Research the archive

• “record” ×
• The Northern Star ×

1. The Knox Stallion at Hilton’s Snohomish Ranch

   A high-pedigree horse on the banks of the Snohomish River offered a glimpse into the thriving frontier economy of the 1880s.

   Sep 1, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

2. The Ghost in the Phonograph

   A bachelor’s secret engagement is exposed by a misplaced recording, setting off a chain reaction of social scandal and technological wonder in a turn-of-the-century mansion.

   Jun 19, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

3. The Unwinding of a Snohomish Logging Partnership

   A rare, stark public record of a dissolved logging venture in Snohomish County, marking the end of a business relationship between two local frontiersmen.

   Jun 19, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyWork & Pay

4. Organizing the Veteran Battalion for the Sioux War

   A local editor and former soldiers organize to provide support and military service amidst tensions following the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

   Oct 28, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyExclusion & Resistance

5. The Sermon of Science in Snohomish

   A local lecture series bridges the gap between theology and natural history, framing evolution not as a conflict with the divine, but as the 'eternal reign of law.'

   Nov 24, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

6. The Steamer Yakima’s Narrow Escape on the Snohomish River

   A dangerous excursion up the river tests the limits of steamboat navigation through uncharted waters and shifting logjams.

   Oct 28, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish County

7. The County's Ledger: A Glimpse into Snohomish Life in 1877

   Minutes from the Snohomish County Commissioners reveal a town in transition: new justices, bridge bids, and the quiet bureaucracy of building a community on the edge of the frontier.

   Feb 17, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

8. The Snohomish River Logjam: A Dispute Over Private Property and Public Waters

   In 1878, a Grand Jury investigation into local business practices reveals a tense standoff between lumber interests and the community over the obstruction of the Snohomish River.

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

9. The Newspaper Feud of 1877

   A Snohomish editor accuses a local county official of petty corruption and personal vendettas, exposing the raw tensions of early frontier governance.

   Sep 15, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall

10. The Oregon Land Agent’s Smear Campaign

    When a rival state agent spread wild lies about 'timber forty feet deep' and 'streets of sawdust,' early Snohomish settlers fought back to set the record straight.

    Aug 10, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

11. The Foreclosure Auction: Snohomish’s Housing Crisis in 1876

    As the Territory of Washington grapples with economic instability, three separate Sheriff's sales are scheduled for January 1877, putting local homes and land on the block for unpaid debts.

    Jan 6, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyHousing & Rent

12. Gardner and Anna Kellogg Face Foreclosure Sale in Seattle

    In March 1877, Sheriff Benj. Stretch announced the public auction of lots in Snohomish City owned by Gardner and Sarah Kellogg of Seattle, following a default on a mortgage held by James M. Coleman.

    May 12, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyFollow the Money

13. Kelloggs Face Foreclosure Sale Over $4,806 Mortgage

    In a move that highlights the precarious nature of land ownership in the early Washington Territory, David and Sarah Kellogg of Seattle are facing the auction of their Snohomish County property due to an unpaid mortgage.

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

14. Ice Breaks: Two Young Men Drown in Snohomish River Tragedy

    Horace Low and Arthur Butt, employees of the local newspaper office, lost their lives after ice gave way beneath them while skating on the river.

    Jan 29, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish River, Snohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

15. 1876 Snohomish Court Targets Indigenous Gatherings and Brothels

    In March 1876, Judge Lewis charged the first Snohomish County District Court grand jury to address public nuisances, including Indigenous gatherings and brothels, while also holding county officials accountable for fee books.

    Mar 25, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyExclusion & Resistance · Nightlife

16. The Sheriff’s Hammer: Snohomish’s Last Stand Against the 'Nuisance'

    In March 1877, Judge J.R. Lewis and the local Grand Jury launched a coordinated assault on vice, seizing brothels and fining operators, while simultaneously exposing corruption in county bonds.

    Mar 24, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyCity Hall · Nightlife

17. The Presbytery’s Verdict: A Minister’s Scandal and the Price of Repentance

    In a trial that captivated Snohomish County, Reverend H.P. Dunning faced charges of domestic abuse and neglect. The court’s nuanced ruling offers a rare glimpse into the moral policing of 19th-century clergy.

    Jun 30, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

18. 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 18 as a spreadsheet (CSV)