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1. Sultan River Prospectors Build a Half-Mile Flume

   Deep in the Snohomish backcountry, a group of determined prospectors labors to divert the Sultan River in hopes of striking it rich.

   Nov 23, 1878The Northern StarSultan River, Sultan, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

2. The Snohomish Assassination Plot: A Lottery of Death

   In February 1877, a local deputy reveals that Governor William Pickering was the target of a sinister lottery scheme to determine who would carry out his murder.

   Feb 24, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall · True Crime

3. The Great River Jam of 1877

   How three determined settlers cleared a quarter-mile of timber that engineers said would take years to move.

   Jan 30, 1878The Northern StarStillaguamish River, Stanwood, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay · Strange But True

4. 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

5. The Great Depression of the 1870s Hits Snohomish

   Facing a glut of goods and a collapsing market, local merchants slash prices and scramble to entice struggling settlers.

   Jan 25, 1879The Northern StarFront Street, Seattle, King CountyBoom & Bust

6. The Struggle for Steamship Service at Oak Harbor

   When the captain refused to land because the water was too shallow, a determined community built their own way to the deep water.

   Jun 12, 1878The Northern StarOak Harbor, Island CountyBoom & Bust

7. The Great Price War of 1878

   A Seattle mercantile firm attempts to win over Snohomish customers by slashing prices in the face of local competition.

   Feb 1, 1879The Northern StarFront Street, Seattle, King County

8. The President's Vision for Reconstruction

   In an era of deep national division, President Rutherford B. Hayes addresses Congress on the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, the restoration of civil order, and his hope for the rights of the newly emancipated.

   Dec 22, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

9. The Great Ditch: How Snohomish Settlers Tamed the Marsh

   Before the land was dry, a few determined pioneers took shovels and grit to the wetlands behind Snohomish to carve a new path for trade and transit.

   Feb 6, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

10. The Girls Who Couldn't Be Moved

    When two sisters refused to budge for a fishing trip, a bizarre and prolonged standoff ensued involving a heavy door and a very frustrated brother.

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

11. The Great Skagit Jam: How Local Men Tried to Unplug the River

    In 1876, a massive logjam blocked the Skagit River for miles. While officials debated expensive dredging projects, local loggers took matters into their own hands with picks and dynamite.

    Apr 8, 1876The Northern StarBellingham, Whatcom CountyBoom & Bust · Strange But True

12. The River That Swallowed a Steamboat: A Brave Attempt to Reach Snohomish Falls

    Twenty-five passengers and tons of freight battled the treacherous Snoqualmie River on the steamer *Columbia*, only to be stopped by a massive landslide just miles from their destination.

    May 20, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust · Strange But True

13. The Railroad's Land Grab: How Northern Pacific Hoarded Snohomish’s Future

    A local resident exposes the legal loopholes allowing the railroad to retain millions of acres in Western Washington, arguing that this concentrated ownership is strangling settlement and keeping land prices artificially high.

    Apr 28, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyFollow the Money

14. The Blues of the Black River: A Walk Through Snohomish’s New Frontier

    A local resident takes a stroll through the muddy pastures and new homesteads near the Black River, finding beauty in the 'mounds' of ancient history and the promise of a fresh start for settlers.

    May 6, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

15. The Long Walk Home: A Traveler’s Ordeal on the Skagit River

    In April 1876, a visitor to Snohomish County recounts a grueling journey through mud, tides, and broken steamers, highlighting the isolation of early Washington settlements.

    Apr 8, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

16. The Temple of Thought: Snohomish Builds Its Own Athenaeum

    A visiting orator declares the new Snohomish Athenaeum a 'temple of science, literature, and art,' rising from the wilderness to preserve the intellectual legacy of the Pacific Northwest.

    Jun 10, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyGone Forever

17. The Great Cascade: A Pilgrimage to the Roar of Snoqualmie Falls

    In July 1877, three travelers walked the rugged trail from Snohomish to Fall City, documenting the lush farms, the hospitality of settlers, and the awe-inspiring power of the falls—a testament to the beauty and isolation of early Washington Territory.

    Jul 21, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

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