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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1859 | 1 |
| 1862 | 1 |
| 1863 | 1 |
| 1865 | 1 |
| 1872 | 6 |
| 1876 | 11 |
| 1877 | 6 |
| 1878 | 2 |
| 1879 | 1 |
| 1880 | 2 |
| 1883 | 8 |
| 1884 | 1 |
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| 1886 | 5 |
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| 1889 | 17 |
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| 1893 | 11 |
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150 stories matching tast
- The Vanity Trap: Seattle’s 1876 Warning on Materialism
While the city scrambled to build its future, one observer warned that an 'aristocracy of display' was hollowing out the pioneer soul.
- The Rambling Village That Wanted to Be a City
An 1876 editorial reflects on Seattle’s humble, sprawling aesthetic, arguing that the lack of architectural grandeur was not a failure of taste, but a deliberate, democratic strategy to avoid the 'unhealthy' wealth concentration of Eastern cities.
- The Mysterious Grapefruit’s Debut in Seattle
Before the grapefruit was a breakfast staple, local merchants were mystified by the 'shaddock,' a strange, fickle fruit that could leave an unsuspecting eater with a sour face.
- The Deadly Loaf of Bread
A betrayal between business partners takes a dark turn in Semiahmoo when a loaf of bread becomes a vessel for strychnine.
- Safe-Crackers Raid Dayton Saloon
Thieves bypass the law and a saloon vault, walking away with silver and a taste for the house's best whiskey.
- The Brutal Arena: Is Prizefighting Dying Out?
An editorial reflection on whether America’s growing appetite for athletics is being corrupted by the 'tigerish' violence of professional boxing.
- Highbrow Critics vs. The Walla Walla Audience
A touring play panned in Seattle and Portland finds an enthusiastic audience in Walla Walla, sparking a debate about local cultural taste.
- The Asylum Ward’s Unseen Hunger
A patient describes the grueling conditions inside a Seattle insane asylum, where the sick are fed wormy prunes and bread meant for the refuse pile, while robust workers with influence dine on fresh milk.
- The Magic of Christmas in Pioneer Seattle
A glimpse into 1876 holiday traditions, from elaborate 'Fairy Land' church displays to the grab-box giveaways that defined the season for the city's children.
- The Great Christmas Tree: $500 in Gifts and a River Crossing
Snohomish residents gathered for a massive holiday celebration on the evening of December 23rd, distributing an estimated $5,000 worth of presents from the 'Christmas tree' before crossing the swollen river to join neighbors in Lone Tree.
- The Unmarked Funeral of a 'Prodigal Daughter'
A sympathetic account of a funeral service held in a Seattle brothel for a woman who died suddenly in 'terrible' circumstances.
- The Great Cigar Heist of Third Street
A burglar uses skeleton keys to bypass a shop lock, proving that even petty thieves in 1894 had expensive, specific tastes.
- The Tragedy at the Indian Training School
A fatal picnic leaves two students dead after accidental poisoning.
- A Taste of the New York Style in 1870s Seattle
Before the city’s culinary scene went global, entrepreneurs like William Philpott were racing to introduce the 'New York style' to the rough-and-tumble streets of pioneer-era Seattle.
- The Herald Defends Its Civic Voice
The Fairhaven Herald clashes with the Sehome Gazette over critical journalism and the future of the bay region.
- The River Bandit of Port Madison
A Swede with a taste for plunder steals a haul of supplies and clothing, only to be chased down by local Indigenous residents.
- The Boss Who Was Kicked Off His Own Train
A classic local anecdote about a prominent contractor getting a taste of his own medicine.
- Acquitted at Noon, Back in Handcuffs by One O'Clock
Frank Goodrich spent five months in the county jail awaiting trial on a charge of enticing Chinese laborers. A federal jury cleared him — and he tasted freedom for only a few minutes before a deputy marshal seized him on a fresh complaint.
- The Price of Elegance in 1883
A look at the luxury fabrics and household goods enticing early Seattleites at the Golden Rule Bazaar.
- The Great Ice Cream Heist at Whitman College
Alumni graduation banquet turns into a local scandal when undergrads hijack the dessert.
- The Landlords' New Playbook: How Seattle's Elite Are Cornering the Housing Market
In a move that mirrors today’s corporate housing boom, lumber barons Yesler, Foster, and Lowman are launching a massive development on Broadway to control supply and dictate prices for new arrivals.
- A Night for Seattle’s Fallen
A crowded hall gathers to secure a dignified resting place for local soldiers.
- The Ghost of the Kneeland Hotel Fire
After three years in jail, a petition for clemency for Angus McClain sparks local debate over reformation, justice, and the costs of a retrial.
- The Great Band Union Battle
A touring bandleader faces a boycott in Walla Walla for failing to secure union cards for his musicians, sparking a public labor dispute.
- The Day Seattle Swallowed 10,000 Strangers: The Great Fourth of July Flood
In 1888, the Territory of Washington threw its biggest-ever Independence Day celebration. Steamers arrived loaded with visitors until the streets were so packed that police could barely move. Here is how Seattle hosted a crowd that nearly burst its seams.