The Town That Rose from the Jam: Mount Vernon’s Wild Start
A new settlement is sprouting along the Skagit River, fueled by loggers, surveyors, and a patriotic name change.
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.
Near the townsite is a very commanding ridge, from which the town derives its patriotic name of Mount Vernon, recalling the sentiment felt by every American. 'The sun of yore! The soul that gives glory to our soil and wave.' It runs across the mount to Ashland a good way. Still lightens through the sky.
The Northern Star reports that they crossed the river to the camp of the jam-removers. They informed us that about three-fourths of the work was done in getting the upper jam out. At present, the river is too low to work effectively. On the 1st of March, a freshet lifted about twenty acres of some of the jam loose; this choked up most all the lower part of the river, and since that time much of their time has been occupied in reopening these channels and saving the logs found in this drift.
About one third of a mile above Mr. Hanson's camp is the camp of Wm. Gage, this being situate directly opposite the camp of the jam-removers, the gentlemen who here done so effectual work for the public in removing the Shellfish jams. It is solely by their work, both Mr. O. and Mr. Kore, able to get at the line timber each were hauling.
It is only about one year, or little more since our first visit to the jam. Then there was nothing above the lower inn, near these firms, besides the logging camp that a person would notice in the shape of business. Now just adjoining Mr. Gage's logging works we found a town starting into life with all the varied institutions incident to a business centre. Messrs Clothier & English had just erected a two-story building, the lower story for general merchandise store, while above was a public hall. Only a short distance from this store was Mr. Shott's new hotel, also two stories in height and well fitted to accommodate those likely to visit it there. Chas. Kimble's residence is close by. Mr. Cottenbaugh is putting up a very tasty house. We also met Mr. Cornelius of the Swinomish, who was up there to survey the new townsite and plat, so that each one would know their boundaries. Others are preparing to build.
For the present, at least until after the removal of the jam and the starting of a town higher up the river, it will be quite a business on its catching a good deal of up-river trade; but the largest permanent town will in time be built above the jam.
This 1877 account captures the chaotic, opportunistic birth of Mount Vernon, WA, driven by the removal of natural barriers (the log jams) that had long blocked economic development. It mirrors modern infrastructure projects where clearing physical or regulatory bottlenecks allows new communities to flourish, though today's 'jams' are often zoning laws or housing shortages rather than fallen trees.
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