
- The Unsung Heroes of the July 4th Celebration
While the Governor delivered speeches, an obscure register of local citizens reminds us who actually built the early life of Centralia.
- The Election Day Plot at Black Diamond
Election officials warn of a sinister scheme to disrupt the vote at the coal mines, prompting calls for citizens to guard the ballot box.