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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 13 |
| 1889 | 26 |
| 1891 | 14 |
| 1892 | 21 |
| 1893 | 38 |
| 1894 | 49 |
| 1895 | 61 |
222 stories matching invit
- Seattle Wined and Dined the Legislature to Sell the Ship Canal
In February 1893, city leaders invited every state lawmaker to Seattle at city expense—then walked them to the Lake Washington portage to argue for county bonds and a canal.
- The 'Golden Eagle' Store's Grand Opening Promises to Sweep Seattle
A new clothing house sets up shop on Front and Seneca, promising low prices, quality goods, and free souvenirs to all who visit their grand opening.
- A Fatal Feast
A lonely wood chopper, accustomed to 'baching' on meager meals, succumbs to convulsions after being invited to a generous home-cooked dinner.
- Mutual Aid in the Hinckley Block
Women of the 'Industrial Army' organize to provide food and clothing to families in need during a time of economic instability.
- The Brown Paper Ball of 1894
When the Panic of 1893 hit Tacoma, the St. Elizabeth Guild defied the mood with a tongue-in-cheek 'Hard Times' dance featuring invitations and programs printed on brown paper.
- The Social Siege of Miss Alioa Burns
A young Seattle resident is expelled from a Tacoma club dance, sparking a standoff and a threat of legal retribution.
- A Furniture Store Fisticuff
A social slight between families led to a curse-filled brawl inside a Second Street furniture shop.
- The City That Almost Was: The 1891 Annexation Election
A historic ballot reveals how Seattle once planned its expansion by absorbing the suburban districts of Salmon Bay, Fremont, and Latona.
- The Nativists Break Ranks: A.P.A. Refuses to March With the Hibernians
Tacoma's Fourth of July celebration splits in two as the American Protective Association, objecting to Irish Catholic marchers, stages its own morning parade — and the city council votes to march in both.
- Governor McGraw Refuses to March for Free Silver
Invited to send three delegates to a Salt Lake City convention, Washington’s governor writes a blunt refusal—and says 16-to-1 coinage is not a popular doctrine in this state.
- Tragedy at Lake Washington
A roller coaster at the end of the Madison street line collapsed, injuring a local carpenter and five young boys.
- An Arrest at a Disreputable House
A theft on Washington Street leads to charges of larceny and solicitation.
- The Sudden Birth of Tacoma's Ice Industry
A chance encounter over a warm lemonade led to a major local business venture.
- The Woman’s Club Banquet That Defined Olympia’s Elite
Six years after its founding, the city's most prominent ladies gathered for a 'horseshoe' dinner and silhouette presentation to celebrate their social influence.
- McNaught’s Wharf Collapses Into the Harbor
A collapse of a waterfront warehouse leaves a local fish merchant with a total loss as scavengers claim the debris.
- The Unstoppable Snorer of Judge Humes' Court
A man’s remarkably musical snoring brings the wheels of justice to a screeching halt, leading to a physical showdown with a bailiff and deputy.
- Militia Hopes for World's Fair Trip
Washington National Guard members increase recruitment and drill intensity in anticipation of a potential trip to the Chicago World's Fair.
- The Great Seattle Clearance of 1888
As the summer season wanes, a downtown merchant pivots their business model, signaling a rapid shift in the city's commercial landscape.
- The Man Who Would Make Seattle Beautiful
A landscape architect from Cleveland arrives in the Pacific Northwest with a radical proposal: tear down the ugly retaining walls and let nature take over.
- A Spokane Policeman and a Runaway Wife
A husband tracks his wife's secret life through a trail of letters and discovers she has moved on with a Spokane police officer.
- Thanksgiving at the Asylum
Patients at the Fort Steilacoom hospital celebrate the holiday with a turkey dinner and a theatrical performance.
- The Great Expansion of Seattle's Streetcars
City Hall invites competitive bids for a massive expansion of railway lines, shaping the city's growth in the late 19th century.
- A Home Renovated as a Surprise Greeting
A Seattle husband secretly remodeled and furnished his home while his wife was traveling, unveiling it upon her return.
- The Tacoma Land Boom
A glimpse into the feverish property speculation of the 1888 Washington Territory and the intense competition to develop the city's future.
- The Narrow Escape of Mr. Browne
A prominent Seattleite faces a targeted arson attempt at his residence, marking the second such attack in a wave of local intimidation.