History group attracts attention
What do a turn-of-the-century postcard, a 3-foot spoon and a 1911 blueprint of a land survey of the site of the Governor's Mansion have in common?
All were exhibited during the "show and tell" interludes of the annual meeting of the Gastineau Channel Historical Society last week.
The postcard was brought to the meeting by Terry Brenner, who hoped to identify the Juneau family grouped on the reverse. The "spoon" was a metal drill-hole scoop retrieved from a mine by historian Willette Janes. It was used to remove rock shavings from holes drilled for dynamite.
The blueprint, saved from the trash by Don Harris, revealed that an old Tlingit school, a fire hall, a wagon road and a sewer would have to be removed from the Calhoun Avenue site before the governor's residence could be constructed.
Harris also passed around picture ID wharf passes issued to his grandfather, Homer Nordling, and Homer's sister Doris, in May and June of 1918, signed by the U.S. marshal. He was inspired to bring them to the meeting after reading in the Empire that, for security reasons, residents might not be permitted on the steamship wharf during future tourist seasons.
"You can see what could happen next summer if we have to have a pass to go to the waterfront," Harris said.
Based on reports given at the meeting, the Gastineau Channel Historical Society is a growing concern. President Gary Gillette noted paid membership has risen from 183 in 2000 to 210 in 2001. There also are volunteer members such as Harris, who acts as a guide at the Last Chance Mining Museum who donate "great amounts of time consistently" to the causes of preserving history and educating people about local history and its value, he said.
Treasurer Nora Toner announced that two-thirds of the 3,000 printing of "Quilts of Alaska: A Textile Album of the Last Frontier" has been sold raising enough money to take on another book project.
"Thanks to June Hall, we've got a good seller," Toner said.
Hall, who coordinated the quilt project, described the current status of the quilt survey, which began in 1992 and culminated this year in an exhibit at the Alaska State Museum as well as a full-color book. The show set records for attendance, Hall said.
"It's been a project that has pulled the state together because so many people have been involved and it has meant a lot to so many people," Hall said. The book may go into a second printing, she said.
Kay Shelton, past president of the Alaska State Historical Society, noted the Pioneer Book Committee of the Gastineau Channel Historical Society was given the Preservation of Alaska History Award for the book "Gastineau Channel Memories." She also presented the Evangeline Atwood award for "long-term service to history" to Hall for the quilt project as well as her "service to the Alaska State Museum."
In her turn, Hall presented certificates of appreciation to Alma Harris, who edited the quilt book; Laura Lucas, who designed it; Ron Klein, who produced the 4- by 5-inch transparencies of the quilts; Willette Janes, who wrote Chapter 1; and Rachel Beck, who worked on the project for nearly 10 years.
Gillette said the Last Chance Mining Museum has just signed a 10-year contract with the city. It has operated for seven years, and hosted more than 2,000 visitors this year.
Gillette passed around a plaque from the city that honored the society for its preservation efforts in the compressor building and transformer house of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co.
Sentinel Island Lighthouse, another society project, received a grant of $18,000 to replace windows, but a matching amount must be raised, Gillette said.
Willette Janes, Alma Harris and Chapin Heumann were unanimously re-elected to the society's board of directors.
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Ann Chandonnet can be reached at achandonnet@juneauempire.com.