- 1921

In early June the Alaska Gastineau Mining Company closed its mining operations at the Perseverance Mine in the Silverbow Basin and the company’s big mill at Thane, due to increased costs of labor and supplies. The company anticipated converting the mill to pulp and paper manufacturing (never happened.) The company also continued to operate its power plants to sell electricity to the local market. It had produced over $10.9 million in gold between 1887 to 1921, with most production between 1915 and the end. It had set world records in high volume/low-cost mining production and was recognized for its remarkable engineering feats.

Speel River pulp mill machinery. Alaska State Library, Eugene Patrick Kennedy. Photographs,  ca. 1912-1923, P444-060.

Alaska Pulp & Paper Company plant at Speel River, Port Snettisham, began operation early in January as the first pulp mill in Alaska.  The first wood pulp ever made in Alaska arrived in Juneau February 2 for shipment to California.

Alaska Native Brotherhood moved the old Serbian Hall in early January from Treadwell to set it back up on pilings next to Willoughby Avenue in front of the Áak’w K’waan village as the new ANB Hall.

John Dotson, Eagle River farmer, announced plans March 1 to place about 20,000 boxes of strawberries on the Juneau market during the coming summer. Last year he sold more than 17,000 boxes and he anticipated greater production this year. There were now 12 ranchers in the Eagle River Valley, according to Dotson, and seven of them were actively farming their land. Dotson had 160 acres, 75 of them under cultivation.  The first land patent was issued in May for a homestead at Eagle River.

Well-known newspaperman, E.J. “Stroller” White purchased the Douglas Island News and began publishing it July 9 as the Stroller’s Weekly and Douglas Island News, but shortened the title to simply Stroller’s Weekly with the November 21 issue.

The Salvation Army entered the field in Juneau and opened its barracks July 21 in the Valentine Building.

The branch road from Glacier Highway to Mendenhall Glacier was completed August 4 by the Alaska Road Commission. The branch left the main road at Duck Creek near Mendenhall Dairy and ran to the glacier. The loop road around Auke Lake was opened to traffic August 28. Headquarters for both the federal Bureau of Public Roads and the Alaska District of the U.S. Forest Service were established in Juneau by September 1.