HistoryLink Tours

Built by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Snohomish’s largest building was dedicated with a grand ball for 1,000 members and guests in 1906. The second floor features a ballroom with a floating or suspended dance floor, the first in the Northwest. The pioneer clothier L. R. Harmon opened his first store in this building in 1913, then moved to the Marks building (tour stop No. 8) in 1921.

The Eagles Hall hosted the dedication ceremony of its new neighbor, the Carnegie Library, on April Fool’s Day, 1910. Governor Marion Hay attended and spoke at length about the conservation of natural resources — an odd choice for a small lumber town enjoying a boom year. Following the speeches, the ceremonies moved to the new building that was still without lighting fixtures.

The historic hall faces the famous Snohomish Gulch, a natural formation created by overflow from Blackman Lake to the Snohomish River. It’s also the natural dividing line between the Ferguson and Sinclair claims that were joined in 1871-72 to create the plats for Snohomish City. Building and maintaining the First Street Bridge has been an ongoing adventure for the city’s engineers, and debate in council chambers of the cost for keeping the young town connected.

Dwindling memberships could no longer afford to keep the aging structure up, and it was sold to a private party in 2008, but the members continued to host their weekly karaoke nights in their smaller hall. The new owner restored the original facade to large storefront windows, a grand gesture that plays a part in the success of the storefront business at street level.

Retrace your steps back to the intersection of Union Avenue and continue down First Street.