.
.
In 1862, Snohomish County was established. This occurred when it was separated from Island County, although it wasn't until later that year that the vote for the location of the county seat went to Ferguson County. At the time, the population of pioneers was 49 people, who were all men. However, by 1865, construction of the Blue Eagle Saloon was completed and opened in 1865. A couple named Woodbury and Mary Sinclair had bought a claim from a man named Mr. Cady and sold logging supplies out of his store, which he organized.
The daughter of a couple named John and Lydia Low, was a woman named Mary Low Sinclair. She was only 11 years old when she was a member of the Denny Party that, in 1851, arrived at Alki Point. She was also the first white pioneer woman to live in a riverside landing that was nothing more than a small clearing in unbroken timber.
River travel was common in this location. In the early days of Snohomish, there weren't any roads, only muddy, winding paths that had been cut through the woods. A man named Emory Ferguson married a woman named Lucetta Morgan in 1868. In 1871, the couple platted their claim, and gave the streets that ran west-east a number, and the avenues that5 ran south-north a letter. However, in 1872, Woodbury and Mary Sinclair, renamed the avenues of their eastern claim after trees. In 1872, Mr. Sinclair passed away from causes unknown. This left his wife, Mary, to raise two children whose estate now owned half of the recently named community. As estate guardian, her first official act was to donate three acres of land, which that was located next to the Pilchuck River for the first cemetery in Snohomish, which was formally governed by an association.
Mary is considered the mother of Snohomish Schools because she donated property for the first schools and also opened her home to become the first classroom. A woman named Miss Ruby Willard was paid $188.59 in 1869, by the county superintendent for three month of school that was held in Mary's home for some 20 pupils, whose age ranged from four to 21. Because the majority of the children that attended school in Mary's home were of mixed marriages, Mary Sinclair became very proficient in the indigenous dialects and languages, so much so, that she was frequently called upon to translate for visiting government reporters and other officials.
Shortly thereafter, a school was started and Snohomish was formally named. Then, a meeting was held in order to organize what was one of the most noteworthy and unique literary associations in the early history of the Territory of Washington. A man named Dr. Albert Folsom was probably the inspirational leader of the Athenaeum Society. Dr. Folsom was previously an army surgeon who had experience in the Civil War. He was in his 40s, and arrived in Snohomish with a scientific collection of over 100 bones, gems, and fossils. In addition, he was the first doctor of Snohomish County. He had received two degrees from Harvard.
The first library in the county was established when some society members pooled their private collection of books. Next, they undertook an ambitious plan to construct a two-story building, which came to be known as the Athenaeum, so that they their collection of some 300 books. In the early days of Snohomish, the women bought the first upright piano in the community. The piano is still available for use at the local library.
A man named Isaac Cathcart probably arrived in Snohomish by following a footpath through the forest instead of by steamship. Mr. Cathcart was a large Irishman, who immigrated from Michigan in1864. Since 1869, Mr. Cathcart had been working in the county in isolated logging camps, felling trees. He had saved sufficient money to construct the Exchange Hotel at the west end of the community. It was built across the street from the unfinished Athenaeum building, which eventually, he bought from the abruptly bankrupt society, and renamed it the Cathcart Opera House. Mr. Cathcart owned several large farms a store on the first floor of his opera house, and his own logging business by 1890.
He eventually became the wealthiest man in the county and also served as county treasurer.
In Bradley, Maine, three Blackman Brothers, named Hyrcanus, Elhanan, and Alanson filed for bankruptcy and with their wives named Ella, Francis, and Elizabeth relocated west to the fertile Snohomish River Valley in the territory of Washington. Around 1875, they organized their first logging camp, which was located on Stillaguamish Lake, which was later renamed to Blackman Lake. Their first mill was located at the river west of what is currently known as Avenue D, which was an easy walk from the lakeside camp.
With the invention of a triple shingle machine by Elhanan, the mill is where they started cutting shingles. This mill was producing ten million shingles each year within two years. The brothers also introduced the first drying kiln, which was used to reduce the weight of the lumber. Elhanan and Alanson also invented a logging machine that was powered by steam, which was used to get the huge cedar logs out of the forest. This logging machine had the ability to pull several loaded log trucks on wooden tracks. The youngest brother, Hyrcanus, involved himself in the civic affairs of the new community, and also kept the books. The year 1890 brought the incorporation of Snohomish and Hyrcanus won the first election for mayor.
.
Snohomish Tidbits
In 1862, Snohomish County was established. This occurred when it was separated from Island County, although it wasn't until later that year that the vote for the location of the county seat went to Ferguson County. At the time, the population of pioneers was 49 people, who were all men. However, by 1865, construction of the Blue Eagle Saloon was completed and opened in 1865. A couple named Woodbury and Mary Sinclair had bought a claim from a man named Mr. Cady and sold logging supplies out of his store, which he organized.
The daughter of a couple named John and Lydia Low, was a woman named Mary Low Sinclair. She was only 11 years old when she was a member of the Denny Party that, in 1851, arrived at Alki Point. She was also the first white pioneer woman to live in a riverside landing that was nothing more than a small clearing in unbroken timber.
River travel was common in this location. In the early days of Snohomish, there weren't any roads, only muddy, winding paths that had been cut through the woods. A man named Emory Ferguson married a woman named Lucetta Morgan in 1868. In 1871, the couple platted their claim, and gave the streets that ran west-east a number, and the avenues that5 ran south-north a letter. However, in 1872, Woodbury and Mary Sinclair, renamed the avenues of their eastern claim after trees. In 1872, Mr. Sinclair passed away from causes unknown. This left his wife, Mary, to raise two children whose estate now owned half of the recently named community. As estate guardian, her first official act was to donate three acres of land, which that was located next to the Pilchuck River for the first cemetery in Snohomish, which was formally governed by an association.
Mary is considered the mother of Snohomish Schools because she donated property for the first schools and also opened her home to become the first classroom. A woman named Miss Ruby Willard was paid $188.59 in 1869, by the county superintendent for three month of school that was held in Mary's home for some 20 pupils, whose age ranged from four to 21. Because the majority of the children that attended school in Mary's home were of mixed marriages, Mary Sinclair became very proficient in the indigenous dialects and languages, so much so, that she was frequently called upon to translate for visiting government reporters and other officials.
Shortly thereafter, a school was started and Snohomish was formally named. Then, a meeting was held in order to organize what was one of the most noteworthy and unique literary associations in the early history of the Territory of Washington. A man named Dr. Albert Folsom was probably the inspirational leader of the Athenaeum Society. Dr. Folsom was previously an army surgeon who had experience in the Civil War. He was in his 40s, and arrived in Snohomish with a scientific collection of over 100 bones, gems, and fossils. In addition, he was the first doctor of Snohomish County. He had received two degrees from Harvard.
The first library in the county was established when some society members pooled their private collection of books. Next, they undertook an ambitious plan to construct a two-story building, which came to be known as the Athenaeum, so that they their collection of some 300 books. In the early days of Snohomish, the women bought the first upright piano in the community. The piano is still available for use at the local library.
A man named Isaac Cathcart probably arrived in Snohomish by following a footpath through the forest instead of by steamship. Mr. Cathcart was a large Irishman, who immigrated from Michigan in1864. Since 1869, Mr. Cathcart had been working in the county in isolated logging camps, felling trees. He had saved sufficient money to construct the Exchange Hotel at the west end of the community. It was built across the street from the unfinished Athenaeum building, which eventually, he bought from the abruptly bankrupt society, and renamed it the Cathcart Opera House. Mr. Cathcart owned several large farms a store on the first floor of his opera house, and his own logging business by 1890.
He eventually became the wealthiest man in the county and also served as county treasurer.
In Bradley, Maine, three Blackman Brothers, named Hyrcanus, Elhanan, and Alanson filed for bankruptcy and with their wives named Ella, Francis, and Elizabeth relocated west to the fertile Snohomish River Valley in the territory of Washington. Around 1875, they organized their first logging camp, which was located on Stillaguamish Lake, which was later renamed to Blackman Lake. Their first mill was located at the river west of what is currently known as Avenue D, which was an easy walk from the lakeside camp.
With the invention of a triple shingle machine by Elhanan, the mill is where they started cutting shingles. This mill was producing ten million shingles each year within two years. The brothers also introduced the first drying kiln, which was used to reduce the weight of the lumber. Elhanan and Alanson also invented a logging machine that was powered by steam, which was used to get the huge cedar logs out of the forest. This logging machine had the ability to pull several loaded log trucks on wooden tracks. The youngest brother, Hyrcanus, involved himself in the civic affairs of the new community, and also kept the books. The year 1890 brought the incorporation of Snohomish and Hyrcanus won the first election for mayor.