Research the archive

• “largest” ×
• The Northern Star ×

1. The Million-Shingle Miracle: How Snohomish River Steamers Defied the Odds

   In a stunning display of industrial might, the steamer Yakima loaded 106,000 shingles in a single day, helping to push the river's winter yield toward one million—a feat that put Snohomish at the center of the global timber trade.

   Feb 24, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

2. The Mammoth Rye of the Skykomish

   A local farmer introduces a giant, high-yield grain variety to the Snohomish Valley, offering hope for regional agricultural innovation in the late 1870s.

   Oct 27, 1877The Northern StarPark Place, Snohomish, Snohomish County

3. The Wedding That Lit Up Snohomish: A Steamer’s Arrival and a Night of Revelry

   When the steamer Millie docked with its popular proprietor Benj. Smith Earp and his new bride, the town turned out in force for one of the most brilliant social events ever seen in Snohomish.

   Feb 10, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

4. The Hustle of the Territorial Frontier

   A glimpse into the 19th-century mail-order economy, where ambitious merchants sought to capitalize on the labor and curiosity of working-class families across the Pacific Northwest.

   Feb 27, 1878The Northern StarSeattle, King CountyWork & Pay

5. The Boom Town That Water Built

   A look at the commerce, civic ambition, and social life of Port Townsend as it established itself as the Pacific Northwest’s primary port of entry.

   Nov 10, 1877The Northern StarPort Townsend, Jefferson CountyBoom & Bust

6. The Pioneer Nursery Bringing Life to the Sound

   Before Snohomish was a sprawling suburb, it was a frontier canvas for orchards and ornamental gardens seeking to tame the wild Washington landscape.

   Dec 22, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

7. The Logging Kings of the Snohomish River

   A single drive of 300,000 feet of lumber marks the success of the Elwell family, who dominate the regional timber trade.

   Dec 22, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

8. Taming the Snohomish Valley Marshlands

   A look at the settlers turning the muddy, fertile banks of the Snohomish River into a bustling agricultural hub through sweat and engineering.

   Aug 4, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

9. The Great Timber Heist: A Raft of Logs Vanishes from Snohomish Wharf

   A massive shipment of lumber disappears from Jackson's wharf under the cover of a storm, leaving local merchants and the U.S. Mail steamer crew to pick up the pieces.

   Jun 23, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

10. The Jam That Stalled a Territory: How Local Men Tried to Clear the Skagit River

    In 1876, Snohomish residents rallied to fund the removal of massive log jams blocking the Skagit River, arguing that clearing the waterway was essential for settling the vast timber-rich lands of Washington Territory.

    Jun 10, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

11. Gold Fever and Tribal Tensions: A Dispatch from the Sauk Mines

    Returning from the mountains, a prospector describes the arduous reality of mining the Sauk, while reflecting on Chief Moses’s urgent plea to live in peace with settlers outside of the reservation system.

    Aug 17, 1878The Northern StarSauk River, Sauk, Skagit CountyExclusion & Resistance

12. The Town That Rose from the Jam: Mount Vernon’s Wild Start

    A new settlement is sprouting along the Skagit River, fueled by loggers, surveyors, and a patriotic name change.

    Jun 9, 1877The Northern StarMount Vernon, Skagit CountyBoom & Bust

13. The Mill That Built a Town: Inside Port Discovery’s Industrial Heart

    A rare look inside the massive lumber operation on Port Discovery Bay, where 60 men worked around the clock to feed the timber boom of the Pacific Northwest.

    Apr 21, 1877The Northern StarPort Townsend, Jefferson CountyBoom & Bust · Gone Forever

14. He Sailed Around the Horn in '49. Thirty-One Years Later, He Went Home.

    S. S. Bassett, who farms at the mouth of the Snohomish, has come back from six months east — a boyhood village he could no longer read, a Centennial he will not stop describing, and a hard-times East that sent him home more convinced than ever about Washington Territory.

    Nov 4, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

15. The Fortress of Timber: How Mill Barons Bought the Land to Buy the Town

    In 1877, a local editorial warned that Port Blakely’s massive timber companies were cornering the market on real estate, creating an economic monopoly that would stifle independent growth and keep workers dependent on their employers.

    May 12, 1877The Northern StarPort Blakely, Bainbridge Island, Kitsap CountyFollow the Money

16. The Centennial Call: Snohomish Citizens Urged to Claim Their History

    As the nation prepares for the 1876 Independence Day celebration, local leaders in Snohomish argue that the county must stop waiting for Seattle or other larger towns to represent them. Instead, they propose a unified county-wide gathering to preserve the region's unique settlement history.

    May 13, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

17. The Man Who 'Bled' His Town Dry: The Rise and Ruin of Eldridge Morse

    A 1876 traveler’s letter to the Oregon City Enterprise paints a damning portrait of Snohomish’s most energetic citizen, accusing editor Eldridge Morse of draining public funds for private ambition.

    Dec 30, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall · Scandal

18. 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

Download all 18 as a spreadsheet (CSV)