From the inauspicious beginnings in 1884 of a town named Bug, the two communities of Sedro and Woolley grew together, consolidated in 1898 by a lifeline of three railways: the Seattle & Northern, Seattle & International, and Fairhaven & Southern. Nestled in the beautiful Skagit Valley, Sedro-Woolley was carved out of the rich forest that, along with the discovery of a coal vein north of the city, cemented the area's prosperity and attracted the first hardy frontier residents. Using more than 200 vintage photographs, this volume depicts the early settlers, businesses, homes, and churches of Sedro-Woolley. Other historic images depict changes in local transportation, from the only early means of travel available-the canoe-to the eventual trains that arrived three times a day and fostered commerce and community. Many of the images collected here were taken by the noted photographer Darius Kinsey and his wife Tabitha, who were residents of Sedro-Woolley at the turn of the century.

Foreword to 6th PrintingIndians of Skagit County by Chief Martin J. Sampson was first published in 1972 and isthought to be the first such book written by a Pacific Northwest Indian. Chief Sampson capturesthe complex cultures of the various tribes, bands, and clans who lived in Skagit County for millenniaprior to the arrival of the first white people. It is not intended to be an academic history. Itis an historical reminiscence that captures the stories and culture as reflected in Chief Sampson'slife experiences and in the stories passed to him by tribal elders. Its significance is found in theway it captures this era, complete with the language, biases, and conflicts of its time.Indians of Skagit County will always be an important primary source written by a tribalelder and is not the end point of understanding, but a good starting point which will always be partof our history.