The Big Four Inn, built in 1921, was the brainchild of Wyatt and Bethel RUCKER, who at that time owned the Hartford Eastern railroad which ran from Lake Stevens to Monte Cristo. The railroad served their lumber mill at Lake Stevens, and provided also passenger and cargo service to the settlements along the south Stillaguamish valley from Granite Falls to Monte Cristo. (1)              The RUCKER brothers reasoned that a resort amid the spectacular scenery that continually brought tourists to the area, together with their successful hotel operating in the mining town of Silverton, would be a money-making operation. They built an imposing lodge a block long, an annex, and cabins that had hot and cold running water. Nearby Perry Creek was dammed for water and electricity. After spending $150,000 on the main lodge, cabins, an artificial lake, a nine-hole golf course, and tennis courts, they opened the resort in the spring of 1921. “Gas cars,” motorized busses designed to run on railroad tracks, brought tourists to the inn year round.              Visitors came from across the state and around the world; according to Kit OLDHAM’s 2008 HistoryLink essay, celebrities signed their names on the inn’s lobby walls.              The inn fell into decline after the railroad was abandoned in the 1930s. Depression hard times, World War II, and constant road repairs made it difficult to get to, and the tourists no longer came in numbers. The end came with the fire of September 7, 1949, which destroyed the main lodge and the annex. Quick work by caretaker Fay “40” WATTS kept the fire away from the resort’s gas pump and tank. The remaining buildings were subsequently torn down. All that remained in 2008 were the inn’s stone fireplace and some sidewalks. (2)              The Darrington Ranger District of the U. S. Forest Service has preserved the Big Four Inn guest register from 1926-1927.  The register was on display in the Verlot Public Service Center in the late 1990s; at that time, when I saw it, I wanted to transcribe the names for preservation.  Historian David CAMERON helped make my wishes known to Ranger Diane BOYD, who brought the register back to Verlot for transcription.              The entries begin in late June, and run daily through July, August, and the first weekend in September, for the years 1926 and 1927. Each page is stamped with a date at the top; some pages are stamped twice: once with a date in 1926, and again with a date in 1927. It is apparent that some of the entries for 1926 have been erased and those pages re-used for 1927. I have decided to begin the transcription on page 58 with Tuesday, June 29, 1926, the earliest preserved date in the book, and continue through Tuesday, September 6, 1927, the last date in the book, on page 57.              Each date covers two pages, with reservations in three categories. Rooms are numbered 1 to 51; tents are numbered 1 to 40, and cottages are lettered “A” through “P.” On busy weekends, such as the Fourth of July, army tents were also available, and the register was filled with names and notes. At less busy times, only a few of the spaces were filled. If there are gaps in the numbering, assume that the gaps indicate blank spaces. Note that there was no #13 among the rooms or tents.-- Margaret Robe Summitt Saturday, July 31, 1926: Page 122 Rooms: #1: ROWE; #2: ROWE; #3: G. E. SMITH (1) WTG; #4: G. E. SMITH (2) WTG; #5: Jas. R. BREWSTER; #6: Jas. R. BREWSTER; #9: Gladys NORMAN & Grace BECK @ 3907 Angstine St. until Wed. WTG ; #10: H. B. LOWMAN 4806 Everett (hp. until Monday).  This is crossed out and MOLLENHAUER written beside it.  #11: Richard FREBORNE (2) phone is crossed out; #12: G. E. SMITH (2); #14: MALTBY; #15: Frank P. SMITH; #16: Frank P. SMITH; #17: Mrs. M. J. HOUSE (2) 1 day WTG; #18: L. A. PAPST (2) 1 child; #19: Mrs. MAYEFSA (2) 1 night, phone; #20: PUTNAM  (2) 1 night is crossed out and LACKABERRY written;  #21: Mrs. M. J. HOUSE (1) 1 day WTG;  #22: PALMER; #25: CLEAVER; #26:  DWYER;  #27: Miss Ann O’BRIEN and Edna J. CROSS, WTG, 1 day; #28: BRADLEY is written over another name and CATHARSE after that; #35: Flora GAD; #36: WOODWORTH;  #37: HART; #39: W. W. CONNER; #43: RICHARDS; #46: J. F. MOLLENHAUER  1 night, WTG; #48: J. F. MOLLENHAUER 1 night WTG Page 123 Tents: #2: BERGSTROM; #3:DOUGLAS; #4: WEBSTER; #5:Albert WISE, Ambassador Hotel, wk?; #6: TOLKINS;  #7: STERN; #8: Miss A. O’BRIEN; #9: RULE; #10: SMITH; #11: Eva B. McDONALD, 4529 17th Ave. N.E., 10:10, car;  #12: PICKARD; #14: H. A. CLAPP (3) stay? phone; #15: L. G. SPAULDING U. of W. is crossed out and STRONG written;  #20: WILSON; #21: DESSAN; #22: KORN (2); #24: Mrs. DAVID 1 day and Sunday (2); #29: ERNST;#30: GREEN here; #31: ERNST; #32: ERNST; #33: ERNST (4); #34: KATENEY (4) office here stay tonight; #35:  H. F. SNAPP Seattle (4); #36: H. F. SNAPP Seattle (4);  #40: LOCKWOOD, B. W. (4)     Cottages: “A”: save for CUNNINGHAM; “B”: DOUGLAS; “D”: JOHNSON; “E”: WASHBURN; “F”: JOHNSTONE ; “G”: MAYER; “H”: DUNCAN; “I”: SICKERS; “J”: KELLOGG; “K”: OSTER;  “L”: HANEY; “M”: HOLT; “N”: ADAMS; “O”: Mrs. PHILLIPS (2) phone is crossed out and SNAPP written; “P”: SNAPP Sunday, August 1, 1926 Page 124 Rooms: #1: ROWE; #2: ROWE; #5: Mrs. Jerry EGGERT, 163 Dorfal Drive; #6: Mrs. Jerry EGGERT, 163 Dorfal Drive; #9: NORMAN; Rooms #14-#17 Ready; #20: CUNNINGHAM; #22: PALMER; #27: CROSS, O’BRIEN; #36: WOODWORTH Page 125 Tents: #3: DOUGLAS; #4: WEBSTER; #5: WISE; #7: STERN; #8: O’BRIEN; #9: RULE checkout; #10: Leo LASSEN & wife @1, 1 day, WTG; #12: CAREY; #14: CLAPP; #15: STRONG; #38: ANGOVE; #40: LOCKWOOD  Cottages: “A”: E. P. CUNNINGHAM, wants “A”, made by Mark SMITH; “B”: DOUGLAS; “C”: EGGERT; “D”: JOHNSON is crossed out and Miss ANGOVE (4) written; “E” WASHBURN; “F”: JOHNSTONE; “G”: MAYER; “H”: DUNCAN; “I”: SICKERS; “J”: KELLOGG; “K”: OSTEN; “L”: HANEY; “M”: HOLT; “N”: ADAMS; “O”: Harry W. HIGMAN (3) 1 wk.; “P”: Mrs. Ella A. LAMBERSON (2). Monday, August 2, 1926 Page 126 Rooms: #1: ROWE; #2: ROWE; #3: ANDERSON; #4: WINFIELD; #5: CORNELIUS; #6: CORNELIUS (4) stay?; #9: NORMAN out 2:30;   #10: NORWILE; #11: CHAMBERS; #15: DODD; #16: PROE; #17: CANTALON; #18: LANGFIELD; #20: CUNNINGHAM; #21: Mrs. N. A. CLARK; #22: PALMER; #26: COHEN; #27: out 2:30 Page 127 Tents: #4: Maurice ADAMS (2) until Friday, WTG—cancelled.; #5: WISE; #7: STERN; #9: RULE; #12: CAREY; #14: G. H. SAUNDERS, 1769 Pembroke St., Victoria B. C., 1 wk. or 2 wks.;  #15: STRONG;  #36: WORNOW; #38: ANGOVE; Cottages: “B”: DOUGLAS; “C”: EGGERT; “D”: LOCKWOOD;”E”: WASHBURN; “F”: E. W. BUNDY 1 wk.; “I”: BOWEN; “J”: KELLOGG; “K”: OSTEN; “L”: HANEY; “M”: PHELPS; “N”: ADAMS; “O”: HIGMAN; “P”: LAMBERSON Tuesday, August 3, 1926 Page 128 Rooms: #1: ROWE; #2: ROWE; #3: out; #4: out; #9: MacKENZIE; #10: NONNILE; #11: CHAMBERS; #19: Mrs. Wm. FRANKFURT, 527-20th North Apt. 4 is crossed out and CLYDE written; #20: CUNNINGHAM; #21: CLARK; #22: FRANKFURT; #26: COHEN; #27: Jessie MacDONALD, 1753 Boylston Ave. Seattle   Page 129 Tents: #4: MISSICK; #5: WISE; #6: C. N. NIMS, Central Bldg. Everett (2); #7: STERN; #8: QUASSE; #9: RULE out 2:30; #11: Miss A. FAGERBERG (2), 1227 6th N. 1 wk. WTG; #12: CAREY; #14: SAUNDERS; #15: STRONG; #38: ANGOVE; #39: MAYER; #40: MAYER Cottages: “A”: J. H. KANE 1 wk; “B”: DOUGLAS; “C”: EGGERT; “D”: W. D. JOHNSON 1 wk; “E”:  WASHBURN; “F”: BUNDY; “G”: BUSHNELL; “H”: PANDERS; “I”: PAGE; “J”: KELLOGG; “K”: OSTER; “L”: HANEY; “N”: ADAMS; “O”: HIGMAN; “P”: LAMBERSON. Wednesday, August 4, 1926 Page 130 Rooms: #1: ROWE; #2: ROWE; #5: BEST; #6: BEST; #9: MacKENZIE out 2; #15: Margaret [I’m guessing this was Margaret RUCKER, who was a frequent guest]; #19: CLYDE; #20: CUNNINGHAM; #21: CLARK; #22: FRANKFURT; #26: COHEN; #27: MacDONALD; #28: FOLEY Page 131 Tents: #4: MISSICK out 12; #5: MISSICK out 2:30; #6: NIMS; #7: out 2:30; #8: QUASSE; #10: Miss Cora M. SHAVER (1) 2 wks. FOSTERS; #11: FAGERBERG; #14: SAUNDERS; #15: STRONG; #38: ANGOVE; #39: MAYER; #40: MAYER Cottages: “A”: KANE; “B”: DOUGLAS; “C”: EGGERT is erased; “D”: JOHNS; “E”: out 2:30; “F”: BUNDY; “G”: BUSHNELL out 12 is crossed out and SULLIVAN written; “H”: PANDERS is crossed out and CONDON written; “I”: PAGE; “J”: KELLOGG out 2:30; “K”: OSTER; “L”: HANEY; “M”: GYGAX; “N”:  ADAMS out 2:30; “O”: HIGMAN; “P”: LAMBERSON Thursday, August 5, 1926 Page 132 Rooms: #1: out 2:30; #2: out 2:30; #3: erased; #4: erased; #5: BEST; #6: BEST; #9 CAREY; #15: Margaret; #19: out 2:30; #20: CUNNINGHAM; #21: CLARK; #22: FRANKFURT; #28: FOLEY Page 133 Tents: #4: SCHRAM; #5: SCHRAM; #6: NIMS; #8: QUASSE; #10: SHAVER; #11: FAGERBERG; #14: SAUNDERS; #15: STRONG; #16: Esther KLINLINNE (2); #17: LIBBY; #18: DAVIS; #19: DAVIS; #20: YEAKEL; #21: YEAKEL—cot. in on Sat.; #22: GILCHIST; #34: Dr. GRAY until Fri; #35: Dr. GRAY until Fri. is crossed out; #36: TRUEBLOOD; #38: ANGOVE out 2:30 is crossed out and KLENLEIN written; #39: MAYER; #40: MAYER Cottages: “A”: KANE; “B”: DOUGLAS; “D”: JOHNS; “E”: O’LEARY; “F”: BUNDY; “G”: SULLIVAN; “H”: CONDON; “I”: out 2:30; “K” OSTER; “L”: HANEY; “M”: GYGAX; “N”: R. E. STEWART; “O”: HIGNER; “P”: LAMBERSON Friday, August 6, 1926 Page 134 Rooms: #20: CUNNINGHAM; #21: CLARK out 2:30; #22: FRANKFURT; #26: ALTHEN; #27: De SOR; #28: FOLEY out 2:30 Page 135 Tents: #1: Chef; #2: save; #3: save; #5: SCHRAM; #7: Miss E. CARLSON; #8: Miss E. CARLSON; #9: E. CARLSON; #10: SHAVER; #11: FAGERBERG; #12: Beatrice S. DAVID Seattle on Sat.; #14: SAUNDERS; #15: STRONG; #16: Henry COBLENTZ; #17: LIBBY; #18: DAVIS; #19: DAVIS; #20: YEAKEL; #21: YEAKEL; #22: GILCHRIST; #23: NETTLETON; #24: GEIGER; #34: GRAY; #36: GRAY; #37: MUNSON; #38: STEVES; #39: MAYER; #40: MAYER   Cottages: “A”: KANE; “B”: DOUGLAS out 2:30; “C”: Fred EVERETT; “D”: JOHNS; “E”: O’LEARY out 2:30;; “F”: BUNDY; “G”: SULLIVAN is crossed out and ALT written; “H”: HATCH; “I”: save; “J”: save; “K”: OSTER save; “L”: HANEY save; “M”: GYGAX save; “N”: STEWART; “O”: HIGMAN; “P”: LAMBERSON Saturday, August 7, 1926 Page 136 Rooms: #1: Wm. MARTIN; #2: Wm. MARTIN; #3: H. O. WHEELER 1 day, phone (2); #4: H. O. WHEELER, 1 day, phone (1); #5: G. D. BOUTON 1 wk, Victoria; #6: G. D. BOUTON 1 wk, Victoria; #9: MASTON is crossed out; #10: HAGGERMAN; #11: Miss Lois SHANDER & one, 1 day, FOSTER; #12: DANDO (2) phone, 1 day; #14: DANDO (2) phone, 1 day; #15: DANDO 1 phone, 1 over;  #16: Clara KOUGH, 507 W. R. RUST Bldg, Tacoma, 2 or 3 days; #17: Martha HOGG is crossed out and RUCKER written;  #18: Edgar ANDERSON, 1 night; #19: Edgar ANDERSON, 1 night; #22: FRANKFURT; #25: Mrs. A. A. CULTENBAUGH, 704 9th Seattle; #26: ALTHEN; #27: De SOR; #34 MUSIC; #38: MUSIC; #42: Mrs. J. C. S.; #51: CUNNINGHAM Page 137 Tents: #1: Chef; #2: C. C. CHAPPELL; #3: C. C. CHAPPELL several days FOSTER; #5: SCHRAM; #6: Edna SHUMAKER (2), 903 Summitt several days WTG; #7: S. T. ZATORIS (2); #8: CARLSON; #9: MOORE; #10: SHAVER; #11: FAGERBERG; #12: DAVID; #14: SAUNDERS; #15: STRONG; #16: Arthur E. CAMPBELL, 304 Melborn Bldg., 2 days, 2 ½; #17: LIBBY; #18: DAVIS; #19: DAVIS; #21: has cot; #23: NETTLETON; #24: GEIGER; #26: 3 pers.; #27: 4 pers.; #28: PARISH; #29: 4 pers.; #30: STEVES; #31: OLSON & BROWN; #32: DUNN & SUMMERIT; #33: HAIT, THOMPSON & BROWN; #34: MOODY; #35: MELBORN;  #36: COBLENTZ; #37: STEVES & NEUBART; #38: SHAEFFER; #39: MAYER; #40: MAYER Cottages: “A”: W. R. SCOTT (4) 1 day; “B”: YOCUM; “C”: YOCUM; “D”: JOHNS; “E”: YOCUM; “F”: BUNDY; “G”: HATCH; “H”: HATCH; “I”: IRWIN; “J”: JAMESON; “K”: BARKER; “L”: HANEY; “M”: Mrs. STENBERG (4) phone, until Monday; “N”: STEWART; “O”: HIGMAN; “P”: LAMBERSON Sunday, August 8, 1926 Page 138 Rooms: #3: G. D. BOUTON; #4: G. D. BOUTON; #9: MASTON; #10: KAIL; #11: Al PATUCELLI, 1425 ½ 5th Ave.; Rooms 12-15 Ready; #16: KOUGH; #17: RUCKER; #18: Ready; #19: G. D. BOUTON; #20: BOWEN; #21: MOORE; #25: STATS; #26: SILVERSTONE; #27: SILVERSTONE; #28: Juanita DRUET; #51: CUNNINGHAM Page 139 Tents: #2: C. CHAPPELL; #3: C. CHAPPELL; #4: Mr.& Mrs. Frank WARREN WTG several days; #5: SCHRAM; #6: SHUMAKER; #7: used for the day-- #8: Miss Adelaide FISHER & one, 2 nights, FOSTER; #9: B. H. PRATT (2) 4 days; #10: SHAVER; #11: FAGERBERG; #14: SAUNDERS; #15: STRONG; #16 CAMPBELL; #19: do not use; #23: NETTLETON; #24: GEIGER; #38: do not use; #39: MAYER; #40: MAYER Cottages: “A”: SCOTT; “D”: JOHNS; “F”: BUNDY; “M”: STENBERG; “N”: STEWART; “O”: Ready; “P”: TEMPLE Monday, August 9, 1926 Page 140 Rooms: #5: McLEAN; #6: McLEAN; #11: PATRICELLI; #12: SANFORD; #16: KOUGH; #19: BOUTON; #20: Miss M. L. RITCHIE (2); #21: MOORE; #27: Mrs. Walton F. FULON (2) two weeks;   Page 141 Tents: #7: Miss ADAMS; #24: Mr. and Mrs. E. M. DENSMORE; #25: Mr. and Mrs. W. McMURTRY Cottages: “B”, “C,” “F” and “G” are ready; all vacant Tuesday, August 10, 1926 Page 142 Rooms: #22: HOFFMAN (10; #26: Miss Frances O’HEARN, 1 night, today, noon; #27: Miss Frances O’HEARN Page 143 Tents: #8: Miss Lillian HOLLENBASH, until Aug. 24; #38: Mr. E. W. PURRETT, WTG, stay indefinitely, want 38 particularly. Cottages: “B”: Mr. REDHEAD (3) three or four days; “H”: CARPENTER (4) phoned Wednesday, August 11, 1926 Page 144 Rooms: all vacant Page 145 Tents: #12: Thelma BENSON, three or four days (2) Cottages: “B”: REDHEAD; “C”: H. HUTCHINSON, Tacoma Times, 2 ½, stay 12 & c.; “D”: R. C. BUCHANAN, (2), one or two weeks Thursday, August 12, 1926 Page 146 Rooms: #22: J. H. KANE and wife (2); #27: Mrs. OGDEN and daughter, phone, one week. Page 147 Tents: all vacant Cottages: “B”: REDHEAD; “I”: D. H. CARPENTER (4), phone, one week; “J”: CARPENTER; “L”: SIMS (2) Friday, August 13, 1926 Page 148 Rooms: #5: MATZEN (2); #6: MATZEN (2); #10: RYELEN; #16: STEEN; #19: BOUTON; #20: HANSEN; #21: MOORE; #22: KANE; #23: RUCKER; #24: RUCKER; #27: ODGEN; #30: E. E. KELLEY; #33: SIMS (2); #36: E. MICHELSON (1) Page 149 Tents: #3: BUCHANAN; #4: HELD; #5: open; #6: HOLLENBACK; #8: FISHER; #10: SHAVER; #12: BENSON; #14: LOOMIS; #15: MUSNIST; #35: COPELAND; #36: WILLIAMSON; #37: GATES; #38: Mrs. GREEN and 2 children (over Sun.); #40: GOULD Cottages: “B”: REDHEAD; “H”: HALL; “I”: CARPENTER; “K”: FULON; “L”: SIMS; “M”: BUCHANAN; “N”: open To be continued next issue ...                                         Page 2 of the guest register, showing the rooms on the left hand page and tents and cottages on the right. Note the double stamped date at the top.  Photo of register by Christopher Summitt. Continued next issue SOURCES: (1) Photo: Hartford Eastern Railway car in front of Big Four Inn. Photo by John A. Juleen, ca. 1930. From the Everett Public Library Digital Images Collection. (2) Kit Oldham, “Fire Destroys the Big Four Inn (Snohomish County) on September 7, 1949,” HistoryLink.org essay no. 8543, online at www.historylink.org

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