In March 1881, Edward DeGroff staked claim to Lots 6 and 7. He came to Harrisburgh, later renamed Juneau, to represent the Northwest Trading Company - the first retail store in the settlement.

In June 1881, DeGroff became the first postmaster of Harrisburgh. In addition to his postmaster and store clerk responsibilities, DeGroff also served as deputy to the District Recorder, Colonel Richard Dixon (DeArmond 1967).

C.W. Young, a Juneau contractor and hardware store owner, owned property during the early 1900s.

John Marshall and Lena Kron-Marshall, long-time Juneau residents, owned both lots for many years but resided on West Sixth Street (Daily Alaskan Empire 1940).

The Elton and Allan Engstrom Building was built on Block 6; Lots 6-7 at 111-113 West Third Street. It faces north and sits on the steep, northeast slope of Telephone Hill.

The commercial building, constructed in 1951 by long-time Juneau residents and brothers Elton and Allan Engstrom, housed the Alaska Public Works Department from 1951 to 1973.

In 1984, the insurance company offices of Corroon & Black/Dawson & Company occupy a major portion of the building. The two-story structure also contains other business offices and apartments.

The Engstrom Building, a two-story structure, has a one-story extension attached to its east facade. The main structure is 27' x35' with a floor area of 945 square feet. The one-story extension is 22 1 x41 1 , encompassing 902 square feet. The extension entry is on the north facade.

Five sets of double-hung sash windows with four windows to a set are placed symmetrically on this facade. The entrance door is multi-panel wood and reached by a short flight of concrete steps.The south facade has a wood door. Pre-1984 T-1-11 channel, plywood siding covers the east facade. The west facade fronts aparking lot located on the corner of Third and Dixon Streets. The one-story extension attached to the east facade has a flat roof.

Telephone Hill Historic Site and Structures Survey, 1984 

Primary Name: DeGroff, Edward

Filed as: degroff_edward

Also known as: Edward DeGroff

Occupation / Association: Sitka businessman; founder, Northwest Trading Company

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Died:

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Associated places: Sitka, Alaska; Harrisburg (early Juneau), Alaska

Keywords: Edward DeGroff, DeGroff Edward, Northwest Trading Company Harrisburg, early Juneau merchants

Biography

Edward DeGroff, a Sitka businessman, established the Northwest Trading Company, the first retail store in Harrisburg, in 1881.

Sources

Telephone Hill Historic Site and Structures Survey, 1984

Alaska Mining Hall of Fame

Tags: Edward DeGroff, DeGroff Edward, Northwest Trading Company, Harrisburg Juneau

Edward DeGroff DeGroff Edward E DeGroff Northwest Trading Company Harrisburg

https://poajuneau.nationbuilder.com/garside_charleshttps://poajuneau.nationbuilder.com/degroff_edEuro-American presence in southeast Alaska began in·the latter part of the 18th century when explorers visited the area in search of highly prized furs, particularly the sea otter, for trade purposes. The survey for Alaskan resources included the search for precious minerals and the hope of discovering the famed Northwest Passage (State of Alaska 1982).

Countries involved in exploring the northwest coast of North America included Spain, England, Russia, France and Japan. Russian explorers are recorded as the first to encounter Native groups in southeastern Alaska. The first published account of exploration in Gastineau Channel was written by Captain George Vancouver, describing his journeys in 1793 and 1794. Seventy years later, the name Gastineau Channel was included on the 1867 Humphrey manuscript furnished to Western Telegraph Company (Werner 1925).

John Muir, a well-known naturalist, visited Lynn Canal in 1879. Upon his return to Sitka after interacting with Chilkat Tlingits, Muir noted that gold might be found in the area lying between Windham Bay and Sullivan Island in northern Lynn Canal.

Chief Kowee of the Auk Tlingit brought ore samples to George Pilz, a mining engineer residing in Sitka in 1880. These samples confirmed Muir's statements of potential gold reserves in southeast Alaska ( DeArmond 1967).