Accession:

1965.15 CIHS Pratt


Photographs of Circle Springs Hotel, Knik, Ophir and Homer.

Donated. Pratt, Mrs. Tom.

9 Photos. 4 Postcards.


CIHS Pratt B65.15

Scope and Contents

The Pratt collection consists primarily of photos of scenes from Knik and Circle,
Alaska. The photographs of Knik include boat day, Knik Commercial Club, a fourth of
July ladies nail driving contest, and the riverboat Jane. Photographs of Circle include
photos of the Circle Springs Hotel and Circle. Also in the collection are photographs of
the Fairview Hotel and the Aurora Borealis, Homer, and Ophir City. Photographers of
the collection include L.H. Pedersen, Orville George Herning, and M.C.B. The
collection is housed in the photo file collection. Please see photo list for specific
photograph information.

Historical Note


The original town site of Knik was first inhabited by Athabaskan Indians. In
1900 Orville G. Herning arrived in Knik. He was hired by the Klondike & Boston
Company to open a trail to the Willow Creek Mining District. In 1910 the population
was over 100 and by 1914-1915 around 500 people lived in Knik, and a couple hundred
people lived in the surrounding area. When the railroad decided to bypass Knik and go
through what is now Wasilla, the people in Knik moved their businesses to Wasilla and to
Anchorage.
Circle was established in 1893 as a supply point for goods shipped up the Yukon
River and then overland to the gold mining camps. Early miners believed the town was
located on the Arctic Circle, and named it Circle. By 1896, before the Klondike gold
rush, Circle was the largest mining town on the Yukon, with a population of 700. The
town was virtually emptied after gold discoveries in the Klondike (1897) and Nome
(1899). A few hearty miners stayed on in the Birch Creek area, and Circle became a
small, stable community that supplied miners in the nearby Mastodon, Mammoth,
Deadwood and Circle Creeks. Mining activity continues to this day.

Donated. Pratt, Mrs. Tom. 2003 SLL

9 Photos. 4 Postcards.


CIHS Pratt B65.15

Photo List

B65.15.5 Wasilla Library attached to front of
program for 8^th
/ Annual Matanuska
Valley Fair 1948
B&W 2.5 x 2 Wasilla
B65.15.7a+b Circle, Alaska , May 19, 1945 B&W 3.5 x 5.5 Circle
B65.15.7c Circle Springs Hotel B&W 3.5 x 5.5 Circle Hot Springs
B65.15.7d Circle Springs Hotel B&W 3.5 x 5.5 Circle Hot Springs
B65.15.7e Fairview Hotel, Aurora Borealis B&W 4 x 5 Aurora Borealis
B65.15.7f Boat day, Knik (B67.1.141,152) B&W 3.5 x 5.5* Knik
B65.15.g The Jane (riverboat), of Knik,
postcard
Sepia 3.5 x 5.5* Riverboats
B65.15.7h Ladies nail driving contest, July 4,
1914, Knik
B&W 3.5 x 5.5* Knik
B65.157i July 4, 1914, Knik (B63.16.34),
postcard
B&W 3.5 x 5.5 Knik
BB65.15.7j Knik Commercial Club, montage of
5 small photos, advertisement,
postcard
B&W 3.5 x 5.5 Knik
B65.15.7k Homer, 1907 B&W 3.5 x 5.5*
Slide 1.15
Homer
B65.15.7L Main St. , Ophir City, Innoka river,
postcard
Sepia 3.5 x 5.5 Ophir

*Has Negative