Behind the Sign

Over the six years and counting that Meyer Sign has been bringing you its Tales of the Magic Skagit stories, we've shared a number of historical accounts -- spanning a period from "time immemorial" to the 20th century. Our hands down obsession, however, has been with a late 19th century utopian community that once existed in the Bow/Blanchard area off today's Chuckanut Road. "They Called the Town Equality" is a multi-episode history of the community known as Equality Colony, with stories and podcast interviews featuring Sayer Theiss, Melissa Stowe, and Robert Burns. We've put them all together in one handy dandy place, so settle in and steep yourself in one of the Magic Skagit's most interesting bits of history.

Among the lush greenery and rugged terrain of the Skagit Valley, a utopian concept once flowered in the early 20th century. The settlement known as Equality Colony — located on what is today the eponymous Colony Road — was a bold experiment in the creation of a self-reliant socialist and cooperative community. During the decade in which it existed between 1897 and 1907, Equality Colony was a community in which idealists, reformers, and those searching for a better society came together from around the country to forge a new community model based on cooperation, equality, and shared labor. While barely a trace of the colony exists today, its brief success and history created a legacy that is simultaneously intriguing yet also informative.

As we head into the third year of our Tales of the Magic Skagit series, we want to pause and express our appreciation for all that our readers have brought to the table through their own recollections and knowledge. A couple of recent stories are a great example of just what "crowd sourced history" can bring to our understanding of who we are as Skagitonians.