Page 306 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

landscaped with bed after bed of Alaska wild
flowers; it was very beautiful. The only hospital
on the island was located on the top floor of this
building. The hospital was equipped with the
latest in modern equipment. The town people
could use the hospital and its fine operating
room only in an emergency. Little did I know
when I first admired this building that I would
have an emergency appendectomy performed
six months later. During my stay at the Pioneer
Home, I was overwhelmed with the amount of
attention I received from the residents. A nurse
explained to me, “Honey, they haven’t seen
anything as young and pretty as you in a long
time!”

In November l941, my five-year-old son could immediately feel and see history in this The business district of Sitka was two blocks
Robert and I left for Sitka to join my husband wonderful town. More than once it has had a long and built on just one side of the street and
Frank, who worked as a welder on the airbase. rendezvous with destiny in the world. Under on the side of the bay. In the center of town stood
We spent six days on a cruise ship to reach Sitka. Baranov, it was the capital of Russian America the log-built Orthodox Cathedral of St. Michael.
We sailed from Seattle, Washington on a Friday and later the capital of Alaska for a time. A On the top of the Church was a carrot shaped
morning aboard the SS North Coast. The North mansion was built and here the noble Russian belfry. Inside the belfry were six bells, and these
Coast was 320 foot long and had a capacity of governor, officers and their gracious ladies gave were the gift of the church at Moscow, Russia.
150 first class passengers. The cost was $50 balls, which become known around the world. Inside, the many priceless “objects of art” were
one way or $100 round trip from Seattle. It was Yankee skippers called Sitka “the Paris of the hauled across Siberia by pack train, finishing the
a very luxurious ship with thick, richly colored Pacific.” At this time in history, San Francisco was journey by sea. Leaving the business district we
carpets, harmonizing draperies and a baby still a “mud hut” mission village. Nowhere on the could see the Russian Orphanage built in 1843.
grand piano giving the observation lounge an entire Pacific Coast of North America except at Next to this was the Territorial School, and it was
inviting, restful atmosphere. The dining room Sitka, could a voyager find such cultured living. here our son Robert started school. The Native
was spacious with tables for parties of two, four Alaskans had their own school in their own part
and six, and full course meals were served daily On the morning of October 18, 1867, the of town. Beyond this was the Sheldon Jackson
and afternoon tea and bedtime snacks were Russian flag came down and the American flag School, maintained by the Presbyterian Board
served between meals, all included in the cost went up. The United States had purchased of Missions for the education of native children.
of the fare. The ship’s orchestra provided an Russian America and on that day of transfer, it Well worth seeing were the Tlingit and Eskimo
appropriate musical background during lunch became Alaska. The modern Sitka that we could tools and ornaments in the school’s museum.
and dinner. We spent two uninterrupted days of see as the boat cruised into the bay was very On the edge of town was the Sitka National
cruising to reach Ketchikan. Mile after mile we beautiful. Before walking down the gangplank Monument Park where, in addition to the
cruised a unique water boulevard known as the to any one of the three central wharfs, we had a beautiful scenery, the Totem Poles are located.
“Inside Passage”; a succession of sounds, inlets, panoramic view of Sitka. The first large building
passages, narrows and channels crested by the that caught our attention as we strolled down Sitka was a very busy town as the Army and
many islands that make the Alaska coastline. We the main street was the Alaska Pioneer Home. Navy had literally taken over. The Navy was
arrived in Ketchikan on Sunday, Wrangell and It was a four-story building that spread out in building an airbase, which was opposite to the
Petersburg on Monday and Juneau on Tuesday. many wings. A senior citizen or pioneer of the town of Sitka on Japonski Island, named by the
In each town, we stayed long enough to see Territory could live here we later learned. If a Russians because a shipload of Japanese soldiers
and enjoy scenic and historical attractions. We person had money or property, he had to turn was shipwrecked there in 1805. It was here on the
arrived in Sitka, our new home, on Wednesday. it over to the Territory first, but he could live
We met several families on the ship who were here also if he had nothing. The grounds were
also moving to Sitka.; several were Navy wives
with children, joining their husbands who were
stationed there.

Sitka is located on Baranof Island and was
founded by a Russian, Alexander Baranov,
in l799. It is the oldest town in southeastern
Alaska. When we stepped off the ship we

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