Snettisham, Juneau

Snettisham is a locale and former populated place in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, United States. Based on the mainland coast of Stephens Passage, it is 31 miles (50 km) southeast of the city of Juneau. The area was named by George Vancouver in 1794;[1] the bay on which Snettisham was located (Port Snettisham) was named for the village of Snettisham in Norfolk, England[2] (Vancouver was born in Norfolk). It was established as a gold- and silver-mining camp around 1895, its operations being linked to those in the immediate Juneau area, and it remained a small harbor village until 1926.[3][4] The United States Department of the Treasury designated Snettisham as one of several of Alaska's "special" landing places for vessels carrying "coal, salt, railroad iron, and other like items in bulk". The designation was meant to encourage the construction of facilities to accommodate these shipments, thus stimulating creation and growth of local businesses.[5]

Businesses in Snettisham included the Alaska-Snettisham Gold Mining Company,[5] the Daisey Bell Mine,[6] the Crystal Gold Mining Company,[7] the Pacific Packing and Navigation Company,[8] and a salmon cannery for the Taku Fishing Company (headquartered in Portland, Oregon).[9][10] Snettisham produced the first paper pulp to be shipped out of Alaska in 1917.[11]

Snettisham had a post office from June 1900 to 1912.[1][3] It was an intermediary office on a route from Juneau to Sumdum and received mail once a week.[5] The route had expanded to Kake after 1902 but by 1905.[8][12]

  1. ^ a b Baker, Marcus. Geographic Dictionary of Alaska. Government Printing Office: Washington, 1906.
  2. ^ USGS GNIS Feature Detail Report: Port Snettisham
  3. ^ a b USGS GNIS Feature Detail Report: Snettisham
  4. ^ Alaska Boundary Tribunal. The Counter Case Case of the United States. Government Printing Office: Washington, 1903.
  5. ^ a b c Report of the Governor of the District of Alaska to the Secretary of the Interior, 1901. Government Printing Office: Washington, 1901.
  6. ^ Annual Report of the Territorial Mine Inspector to the Governor of Alaska: 1920. Alaska Daily Empire Print, 1921.
  7. ^ Weed, Walter Harvey, E.M. The Mines Handbook. New York City, 1920.
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference rep1902 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Kutchin, Howard M. Report on the Salmon Fisheries of Alaska, 1900. Government Printing Office: Washington, 1901.
  10. ^ Sixth Biennial Report of the Dairy and Food Commissioner for the Biennial Period Ending October 31, 1906. C. W. Gorham: Olympia, WA, 1907.
  11. ^ Rand McNally Guide to Alaska and Yukon for Tourists, Investors, Homeseekers and Sportsmen. Rand McNally & Company: 1922.
  12. ^ Report of the Governor of the District of Alaska to the Secretary of the Interior, 1905. Government Printing Office: Washington, 1905.