A little trivia for all you history buffs: the Homestead Act, dating back to 1862, allowed any male citizen of the United States over 21 to buy one acre of land for $1.25 (which is a steal in today’s economy)—with some terms and conditions. Some of these conditions included living on the land for no less than five years, building a home that was at least 12 feet by 14 feet in size, constructing a well-defined fence, and preparing the land for growing crops. Sadly, women who were married could not file separately from their husbands unless abandoned by them. Now, why are we giving you a history lesson? It’s because this act sparked the westward expansion, which in turn led settlers to our very own town of Granite Falls—and that’s how we got our start.
In 1890, a general store opened, owned by Mark Swinnerton, marking the first development of the future town. By 1892, around the same time the Everett and Monte Cristo railroad reached Granite Falls, many mills had opened, mostly to provide railroad ties. The next year, 1893, Dr. Frank Chappell opened a multi-purpose store that served as a hardware store, drug store, and medical practice. According to the Granite Falls Historical Museum, by the 1900s, there was a drug store, a hardware store, two general stores, a post office, a railroad station, four shingle mills, and a population of 60.
Monte Cristo, a town 35 miles east of Granite Falls, had just discovered gold and quickly decided it would be transported by train. The railroads ran past the Stillaguamish River, through Robe Valley, and into Granite Falls, Snohomish, and Everett. The railroads were integral to the success of the rising town as they provided access to many natural resources and brought tourism to Monte Cristo.
Trees, one of the greatest natural resources in the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, had many uses. Giant fir trees provided lots of lumber, while cedar was used for items exposed to weather. Many shingle mills were producing millions of shingles for shipment. Fun fact: Miller’s Shingle Mill remains one of the largest “specialty” mills in the country today, according to Thumbnail History. All of this—the nature, the railroad, and the spirit of the first settlers—is what made Granite Falls what it is today.
