Austin “Cap” Lathrop, widely known as “Alaska’s first home-grown millionaire,” established his presence in the territory of Alaska when he purchased the steamship, L.J. Perry. He would use that vessel to transport goods to Alaska first, then, after the Gold Rush began, prospectors and the goods they needed. He made his home in Valdez and […]
The Daily Gateway newspaper in Seward reported the progress of the Alaska Central Railway to its readers on October 13th, 1905. The workers had reached mile 40 of the track bound for Anchorage. The first miles of track were slow and tedious, but speed gradually increased to approximately a mile every three days. But, as […]
While celebrating Columbus Day, Ralph Wein, the brother of Noel Wein and co-founder of Alaska’s first airline, Wein Air Alaska, crashed in full view of onlookers in Kotzebue on October 2th, 1930. Aboard his aircraft, a Bellanca, that day were Fr. Philip Delon, Superior General of Alaskan Catholic missions, and Fr. William Walsh, a diocesan […]
The original motor vessel Kennicott, while on its return from it’s maiden voyage to Alaska on October 9th. 1923, struck the rocks at Hunters Point on Frederick Island, which is part of the Queen Charlotte Islands, in stormy weather. And when it ran aground, it broke up. When the Kennicott, owned by the Alaska Steamship […]