A gem by any other name ... well, not quite

By JACK HOPKINS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Residents can relax in the knowledge that the town's name is Auburn -- not Slaughter.

The original settlers named the town after Lt. W.A. Slaughter, who lost his life in the Indian War of 1855-56. But residents petitioned the Legislature to change the name to Auburn in 1893.

One of the proponents of the name change told legislators it just didn't sound right to hear a hotel boy shout to passengers getting off trains: "This way to the Slaughter House."