Historic Hood River
Alaska Boom Town
10-1-2012
Notes
It’s time for another quick road trip with Alva Day.
Can anyone identify this booming Alaskan town of 1917? I think the banner may be a red herring. It says “Welcome Anyox.” The second line says “Headquarters” followed by a bunch of words blurred as the banner blew in the wind. While there was a town named Anyox in BC, I suspect this banner is welcoming visitors from the company of the same name. There are lots of American flags, along with a Union Jack, but the flagpole has the stars and stripes. There’s an office for the Canadian Express Company, as well as the “Sideboard” (M.? Martin, Prop.), the “Grand”, a pool hall, jeweler, and a real estate office.
charlott
Anyox, British Columbia had a huge copper mining operation. I haven’t a clue as to what town this might be. It is a town that has been there for some time and isn’t a "boom town" due to building construction. It looks as if that street, probably the main street is paved in boards?
spinsur
gotta luv the "street trees!" Christmas time? Something ’bout it just says Skagway to me…
l.e.
There was the mining town Anyox, but from descriptions, I don’t think this is it.
There was also a large steam tugboat called the Anyox that worked the coastal waters.
I think it was launched in 1917.
Here is a photo.
http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/imlsmaritime&CISOPTR=529&DMROTATE=0
Arthur
spinsur, I hadn’t noticed the "street trees." As far as we know Alva Day’s Alaska trip was from March- September, 1917, so I don’t think they had anything to do with Christmas. Skagway seems like a contender. We’ll see if someone can find some corroboration.
l.e.
I don’t think it is Skagway, I think it is Ketchikan. I think the two domed buildings are the Hotel Stedman and the Hotel Revilla.
I don’t know if this is the Anyox connection, but evidently Ketchikan loved baseball and on July 4, 1917 the baseball team from Anyox arrived on the Prince John to celebrate and play baseball.
l.e.
And here is another clue that it is Ketchikan:
"In 1911 a theater was opened in Ketchikan…they leased a space on Front street next door to Mike Martin’s Sideboard Saloon…. which later became the Grand Theater."
Barry Trudeau
Its Ketchikan, Alaska. I grew up there. No doubt. The Trading Co is that of Tongass Trading Co.
Barry