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Equality Colony, 1897-1906

By Ray Jordan, Yarns of the Skagit Country, 1976
Transcribed by Larry Spurling, special correspondent to the Skagit River Journal

Equality, the socialist colony

The Museum of History and Industry in Seattle explains that this photo of log cabins at Equality was taken during the first year, 1897, by Fairhaven photographer Eric Hegg. Their caption of the original reads: The Brotherhood of the Cooperative Commonwealth was one of many late 19th century radical reform groups. In 1897, they started a cooperative settlement in Washington state. The members hoped to be self-supporting and to spread their socialist movement statewide. By 1900, 500 people had planted crops and built cabins, apartment houses, barns, and a sawmill at their new colony.

What seems to have been the most unusual settlement in the history of Skagit County was Equality Colony, the socialistic community near Blanchard. [Another description of the location might be between Bow and Alger.] The idea for this venture originated in the East. A few words taken from the paper in the Washington State Library will illuminate its background.
"St. Louis in 1896 was the theater of a movement destined to have an effect on the history of the State of Washington. The Populist Convention held there split into three parts: one went with Bryan, one Nominated Weaver, and one plunged for a demonstration of the worth of socialism through co-operative colonies. . . . The Brotherhood of Co-operative Commonwealth was organized in Maine on a national and even international scale.
"Its objective was to move all the socialists into one state, develop co-operative colonies and eventually capture the state politically for socialism. The State of Washington was chosen and a site in Skagit (County) was selected for the first experiment. . . . The Brotherhood of the Co-operative Commonwealth put up $10,000 initial capital, collected from all over the country in amounts from dimes to hundreds of dollars . . ."
The first colonists, under the leadership of G.E. "Ed" Pelton, arrived in 1897. A tract of land lying roughly about a mile and a half southeast of Blanchard on what is now known as the Colony Road was acquired. Here among the towering firs and cedars, close to where Colony Creek emerges from the hills, the newcomers pitched in to establish their Utopia. Later, more land was purchased increasing the holdings to about 620 acres according to court records. Membership fee for a family was $160.
From all reports, Ed Pelton proved to be a capable leader. Under his direction land was cleared, a sawmill and shingle mill were built along with barns, a cereal coffee factory, a school and other necessary structures. The name "Equality" was taken from one of Edward Bellamy's books, his sequel to Looking Backward.
A newspaper called Industrial Freedom was established. The voice, reported to have reached a circulation of 8,000, extolled the virtues of the colony to subscribers far and near. It is said that it was this paper that Harry Ault, later editor of the Seattle Union Record, got his start in journalism.

Colony establishes itself between Bow and Edison

The dining hall at Equality. Photo courtesy of the Equality Photo Album.

At first the colonists had only a community-dining hall but the colony did not survive long enough to accommodate all. Quite a few members were unmarried men and the home cooked meals coupled with laundry services and mending made the colony attractive to them. Weekly town meetings were held at which democracy was the word. All over 18 could vote. Women were paid the same for six hours of work as the men were for eight. There were no policemen, no jail, no saloon, and no church. Scrip was used in lieu of money.
While the surrounding countryside thought these socialists a bit queer, in their political thinking, the colonists got along on good terms with their neighbors. Outsiders enjoyed the weekly dances and colony men were often employed outside. Great progress was made for a while, but as the story goes, one day a falling tree took the life of Ed Pelton. Lacking his stabilizing influence and practical ability the ship began to falter on its course.
Hot debates raged nightly at the town meetings which finally culminated into one long argument, as one observer put it. Each member had an idea of how to run the show, different from that of any of the rest. Progress shifted into reverse. Many reasons have been given for the collapse of the colony, all of which probably contributed. It could be that Industrial Freedom had been too lavish with its phrases in describing the ideal system and idyllic surroundings of Equality.
One group lured west from Ohio took one look at the rude settlement in the stumps and tall timber and were so shocked that they departed abruptly to settle in what is now Bellingham. This was a blow in already sagging morale. By and large, the first group of colonists were honest, hard working people who sincerely believed in the socialistic way of life and labored to make it bear fruit. But it was not to be.
Undesirable elements were attracted by this experiment so alluringly advertised. Some were merely curious and came to see how it worked. Some falsely claimed to be socialists and came in penniless agreeing to work out their membership fees. Other proved to have anarchist leanings once they were established.
The freeloaders, the parasites, no doubt contributed heavily to the downfall. They would stay until they had fattened on the excellent fare, then after buying all the cheaply priced goods they could at the colony store, would depart between two suns.

Population peaks at 300, then colony fails in 1906

This is the flag or logo of the Industrial Freedom of June 4, 1898. From the Equality Photo Album.

According to the best authority we can find, this settlement had a peak population of about 300. It began to experience more emigration than immigration as dissension crept in, sadly reducing its numbers. The remainder broke up into warring factors. This resulted in a "reign of terror" for the more conservative members who in "fear of their lives" and to salvage what they could on their investments petitioned the court for a receiver on February 27, 1906.
This action was precipitated by a fire of incendiary origin which had destroyed $8,000 to $10,000 worth of property consisting of barns, cows, calves, 105 tons of hay, horses, tools, etc., leaving the colonists in an extremely distressed condition.

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E.W. Ferris was appointed receiver. On June 1, 1907, he sold the bulk of the real estate holdings to John J. Peth for $12,400. A few colonists gained title to the remaining acres on which their homes stood by paying back taxes. The case was cleared up, apparently, and the receiver discharged on June 28, 1908. Total receipts amounted to about $17,500 for property said to have been worth $100,000 at one time.
But the war broke out anew. A group of diehard members challenged the legality of the sale and in March of 1909, the Superior Court found for John J. Peth. The case was carried to the State Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court in a decision handed down on July 29, 1911.
Shortly afterward, Peth found himself in court again trying to quiet a flaw in the title. After the legal dust had settled there still remained a minor cloud floating over one parcel of the embattled property, but this has been ironed out since.
There is little left to mark the spot where Equality so bravely started. Colony Creek still gurgles its way to the sea, unperturbed but silent regarding the historic drama enacted along its banks. One or two of the original buildings still stand, and there is a pathetic little cemetery on the hillside enclosed by a wire fence. No markers remaining are legible enough to prove who is buried there. We were told by a former colony member now deceased, that a Halladay, and a Hoehn rest in this plot. They were all she could remember.
Through the courtesy of George Peth, son of John J. Peth, we were allowed to read one of the family historical treasures, a two-sheet edition of Equality's Industrial Freedom, a weekly dated November 13, 1900. In its fading type, L.F. Austin notes that he is retiring as editor. Sadie Smith Long, editor of the ladies department, reports a long list of colony events. E.G. Pelton, the pioneer leader, is apparently still in the saddle at this date for quite a bit of space is given to his statements.
November 1, 1900, the third birthday anniversary of the colony was celebrated with a picnic, according to this November 13, 1900 issue. There are several ads, but only one promoting a colony product — Equality Cereal Coffee at $6 per 100 lbs. in one-pound packages. Subscriptions are 50 cents per year.
H.W. Halladay is listed as President; A.K. Hanson, Sec'y and Sup't Exchange; and W.B. Boyd, Treasurer.
Colony school pupils listed as having been perfect in attendance during the school month ending October 26 are: Julia Boyd, Clinton Halladay, Minnie Smith, Ora Smith, Charlie Marquart, Lola Gifford, Arthur Hoehn, Chas. Hoehn, Earl Hoffstrom, and Grace Brady.
Otto Steibritz, Willie Lux, Henry Lux, Ovida Oss, Dora Oss, Clara Oss, John Giles, Cordie Lewis, Rowland Lewis, Gladys Ault, Howard Ault, Everett Huff, Agnes Young, with W.B Heckman, teacher¸and Miss Inza Joslyn, assistant teacher.
This scribe knew several former colony members and they were good citizens too. Over the years back to 1909, we have heard many stories relative to the happenings at Equality, few of which could be documented. In light of scant sources and the involved intrigues and litigation that took place there it is most difficult to draw a true picture at this late date.
The writer toured the site back in 1920 when more of the original buildings were standing and many gigantic cedar trees up Colony Creek remained uncut and again in 1963. We have been told that a thesis on the colony is now being written and if and when it becomes available, it will no doubt turn out to be the most authoritative of writing efforts so far.

This muddy scene at the Equality village is captioned: Equality Colony, Equality, Wash., April 1, 1900. General view of village looking southeast from garden, hot-house, bakery and ironing-room. Obscured by other buildings. Shingle-house and saw-mill to left.

The thesis Jordan refers to resulted in the book, Equality Colony, by the late Frederick E. Smith, compiled after his death by his sister Florence M. Lowe. Copies are for sale at the Historical Museum in LaConner. Another great book that profiles Equality Colony along with other cooperatives in Washington state is Utopias on Puget Sound, 1885-1915. We are also indebted to Dixie Lee English, who is a descendant of noted Equality pioneers, Edwin Levi and Sarah Jane (Pelton) Irish. For other views of the Equality Colony from transcribed articles by various authors, see the links below.

Links, background reading and sources

Charlie Easton's story of Equality Colony, written in 1962.
Catherine Savage Pulsipher recalls the mill her father owned at the Equality Colony near Edison in 1898, life at the Colony and her brother's wedding there.
The best overall source for information about the Colony is Florence M. (Smith) Lowe's 1988 book, Equality Colony (Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Bellingham). Florence grew up in nearby Blanchard, along with Egbert "Edward" R. Murrow. Although she was unable to join us in Blanchard for Murrow's 100th Birthday Party in 2008, she is still very much alive, at 99 in 2011, and she is one of our favorite correspondents. Frank Pratt, of Blanchard, is also very much alive and has many memories of Florence, Murrow and the Colony itself. Florence assembled the book from a manuscript that her book from a rough manuscript that her brother, Frederick E. Smith, wrote before his death. Another excellent source is Charles Pierce LeWarne's 1975 book, Utopias on Puget Sound 1885-1915 (UW Press: Seattle ISBN 0-295-97444-3), which profiles the Colony plus five similar organizations all around Puget Sound.
The late Charlie Easton's biography, and Easton's Used Books, as Dave and Dianna celebrate 30 years in Mount Vernon. Can you help add to the Easton story?
Read Ray Jordan's 1976 story of Equality Colony, located in northwest Skagit county from 1897-1906.
Catherine Savage Pulsipher recalls the mill her father owned at the Equality Colony near Edison in 1898, life at the Colony and her brother's wedding there. Issue 7
Read the introduction to the town of Blanchard/Fravel, this part written by Florence Smith Lowe, now 93, who remembers the Colony well.

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