You are invited to attend the Kickoff for the City of Snohomish's 150th Anniversary Celebration. The committee has planned a salute and rally that will begin at Noon on Friday, January 9th at the Snohomish Library, 310 Maple. Following the salute you are invited to join the car procession through historic downtown Snohomish traveling to the Snohomish County Campus Plaza in Everett via the Lowell-Snohomish River Road arriving at 1pm where Mayor Hamlin of the City of Snohomish will ceremoniously ask the leaders of the City of Everett and Snohomish County to return the county seat and records to its name sake and rightful owner the City of Snohomish.
In a mock demand we will ask for the digital county records for Snohomish's safe keeping. After a brief discussion amongst the leaders and since the citizens of Snohomish are a warm, kind and forgiving spirited citizenry we will end the controversy once and for all and agree that the County seat should remain in Everett but in a gesture of goodwill Everett and the County leadership will declare 2009 as the year of Snohomish and invite all to “Come Home Snohomish”
Historic background for this event:
Snohomish was founded in 1859. Harassment by renegade tribesmen and the murder of T.P. Carter resulted in petitions from the cities of Snohomish and Mukilteo to create a separate county of the mainland portion of Island County.
However, E.C. Ferguson, also known as "Old Ferg" and "The Father of Snohomish" was later quoted as remarking that "...there were more politicians than there were counties and the matter was adjusted by making another county instead of killing some of the politicians."
Mukilteo was actually the first county seat, a situation that was reversed in the summer of 1861 when Snohomish was voted into that role and “Old Ferg” returned from Mukilteo with the county records in his vest pocket, making his little cottage overlooking the river (still standing) the first county courthouse.
The next county seat contest began in November 1894. Everett Democrats squared off against "Old Ferg" and the up-river Republicans. The legal entanglements that followed lasted about two years (Dec 1894-Dec 1896). The "funeral procession" which took place late in January involved 37 horse-drawn express wagons and took place after dark, suggesting that it was a theft.
Quick History Early Snohomish 1890 Bird's View Map Click Here
The first settlers were all single men. Before 1872 only some three or four families lived here. All the really valuable buildings have been put up since 1870. The first school was taught here in 1869. Since 1872 improvements have gone steadily forward and population has increased, until a year ago over 1,000 people resided in this place and its immediate vicinity. more..
Own a Piece of Snohomish History
The 150th Celebration Committee is offering as a limited edition a 1.5” antique brass sequentially numbered commemorative coin. There will only be 150 coins of this design minted on the first run. This is the first of a set of five, this design features the riverboat steamers first visit to Snohomish in 1864 on the reverse side of the coin.
Click here for order form and more details.
150th Celebration Committee meetings are at 6:30pm on the third Tuesday of the month at Snohomish Library Multi-Purpose Room, 311 Maple Ave.*Usually
If you are is interested in participating in the planning of the celebration please click here for the volunteer application.
The members of this Snohomish 150 Anniversary Committee are to:
- Develop recommendations for the 150th Anniversary Celebration—regarding activities, fundraising, and implementation of the celebration;
- Commit to meeting during weekday evenings throughout the process;
- Be open to listening to and appreciating different perspectives from committee members;
- Communicate with others in the community about the 150th Anniversary Celebration.
- Questions:
- Debbie Emge: 360-282-3197
- or FAX: (360) 568-1375
- or Email: emge@ci.snohomish.wa.us
- or MAIL TO:
- CITY OF SNOHOMISH
ATTN: DEBBIE EMGE
116 UNION AVENUE
SNOHOMISH, WASHINGTON 98290
- CITY OF SNOHOMISH
- Debbie Emge: 360-282-3197
Storybook Snohomish . . .
. . .captured in an original oil-painting
by area artist
and children’s book illustrator,
Michelle Waldele-Dick,
to celebrate the Snohomish Sesquicentennial in 2009.
Mary Senko Wins Snohomish 150th Raffle
Snohomish 150th Celebration has a winner of the original oil painting donated by area artist and children's book illustrator, Michelle Waldele-Dick, through the coordinating efforts of owner of Bee Hive Day Spa.
The board of directors elected
the following as the officers:
- President: Jeff Gilpin
- Vice President: Todd Elvig
- Secretary: Kathy Sloan
- Treasurer: Sue Sullivan
- At-Large: Wayne Warren, Danna Gilpin, Debbie Emge,
Jackie Kiter, James McAllister, John Gamble, Judy Chapman,
Middy Ruthruff, Vina Donow, Bruce A. Ferguson
Some of the ideas presented were:
- Arts Month
- River Fair
- Sports Month
- Jackie Kiter suggested a community photo. Todd Elvig was willing to do the photography. The idea of asking the school district if we could
use Veteran's Memorial Stadium as the venue. It would be important to gather the names of all those that participate in the photo.
- Its important that we encourage others that have events throughout 2009 to use the "Come
Home Snohomish" theme with those events as well. Committee members were asked to share
this message with any groups they may be involved with.
- A suggestion was made to ask businesses throughout the City to do window displays to
incorporate the Come Home Snohomish 150th Celebration during 2009.
Meetings:
First Meeting: 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 22nd at Gilpin Realty, 1030 Ave. D
Meeting 2: 6:30pm on Tuesday, May 27th at Gilpin Realty, 1030 Ave. D
Meeting 3: 6:30pm
June 24, 2008 at Snohomish
Library Community Room, 311 Maple
Meeting 4: 6:30pm
July 22, 2008 at Snohomish
Library Community Room, 311 Maple
Meeting 5: 6:30pm
Aug 26, 2008 at Snohomish
Library Community Room, 311 Maple
Meeting 6: 6:30pm
Sept 23, 2008 at Snohomish
Library Community Room, 311 Maple
Special: 6:30pm
Sept 30, 2008 at Snohomish
Library Community Room, 311 Maple
Meeting 7: 6:30pm
Oct 28, 2008 at Snohomish
Library Community Room, 311 Maple
Meeting 8: 6:30pm
Nov 25, 2008 at Snohomish
Library Community Room, 311 Maple