Boom Towns Tales & Historic People articles are taken from archives of the Okanogan County Heritage Society, stories people have shared with me, and from other historical records.
Okanogan country attracted men and women of courage and strong will who were a good match for this rugged yet fascinating land.
There is sameness to most of these pioneer stories. In each account you will read of the early struggles against poverty and sickness, the difficulty of travel, the tremendous effort to establish towns, schools, churches along with their hardships and good times. You'll read of neighbors working together and helping each other. You are told of crop failures and successes. Many stories tell about Native Americans and the friendships, these pioneers had with these Indian people, others emphasize their fear of these unfamiliar people.
In these stories we present the history of these pioneer families, miners, prospectors, historic people and Native Americans of Northeastern Washington. There is sameness, yet each story has something unique.
Many fourth and fifth generations of these families are part of the life of Okanogan country today, and have stories to share with us. Boom Towns & Relic Hunters feel that each story deserves to be told and recorded.
Lost Soldier’s Mine
Virginia Grainger-Famous Pioneer Schoolteacher
Henry & Lucy Breckenridge (Roslyn Washington)
Most of Okanogan County's early pioneers have sadly passed away, however I'm sure that the descendants of these pioneer families still remain today. Do you have some stories from the past to share?
If you do, Boom Towns & Relic Hunters would like to hear from you.
Send us your recollections of what you know. Include all the details and impressions you can remember. Describe these "Boom Town" stories as well as you can. We appreciate reader contributions.
Send your story to Boom Towns & Relic Hunters at jerry@ghosttownsusa.com and we'll be sure to credit you as the author.
Boom Town Tales
Tungsten Mine
The Ruby Hill Mining Co
The Molson Gold Mining Co
Okanogan Trail….The Road North
Chinese Gold Fever
Abandoned Mining Towns of Okanogan County
The Crescent Copper Mine
What Became of The Wagonload of Ruby Silver?
“Three Fingered Jack’s Saloon” - The Odds Were A Million to One
Is Captain Ingall’s 10 Tons of Gold Still Buried Deep Beneath The Earth?
The Stakes Were High at the Mother Lode Saloon
U.S. Military Expeditions In Okanogan County
The Fur Brigades
Red Shirt Mine
In Quest For The Montana Mine & Mill
Lost “Ruby City” Cemetery Revisited
The Mining Industry
Homestead Seeking
First Trails Into Methow Valley
Early Migration
Mining In Historic Okanogan County
There Were No Sidewalks in Anglin
Colville Native Americans
Early Day Pioneer Remedies
The Story Of Camp McKinney
The Poland China Mine
The Azurite Mine
Story of the Malott Flood of 1938
Hudson's Bay Brigade Trail
Indian Ambush at McLaughlin Canyon
Mines and Miners Of Okanogan County
Fort Okanogan: Fur Empire Outpost
Indian Celebrations
The Cariboo Trail
Chillowist Trail-Tough
The Lost Gold Bars Of Camp McKinney
The Mythical Legend of the Hee Hee Stone
Ruby City: The Life and Death of a Mining Town
Methow Valley Independence Day
Old Loup Loup-The Lost City
The Mysterious "China Wall"
Hoodoos of Pipestone Canyon
1894 Flood In Conconully
Historic People
When David Thompson Passed Through
The Life And Times of Guy Waring
Chief Moses, Sulk-stalk-scosum -"The Sun Chief"
Sar-sarp-kin, Last Chief of the Sinlahekin Band
"Okanogan" Smith - First Settler of Okanogan County
The Coming of Chief Joseph
From Indian Chief To Farmer: Chief Tonasket
Reader Contributions
Growing up in Nespelem
Recollections of Early Day Farming
Malott Pioneers
The Airplane was a Horse
Trinity History
Addy History
Hart's Pass Area History
Wauconda From Generation to Generation
Nighthawk: The Way Things Were
George Olin Potter
Pioneers Of Springdale
Gold Hill
Nighthawk Mining Claims Turn to Riches
The "Mystery Canyon"
The "Trinidad Treasure"