History of Marysville and Tulalip
The two diverse communities of Marysville and Tulalip have grown and prospered over the years, overcoming obstacles and cultural diversities to work together forming a strong partnership that now benefits all of Snohomish County. Each community has been busy fostering economic success and growth while striving to remember their roots. Towards this end, both Marysville and Tulalip are in the planning stages of building museums which will preserve and showcase their histories.
The Tulalip Tribes is a federally recognized Indian tribe with a reservation located west of Marysville, established by the Point Elliott Treaty of January 22, 1855. The Tulalip Tribes include the tribes of Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, and other bands and tribes of Indians who inhabited the shores of the rivers which now bear their names as well as parts of Whidbey and Camano Islands and the mainland shore from Mukilteo north to the mouth of the Stillaguamish River. At the time of European settlement, members of these tribes traveled throughout Puget Sound and as far north as the Fraser River in pursuit of fishing and trading opportunities. Today the adjudicated usual and accustomed fishing area of the Tulalip Tribes extends from the Canadian border 120 miles north to the southern end of Vashon Island. The name “Tulalip” is from the ‘non native’ pronunciation of “dxwlilep”, which is the native descriptive meaning small mouthed bay. At low tide the bay would entrap the sea life within, giving sustenance to the many people of the area.
The Tulalip Tribes have worked tirelessly to preserve their fishing heritage, and save endangered species of salmon. Furthering this goal, the Bernie Kai-Kai Gobin Hatchery is operated by the Tulalip Tribes. The hatchery raises and releases three species of salmon, which provide fishing opportunity for Tulalip tribal members in terminal area fisheries on and near the Tulalip Reservation as well as contributing to other commercial and sport fisheries in Washington and British Columbia.
Because many wild salmon runs are currently depressed or endangered, the hatchery returns are especially important to the Tulalip Tribes at this time. Having a reliable return of hatchery salmon allows tribal members to fish for ceremonial, subsistence, and commercial purposes, without over harvesting those wild salmon runs that require protection. The long-term vision of the Tulalip Tribes is the restoration of wild salmon production to levels that will support fishing needs.
The Tulalip tribes are also working to restore their legacy of native language. Only a decade ago, Lushootseed, an ancient language used by Coastal Salish Native American tribes along the northern coast of Washington, was a mystery to most Tulalip tribal members. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tribal children were forbidden to speak their native language when they were sent to boarding schools, a federal experiment designed to absorb Native Americans into mainstream culture. Knowledge of tribal languages dwindled until the words were only distant memories. Now, about 50 young tribal members are attending Lushootseed Language Camp. They are learning with game show-style quizzes, with computer programs developed by the Tulalip Tribes, and by practicing plays that use English and Lushootseed phrases. The plays are performed at the Tulalip Amphitheatre, in the hopes that renewed interest will bring their ancient language back to life.
Marysville’s humble beginnings started in the early 1870s when early settler James P. Comeford, while traveling about the Sound on his duties for the Tulalip Agency, discovered and ultimately acquired a Trading Post at Smith Cove, thus becoming the founder of Marysville. In 1878, Mr. Comeford purchased 1,280 acres from local timber traders for $450 and the rich, cultural history of Marysville began. By 1879 education became a need of the small but growing community, and Mrs. Comeford began teaching classes in her home. A year later, Marysville opened a Post Office and the first saw mill opened in 1887. The Comefords and their family’s store did good business with the loggers and Native Americans in the area, and additional settlers arrived by steamboat to farm or work in the busy mills that furnished the lumber for most of the early town buildings.
The railroad tracks were laid through the town in 1889, which brought many new residents to Marysville. In 1891, James Comeford incorporated the town, with logging as its primary industry. New settlers were drawn to Marysville because of the money to be made in natural resources. The area was so rich with timber, that part of the settler’s problem was where to begin. One of the first logging camps was opened in 1864, and Stimson’s Logging Company was formed in 1891. This became a fairly large company and contributed much to Marysville’s trade. Early logging camps used oxen and horse teams to haul logs to Tulalip Bay, where they were sent south to be milled in Seattle. Just after the signing of the Point Elliot Treaty in 1855 which formed the Tulalip tribe reservation, loggers began working on the hills and flats that are now the city of Marysville. One of the first loggers to arrive, Alexander Spithill, also built some buildings on the reservation for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The first City Hall was built in 1901, and 1906 saw the first high school welcome new students. In 1907, the public library was established, while the first high school class graduated. In 1908, the Afton Chapter of Eastern Star and the Alumni Association of the High School were formed.
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