Stories and Folklore from Skagway, Alaska
We’ve been hanging out in Skagway this summer, and working on cleaning up the Pioneer Cemetery both online at Findagrave and physically in the cemetery. Lately the mosquitoes up there are fierce! So we will wait until a really windy day or a freezing temperature to continue. Here’s a picture of me repainting the name on the board of Laura Matthews 1923-1926, That Findagrave memorial # is 116980137
This picture of page 315 of theUnited States Coast Pilot ALASKA Dixon Entrance to Yakutat Bay 9th Edition show the Wharfage Dockage and other facts about the harbor facilities in 1941. Also mentions the depth of the bay in places.
Nellie Flynn (1869-1935) lived with her family in Skagway. Her husband is featured in another post. Her grand-daughter has requested that anyone who might have a better photograph of the above image please contact her: Kim Metcalfe at kimmetcalfe@gmail.com
Gettysburg address by President Lincoln.
The address given at Gettysburg by Mr. Lincoln was only 35 years before the Gold Rush that hit Skagway with thousands of hopefuls. Some of these goldrushers would remember the date just as we might remember what we were doing in 1987! It doesn’t seem so long ago really.
This from the online book: 20th Annual Report, British Columbia Board of Trade
I recently saw this Case and Draper photograph of Mr & Mrs McIntyre online. John was a postal carrier for White Pass on November 28, 1902 when he drowned in Atlin Lake. This according to an account by Graves in his book “On the White Pass Payroll” and also on a Rootsweb posting. His grave is in the Atlin Cemetery – Findagrave # 78004440
Here is a picture of Adele (Barkdul) and her second husband Clarence McBurney. Adele had the first white child born in Skagway, Beryl.
photo courtesy of Judith Bacon.