The internet has been my greatest resource for Wrangell “treasures” and history over the years. It’s amazing what has come my way to help tell the town’s stories.
Most of my finds have come from eBay auctions, where I have discovered some great treasures for my research on the women who owned the Wrangell garnet ledge.
My first score for the garnet ledge was from the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco. I held my breath waiting for that eBay auction to close, hoping no one would know where that garnet was from or the envelope it was in. That envelope would give me a big clue as to where the women were living in San Francisco at the time and the location of their exhibit inside the hall.
But another treasure got away when I let another bidder win the bid with the agreement that they could keep the item if I could have photographs of it. Sadly, the item was misplaced just before they left on vacation and it never resurfaced.
I was fortunate, however, that the seller had a few photographs of the item which they were willing to send to me — I was still able to use it to tell the story of the women and their garnet mine.
The all-women-owned mining company was established in 1906 and operated until the 1920s.
Other finds have come from people who visited my website about the garnet ledge. It has been out there for many years, perking along, bringing me great information about the women who owned the mine. Relatives or people connected to the women have contacted me.
My first contact was an actual descendant of Anna E. Durkee, the primary owner of Alaska Garnet Mining & Manufacturing Co. Had Adrienne P. not found my website, I am not sure I would have ever figured out which “Anna Durkee” was the correct one. There have been several with that name.
Other descendants of the women have contacted me through the website. I have been able to fill them in on the connection of their relative to the garnet ledge. Some have not had a great opinion of the venture while others were excited. One descendant sent me a large garnet that had belonged to her relative. She was not impressed with the information but gladly sent me the garnet.
Using online resources, I met a woman in Minnesota who wanted to help me with research and then, ultimately, found out that she was related to Mary T. Elmer, one of the partners in the mine. We have been friends ever since.
Probably one of the greatest outcomes of my website was a gentleman who had a stock certificate from the Dardanelles Amalgamated Mines Inc. The mine was owned by Anna E. Durkee, of Alaska Garnet Mining, who went on to mining in Arizona and became a well-known miner in her own right.
The gentleman found my website and wanted to send the stock certificate to me for my files. What a find! I held my breath to hear what he wanted for it and was delighted to find out he did not want anything, other than to know it was finding a good home.
It’s not always about mining.
I recently purchased two postcards that were sent to a friend of Lynn Wordenin 1916. I knew exactly who she was from one of the messages related to “Liberty.” I knew instantly that this was John E. Worden’s family, who was well-known to Wrangellites. Liberty was his daughter, who I believe was born on the Fourth of July.
Fast forward to today and another score from eBay for a Wrangell treasure: It’s a recipe book owned by Helen Keller, of North Dakota. The interesting thing is that she never set foot in Alaska. Even more interesting is that she is the late mother-in-law of Helen Bakke Keller who is married to Steve Keller.
The recipe book was found at a recycling center in Arizona by the eBay seller. Helen Keller’s sister lived in Arizona, which may be how the recipe book found its way to the recycling center. This may end up being a mystery that may never be solved, since the sister is no longer living.
The seller told me that she discovered it in a bin that was headed to the dump. She said she just could not see it going out that way. So, she grabbed it and put it on auction on eBay. That is where I found it.
The front and back covers are thick wood paneling, with two holes drilled into the top for rings holding it together. On the inside front cover, it reads, “Favorite recipes of Helen Keller,” handwritten, and at the bottom of the front inside cover is rubber stamped, “Made in Alaska, Bear Totem Store, Wrangell, Alaska.”
Walter C. Waters operated the Bear Totem Store from 1922 until his death in 1943.
The word “Recipes” is etched into the front cover and painted in red. There is a chef that is also etched into the wood and painted in a white hat, white smock and blue pants.
There are nine pages with recipes handwritten on both sides of the pages. The pages look like they were cut from heavy brown wrapping paper, the kind that is used to wrap packages for mailing. They are different sizes; not evenly cut from the larger paper.
Helen Bakke Keller sent me a photo of a letter from Helen Keller, which shows that the handwriting is a match for the recipes in the book. The family is excited to learn about this treasure from the past.
The mystery is how did this recipe book came to be if Keller never set foot in Alaska.
My intention, when I saw the recipe book on eBay, was to publish the recipes as a cookbook with photos of Wrangell included. I wasn’t sure if I would ever learn who Keller was but I do now and I want to include her photo and a brief introduction of who she was as part of the book.
I will work on transcribing the recipes and scanning the pages to create a small cookbook. I hope to be able to have it ready for Christmas. Once I am done with that project, the recipe book will be sent to Helen and Steve Keller for Steve’s family to enjoy.
The internet is a great tool, but an even greater resource when it gives up some great treasures.
Trish Neal was director/curator of the Wrangell Museum from 1981-1992. She has written three books on Wrangell History: “Fort Wrangell, Alaska: Gateway to the Stikine River 1834-1899” (available at the Wrangell Museum); “Stickeen River Journal, Stories of Wrangell and the Stikine River” (available on Amazon); and “Wrangell Garnet Ledge History and the Alaska Garnet Mining & Manufacturing Co.” (available on Amazon).
