The Great Block River Auction of 1876
A sprawling public sale in the countryside south of Seattle offers a snapshot of pioneer life, livestock, and the rhythm of late 19th-century farm commerce.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The undersigned will sell at Public Auction on Monday, November 27, at the 'Cramer Farm,' Block River, near Seattle, a large collection of livestock and farming equipment. Included are: 15 Cows, 10 two-year-olds, 1 heifer, 2 work horses, 100 hogs, 10 tons of hay, 1 bull, and a large lot of farm implements. Terms: All sums under $20 cash; over $20, a credit of 90 days will be given. Sale to commence at 1 o'clock. James M. Knight, Auctioneer. November 14th, 1876.
“Terms: All sums under $20 cash; over $20, a credit of 90 days will be given.”
While 'Block River'—likely referring to the Black River area near today’s Renton and Tukwila—has since been largely drained and transformed into industrial zones and shopping malls, the auction notice mirrors the perennial, high-stakes trade in property and capital that still defines the economic pulse of the Seattle region.
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