Primary Name: Peterson, Marie Jensen

Filed as: Peterson, Marie Jensen

Also known as: Marie Jensen Peterson

Occupation / Association: Early Juneau resident; mining operator

Associated places: Hamburg, Germany; Juneau, Alaska; Telephone Hill, Juneau; Peterson Lake, Alaska; Tee Harbor, Alaska; Pearl Harbor, Alaska

Keywords: Marie Jensen Peterson, John G Peterson, Peterson Lake Juneau Alaska history, Peterson Lake Trail Juneau, Cheechako Creek mining claims, Prairie Basin mining history, Telephone Hill Juneau residents, Peterson Kasnick House Juneau

Biography

Marie Jensen married John G. Peterson in 1893 in Hamburg, Germany. The couple later moved to Juneau, Alaska, where they established their home on Telephone Hill in the Peterson-Kasnick House, which they built at 203 West Third Street.

In April 1899 Peterson staked a placer claim on the creek which now bears his name. He called the stream Cheechako Creek and named one of its tributaries Goose Creek. The surrounding valley he referred to as Prairie Basin. Later in 1899, the nearby lake appeared in mining records as Reservoir Lake, but by 1905, it had become known as Peterson Lake.

Peterson eventually sold his store in order to devote his full attention to mining. His principal lode claim was located about half a mile east of Peterson Lake and was first reached by trail from Tee Harbor.

Later he constructed a home at Pearl Harbor and cut a wagon road from there to the mine, where he installed a three-stamp mill. He operated the mine until shortly before his death on August 20, 1916.

After his death, Marie Jensen Peterson continued operating the mine for several years with the assistance of their daughters, Irma Peterson and Margaret Peterson.

The present Peterson Lake Trail follows the route of Peterson’s original wagon road, leaving Glacier Highway at Mile 24. Peterson Lake is located on the mainland sixteen miles northwest of Juneau and about one mile from tidewater at Tee Harbor.

Sources

Juneau local historical records and mining accounts relating to Peterson Lake and the Peterson family.