History Pages
Michael Gates is a veteran of the Yukon and a historian with many years of research under his belt. He is the author of Gold at Fortymile Creek: Early Days in the Yukon, a look at what life was like in the Town of Forty Mile on the Yukon River just prior the big strike in the Klondike.
We are very lucky indeed to be treated to some articles he has written about other captivating aspects of Yukon history. Please click and read;
¶ Robert Service’s Secret Love Life
¶ Cattle Drives to the Yukon
¶ The Reindeer Caper of 1898
¶ “Klondike” Joe Boyle
John Gould is a well respected historian who was born in Dawson with an immense knowledge of Klondike history. He has lived here all his life and continues to uncover interesting facts about Dawson's past. John has assembled a collection of interesting news articles during Dawson's early days which he has titled 'Dawson City a History of Growing Pains 1896 - 1906'. His selections paint an interesting picture of that time. John has consented to have them published here. The work on this site is volunteer so it will take time before all 200 pages of his work are online. Please check back as new content is published.
In the meantime here are the insightful articles that are available so far;
¶ "This is a brief history of the first 10 years of Dawson City's life..." [more]
¶ "Robert Henderson, was prospecting on a small creek he called Gold Bottom..." [more]
¶ "
The next morning August 17th they staked their claims with George staking the..." [more]
¶
"Up until that time the area now occupied by Dawson City was a mud flat and islands..." [more]
¶
"BOOM TOWN - Since the word of the fabulous rich Klondike gold discovery hit San Francisco
and Seattle in..." [more]
¶ "PARIS OF THE NORTH - By June 1897 the new town of Dawson had a population of..." [more]
¶ "The fire made the people of Dawson aware of the necessity of having a fire
brigade..." [more]
¶ "BIG CELEBRATION BEGINS THlS AFTERNOON - Grand Fourth of July Observance Opens..." [more]
¶ "FIRE EQUIPMENT - The Territorial government had decided to give $5,000 to St Mary's Hospital..." [more]
¶ "Dawson should be incorporated. It would then have a mayor and council of six
men..." [more]
¶ "GOLD DUST SWINDLERS - New conditions develop new species of fraud how valueless base material are..." [more]
¶ "ELECTRIC MOTOR SLEIGH FOR DAWSON - Winter travel to Dawson City will be one of the biggest features of..."
[more]
¶ "...were assisting in the construction of the hall were in attendance. The secret orders..." [more]
¶ "SCHOOLS - A letter to the Klondike Nugget in November 1898, stressed the fact that..." [more]
¶ "One of the more successful miners on Bonanza was James Daugherty..." [more]
¶ "...established under the name of Harrisburg, which was later changed
to it present name. In 1895 Juneau..." [more]
¶ "EDUCATED HEELS - The dancing carnival is now an assured fact. Next Monday evening at the Grand Opera..." [more]
¶ "STOP AT ONCE - City's Garbage dumped near the water front, is not carried away..." [more]
¶ "PROSPECTING FOR WATER - There were several schemes in the early days of Dawson to find a suitable supply of water for the town..." [more]
¶ "POLICE COURT ITEMS - Nets Olson hails from where they drink alcohol raw but "hootch" proved his master, $25 and costs..." [more]
¶ "COUNTERFEIT MONEY IN TOWN - In late November ten and twenty dollar bills alleged to be issued by the Toronto Commercial Bank..." [more]
¶ "MINING CAMP NO LONGER - Dance hall girls and soubrettes - changes in character of the men who frequented the resorts..." [more]
¶ "ARE ALL MARRIAGES VOID? - A situation developed that required a special ordinance of the council to validate..." [more]
¶ "1900 - FUN FOR SOURDOUGHS - Successful masquerade ball at the Palace Grand. Large attendance of old timers with their friends..." [more]
¶ "HALF MILLION GOES UP IN SMOKE - The business centre destroyed, fire started in the Monte Carlo on First Avenue and spread to the Opera House..." [more]