An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 81

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1172

USA > Washington > Skagit County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 81
USA > Washington > Snohomish County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 81

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In addition to the excellent service rendered to the rising generation of Snohomish county by the public schools, there is opportunity for educa- tion along special lines or under particular auspices afforded by several first class private institutions.

The most prominent of the private institu-

tions of the county is Puget Sound Academy, under the auspices of the Congregational churches of western Washington. It was incor- porated under the laws of the territory on September 4, 1886. Its location at that time was Coupeville, in Island county.

After having done work of a high grade for twelve years it was decided to relocate the academy at Snohomish. The moving of the county seat from Snohomish to Everett left vacant the county building, which, largely by the beneficence of the Ferguson Brothers, was secured for the use of the academy. The loca- tion of the academy is sightly and convenient, while the view of the Olympics and Cascades, and towering over all, Mount Ranier, the King of the mountains, is one of combined beauty and sub- limity hard to match even upon Puget sound.

Puget Sound Academy provides courses of study in classical, scientific and English branches in addition to a high grade business course. At the present time the faculty consists of Rev. William Worthington, principal and instructor in Greek, history and Bible; Charles A. Palmer, instructor in science and mathematics; Bess Van Boskirk, preceptress and instructor in English, French and physical culture; Linnie May Marsh, instructor in Latin and German; C. A. Wilbur, instructor in stenography, typewriting and book- keeping; Rev. Carlton Merritt Hitchcock, direc- tor of musical conservatory and instructor in piano and pipe organ; Catherine Williams, instructor in piano; Florence Brown, director of Art department; and Mrs. Martha Mckay, matron of boarding department.

With a faithful and thorough faculty, a body of ambitious and capable students and a location in the most beautiful part of the beautiful town of Snohomish, Puget Sound Academy certainly may be regarded as upon the high road to a career of prosperity and usefulness such as will fulfill the generous aims and high hopes of its founders and constituents. At present an effort is being made, and not without success, to raise a fifty thonsand dollar endowment.

Of aims somewhat similar to those of Puget Sound Academy was the academy inangurated by the people of the Presbyterian denomination under control of the Rev. J. W. Dorrance. This institution was established in 1891, and received the name of the Dorrance Academy. Its purpose was to provide thorough, practical and Christian education in the customary lines of academic courses, besides a practical business education.

The Dorrance Academy was convened first on June 2, 1891, in the basement of the Presby- terian church. The growing patronage of the institution soon led to a demand for more com- modious quarters, and Mr. Dorrance set to work with great energy to secure the funds and put into execution the erection and equipment of a

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building which was at that time a great credit to the town of Snohomish.

In 1593 Mr. Dorrance resigned his appoint- ment as pastor in the Presbyterian church in order that he might devote all his energies to the building up of Dorrance Academy. Everything seemed to portend a permanent and successful career for the institution, but circumstances subsequently led Mr. Dorrance to decide to remove to California, and as a result of the withdrawal of the head of the institution and its main inspiration, the history of Dorrance Academy came to an end. It had accomplished much good during its existence and its discontin11- ance was a source of great regret to the citizens of Snohomish.

There are located in the city of Everett two church academies which have attained a high grade and extensive patronage. First of these is the Academy of St. Dominic, a select boarding and day school for girls and young women. It was founded in 1900 and is under the control of the Dominican sisters. The location is an attrac- tive and favorable one on the corner of Cedar street and Everett avenue. Its central aim is to give an education which shall be at once thorough and artistic. As in all institutions under the con- trol of the Catholic denomination, special atten- tion is paid to the refinements of domestic life and to the fine arts. The course comprises four years of study in the standard branches besides offer-

ing a thorough commercial course. The number of pupils is rapidly increasing, the enrollment of 1900 having been one hundred and thirty-four while that of 1904 was three hundred.

The other church school in Everett is the Bethania High School and College. This institu- tion is under the control of the Norwegian-Luth- eran church, and is located on Broadway avenue. The business manager of the institution is Rev. B. A. Sard, and the principal of the scholastic department is P. J. Christens. This institution has so commended itself to the favor of the people of the Norwegian race and churches in Snohomish county that plans are already in prog- ress for the establishment at Everett of a large collegiate institution to be known as the North- west Norwegian College. If carried out according to hopes and expectations this will be such an institution as to redound to the credit of the city in which it is located.

The limits of space have compelled summar- izing in a dry, brief manner the essential facts in the history of both public and private educa- tion in the counties of Snohomish and Skagit. The work may indeed be considered in its incipiency, and yet so much has been accom- plished as to establish the certainty that these two fair counties will not lag behind their sister counties in the great task of securing to the children the education and the discipline de- manded by the strenuous times in which we live.

CHAPTER III

THE PRESS OF SKAGIT AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES

PUGET SOUND MAIL

The oldest newspaper in western Washing- ton, north of Seattle, is the Mail now published at La Conner, Skagit county, but originally estab- lished in the old town of Whatcom more than thirty-two years ago. To have reached such an age would in itself have been a distinction in a state where so many changes have taken place in so few years ; to be known also as the pioneer of journalism in this section is an added distinction.

In his salutatory, appearing in the initial number July 5, 1873, James A. Power, founder, publisher and editor, remarks among other things:

"With this, the first number of the Belling-

ham Bay Mail, we greet the citizens of Whatcom county. Trusting in their generous promises liberally to patronize and support a newspaper published within their precincts and specially devoted to their interest, we have undertaken the task of establishing one for them. The necessity for such an enterprise has been seri- ously discussed during the past few months by gentlemen who have a special interest in the welfare of the county and in the development of its resources. These men were constantly in receipt of letters from different parts of the Eastern states asking for information in regard to the country bordering Bellingham bay. Had there been a paper published here the necessity for this correspondence would not exist. * *

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"A very large percentage of the settlers com- ing to Washington territory have designs on Whatcom and Bellingham bay. Their anticipa- tions in regard to this place may be a little too sanguine, but present indications point to it as one most likely the Northern Pacific Railroad Company will select for their terminus. As they have put under contract one hundred miles of track from Tenino, which takes the road Olympia and Seattle, there would seem to be only one or two more eligible points left for them to determine upon. Our citizens, however, are willing to submit the natural and commercial advantages of their locality with those of any other on the sound to the impartial judgment of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and patiently await the result.

"In adopting a title for our paper we were quite 'at sea' until a happy thought struck us it ought to be called after the beautiful bay upon whose borders our town is situated, and which, for exquisite scenery and ample harbor facilities to accommodate the commerce of many nations, challenges the admiration of tourists from all parts of the world.

"We will add that the Mail will be Repub- lican in politics, but while upholding the funda- mental principles of Republicanism, it will advocate any and all praiseworthy measures proposed by parties and individuals holding opposite political opinions."

Nor has the Mail, during its long, prosperous existence materially swerved from the course mapped out in the preceeding paragragh. Able, aggressive, possessing constructive power, dis- pensing the news of the time fully and interest- ingly, the Mail early assumed an important place in the life of the territory and became a factor in its upbuilding. Its influence upon the progress of the northern part of the sound has been deeply felt for nearly a third of a century, and especially has it been instrumental in shaping the destinies of Whatcom and Skagit connties.

With the decline of the erstwhile city of Whatcom into a straggling village late in the seventies, Mr. Power decided to remove his paper to La Conner, then a growing town in a rapidly developing country. Accordingly the first week in September, 1879, the plant was transferred, and September 13th resumed publi- cation under the name of the Puget Sound Mail. Mr. Power continued to devote his abilities and energy to the Mail until April, 1881, when Walsh & Riggins leased it, Riggins remaining in the firm only a short time, however. October 1, 1885, Power sold the property to the Mail Publish- ing Company, and thereafter, Henry McBride, later to become governor of Washington, and R. O. Welts, were the first editors and managers. McBride and Welts retained control until Feb- ruary, ISS7, when the stock passed into the hands of Fred Leroy Carter and June Hender-

son, they immediately assuming charge. Four years later Mr. Henderson retired from the company and was succeeded by George E. Knapp, son of Gov. Knapp of Alaska. Hender- son left the state subsequently, studied law, and is now on the bench in Boulder county, Colorado. Speaking of the Mail in 1891 at the time of Mr. Henderson's retirement, a contemporary, The Skagit News said: "Always courteous with those who differ with it in opinions, never descending to throw mud or abuse at other journals who did not agree with its editorial utterances, the Mail has achieved a reputation for fairness and honesty of purpose which com- mands the respect of every citizen of Skagit county." A. J. Morrow succeeded Knapp in October, 1892, taking charge of the mechanical department, and was connected with the Mail until May, 1901, when he, too, stepped out, selling his interest to W. A. Carlson, an experi- enced newspaper man who had been with the News-Herald, of Mount Vernon, for three years previously. Messrs. Carter and Carlson at present constitute the Mail Publishing Com- pany, the former serving the paper as editor. The plant occupies a commodious office erected in 1889 to take the place of the original La Con- ner office, which is now used by James Gaches as a barn. In 1873, the form of the Mail was that of a five-column folio, and had a patent outside, the subscription price demanded being three dollars a year. With varying periods of prosperity, the size has changed, and at the present time the paper is in folio form. The Mail is La Conner's only representative in the newspaper field and is deservedly popular among those with whom it comes in closest contact.

THE SKAGIT NEWS-HERALD

Shortly after the bill creating Skagit county had become a law and the new county a reality early in the spring of the year 1884 there came one day to the straggling up-river hamlet named Mount Vernon, a young man of distinguished parentage, anxious to win his way in the new West. The fortune seeker was William C. Ewing, a son of General Ewing, of New York. At that time there were but two newspapers in the county, the Mail at La Conner and the Enterprise at Anacortes, while the thrifty river metropolis, ambitious as it was in a political way, too, had no representation in the newspaper field whatever. Young Ewing believed he saw an opening, canvassed the situation thoroughly and finally decided to give the venture a trial. Clothier & English, the leading merchants and proprietors of the town site, furnished a room over their store free of charge and assisted very substantially in launching the Skagit News, the first copy of which appeared Tuesday, March 4, 1884, with William C. Ewing as publisher and editor.

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In his salutatory, Mr. Ewing said, among other things:

"The character of this paper is indicated by its title. It is intended to make the publication of news the principal feature. To that end such papers as we can get by exchange, purchase or loan will be fed to our shears; and we shall chronicle the doings of the people in this and the neighboring rivers with as much industry as we can bring to bear. Our quota to the develop- ment of the county will be the recording of the deeds of the actors. *

Nor did he fail to keep his promises, for the News speedily became an acknowledged news conveyor of merit and a distinct force in the new county. It was Mount Vernon's powerful advo- cate in the county seat struggle that same fall and to it no little credit is due for the victory which came.

But the talented young editor did not remain long at Mount Vernon for September 29, 1885, G. E. Hartson, one of the valley's oldest pio- neers, although then a young man who had been elected superintendent of schools, assumed charge of the News. It is stated that Ewing remained in newspaper work and ultimately attained a high position in his profession. About this time also the size of the page was increased from four to six columns, with added length, and a new face type was added to the plaut. The new editor brought to the paper a vigorous policy, ability and a wide knowledge of the surrounding country, all of which contrib- uted to the success and progress of the enter- prise, the paper developing as the county itself grew. With the entrance of the News upon its fifth volume, a new Campbell news press was installed, marking an important epic in the journal's history. The plant was at that time located in its own building on Main street, the structure being a portion of the present residence of Mr. Hartson.

Although Mr. Hartson devoted his personal attention to the News to as great an extent as possible during the next few years, he was assisted by various local editors, among them Al. Sebring, who later became well known in Puget sound newspaper circles. Mr. Sebring retired in IS95 to establish a Populist journal, using the plant of the defunct Avon Record. January 4, 1897, the Skagit Valley Herald, which had been published for some time past by Ed. C. Suiter at Mount Vernon, was consolidated with the News, forming the present News-Herald, the proprietorship being vested with Mr. Hartson. The consolidation was a success and under this name the paper has appeared steadily since. Three years ago, September 15, 1902, Ralph C. Hartson, a son of the proprietor, succeeded his father as editor and manager of the enterprise and is at present occupying the same positions. Mr. Hartson is a graduate of the Mount Vernon

schools and acquired the rudiments of newspaper making in the office over which he now presides. The fact that the News-Herald is the oldest newspaper, save one, in the county speaks vol- umes for its stability and the position it has won in the hearts of the public. It is still issued as a weekly, Monday being the publication day, and appears as a four-page folio. Politically, it is Republican and has been since its inception twenty-one years ago.

The plant is supplied with presses, paper cutter, and other necessities of a well conducted country office, in charge of J. C. Merritt, fore- man. It is situated on Main street in the build- ing adjoining the postoffice. One of the most valuable assets of the News-Herald is its complete, well bound files, to which the com- pilers of this work are indebted for much information concerning the history of the city and county.

MOUNT VERNON ARGUS

Few of the smaller cities of the state can boast of a newspaper as ably edited and neatly printed as the journal whose name appears at the head of this article. Frederick K. Ornes, the publisher and editor, is a newspaper man of varied and long experience and is ably assisted in his work by his wife, Mrs. Susan Currier Ornes, who is recognized as a talented writer in addition to being an educator of state reputation. An eight page paper. all printed at home, is issued each week. Recently the Argus has erected a handsome, two-story frame building in the business center of the city, all of the lower floor of which it will occupy with its offices and mechanical department. The plant is a modern one, in both news and job departments. In

political matters the Argus is Republican, though liberally disposed toward all, and is a strong moral force in the community it covers.

The Argus is the outgrowth of several of the county's pioneer newspapers. The first of these was the Mount Vernon Chronicle, E. K. Matlock and W. H. McEwen, publishers and editors, whose initial number appeared Friday, July 24, 1891. as an eight column folio, all home print. Its plant was a modern and an expensive one, and its columns show unmistakable ability. However, the following February, the Chronicle practically went down before financial distress, and was purchased by a stock company, known as the Democratic Publishing Company, com- posed of T. B. Neely, president; Frank Quinby, secretary-treasurer; E. C. Million, J. N. Turner, W. E. Schricker, A. P. Sharpstein, J. P. Millett and Thomas Smith. James A. Power, formerly publisher of the Puget Sound Mail, became the editor and manager, and the paper's name was changed to the Democrat, its politics changing at the same time. Elden W. Pollock succeeded

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Mr. Power and was in turn succeeded by Wil- liam M. Sheffield. December 30. 1892, the name was again changed, this time to the Post. Num- erous vicissitudes followed, culminating in October, 1893, in the failure of the stock com- pany and the sale by mortgage foreclosure of the property to Mr. Pollock, though his right to the plant was contested in the courts subsequently without success. Jay B. Edwards took hold of the Post in March, 1894. The next important step in the life of the enterprise was the organi- zation of the Post-Argus in August, 1897, by Mr. Edwards, as the successor of the Post, its politics still remaining Democratic. Later that year, in November, the old Record, a journal established a short time previously for campaign purposes, was consolidated with the Post-Argus, Mr. Edwards still remaining at the head of the combination. In 1899, the files indicate that H. L. Bowmer is steering the destinies of the property, but he did not remain long, selling to Jessup & Jessup that spring. This firm conducted the paper, then known simply as the Argus, only a short time, A. Z. Jessup assuming the owership. The next change in proprietorship took place April 24, 1903, when the Argus Publishing Company, composed of Frederick L. Ornes formerly of the Anacortes American, and Al. Sebring, of Mount Vernon, purchased it, the latter merging into the plant the old Acme Printing Company. Still another printing company was absorbed, how- ever, the Riverside Publishing Company, .W. B. Russell retiring. Mrs. Ornes at once took charge of the Argus as editor. In May the name of the paper was changed to the Mount Vernon Argus and at the same time its political faith was changed to Republican. During the county fair of 1903, the Argus issued a daily, the second one ever issued in Skagit county, the old Anacortes Progress having been the pioneer in that line. Subsequently Mr. Sebring retired from the firm, leaving the property solely in the hands of the present publisher.

PUGET SOUND POST

In the belief that Skagit county afforded room for another wide-awake newspaper, an indepen- dent semi-weekly, the Post, was brought into existence at Mount Vernon, September 19, 1905, by the Post Publishing Company, of which Charles W. Taylor is manager and editor. Nor, at this writing, do the hopes and beliefs of the founders appear to have been without substan- tial foundation, for the Post is rapidly winning its way into the good will of the people and has already obtained recognition as among the lead- ing country publications of the sound. Its six pages are printed exclusively at Mount Ver- non, being issued Tuesdays and Fridays, and typographically as well as editorially the ear marks of skilled workmanship are easily discern-

ible. A special feature of the Post's work is its plan of thoroughly illustrating the resources and special scenic features of the county in addi- tion to its comprehensive descriptive articles. Mr. Taylor is a man of wide and successful experience in journalism and has been identified with many ambitious publications in the East as well as the West.

THE SKAGIT COUNTY COURIER

The youngest of Sedro-Woolley's newspapers is the Courier, Foster & Totten proprietors, published weekly. Politically it is Republican. U. E. Foster, formerly with the Journal and Herald at Norfolk, Nebraska, and later with the News at Plainview in the same state, is the founder of the Courier. He issued the first number May 1, 1901, and remained sole owner of the enterprise until June 1, 1902, when he sold a half interest to his present partner, W. H. Totten, of Fullerton, Nebraska, the firm name being changed to the Courier Publishing Com- pany. The Courier has been a success from the start and is steadily attaining to still greater success. In the summer of 1905, the plant received a most valuable addition in the shape of a simplex typesetting machine, costing approxi- mately $2,000, the only other typesetting machine in the county being that of the Ameri- can at Anacortes.

THE SKAGIT COUNTY TIMES

Sedro-Woolley's oldest paper now being issued is the Skagit County Times, established in the old town of Woolley early in February, 1891, by Messrs. Henshaw & Lucas, as a six column quarto, Democratic in its politics. Wool- ley had been platted but little more than a year and was then at the height of its boom period. Subsequently the Times passed entirely into the hands of Mr. Henshaw, and in 1892 into possession of the Sedro Land & Improvement Company, which removed the journal to the adjoining town of Sedro. During the next eight years J. B. Alexander, practically its owner, leased the property at different times to Walter Gillis and Seneca Ketcham, the latter of whom died at Woolley, and in 1901 to A. C. Edwards. Mr. Edwards was succeeded in December, 1902, by W. H. Pilcher, a Kansan, who is the present publisher and editor. Mr. Pilcher possesses a good country plant, which is comfortably housed in a neat office in the business portion of the city. The Times appears as a four column, twelve page sheet of convenient size, and by the able, conservative manner in which it is conducted, reflects credit upon all associated in its produc- tion. It is now an ardent advocate of Republican principles. One great disaster has overtaken the Times in its comparatively long existence,

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namely, a fire in 1895, which ruined a portion of the plant and burned the files. In point of age, the Times ranks third among the newspapers of Skagit county.

ANACORTES AMERICAN

Sole representative of the press on Fidalgo island, survivor of a dozen predecessors and con- temporaries, third oldest journal in Skagit county, for more than fifteen years the American has held its course unfalteringly and it is now reaping a deserved reward. Because of the checkered fortunes which have marked the life of the city and island, the American has had unusual odds to contend against, but despite all obstacles, the high standard set in the beginning has been closely adhered to. Few weeklies in the state to-day can truthfully claim superiority in any respect, or boast the possession of so modern and complete a plant.

The pioneer hamlet on Guemes channel had just donned the mantle of cityhood when, early in April, 1890, Douglass Allmond and F. H. Boynton arrived on the scene. With them, from the eastern terminus of the Northern Pacific, they brought probably the largest single ship- ment of printing material that had entered Washington up to that time. Two cars carried the machinery, type, etc., valued at approxi- mately ten thousand dollars. By hard work the outfit was finally installed in a fine two-story building on the corner of Tenth street and Avenue M, which had early in May been erected for its occupation, and on Thursday, May 15th, the initial number was struck off. It consisted of eight six-column pages, all printed at home, well filled with news items and editorial matter and carrying a gratifying amount of advertising.

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An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 81

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1906 Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1172

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1172