Module VII - American Period: Society

Essential Question:

How have the settlement patterns of Alaska been a reflection of the natural landscape, distance, resources, and the economy?


Alaska is a huge state with much to be discussed in terms of settlement and the connections with landscape, distance, resources, and the economy. I am going to focus on the settlement patterns in Southeast Alaska, and more specifically on the island where I am living, Prince of Wales also known as POW.


Tlingit and Haida Natives were the first to inhabit and benefit from the resources on Prince of Wales Island. The Tlingit arrived nearly eight thousands years ago and the Haida arrived more recently. Most early Native settlements were on or near the beaches due to easy access. Because of the mild climate and abundant resources on the coast, Natives were able to flourish in coastal villages year round. They were hunters and gatherers, reliant on the resources of the area as they lived a subsistence lifestyle that revolved around the cycles of nature. They harvested fish, shellfish, sea mammals, beach greens, seaweed, and berries when seasons afforded the opportunities. Wood was always available and was used in many ways. These abundant resources would eventually draw other settlers looking for economic gain into the area.

Click here to revisit specific details in regard to the Tlingit and Haida tribes-

Russian, Spanish, British, and Euroamerican exploration occured in the North Pacific in what is now known as Alaska in the 1700's but wide scale economic development did not occur on Prince of Wales Island until the late 1800s. The primary developments of industry were of fishing, mining, and logging.

Fishing
One of the first and largest economic opportunities on POW was presented because of the abundant salmon runs around the island. These fishing opportunities created new settlements. Fishing presented many opportunities on boats and during processing. The first American shore-based saltery operated at Klawock on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska by 1868. (Alaska History and Cultural Studies CHAPTER 4-16: FISHING AND SEA HUNTING) Later this site was turned into a cannery. The fishing industry was seasonal but required many workers. The Klawock cannery was operated primarily by the Tlingit and Haidas. The Natives were unable to work entire seasons because of their need to fish and provide for their families' needs. The industry continued to expand and the increased demand created a need for help in the canneries. People were brought in to work. Many of the new workers were Chinese immigrants, Japanese, Filipino, and Mexicans.

The boom and bust trend was and still is evident in the fishing industry. Today, fishing is one of the driving industries on POW. The cities of Craig and Klawock rely heavily on the fishing industry. The market is still driven by supply and demand. Each summer the population rises as people come to capitalize on the opportunities that fishing presents on the island. It has brought many new people that now call Prince of Wales Island their home.
Klawock Cannery
vilda.alaska.edu

Mining
Mining on Prince of Wales Island began in the late 1800s. Precious resources such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, uranium, palladium and marble were mined on the island. Hollis, a town on the east coast of POW, is a result from the mining boom. In the early 1900s gold and silver were mined here. Nearly 1,000 residents resided in the community at this time. When mining production ceased around 1915 the town was abandoned. Again, more evidence of the boom and bust economy that plagued the state. You can still walk the Harris River to see some of the remnants of the mining that occurred in the area.

Mining of marble occurred on POW in the early 1900s but did not prove to be a profitable economic endeavor and did not contribute any long-term flourishing settlements. If you would like to read more about the marble quarry in Calder Bay on Prince of Wales Island
-Click Here

Calder Bay Marble Quarry

1890-1910
vilda.alaska.edu

Timber/Logging

Timber has been a driving force of the economy on Prince of Wales Island. Initially the United States was not interested in promoting the timber industry. The US Eventually passed a law that allowed for the production of lumber in Alaska. The demand was high during booming industrial periods and lumber helped meet those needs.

Early logging was hard work and completed mostly by hand. This would require large numbers of workers in order to meet demand. Eventually logging expanded and as technology advanced. Areas were made accessible for more wide-spread harvesting. As a result of logging on the island, Prince of Wales has over 2,000 miles of roads. This is unusual for Southeast Alaska's coastal communities.

Many of the communities on Prince of Wales began as logging camps. Hollis was brought back to life in 1954 when the Ketchikan Pulp Company was given a 50 year timber contract. Hollis became the first logging camp and the base of timber operation on Prince of Wales Island. In 1962 the camp was moved to Thorne Bay, leaving Hollis nearly vacant. There is still a logging operation in Thorne Bay employing many residents.

Logging in Hollis - Vilda 1957

Hollis is not the thriving mining and logging community it used to be. It is now the home to a ferry terminal and a float plane dock. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) operates out of Hollis and travels between Hollis and Ketchikan each day. Currently there are some mining opportunities being explored but little growth is resulting from it. A highway from Hollis connects the major hubs of the island - Craig and Klawock.

All communities of Prince of Wales island are results of the Native presence or economic endeavors and industries of the past. Fishing and logging continue to drive the economy of the island. We still see fluctuations each year as supply and demand changes -creating the boom or bust economy.

Examine Question:

What role did Sheldon Jackson play in creating an early education system for Alaska?

In the late 1880s, as Euroamericans moved into the Alaskan region, a need for schools arose. Mission schools, a product of the efforts of Sheldon Jackson, were the beginning of an early education system for Alaska.

Sheldon Jackson, a Presbyterian leader, began his work in Alaska's education system in 1877. Jackson felt the need for the Natives to be educated into what the early Americans called civilized lifestyles. In his efforts to accomplish this, Jackson created an English-only policy that would be strictly enforced in schools. Native culture was impacted throughout the state because of the educational experiences of the mission schools.

Jackson advocated for missions schools throughout the state. Funding for schools was limited and mission schools made it possible to have schools without large financial contributions from the citizens or the government. Mission schools would continue until control was turned over to the Bureau of Education. These mission schools led to the prominence of a variety of churches still found throughout the state today.

Evaluate:

I don't know if I am just slow but the reading and blogging is still taking me forever. I need to find some ways to speed things along.

Colleague Reviews:

Heather's Alaskan Exploration
I enjoyed Heather's information on the railroads in Alaska. Interesting facts.

Peter's Alaska Blog
Peter shared some interesting history specifically of communication and the changes he experienced in the Bristol Bay Area. It is amazing how quickly technology changes things.

The Alaskan Adventure
I enjoyed reading Lane's experiences with transportation in the area of Tatitlek.