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1. The Great Log Jam of 1877

   Heavy autumn rains trigger a massive flood on the Snoqualmie and Skykomish rivers, sweeping timber mills and millions of feet of logs downstream.

   Sep 15, 1877The Northern StarEbey Slough, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

2. Riverboat Trouble on the Snohomish

   A steam-powered river vessel runs aground while attempting a rescue, highlighting the treacherous nature of early Snohomish River navigation.

   Nov 4, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

3. 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

4. The Presidential Impersonator of Snohomish

   A local man causes a stir on Main Street, staging a political reception from the porch of the Snohomish Exchange before his performance is cut short by a mud puddle.

   Mar 13, 1878The Northern StarFirst Street, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyLocal Legends

5. The Dead Man with the Tattoo: A Sailor’s Body Washes Ashore in Snohomish

   Identification of a drowned sailor near Jewett's logging camp reveals a life marked by ink and industry, closing a chapter on the Snohomish River.

   Feb 5, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

6. The Struggle for School Space

   A call to stop patching the Snohomish public school and instead plan for the city's inevitable future growth.

   Nov 25, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

7. The River’s Treacherous Grip

   A routine canoe trip on the Snohomish River turns into a life-or-death struggle when a sudden collision with a snag leaves a laborer fighting the current.

   Sep 15, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

8. The Shadow Market for Public Land

   A look at the opaque system of land scrip that fueled Washington's early expansion and the brokers who profited from the hustle.

   Nov 30, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyFollow the Money

9. The Wild West of Washington Land Speculation

   A 19th-century land agent pitches the 'script' system for acquiring Snohomish homesteads, revealing the complex, sometimes predatory, machinery behind early settlement.

   Nov 23, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyFollow the Money

10. A Dangerous Journey Home from Church

    A quiet Sunday excursion in Snohomish takes a terrifying turn when a startled team of horses crashes, leaving a daughter critically injured.

    Aug 5, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

11. The Great Christmas Tree: $500 in Gifts and a River Crossing

    Snohomish residents gathered for a massive holiday celebration on the evening of December 23rd, distributing an estimated $5,000 worth of presents from the 'Christmas tree' before crossing the swollen river to join neighbors in Lone Tree.

    Jan 15, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

12. Betrayal in the Press Room

    When the editor of the Northern Star went on holiday, his trusted staff staged a secret coup to force the newspaper into bankruptcy.

    Jan 23, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

13. The Brutal Truth of the 'Workaday' Struggle

    An 1879 editorial reflects on the universal, grinding necessity of securing a livelihood, observing that even in a 'republic' built on individualistic grit, most people are only one misstep away from ruin.

    Mar 8, 1879The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

14. The Candidates’ Campaign Trail on the Snohomish River

    As election season heats up in 1878, candidates for the Territorial Assembly trade speeches in the freezing cold and debate the future of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

    Nov 2, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

15. Taming the Skagit Tide Lands

    Early farmers in the Skagit Valley share sworn affidavits proving the extreme fertility of reclaimed tide lands, boasting of massive grain harvests.

    Dec 16, 1876The Northern StarLa Conner, La Conner, Skagit CountyFollow the Money

16. 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

17. The River’s New Pulse: Captain Hill Promises to Link Snohomish and Seattle

    A bold new steam route aims to bridge the gap between the Skagit Valley and the capital of the Sound, promising weekly travel and a boost for local farmers.

    Apr 15, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

18. The Great Heartbreak: A Local Girl’s Secret Wedding to a Seattle Stranger

    When Miss Mary Ann Farmer married Mr. J.G. York in Snohomish, the town was left reeling—not just by the news, but by the sudden silence of their local bachelors who had been courting her.

    Apr 15, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

19. The Great Political Tickling: How Daniel Bugley Outwitted Seattle’s Beriah Brown

    A fiery editorial in the *Snohomish Sun* exposes a political alliance between two rival editors, accusing them of using religious fervor as a cover for partisan maneuvering.

    Jun 16, 1877The Northern StarSeattle, King CountyScandal

20. 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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