Mill Town: A Social History of Everett, Washington, from Its Earliest Beginnings on the Shores of Puget Sound to the Tragic and Infamous Event Known ... Massacre (Washington Papers

by Norman H. Clark

"The Pacific Northwest's classic confrontation between militants demanding ambiguous change and an establishment intransigently defending the status quo occurred on Sunday, November 5, 1916. To this day no one knows who shot first, nor even how many died, but thanks to Mill Town , we have at last a charting of the forces, economic and personal, that led to the tragedy."―Murray Morgan

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1970

Reviews

[Katherine Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written history of what has been very wrong about American capitalism. Everret, WA had some interesting growth history that looked like it was on its way to becoming a thriving community. It is an engaging story.

The subsequent deterioration, hastened by intransigent profiteers with no sense of true community, and a community hampered with few options in the face of such intransigence, provides plenty of insights, but no proposals for how that deterioration might have been avoided.

Read it because it is a well written and engaging history. And let's all just try to figure out how to be better humans together.

[George Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great breakdown of the origins of NW washington. Everett is such a punished town to drive through and its nice to finally know why. Basically every city on the west coast feels like it was created to sustain a get rich quick scheme that dried up years ago, and this book demonstrates that they basically are

[Zoe Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Research into the Everett Massacre led me to this book. I picked it up expecting it to be a chore to get through, but was hooked within minutes. Clark's attention to the perspectives of individuals within the community give the entire book an immensely relatable feel. His ability to tell a story really brought the past to life. When I'd read the final pages, I found myself missing Everett - a city I've never visited.

I'll be seeking out his other books.

[Miz Babzylonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written history of the colorful, corrupt, amusing, hard life, complex building of early WA state communities, including competition between Seattle and Everett. Compelling description of the struggles between skilled labor unions, the Wobblies, and the imperialist timber barons and mill owners who pitted the two against each other in order to control workers. Rich descriptions of individuals heavily involved and their own motivations, as well as the fierce battles that led to a shameful massacre of Wobblies by good town folk in Everett, WA. Also explains how the aftermath of this stage in labor organizing led to employee sabotage efforts on the part of the skilled locals, which led to the federal government forcing middle class unions on private sector industries. WWI needed fighting and the US government needed cooperative laborers.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise! I've lived near and worked in Everett for over 30 years and had no idea what a rich history this town has. Very well-written, even compelling, story about a frontier logging town and what people will do for money. The history of unions and especially the IWW is something contemporary readers can learn a great deal from. Reads more like a novel than a work of history.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb story-telling. Small town labour unrest.

[Ike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceedingly well written. As entertaining as it was informative.

[Anonymous Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Truly great.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written book on a horrible incident.