Research the archive

• “fellow” ×
• The Northern Star ×

1. The Man Who Cut His Hand to Save It: A Snohomish Logging Camp Tragedy

   In the sweltering heat of July 1877, a laborer at Hollert’s logging camp suffered a gruesome accident that required immediate surgical intervention in town.

   Jul 21, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

2. The Great Strawberry Heist: A Town’s Sweetest Mystery

   When a local dignitary donated an overflowing bucket of cherries and strawberries to the Snohomish newspaper office, they vanished by nightfall—leaving behind only gratitude and a very full belly.

   Jun 24, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

3. The 'Easy' Job That Wasn't

   A classic tale of a hotel proprietor in Snohomish trying to hoodwink a miner into an impossible, unpaid-labor arrangement.

   Jun 19, 1878The Northern StarMain Street, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay · Strange But True

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 Man Who Set Type at 71: William Lloyd Garrison’s Snohomish Surprise

   In a rare moment of local celebrity, the famous abolitionist visited his old printing shop in Washington Territory to celebrate his semi-centennial anniversary as an apprentice.

   Mar 11, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

6. 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

7. A Critique of Preachers' Neglect of Practical Reform

   A biting editorial calls out local clergy for focusing on the 'unknown future' while ignoring the immediate sanitary crises, poverty, and vice plaguing the streets of Seattle.

   Aug 19, 1876The Northern StarWaterfront, Seattle, King CountyCity Hall

8. The Spectacle of the Potlatch

   An observer documents the elaborate cultural traditions of an Indigenous gathering in the Washington Territory.

   Nov 25, 1876The Northern StarTulalip, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

9. Judge Lewis Seeks Revocation of Snohomish Liquor Licenses

   After a grand jury report, Judge Lewis urged revoking liquor licenses from tavern owners operating brothels and corrupt establishments in Snohomish.

   Sep 8, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyNightlife

10. The Great Sheep War: Seattle’s Political Flocks and the Independent Goats

    A satirical letter to the editor uses a bizarre allegory of sheep herds and wild goats to critique Seattle's political parties, corporate wolves, and the emerging independence of women in public life.

    Feb 3, 1877The Northern StarSeattle, King CountyCity Hall

11. 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

12. The Hangman's Verdict: John Thompson Convicted of Murder in Snohomish

    A trial that captivated the entire Territory ends with a death sentence for a man accused of killing his friend during a drunken brawl over a card game.

    Feb 24, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish Jail, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

13. 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

Download all 13 as a spreadsheet (CSV)