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122:. Inspired by this, the Ruckers built a grand upscale mountain resort, the Big Four Inn (named for the nearby Big Four Mountain), completed in 1921. The Inn was well supplied with modern amenities and featured a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, and an artificial lake. The Inn prospered, but the railway remained a financial burden on the Ruckers. It became worse in 1925 when their lease expired and the Ruckers were forced to purchase the line from the Northern Pacific. In 1929, they sold the railway. The Big Four Inn was sold as well, and changed ownership several times before it was destroyed by fire in 1949.
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The Rucker mansion, a three-story, 7,800-square-foot (720 m) brick home built on a hill overlooking Puget Sound (412 Laurel Drive, Everett), was added to the
National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Legend says that the home, completed in 1905, was a present for Bethel's bride, Ruby Brown,
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instead of
Everett. The Rucker brothers survived the economic downturn, and when Rockefeller and his colleagues were ready to divest themselves of their failed investment, the Ruckers helped arrange the deal by which the Everett Land Company's interests were sold to a new entity, the Everett
39:(1830–1907). The following year they moved 60 miles (97 km) north to the Port Gardner peninsula, the site that would become Everett. The Ruckers purchased most of the land on the peninsula with plans to create a port and city there. They hoped that the site, near the mouth of the
107:. The Ruckers then leased the line from Northern Pacific and ran it under the name Hartford Eastern (named for Hartford, a small town near Lake Stevens). Their primary interest was in servicing their own timber operations, but they also provided cargo and passenger service to others.
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Prosperity returned to
Everett around 1900, and the Rucker brothers were among the city's leading citizens, with extensive investments in local real estate, banks, and other ventures. Among these ventures was the Rucker Brothers Timber Company, which operated a sawmill in nearby
62:. With their capital he formed the Everett Land Company, which began investing in land, construction, and other business needed by a new city. The Ruckers became partners in the company, selling about half of their land and retaining the rest.
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The mine and the railway were another speculative venture by Colby and Hoyt, financed by
Rockefeller. When it, too, proved unprofitable, Rockefeller withdrew his investment, and in 1903 the railway came into the possession of the
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Members of the Rucker family are buried in
Evergreen Cemetery in Everett, where they are memorialized by the Rucker Monument, a 30-foot (9.1 m) granite pyramid commissioned by Wyatt and Bethel in 1907 to honor their mother.
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Speculation in
Everett was intense, and the new city was built quickly, but the boom turned to bust when it was announced that the Great Northern would establish its West Coast terminus at
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The
Ruckers were soon followed by Tacoma lumberman and investor Henry Hewitt, Jr. who had similar ambitions. Hewitt had lined up a group of wealthy investors, led by Charles Colby and
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whom he had married the year before, but it also served as home for several additional members of the family. The house is currently a privately owned residence.
167:(2014), which was inspired by and memorializes Margaret Rucker, an accomplished poet and daughter of Bethel Rucker. She is also interred in the Rucker pyramid.
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The scenic mountain railway became popular with tourists from
Everett, some of whom stayed at the Ruckers' hotel in the mining town of
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and several other collaborators produced a live performance with invited musicians and a later album entitled
213:"Washington Boom and Lumber Company signed by Henry Hewitt Jr. (Founded Everett) - Tacoma, Washington 1893"
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24:(1862–1945) were pioneering entrepreneurs who helped to found the city of
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Originally from Noble County, Ohio, in 1888 the Rucker brothers moved to
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and several timber camps to the east. These were serviced by the former
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A major thoroughfare in
Everett is named Rucker Avenue.
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Improvement
Company, controlled by the Great Northern's
312:"Vandals Cause $ 12,000 Damage at Evergreen Cemetery"
74:. Wyatt Rucker became treasurer of the new company.
300:Snohomish County public records, Assessor's Office
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231:"The Ruckers Move into Their New Mansion"
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47:, which was then building track toward
184:"The Rucker Family Society Newsletter"
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256:"The Saga of the Monte Cristo Mines"
191:The Rucker Family Society Newsletter
258:. Historic Everett. Archived from
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281:"Fire Destroys the Big Four Inn"
89:Everett and Monte Cristo Railway
78:Everett and Monte Cristo Railway
338:People from Everett, Washington
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310:Holtz, Jackson (2008-07-18).
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114:Big Four Inn with rail car
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105:Northern Pacific Railway
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134:The Rucker mansion in
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45:Great Northern Railway
20:(1857–1931) and
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120:Silverton, Washington
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43:, would attract the
136:Everett, Washington
60:John D. Rockefeller
26:Everett, Washington
254:Langhans, Aileen.
153:In popular culture
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37:Jane Morris Rucker
33:Tacoma, Washington
283:. HistoryLink.org
233:. HistoryLink.org
97:Cascade Mountains
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217:Scripophily
197:29 November
49:Puget Sound
318:2009-11-05
287:2009-11-05
266:2009-11-05
237:2009-11-05
171:References
157:Musician
16:Brothers
332:Category
164:Margaret
67:Seattle
126:Legacy
187:(PDF)
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