The Mental Health Crisis of 1876
A local man is taken away to Steilacoom after his monomania turns threatening.
Yesterday, Sheriff Stretch left on the Nellie, accompanied by Mr. Geo. White, who is insane. He will be taken to Steilacoom. He has a ranch on the Snoqualmie river in King County. For a long time his acquaintances have been aware that he was suffering from monomania; but until lately was deemed harmless. His attitude recently toward several of our citizens has become so threatening that it was no longer safe for him to be at large.
“For a long time his acquaintances have been aware that he was suffering from monomania; but until lately was deemed harmless.”
This reflects the starkly different approach to mental health care in the 19th century, where 'monomania'—a dated psychological term—led to immediate removal to institutional settings like the asylum at Steilacoom. Today, Snohomish faces different challenges, but the tension between community safety and compassionate care remains a central civic debate.
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