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1. The Price of a Company Town

   Economic instability ripples through Seattle and the Washington Territory as unpaid miners force merchants to tighten their belts.

   Apr 10, 1878The Northern StarSeattle, King CountyWork & Pay

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. Baseball Fever in Snohomish: The Sport’s Dangerous Beginnings

   Before the professional era, Snohomish locals engaged in the early, rugged version of the game, resulting in more black eyes than home runs.

   Aug 18, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyNightlife

4. A Merchant's Plight: The Cost of Overstocking

   A Snohomish businessman faces financial ruin after a bad season leaves his shelves full and his creditors at the door.

   Nov 3, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish County

5. The Heroic Kitchen Defense

   When a kitchen fire threatened to raze her home, a Snohomish woman didn't wait for help, personally battling the flames until the structure was saved.

   May 29, 1878The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyDisasters

6. A Night in the Hollow Tree

   A traveler lost in the brush near Snohomish spends a freezing, rain-soaked night in an hollowed-out tree, only to discover he was feet away from safety.

   Dec 2, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

7. 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

8. The Secular Send-off

   When a Snohomish family rejected the fire-and-brimstone dogmas of the 1880s, they hired a friend instead of a priest to speak at a funeral, sparking a radical discourse on death, reason, and kindness.

   Jul 22, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

9. A Journey to the Falls: 1880s Summer Excursion

   A spirited account of a travel party’s trek from Snohomish to Snoqualmie Falls by boat, including dances, camping mishaps, and encounters with local settlers.

   Sep 2, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyStrange But True

10. The Leap Year Proposal That Shook Snohomish

    When a local woman grew tired of waiting, she took her fate—and her romantic future—into her own hands.

    Nov 18, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyScandal

11. 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

12. The Night of the Knives: Snohomish Councilman and Printer Attacked in Coordinated Assault

    Two men were ambushed on Third Street within hours of each other; one beaten with an iron bar, the other held at knifepoint. The paper warns that 'a general preparation for self-defense' may soon be necessary.

    Jun 10, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyTrue Crime

13. The Lightning Rod Swindler Who Targeted the Courthouse

    A traveling salesman tries to sell protection to a jury foreman, only to discover he’s been pitching his wares to the wrong building.

    Apr 29, 1876The Northern StarSnohomish County Courthouse, SnohomishSnake Oil

14. The Skeleton Bridge: A Warning to Newcomers

    A local correspondent details the perilous state of the Pill Chuck bridge in Snohomish County, describing it as a 'monument of goshend ativeness' that forces travelers to crawl on all fours across a single stringer.

    Jan 20, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust · Strange But True

15. The Chief’s Last Stand: A Vision of Justice Beyond the Grave

    In a rare and poignant interview, Spotted Tail articulates a theology of retribution where the Great Spirit favors the Native American over the white settler in the afterlife.

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

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 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

18. The Marsh That Could Feed a City: Snohomish’s Hidden Goldmine

    A detailed survey of the vast wetlands between Snohomish and the Skykomish River reveals thousands of acres of fertile land, drained by new ditches and accessible by scow, waiting for developers to turn swamp into wealth.

    Apr 14, 1877The Northern StarSnohomish, Snohomish CountyBoom & Bust

19. The Postal War: How Snohomish’s Star Exposed Seattle’s Corrupt Postmaster

    In June 1877, the editor of the *Snohomish Star* launched a blistering public attack on the Seattle post office, alleging that political cronyism and negligence were deliberately delaying his paper to protect local rivals.

    Jun 2, 1877The Northern StarCommercial Street, Seattle, King CountyCity Hall

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