Ketchikan Gateway - Prince of Wales - Hyder Borough

ALASKA GENWEB PROJECT

KETCHIKAN GATEWAY - PRINCE OF WALES - HYDER BOROUGH AND CENSUS AREA, ALASKA

Welcome to to the Alaska GenWeb Project. I'm Darcy Critchfield, your Borough Coordinator. All that means is that I handle the computer end of things. Please feel free to make this site your own. You are welcome to submit any data, photos, or other information that you think would be helpful for genealogical researchers. Items can be submitted as Word documents, Excel Documents, or scans.

BIBLIOGRAPHY	Under development. Please submit any good local history sources that you are aware of.
BIOGRAPHIES	Under development.
CEMETERIES & FUNERAL HOMES	Under development.
Bayview Cemetery	Latitude(DEC) 55.3355556 Longitude(DEC) -131.6247222 Latitude(DMS) 552008N Longitude(DMS) 1313729W Map Name Ketchikan B-5
CHURCHES	Under development.
DEEDS
Denise Jausoro, Ketchikan Recorder 415 Main St., Room 310 Ketchikan, AK 99901 (907) 225-3142 (Fax) 247-3142	*Ketchikan Recording District covers the following areas:* Annette * Bell I. Hot Springs * Bob's Place * Burroughs Bay * Cape Pole * Chiniak * Chininiak * Chomly * Clover Pass * Coffman Cove * Coppermount (Aband) * Craig * Dolomi (Aband) * Edna Bay * Fillmore * Fitzgibbon Cove * Four Mile Camp * Hadley (Aband) * Ham Cove * Heceta * Helm Bay * Herring Cove * Hidden Inlet * Howkan (Site) * Hunters Bay * Hydaburg * Hyder * Kaigani * Karheen (Aband) * Karta Bay * Kasaan * Kelly Cove * Ketchikan * Klawock * Klinkwan * Loring * Marys Island L.S. * Metlakatla * Moira Sound * Mountain Point * Myers Chuck * Nakat * Neats Bay * Niblack * Noyes Island * Pennock Island * Quadra * Riverside Mines * Roe Point * Rose Inlet * Salt Chuck * Santa Ana * Saxman * Smeaton Bay * Steamboat Bay * Sulzer (Aband) * Sunny Point * Thorne Bay * Tokeen * Tongass * Tree Point * Tuxekan (Aband) * Unak Landing (Unuk) * Union Bay * Unuk (Unak Landing) * View Cove * Wacker City * Ward Cove * Waterfall * Whale Pass * Yes Bay
GEN CONNECT ANCESTRY QUERY / MESSAGE BOARDS	These have been upgraded and combined with the Ancestry Boards. Post/View queries, bios, bible records, deeds, obits, pensions, and wills here. These are a valuable resource and all genealogists need to learn how to use them.
MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES & HISTORICAL/GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES		A great place to start your search.
LOOKUPS AND VOLUNTEERS	We need you! Please visit this page to see how you can help.
MAPS	Nice collection of Alaska maps to help you with your research
NEWSPAPERS	This shows what newspapers were available and when.
	Cape Prince Of Wales	Craig
	Fort Tongass	Hydaburg
	Hyder AK and Steward BC	Ketchikan
	Klawock	Port Alexander
	Thorne Bay
PHOTOS	Under development. Feel free to submit photos for posting.
PIONEERS	Under development.
RESOURCES	Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK 344 Front Street Ketchikan, AK 99901-6431 Phone: (907)228-6625 Fax: (907)247-8439
SURNAMES	Research your family name through the Ancestry.com surname boards
TIMELINE OF ALASKA HISTORY		A brief timeline to help you figure out what happened and when.
TOWNS, VILLAGES & POPULATED PLACES
Annette	This place was probably established during World War 2; now home for Coast Guard, Weather Bureau, Federal Aviation Agency, and airline personnel and their families. The community has a school (Alaska Sportsman, 1962, no. 12, p. 26); it obtained a postoffice in 1947. Located on Annette Island., 1 mi. NNE of Annette I. Airport on the W shore of Tamgas Harbor.
Beaver Falls Pop. 5	This site is a cannery. Located on Beaver Falls Creek
Bell Island Hot Springs Summer Pop. 15	Hot springs resort probably named by George Roe who took this property as a homestead in 1902 and "erected a bathhouse and a number of cabins along a boardwalk extending to a landing place opposite the boat anchorage and developed the springs as a resort for the medicinal use of the water. On his death in 1914 the management of the place was continued by his brothers" (Waring, 1917, p. 19). The Bell Island post office was established here in 1932, discontinued in 1954. Located on N bank of Behm Canal at SW end of Bell Island.
Cape Pole	The Cape Pole post office was established in 1949 and discontinued in 1953 (Ricks, 1965, p. 9). Cape Pole is a logging community with a population of about 100 (Alaska Sportsman, 1962, no. 12, p. 28). Located at Cape Pole, on E shore of Fishermans Harbor, on SW coast of Kosciusko Island.
Chomly (historical)	Abandoned settlement and former cannery site, which was spelled as "Cholmondeley". The Chomly post office was established in 1900 and discontinued in 1930 (Ricks, 1965, p. 12). Located in Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island, on the S shore of the West Arm Cholmondeley Sound (Aban'd)
Clover Pass	No information available.
Coffman Cove	Named for adjacent Coffman Cove (bay). Located in Tongass National Forest, on the NE shore of Prince of Wales Island on Clarence Strait, 0.8 km (0.5 mi) SE of Coffman Island, 40 km (25 mi) N of Klawock
Coppermount (historical)	The Coppermount post office was established here in 1900 and transferred to Sulzer in 1907 (Ricks, 1965, p. 14). This former mining settlement is shown as abandoned on current sources. "Few signs remain of the salmon cannery , formerly located on the northern shore of the bay" (US Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1962, p. 77). Located on SW coast of Prince of Wales Island at head of Copper Harbor, E of Hetta Inlet.
Craig	Originally named "Fish Egg" for nearby Fish Egg Island. Located on Craig and Prince of Wales Islands, at the south end of Klawak Inlet, 60 miles northwest of Ketchikan,
Dairy	Located on SW coast of Revillagigedo Island 4 mi. SE of Ketchikan
Dora Bay	No information available. Shown on USGS Craig A-1 map.
Edna Bay	This is a logging village. A post office was established here in 1943 but was transferred to Ketchikan in 1960 (Ricks, 1965, p. 18). Located on SE coast of Kosciusko Island, at W edge of Edna Bay.
Hadley (historical)	Name of village site reported in 1904 by H. C. Fassett, U.S. Bureau of Fisheries (USBF). The Hadley post office was established here in 1912 and transferred to Ketchikan in 1918 (Ricks, 1965, p. 24). "Hadley is an abandoned settlement * * It was the shipping point for mines in the vicinity, which are not now in operation. The wharf is in ruins" (U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1962, p. 57). Located on E coast of Prince of Wales Island, at Lyman Anchorage, on Kasaan Peninsula.
Herring Cove Pop. 126	This residential suburb of Ketchikan was reported in 1960 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Located on Herring Bay, 2 mi. N of Mountain Point, on S coast of Revillagigedo Island.
Hetta (historical)	Local name reported in 1905 as "Hettah" by E. F. Dickins, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), Current sources show this village to be abandoned. Located on SW coast of Prince of Wales I., E of Hetta Inlet, on S shore of Hetta Cove.
Hollis	No information available. Located on USGS Craig C-2 map.
Howkan	Tlingit Indian name reported in 1881 by Lieutenant Commander Nichols, U.S. Navy (USN). "Howkan * * * was at one time the largest village of the Hyda (Haido) Indians in the area. All that remains to mark this site is some evidence of clearing (U. W. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1962, p79)" This village was absorbed by the former village of Kaigani which, in turn, was abandoned when the village of Hydaburg was established in 1911 in order to centralize the school system. The Jackson post office was established at Howkan in 1882, and probably named for Sheldon Jackson, who established a mission here in 1881. The post office name was changed to Howcan in 1886, back to Jackson in 1890, and back to Howcan in 1903. In 1917 the post office was discontinued and transferred to Hydaburg (Ricks, 1937, p27). J. F. Swanton (in Hodge, 1907, p573), Bureau of American Ethnology (BAE), says "Howkan a Tlingit (Indian) word probably referring to a stone which stood up in front of the town, although some derive it from "gowakon," deer being numerous there). Located on NW coast of Long Island, at Howkan Narrows.
Hydaburg	Name for the "Haida" Indians, the original inhabitants of this village, who came from the village of Kaigani. Hydaburg was founded in 1911 to centralize the school system; a post office was established in 1912 (Ricks, 1965, p. 28). The village is manly engaged in fishing and trapping and has a cooperative cannery (Alaska Sportsman, 1962, no. 12, p. 28). See Kaigani. Located on W coast of Prince of Wales Island, 22 mi. SE of Craig.
Hyder Pop. 32	This mining community, the esternmost village in Alaska, was established in 1907 and named "Portland City" because of its location. When the post office was established in 1915, the U. S. Post Office Dept. rejected this name. The village was named Hyder for Frederick Hyder, a Canadian mining engineer who was brought to Portland City in 1914 to examine some claims. "Among the claims examined by him was the Big Missouri, belonging to Daniel Lindeborg. His report on this was so favorable that Lindeborg later proposed his name * * * for the post office." The population in 1945 was 254, mostly Indians (Colby, 1945, p. 124); in 1962 it was about 30 (Alaska Sportsman, 1962, No. 12, p. 26). According to US@C&GS the town is now practically deserted (1962, p. 28). Located, at mouth of Salmon River, on W bank of Portland Canal, Coast Mts.
Kah Shakes (historical)	Former Tlingit Indian village named for Kah Shakes, the chief of the village; published "Kah Shakes Cove," in the 1890 Census (p. 25). In the 1880 Census Petroff (1884, p. 32) reported "Kashs Village," population 49, located here, and "Shakes Village," population 38, on nearby Etolin Island. See Shakes Village. Located on shore of Kah Shakes Cove, near entrance to Boca de Quadra, Coast Mts
Karheen (historical)	Former village established at a cannery about 1914; named for Karheen Creek. Located on Karheen Cove, SW coast of Tuxekan Island.
Kasaan Pop. 36	A village established in 1890's when a salmon-packing plant was located here. Kasaan relocated here; The post office was established in 1900 and was named for the old village. Population was 129 in 1910; 126 in 1920; 112 in 1930; 85 in 1939; and 47 in 1950. Located on Kasaan Bay on the southwest coast of Kasaan Peninsula, Prince of Wales Island
Ketchikan Pop. 6483	Borough seat, Industrial city and port of entry, established as a fishing town when a cannery was built in 1887. The town became a supply center during the gold rush period in the late 1890's. Its population was 40 in 1890; 1,613 in 1910; 2,458 in 1920; 3,796 in 1930; 4,695 in 1939; and 5,305 in 1950. The Ketchikan post office was established in 1892. The city was named after Ketchikan Creek. Located on S coast of Revillagigedo Island, on N shore of Tongass Narrows.
Klawock	Tlingit Indian village reported in 1853, on Russian Hydrographic Dept. Chart 1493, as "Sel(eniye) Klyakkhan,; i.e. "Klyakkhan settlement," applied to a location on the west side of Shinaku Inlet. to the establishment of a cannery at the present site in 1878. H. J. Holmberg referred to the village in 1855 as "Thlewhakh"; Aurel Krause reported "Chla-wak-kon," i.e. listed as "Klawak" in the 1890 Census. 261 in 1890; 131 in 1900; 241 in 1910; 19 in 1920; 437 in 1930; 455 in 1939; and 404 in 1950. established in 1882. Located on W coast of Prince of Wales Island, 5 mi NNE of Craig,
Klinkwan	Tlingit Indian name recorded in 1897 by Lieutenant Commander J. F. Moser, U.S. Navy (USN). A 1951 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) map shows one building at the site of this abandoned village. According to J. R. Swanton (in Hodge, 1907, p. 714), Bureau of American Ethnology (BAE), "Klinkwan" is derived from the Tlingit "linqoan" meaning "shellfish town" or "town where they split yellow cedar bark into long strings." This is a "Haida town, occupied by the Yaku-lanas * * *" (Hodge, 1907, p. 714). Description: Near E entrance to Klakas Inlet, on the SW part of Prince of Wales Island.
Labouchere Bay	No information available. Located on USGS Petersburg B-5 map.
Lake Bay (historical)	This is the site of an abandoned fishing village; shown as an abandoned cannery on current maps. In 1890 the U.S. Census Bureau (1893, p. 29) reported this fishing station to be one of the best on Prince of Wales Island; concerning the population, it was reported that "There is a settlement here usually of about 50 natives and half a dozen white men during the fishing season, but it is wholly abandoned in the winter months." A post office operated here from 1911 to 1921. Located on E shore of Lake Bay Creek on NE coast of Prince of Wales Island, SE of Stevenson Island
Long Island	No information available. Located on USGS Dixon Entrance D-3 map.
Loring Pop. 10	This fishing village was built around a salmon cannery established in 1885 and abandoned in 1930. A post office, established here in 1885 was discontinue d in 1936 (Ricks, 1965, p. 40). Located on W coast of Revillagigedo Island near head of Naha Bay.
Metlakatla	Tsimshian Indian town established in 1887 when Reverend William Duncan, who established a mission of the Church of England at (Old) Metlakatla in British Columbia in 1957, moved here with most of the Indians in his charge due to differences with his superiors over the conduct of his work. The Annette Island location was first called New Metlakatla and "sometimes Port Chester by outsiders." The 1890 census listed a population of 823; 465 in 1900; 602 in 1910; 574 in 1920; 466 in 1930; 674 in 1939; and 817 in 1950. The Metlakahtla post office was established in 1888, discontinued in 1889. It was reestablished as New Metlakahtla in 1892; spelling changed to Metlakahtla in 1895 and again changed in 1904 to its present form. Located n the S shore of Port Chester, W coast of Annette Island, 15 mi. S of Ketchikan.
Mountain Point Pop. 372	Local name for this residential district of Ketchikan reported in 1960 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Located on S coast of Revillagigedo Island, at Mountain Point, 5 mi. SE of Ketchikan
Mud Bay Pop. 35	This is a residential suburb of Ward Cove; recorded in 1954 by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Located on W coast of Revillagigedo Island, 5.5 mi. NW of Ketchikan.
Naukati Bay	No information available. Located on USGS Craig D-4 map.
New Metlakatla	See Metlakatla.
Peninsula Point Pop. 47	This is an extention of the Ketchikan settlement area northwest along the highway. Located on Peninsula Point, S of Ward Cove, on SW coast of Revillagigedo Island.
Pennock Island Pop. 50	This is a part of the Ketchikan settlement area. Located on E coast of Pennock Island on Whiskey Cove, 0.5 mi. S of Ketchikan
Point Baker Pop. 38	Fishing and logging village. The Point Baker post office was established in 1942 (Ricks, 1965, p. 52). Located on offshore island off NW tip of Prince of Wales Island, on Sumner Strait.
Polk Inlet	No information available. Located on USGS Craig B-2 map.
Port Alexander Pop. 18	Fishing village, once the center of the largest trolling fleet in Alaska (Balcom, 1965, p. 67). Named for the estuary it is located on. Its population was 107 in 1930; 87 in 1939; and 22 in 1950. The Port Alexander post office was established in 1926. Located on SE coast of Baranof Island, on W side of Chatham Strait.
Port Alice	No information available. Located on USGS Craig D-5 map.
Port Chester	See Metlakatla.
Port Higgins Pop. 66	This is an extention of the settlement area northwest of Ketchikan along the highway. Located on SW coast of Revillagigedo Island SE of Point Higgins, 8 mi. NW of Ketchikan.
Port Protection	No information available. Located on USGS Petersburg B-5 map.
Refuge Cove Pop. 146	Relatively recent village presently without a post office. Located on Refuge Cove, 0.4 mi. W of Wacker, on the SW coast of Revillagigedo Island.
Salt Chuck Pop. 10	Local name published in 1943 by U@C&GS "chuck" is a Chinook jargon word meaning "water." According to E. L. Keithahn of the Alaska Historical Library and Museum, this word is usually applied to "a salt lake that fills at high tide, sometimes with a bore, and empties or partly empties at low tide with a reverse bore or sometims 'falls.' A strong or dangerous chuck is sometimes called Skookum chuck; 'skookum' meaning 'strong.'" Located on E coast of Prince of Wales island, at head of Kasaan Bay.
Saxman Pop. 153	Tlingit Indian village founded in 1894; named for Samuel Saxman, school teacher. The population was 154 in 1910; 103 in 1920; 112 in 1930; 111 in 1939 ; and 167 in 1950. The Saxman post office operated from 1897 to 1900. (Ricks, 1965, p. 56). Located on S coast of Revillagigedo Island 2.5 mi. SE of Ketchikan.
Shakes Village	See Kah Shakes.
Shoreline Drive Pop. 56	This is an extention of the Ketchikan settlement area northwest along the highway.Located on W coast of Revillagigedo Island, 3 mi. NW of Ketchikan.
Thorne Bay	Logging camp reported in 1960. Incorporated. Located on Thorne Bay, E coast of Prince of Wales Island, 12 mi. NNW of Kasaan.
Tokeen	Located on the NW coast of Marble Island, 9 miles NE of the community of Edna Bay
Ward Cove	This village is an extension of the settlement area of Ketchikan northwest along the highway. A saltery was established here in 1883-84 by W. W. Waud. See Ward Cove. Eugene Wacker was first postmaster of the Wacker post office established 1920. The post office name was changed to Wards Cove in 1951 and then to Ward Cove in 1954 (Ricks, 1965, p. 69-70). The village population was 57 in 1930.Located on the N shore of Ward Cove, at the SW end of Revillagigedo Island, 4.5 mi NW of Ketchikan.
Waterfall	Name published by H. M. Eakin (in Brooks and others, 1915, pl. 5), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). "Waterfall* has a cannery and store at which some fishermen's supplies, gasoline, and fuel oil can be obtained* cannery wharf***. Waterfall has radio communication during the canning season". Description: a cannery, on W coast of Prince of Wales Island, 13 mi. SW of Craig
Whale Pass	Named for the nearby feature Whale Passage. Located on the NE shore of Prince of Wales Island, near the head of Whale Passage, 25 miles SE of Point Baker, 39 miles SW of Wrangell.
YEARBOOKS	This is an area where volunteers can be of great help. If you have an old yearbook, scan it in and send it to the Borough Coordinator.

Should you have any questions, please email the Borough Coordinator.

This page was last modified: Tuesday, 10-Nov-2009 21:57:40 MST

You are our 581 visitor since 10/1/2009 - thanks for stopping by!

ALASKA GENWEB PROJECT

KETCHIKAN GATEWAY - PRINCE OF WALES - HYDER BOROUGH AND CENSUS AREA, ALASKA

TABLE OF CONTENTS