Mukilteo Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Washington was admitted to the union Nov. 11, 1889, less than a year before Edmonds was incorporated. Every fourth grader in the state might be able to tell you that snippet of... — Updated 5/10/2020

Author Mary Daheim sent me an email that her cousin Steve Shelley, who is also an author, sent her a message reminding her that during the Spanish flu in 1918-1919 Alpine,... — Updated 4/23/2020

Driving near Paine Field recently, I saw a sign for the Technology Corridor. I didn’t realize any of those signs still existed. For the Technology Corridor is mostly forgotten,... — Updated 3/11/2020

The Stanley Cup still bears evidence of the Spanish flu, more than 100 years after the event. A couple of years ago I asked my friend Billy Gleeson to take a picture of the Stanley... — Updated 3/4/2020

In studying history, like art and architecture, perspective is paramount. An acquaintance sent me a note, probably paraphrased of what he had read in an old journal from an early... — Updated 2/19/2020

Washington has some lovely state parks that were once a part of the coast defense system. Fort Casey on Whidbey Island was one of the forts. Also Fort Worden at Port Townsend and... — Updated 12/11/2019

The third quarter of 2017 showed the smallest gain for Washington companies in 2017. The largest companies in the state grew, but gains were less for smaller companies.... — Updated 10/4/2017

In college I had a professor of ancient history who was fond of poking fun at various societies’ creation myths. I wonder how he would regard Edmonds. Edmonds certainly has a... — Updated 9/27/2017

Many people associate me with ghost towns, especially Alpine, Washington. My interest is in historic towns. Some – like Monte Cristo, Alpine, Bordeaux and Franklin – are ghost... — Updated 9/13/2017

I am not a political junky so I usually don’t watch TVW, the state’s public affairs television network. But on a weekend morning as I was channel surfing I discovered a show... — Updated 9/6/2017 Full story

On Aug. 21, I got to see Venus and Orion before sunrise. Orion is my favorite constellation, and I seldom see it at this time of year. I usually only see Orion in the night sky in w... — Updated 8/30/2017

A few weeks ago I wrote about the Yellowstone Trail from Plymouth, Massachusetts, to Seattle. Because of that article, I discovered that there is a Yellowstone Trail Organization, a... — Updated 8/23/2017 Full story

The Seattle Mariners have finally decided to retire Edgar Martinez’s No. 11 jersey. Way past time. I have supported Edgar's candidacy for the Baseball Hall of Fame for 18... — Updated 8/16/2017

Forbes Magazine proclaimed Jeff Bezos the richest man in the world on July 27. His reign was brief: by the next day, Bill Gates was back in first place. This news flash was basicall... — Updated 8/9/2017

In June, I was disappointed to learn that Fortune Magazine didn't include Everett-based Fortive on its Fortune 500 list. But Forbes Magazine just produced its list of the 2,000... — Updated 8/2/2017 Full story

I recently drove a section of the Yellowstone Trail right in our own backyard. Now nearly forgotten, this was the first highway in the U.S. that ran from coast to coast. It started... — Updated 7/26/2017

Carl Lane Clemans is virtually unknown around here, which is a little surprising since he was once the coach of the University of Washington football team. Maybe that’s because... — Updated 7/19/2017 Full story

My good friend Karla Bowman recently gave me a book by Brian Solomon called “North American Railroad Family Trees.” Between that new book and “Orphan Road” by Kurt... — Updated 7/12/2017

The second quarter of 2017 was less eventful for Washington companies than the first. It looked like it might be a record-breaking quarter right up until the last week, when most... — Updated 7/5/2017 Full story

The Great Recession hit the economy hard, and no sector was hurt more than banking. Washington's largest bank disappeared, and all of the largest banks headquartered in... — Updated 6/28/2017

Fortune Magazine has released its 63rd Fortune 500 list of the biggest companies in the country, as measured by sales. The magazine says its Fortune 500 companies represent... — Updated 6/21/2017

Last week, I mentioned the Abarim Snohomish Stock Index – ASCSI – which I began in 1994 and ended in 2010. I also mentioned the spreadsheet that I maintain of Washington... — Updated 6/14/2017

I have been tracking Snohomish County companies since 1994, when I began the Abarim Snohomish County Stock Index. The index was a conscious attempt to publicize Snohomish County com... — Updated 6/7/2017 Full story

The first home that I remember was on Eastlake in Seattle. We lived there until I was 5 years old. The Stewart Street off-ramp of Interstate 5 is there now. I was told that the... — Updated 5/31/2017

I am identified with the Alpine, Washington ghost town. Actually, ghost towns are rather common. Some sources claim that Colorado has more than 1,000. Wikipedia lists 58 ghost towns... — Updated 5/24/2017 Full story