- 1939
Goldstein Building fire, Juneau, Alaska. Alaska State Library, Richard F. Lewis Photo Collection, Snappe Shop photo, P103-037.
The largest single fire loss in Juneau’s history occurred February 8 when the Goldstein Building was completely gutted, leaving only the exterior walls standing. The total loss was set at $250,000.
The new six-story Baranof Hotel opened March 10, costing $550,000 to build. Eustace P. Ziegler, one of Alaska’s leading artists, arrived August 8 to do a series of murals for the hotel.
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Dredging began for the new Harris small boat harbor. A Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crew began work April 4 clearing a new approach to the Douglas Ski Trail off the Douglas Highway. The lower half of the trail is now Cordova Street. A 500-foot-long ski rope tow was installed at “Second Meadow” on the ski trail up Kowee Creek basin on Douglas Island (Dan Moeller trail). Skiers could grab the rope for a 500 foot uphill ride in one minute and as many as five could ride at one time.
A convicted murderer was executed November 10 at the federal jail in the first hanging in Juneau since civil government was established in Alaska in 1884, with only one other prior hanging as a result of action by a miner’s court.
A diphtheria epidemic in January closed Juneau schools and children were not allowed to leave their homes or yards. A large landslide off Mt. Roberts November 20 buried the main tram line to the Alaska Juneau mill 15 feet in debris, ending down the hill at the city wharf. There was no loss of life and minimal damage to residential buildings.
Nearly a ton of crated moose was unloaded from the steamer Baranof April 17; consigned to the Territorial Museum. The giant moose was shot on the Kenai Peninsula and sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C. for mounting. It was a gift to the museum and came here from Baltimore via the Panama Canal. (Note: The moose, a favorite of two or three generations of Juneau school children, unfortunately grew moth-eaten and mangy and was discarded.)
Telephone service from any home in Juneau to the wide world was inaugurated March 10, which would allow anyone having a phone to make long distance calls without the necessity of going to the radio office in the Federal & Territorial Building as in the past. Following the completion of successful tests the new 1000-watt transmitter at KINY was licensed November 14. During the tests word was received from all parts of Alaska and from some of the states that a strong radio signal was being received from Juneau.
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