Site founded Sept. 1, 2000. We passed 1.5 million page views on March 3, 2007
These home pages remain free of any charge. We need donations or subscriptions to continue.
Please pass on this website link to your family, relatives, friends and clients.

Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
Free Home Page Stories & Photos
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness

Noel V. Bourasaw, editor

810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp

Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

Skagit County Times (Sedro-Woolley)

April 2, 1903, Vol. XIII, No. 11

Woolley and Sedro. Owned, issued and operated by Ketchum Printing Co., Seneca G. Ketchum, manager. Subscriptions $1/year. Ads: $1/inch/month, reductions for time and space. Published Thursdays.
Ed. note: This was one of the last issues under Ketchum, wildman-journalist/editor in his native Canada, Fairhaven and Woolley, and the former very-brief police chief of Nelson, B.C. Ketchum died in August 1903 and you can read his full biography in Issue 34 of the optional subscribers-paid Skagit River Journal online magazine. We only found pages 1, 5 and 6, so we are not certain if Ketchum was still active at that point. Clearlake historian Deanna Ammons received copies of the newspaper from an anonymous person.
As with all these newspaper transcriptions, we provide annotations that are based on our extensive research of each Skagit County town where the newspaper was published. We welcome your corrections and additions, should they be needed, and we especially encourage you to send us copies — we don't need your originals — of any newspapers, separate pages or even clippings from rare old newspapers. By that, we mean newspapers pre-1920, and especially from the many newspapers that burned in various fires and originated pre-1905. We also love to see clippings of history research posted by editors in later newspapers, especially copies of the annual Puget Sound Mail (LaConner) Pioneer Picnic editions, published every August through 1981.

News of the Day On the Goat Trail to Slate Creek mines Farm from the busy haunts of men, way up the picturesque valley of the sometimes placid and anon restless Skagit, are many scenes of surpassing natural beauty and delightful effect. Starting from Sedro-Woolley, the gateway to the great timber and mineral country to the east and the traveler in search of business, sport or health must perforce follow the devious course of the grand old river which has for centuries flowed down to the sea over rugged precipices, by vast forests of giant trees and along virgin valleys of wonderful possibilities.
Perhaps in no other region of like extent on the. Pacific slope has nature been so lavish in her gifts of wealth and beauty. To reach the famous Slate Creek gold fields, on the western slope of the Cascade mountains, it is necessary to traverse the perilous and wearisome Goat Trail, a rough and narrow pathway over precipitous cliffs and yawning chasms that every moment threaten the life of the venturesome traveler. Although less than ten miles long this trail is pronounced by the hardiest old prospectors to be about the toughest. bit of hiking on earth."
Some seven miles along Goat Trail is the Devil's Corner, one of the most interesting and romantic of the upriver beauty spots. The Devil's Corner is said to have received its name from the circumstance that the Ruby Creek Hydraulic Mining Company, in undertaking to repair and shorten the trail down the river, found this particular corner a "devil" of a hard place to get around.
The illustration shows that a portion of the solid mountain of granite has been blasted out to make room for the trail, leaving overhead an awning of natural rock of thousands of tons in weight. The other side of the pathway is bordered by the top of the deep and narrow canyon through which the waters of the Skagit dash and foam in their contracted bed a hundred feet below. [See photos and more stories about the Goat Trail and Devil's Corner at these Journal websites: here, here and here]

Logging, Mills and Shingles The Shingle Situation From the Mississippi Valley Lumberman Speaking of the drop in the price of shingles, the Lumberman says
"There are just two alternatives that present themselves in the present emergency, and it ought not to be hard for the manufacturers of shingles to choose between them. One is to keep on manufacturing shingles in the face of the light demand. The trade cannot be forced, and the market prices kept up. The light demand is undoubtedly due to a large extent to the execrable condition of the roads in the country. The farmers cannot buy lumber and shingles when it is impossible for them to haul empty wagons. The result of this course is easy to see.
The market will continue to weaken and the prices will fall to a very low point. The other course is to shut down the mills until such time as the demand is large enough to take care of the output. The manufacturers might as well look the situation squarely in the face and act accordingly. It ought not to be long until there will be an opportunity to get rid of the surplus of stock. At present the railroads are unable to furnish transportation facilities east of Chicago, and practically no shingles are going east of that point. But navigation will soon open and that difficulty will be remedied to a considerable extent. Until then the mills might as well be shut down.

Sterling Mill Co. The Sterling Mill Co. is putting up a large one-story addition to their mill at Sterling, which is to make room for some new machinery which they intend to add to their plant at that place. Mr. Peter Herr Most Woodlin, who secured the contract for putting up the building, will have it ready for the new machinery by the first of April. — Burlington Journal.
Ed. note: Read details about the Sterling Mill Co. in this Journal story about Mr. Ritchford/Richford and his brother Ratchford.
Skagit Manufacturing Company The Skagit Manufacturing Company's shingle mill at Anacortes was completely destroyed by fire last week. The dry kiln and other adjacent property was saved by hard work on the part the firemen. The loss is about $6,000 with insurance exceeding $3,000.
James Bell and Green Shingle Co.

The Green Shingle Company and the Tyee Lumber Company have both secured contracts for getting out timbers for pile drivers and lighters to be built at Anacortes for the Alaska Transportation Company.
A new saw mill will be erected near his city, it is said, by James E. Bell, the Everett lumberman, who recently made a deal with the Green Shingle Company, of this city, for 2,000 acres of timber land in this district.

Miscellaneous news items Councilman Hughey loses wrestling match with his wheel Went Broke. Councilman Henry H. Hughey had a prize fight with his bike on Sunday morning, the bout ending disastrously for Henry. It happened just as he went to turn the corner at Jameson and Township streets, homeward bound, when the wheel [another term for bicycle at the time] humped itself like a bucking bronco and threw its rider 300 feet [really, Henry?] into moist atmosphere from whence he had presence of mind enough to return. in the course of time. In looking around for a place to alight, however, Mr. Hughey indiscreetly selected a spot on the other side of a ditch where a rugged old plank reclined, and being in a hurry to lie down himself he thoughtlessly shoved his collar bone up against the outside of the plank and broke it (the collar bone, not the plank). This angered him so much that he got up and kicked it and cast it away (the plank, not the collar bone), and afterward took it to Dr. Mattice to have it (the collar bone, not the plank) dressed.

The Governor's Fix Washington is a $3,000,000 state all right, but unfortunately she has a $2,000,000 income, and that fact is costing Governor McBride a whole lot of anxiety and votes. The legislature could afford to be good fellows and vote money for every worthy project in sight, but the governor is not so happily situated, and his veto power is being used with discrimination, but decision. He has cut out a total of $399,960. The omnibus road bill, carrying $110,000; the beet sugar bounty, $100,000; Lewis & Clark exposition, $50,000; and coyote bounty, $50,000; were the principal items eliminated, though a number of other items, some of which are of the highest merit, went the same road, simply because the state cannot pay the fiddler from its revenues. — West Coast Trade.
Ed. note: Henry McBride was a Utah native who moved to Washington territory in 1882, moved to LaConner in 1884, and became an attorney with a practice in LaConner and Mount Vernon. He was elected lieutenant governor of Washington state in 1900. After governor John Rogers died in office in 1901, McBride became governor, but he was not renominated by the Republican party in 1904. Read a biography of McBride at this Journal website.
A Double Desertion A pathetic story of child desertion by a Skagit County girl comes from Everett, where the desperate young wife of J. C. Allen was detected a few nights ago in the act of leaving her three weeks-old baby boy on the door-step of a house on Chestnut street.
The child was taken to the home of Officer Hubbard and the mother placed in the care of the police matron. To the latter Mrs. Adams told this brief but distressful story:
"I was married about a year ago at Mt. Vernon, and my home is at Birdsview, in Skagit County, where my father is postmaster. We lived at Skykomish until last Christmas, when I went home for a visit, and my husband was soon to follow me, but I have not seen him since then. I do not know of any reason why he should have left me. The boy was born at the Home hospital in Seattle, and his name is George Stanley Allen.
The forlorn young mother's tearful but straightforward story touched the hearts of the big policemen of Everett to the extent that a temporary relief fund of $15 was raised for Mrs. Allen, and Officer Hubbard has adopted the lusty foundling.
Mortimer Cook's new grandson The much respected name of Mortimer Cook has been bestowed upon the baby boy just lately born to Mr. and Mrs. Budlong, at Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. Mrs. Budlong, as is well known to many residents of this city, was Miss Nina Cook before her marriage, and the good friends of herself and family are very pleased to learn that her son has been baptized Mortimer Cook Budlong. Mrs. Mortimer [Nan] Cook is living with her daughter, Mrs. Nina Cook Budlong, at 126 South Scoville avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. [See our extensive Journal section about Sedro-founder Mortimer Cook and his family.]
IOOF, Odd Fellows The following members of Hope Encampment No. 10, I.O.O.F., of LaConner, went to Sedro-Woolley last Saturday evening to attend a meeting of Union Encampment No. 30, I.O.O.F., of that place: P. Wingren, B. L. McCormick, C. D. D'Arcy, F. H. Ewing and Elmer Stotler. Four candidates were initiated into the full mysteries of Odd Fellowship and became full-fledged members of Union Encampment. Grand Patriarch W. H. Leuders of the Grand Encampment of Washington, assisted by several three-link brethren from the Everett encampment, who put on the work, also conferred the Royal Purple degree on C. D. D'Arcy and F. H. Ewing of this place. The local quintet returned Sunday, and say they had a very enjoyable time. — LaConner Puget Sound Mail.
Opera House The Margarita Fischer Co will appear at the opera house for a season of. two nights, starting Thursday, April 2, in a repertoire of late, standard successes, introducing new and funny specialties between each act, doing away with the long waits and delays. Miss Fischer is only 16 years of age but has the steadiness, ability and above all the art. As "Jean Ingleside" and "Mah's DuBois" in the society comedy, "The Queen of Wall Street," she has no equal, and is supported by a well-balanced company away above the average, Every lady attending the opening performance will be entitled to a beautiful souvenir photograph of Miss Fischer. Popular prices. Reserved seats now on sale at Holland's Drug Store.
Ed. note: See this Journal feature about the Opera House on State Street, which later became the Moose Lodge hall.

The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor held a very enjoyable social at the Presbyterian church last Friday evening. The time was passed in playing games and social converse, and refreshments were served. It is one of Rev. Haystead's principles that the younger members of his flock should be given every opportunity for rational enjoyrnent, and when the room that is now being built is finished, it will used largely for recreation, as well serving the purpose of a Sunday school room.
Chas. Mudge, alias O.E. Noris, who was arrested last week on a charge of forgery, has acknowledged the crime and will be sentenced by Judge Joiner without delay. Mudge, it will be remembered, was taking subscriptions for the Ladies' Home Journal and Saturday Evening Post at one dollar for both magazines, and in giving receipt signed the name of the Curtis Publishing Co. His victims are said to be quite numerous in this locality.
Charles Villeneuve will leave on Monday for Marblemount, where he will be joined by John Barney and together they will proceed to the Slate Creek mining camp to prosecute development work on their Wizard group of claims. Messrs. Barney, Villeneuve and I. E. Shrauger also own the Olympic group of eleven claims, on which they do a lot of work during the coming season. Word from the district is to the effect that this spring is much later than last. Snow to the depth of from three to seven feet is found from Sour Dough mountain to Barron and neighborhood. The Mountain of flowers, which at this time last year was covered with a luxuriant growth of beautiful daisies, is at the present time wrapped in three feet of snow. A warm rainfall or Chinook wind may at any time cause the small streams to swell and make the Skagit river overflow at low points toward its mouth.
The Skagit County Printers and Publishers held a reorganization meeting at Mount Vernon on Saturday last. There was a good representation of the "brains" of Skagit present. Committees were appointed on by-laws and other affairs, their reports to be submitted to a meeting to be held in this city on Saturday of next week, April 4.

Local news columns Hamilton Notes

There is talk of a new mill and logging camp being put in by Michigan parties who own a big tract of timber at the northeast of town.
Ed. note: This is the first known mention of the Dempsey Brothers company from Michigan, which grew quickly from a logging camp into a widespread dominant logging company that later teamed up with Mount Vernon founding-partner Ed English to build the Puget Sound and Baker River Railway alongside and in competition with the Great Northern, north of the upper Skagit River. See these Journal websites for more details: here, here and here.
Word comes from Col. Frank Wilkeson that he and his family will spend their vacation this summer in and about our healthful and attractive young city.
Ed. note: The Journal features more than a dozen New York Times columns from this surveyor of the Skagit River in 1870, civil war author, state legislator and subject of the new book, The Old Soldier Goes Fishing, who made Hamilton, Sedro and Fairhaven his second home from 1885-1905. See this Journal website for more details.
People up this way are clamoring for better railway and postal service. It is more than likely that this matter wil1 be earnestly and systematically urged all along the line this spring. New buildings are being built and improvements made on streets and sidewalks in various parts of the city, and our citizens look forward to a steady and substantial growth of the place.
Ed. note: See these Journal websites for more details about Alex Stafford and his famous frontier family at Sauk City and the upper Skagit river: here, here, here, and here.
Augustus Sorge has sold out his interest in the Hamilton Hotel, and expects to go into the publishing business at Seattle. In the matter of magazine literature Mr. Sorge thinks he has the "long felt want" up his sleeve, and so we are admonished to look for something perfect when Sorge's Magazine bursts on the literary horizon. [We can't find anything about him; does anyone know about Sorge?]
Clarence Rowley is building a handsome cottage near Railroad avenue.
Hon. Barney Albertson, mayor of Burlington, was in town over Sunday.
Mrs. Rusk, wife of our popular attorney, is expected to join her husband here this week.
Alex. Stafford and family have re-covered their good health, much to the pleasure of their many friends.
Henry Hurshman is establishing a branch store at Lyman, which suburb gives promise of quite a stir this sum-flier.
Ed. note: Hurshman proved up on a preemption claim near Hamilton in 1890 and was a road supervisor there; the 1909 Polk Directory lists him as a grocer. See these Journal websites for more details about Mr. Hurshman: here and here.
Yungbluth & Co., the bankers, contemplate the erection of a bank block on the corner of Maple street and Railroad Avenue.
Charles Hill has cleared and fenced the choice lots in the heart of the city and may build a residence or business house thereon.
New buildings are being built and improvements made on streets and sidewalks in various parts of the city, and our citizens look forward to a steady and substantial growth of the place.
Married. Miss Alice Baldridge, of Hamilton, and Mr. J. D. Storts, of Everett, were quietly married at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. R. DeLancy, on Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. None but a few relatives and .friends witnessed the interesting ceremony, which was performed by Rev. J. H. Carter. The groom is a popular young man who has been employed on the Great Northern railway for several years as a brakeman. The bride has a large circle of friends in this city and Hamilton, among whom she has always been a favorite. Mr. and Mrs. Storts will probably make their home in California whither they will be followed by the best wishes of all who know them.

Sedro-Woolley notes

By the retirement of Frank Winemiller, Hugo Bauman has become sole proprietor of the Hotel Osterman. Mr. Baurnan has decided to make many improvements and run the hotel in a strictly first-class manner hereafter.
Ed. note: This is one of those little items that fills in gaps in a biography we already have, telling us more about Mr. Bauman's original partner. Bauman bought the Osterman House sometime circa 1900 from James and Maggie Osterman, who had in turn bought it from a Mr. St. Clair, an apparent front man for banker Charles W. Waldron in Fairhaven. This was originally called the St. Clair Hotel and was sold after Waldron lost much of his fortune after the 1893 Financial Panic. Bauman sold the hotel in 1909 and moved on to the Rockport Hotel, which he owned and managed for nearly three decades; he also later became the county commissioner for the Third District. Read this Journal website with details about the original St. Clair Hotel: here, and about Bauman and Rockport here.
As a photographer Darius Kinsey has a national reputation. He has just received orders from Savannah, Ga., Southern Pines, N. C., and St. Paul, Minn. Mr. Kinsey's fame as an artist helps to advertise Sedro-Woolley far and near.
Ed. note: We have researched Mr. Kinsey's life and career for 14 years and we will soon share new details from our files in the upcoming Issue 36 of the optional subscribers-paid Skagit River Journal online magazine. Read this Journal website with Ray Jordan's profile of Kinsey:
Dr. Mattice reports a new boy at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bradsberry, of Clearlake, on Sunday, March 29th..
A. E. Holland last week purchased the property on Metcalf street occupied by Dr. Brooks. It was owned by Hi Hammer.
Ed. note: This is one of those one-line items that we especially look for. Albert E. Holland was the pioneer druggist who moved with banker C.E. Bingham from old Sedro to new Sedro to Metcalf Street in Woolley in 1895. In 1905 they erected the stone building at the southwest corner of Metcalf and Woodworth that still stands there today. We know that they moved their old woodframe building over to the lot where the Skagit Surveyors building is today. We surmise that Holland bought this lot in anticipation of erecting the Surveyors building as an south annex of the bank building. We have a vague reference to the old wooden building being moved over to the current Marketplace Foods location when the brick annex was built.
The new addition to the city jail is now completed. It is large enough for one more cell and a bedroom for Night Marshal Holman.
Ed. note: The city hall/fire hall/jail was at that time all contained in a two-story woodframe building that stood where the alley is now, west of the Bingham Bank building. It had a tower where the hoses were hung out in the air to dry. We so much want photos of that building. Can you help?
On Friday last Donnelly & Carstens shipped in four carloads of prime steers from Nevada. The firm has also purchased and brought here a fine Percheron stallion for breeding purposes.
Ed. note: J.A. Carstens was a member of the Tacoma family that owned Carstens Packing plants in several Washington cities. After the turn of the century, they became leading packers of both meat and pork, having been given a boost by shipments to the Klondike during the gold rush of 1897-1900. Back in 1899 (see this Journal website), Carstens and David M. Donnelly dissolved their Woolley butcher business by mutual consent and went their separate ways, with Donnelly heading up the Woolley Meat Market and Carstens the Central Meat Market. Apparently they rejoined as partners in the intervening four years. We hope to hear from descendants of these families who may have documents or photos.
W. H. Totten, junior editor of the Courier, visited Hamilton on Sunday.
Ed. note: The Skagit County Courier was the newest of Sedro-Woolley newspapers. It was founded by U.E. Foster, who moved here with others from Plainview, Nebraska, in 1900-01, but the backer was David M. Donnelly, a pioneer butcher in Wickersham and Woolley and a rising star in Republican politics. In 1902, William H. Totten also moved here, apparently from Nance County, Nebraska, and bought half interest. Back there, he was the frist editor of the Chimney Rock Transcript (perfect newspaper name for a Western movie) in 1888 and in 1900 he edited the Fullerton News in the same county. We have not yet determined if he was related to Maj. Gen. Joseph Gilbert Totten, Chief Engineer of the U.S. Army and namesake of Fort Totten at Belcourt, North Dakota.
W. T. Odlin, head of the Citizens' Bank of Anacortes, paid a business visit to this city on Saturday. Being a shrewd observer and a fair minded man withal, Mr. Odlin does not hesitate to say that Sedro-Woolley, as a progressive town and an industrial and commercial center, is fast outstripping all other Skagit County cities.
Fred Learner, and James A. Shipp, two well known young men have bought the Saratoga restaurant on State street, and are prepared to serve the most toothsome meals at reasonable rates.
An Easter ball will be given at the opera house on Saturday evening, April 11. Music by the Twin City Mandolin Club.
Percy Neilan, a leading business man of Van Horn, is in town today.
Rev. J. H. Carter is assisting in revival meetings at Burlington this week.
Quarterly meeting services at Central M. E. church next Sunday. Preaching by the pastor at 11 o'clock a.m., and 7:30 o'clock p. m. by Rev. Covington, of Marysville, followed by communion service. All are cordially invited.
I. W. Davis, an employee in the Tyee camp, ran up against a circumstance of some kind last Saturday and was so unfortunate as to fractured his nose. He came to Sedro-Woolley where that useful member received proper treatment
A social under the auspices of Ladies' Aid Society of the Presbyterian Church was held at the residence of Mrs. P.A. Woolley last evening, and was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed. Ice cream, cake and other refreshments were served, and choice vocal and instrumental selections by local artists helped to round out a pleasurable program. The hospitable hostess is to be congratulated upon the uniform success of all such entertainments held at her spacious and beautiful home.
The Juvenile Band held its first meeting in the town hall on Tuesday last. The following officers were elected: Mr. F. A. Hegg, president; W. H. Pilcher, treasurer and John Douglass secretary. From this date three practices will be held each week, and the boys are sure to prosper. Watch out for the small boy with the big horn. The Juvenile Band has arranged to give a masque ball at the opera house on Saturday, April 25. The proceeds of the affair are to go towards paying for the set of instruments just purchased. It is to be hoped that the dance will be liberally patronized, and that the boys will make a hat full of money.
E. R: Anderson, representing the Polson Implement & Hardware Company of LaConner and Seattle, was in town yesterday "doing a little missionary work" for the firm. Mr. Anderson regards the continuous growth of Sedro-Woolley as the most hopeful sign of the future greatness of Skagit County.
J. A. Gillis is still very ill at his home.
Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Smith went to Seattle yesterday.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Murdock on Tuesday, March 31.
The Harmony Club will hold its regular dance on Saturday evening.
Roy Gregory, who has been quite ill with bilious fever, is recovering.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Stephens, of Acme, on Friday, March 27.
Mrs. M. Campbell, of Seattle, is on a visit here, and may make this her home hereafter.
The Anacortes city council has raised the saloon licenses in that town from $500 to $800 a year.
Graydon's photograph gallery will reopen on Friday, March 27, over Union Mercantile Co.'s store.
J. T. Davis has moved into the residence on Warner street recently purchased by him from R. K. Dunham.
G. W. Wainwright, deputy state veterinary inspector, will he in Sedro-Woolley for a few days, commenting Friday (tomorrow).
J. W. Sadler has just painted a very attractive sign for E. Reno. It is an artistic piece of work, and will be quite an ornament when placed in position in front of the building.
Dr. Fowler will remove his dental parlors from their present location over the Fritsch Furniture Company's store to the rooms over the Union Mercantile Company's store in a few days.
Charles Anderson met with an accident at the Hightower logging camp at Van Horn, on Monday, in which he had one of his legs broken. He was brought to this city and is now at the hospital, and is progressing favorably.
The new bell which has just been hung in the belfry of the Presbyterian church weighs 1,000 pounds, and was cast at Northville, Michigan. In a clear atmosphere, it is said, its tones can be heard at a distance of ten miles.
Willard J. White visited Seattle a few days last week.

Advertisements

Notice — Honey for sale at Sibley & Kyle's.
Read Fritsch Bros.' ad. this week. It will interest you.
Try our Mount Baker Flour, It is Everett's best — warranted. Sibley & Kyle Mercantile Co.
The Ladies' Aid Society raised $28.25 toward the church addition fund, at the social held at the Woolley mansion.
FOR SALE. Three good mill sites, convenently located on river. Good holding ground. Inquire Skagit Realty Co.
Rumor says that Susan Lord Currier Ornes has her eye on the Mt. Vernon Argus and may gather it into her newspaper net.
For SALE. A 95 acre ranch, 1 mile east of town, on plank road; 12 acres cleared; 350 bearing fruit trees; 5 room house, good barn, etc. Price $25 per acre. Inquire Skagit Realty Co.
Don't miss Miss Margaret Fischer as "Jean Ingleside" and "Marie Du Bois 'in the "Queen of Wall Street" at the Opera House Thursday night, April 2.Popular prices. Seats on sale at Holland Drug Store.
A good piano or organ can be purchased from A. L. Smith. Phone Main 26, or call at store, City Hall Block.
Go to Reno's for your base ball goods. Everything in the line of fishing tackle at Reno's.
No other firm can sell pianos as cheap as Sherman, Clay & Co. A. L. Smith is their Sedro-Woolley agent.
Talk to A. L. Smith about pianos.
Fresh bread daily on hand at Sibley & Kyle's.
A full line of Builders' Hardware at Fritsch Bros. Get their prices.
Call on A. 1. Smith, agent for Sherman, Clay & Co., pianos and organs, City Hall Block, Woodworth Street.
Fred Daniels, formerly a printer in this office, or anyone knowing his whereabouts, please write to Box 7, Sedro-Woolley.
You run no risk in buying from Sherman, Clay & Co. They have sold more -pianos in Sedro-Woolley than all other firms put together. See their agent, A. L. Smith, Woodworth Street.
A fine 6-room cottage for sale; reasonable terms; newly painted; big lot; purest water; rare bargain. Apply to S. G. Ketchum.

Links, background reading and sources

See this site of Old Newspaper Logs for transcriptions of newspapers dating from 1878 on.
George Hopp, first publisher of the first newspaper in old Sedro, the Sedro Press, beginning April 18, 1890. Link is repaired.
The Dec. 5, 1891, Skagit County Times. In it you will find the shocking news that the merger of Sedro and Woolley was first attempted in 1891 after both towns had been incorporated as cities of the fourth class. Plus the preparation for the Dec. 8 election where four different parties nominated their slate of candidates for municipal office in Woolley. We also read about profiles of two famous early editors, Edward S. Morrill and Ambrose B. Ernst. Morrill was the nephew of Senator Justin S. Morrill of Vermont, the father of land-grant colleges, and Ernst went on to become the father of Seattle city parks.
In the May 2, 1896, issue, we learn about the Batey & Hart mill; John Munro's Grand Rapids mill, Albert W. Hight's mill and Sterling and McMurray mills; news from early Burlington and McMurray; a list of government officials at state, county and town levels; early churches and fraternal lodges; new information about the George Green and Dave Parker families; the Collins family, namesake of Collins road, and homestead filings. You will also find links to short features in this issue about the first proposed cheese factory in Sedro, Sedro's bid for the Skagit County Fair, an obituary for Gustav Pidde and the very early days of the Masonic Lodge.
Transcripts of various issues of Seneca G. Ketchum's 1899 Skagit County Times newspapers from various months of 1899. These were the first newspapers after the merger of Sedro and Woolley. Shared from our optional Subscribers Edition

Return to the new-domain home page

Links for portals to subjects and towns

Newest photo features

Search entire site

You can click the donation button to contribute to the rising costs of this site. You can also subscribe to our optional Subscribers-Paid Journal magazine online, which is about to enter its seventh year with exclusive stories, in-depth research and photos that are shared with our subscribers first. You can go here to read the preview edition to see examples of our in-depth research.

Story posted on June 27, 2006

See this Journal website for a timeline of local, state, national and international events for years of the pioneer period.

Did you enjoy this story? Remember, as with all our features, this story is a draft and will evolve as we discover more information and photos. This process continues until we eventually compile a book about Northwest history.

Can you help? We welcome correction and criticism.

Please report any broken links or files that do not open and we will send you the correct link. With more than 550 features, we depend on your report. Thank you.

Read about how you can order CDs that include our photo features from the first five years of our Subscribers Edition. Perfect for gifts.

You can read the history websites about our prime sponsors
Would you like information about how to join them?

Jones and Solveig Atterberry, NorthWest Properties Aiken & Associates: . . . See our website
Please let us show you residential and commercial property in Sedro-Woolley and Skagit County 2204 Riverside Drive, Mount Vernon, Washington . . . 360 708-8935 . . . 360 708-1729

Schooner Tavern/Cocktails at 621 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, across from Hammer Square: www.schoonerwoolley.com web page . . . History of bar and building

Oliver Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 82 years.

Joy's Sedro-Woolley Bakery-Cafe at 823 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 82 years.

Check out Sedro-Woolley First section for links to all stories and reasons to shop here first
or make this your destination on your visit or vacation.

DelNagro Masonry Brick, block, stone — See our work at the new Hammer Heritage Square

Are you looking to buy or sell a historic property, business or residence?
We may be able to assist. Email us for details.

Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20
Park your RV or pitch a tent by the Skagit River, just a short drive from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley

Did you find what you were seeking? We have helped many people find individual names or places, so email if you have any difficulty.

Tip: Put quotation marks around a specific name or item of two words or more, and then experiment with different combinations of the words without quote marks. We are currently researching some of the names most recently searched for — check the list here. Maybe you have searched for one of them?

Please sign our guestbook so our readers will know where you found out about us, or share something you know about the Skagit River or your memories or those of your family. Share your reactions or suggestions or comment on our Journal. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit our site.

View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook

Email us at: journal@stumpranchonline.com

Mail copies/documents to Street address: Skagit River Journal, 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, WA, 98284.