Ripinsky, Solomon
Ripinski, Solomon
Association: Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Men's Igloo
Role: Charter Member
Biography
Colonel Solomon Ripinski was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo of the Pioneers of Alaska.
Ripinski was born on April 15 in Rypin, Poland. He received a European education and attended several military schools where he studied drafting and developed considerable skill in sketching, drawing, and painting.
He graduated with the rank of second lieutenant of cavalry. Because he was too young to enter service immediately, he traveled through many of Europe's principal cities before immigrating to the United States.
After arriving in America, he traveled through the eastern and southern states before settling in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he engaged in merchandising. He later moved to Sacramento, California, where he opened an art studio and produced several oil paintings.
In 1878, he relocated to Salem, Oregon, where he became active in the Oregon State Militia and quickly rose to the rank of colonel. That same year he received first prize from the Oregon State Fair Association and the Mechanics Fair in Portland for an emblematic Masonic chart.
During the administration of Governor W. W. Thayer, he was appointed aide-de-camp on the governor’s staff with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Ripinski was also active in fraternal organizations, serving as a High Free Mason, a Sir Past Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, and later as a member of the Arctic Brotherhood.
Ripinski came to Alaska in 1884 with the noted Arctic explorer Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka. Under Attorney General Haskett, he was appointed a clerk and, in 1885, was commissioned to establish a United States Government school in western Alaska. After being transferred from Unalaska to Chilkat, he served as principal of the government school there for one term.
He later founded and owned the townsite of Haines Mission. From 1887 to 1890, he was associated with the Pyramid Harbor salmon cannery, and in 1890, he opened a general merchandise store in Chilkat, Alaska.
In recognition of his work in the region, one of the nearby mountains was named for him. Mount Ripinsky, overlooking the Haines area, rises to an elevation of approximately 3,680 feet.
Sources
- Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850–1950, Volume 1, pp. 270–272, Ed Ferrell
Wallen, Oscar
Primary Name: Oscar Wallen
Filed as: Wallen, Oscar
Born: November 1876 – Alaska
Associated places: Alaska
Occupation / Association: Not recorded
Affiliation: Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo
Keywords: Juneau pioneers, Alaska settlers, Swedish immigrant families, Pioneers of Alaska
Biography
Oscar Wallen was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
Wallen was born in November 1876 in Alaska. His father, Oscar Wallen Sr., was born in Sweden and worked as a painter.
Sources
- 1900 U.S. Federal Population Census
- Pioneers of Alaska Men’s Igloo No. 6 Biographical Sketch
Frances House
Built in 1898, the Frances House, is significant for its architectural character, its place in the historic development of the mining town, and association with important historic people who built and lived in the structure during the early development of Juneau.
Eighteen years after the discovery of gold in Juneau, Jerry Eicherly, postmaster and owner of the post office, built the Frances House. During that time, the house was leased to a Superintendent of the Perseverance Mine.
In 1911, he sold it to John Rustgard, who owned it until 1927. Mr. Rustgard was the Attorney General of the Territory of Alaska from 1920 until 1933 as well as the author of a number of books on politics and economics.
When the builidng was condemned by the city in 1927 to make way for the building of Capital School, Frances Davis purchased it. Frances, one of the first recognized Alaskan painters, was married to John M. Davis, the assistant manager of the Nowell Gold Mining Co.
Her sons moved the house fifty feet to where it rests today. The building has been known to the Community as "The Frances" since that time. The house remained in the Davis family under the stewardship of Trevor Davis, pioneer photographer and a prominent person throughout the history of Juneau in the civic and business community.
It is an outstanding example of late nineteenth century domestic vernacular architecture found in Juneau. Essentially the house is architecturally typical in materials, construction and scale for the period it was built in Juneau. It is significant for these reasons, but more so because stylistically this house is unique. A roofline like that found on the Frances House is not found elsewhere in Juneau. The design is a blending of different architectural influences from the continental U. S. with improvised changes to make it appropriate for Juneau.
Detailing embodies unusually good design composition, and the quality of the craftsmanship is time-tested, in spite of minor changes in detailing that were made when the single family house was converted to boarding rooms in the early 1900's, when and the basement converted to an apartment in 1929.
The relationship of house to street is uniquely adapted to Juneau's topography and represents an interesting solution to a street regrading. The house is in a historic residential area where many of the "best" homes of early pioneers were located. It is a well known local landmark, appreciated for its reminder of Juneau's history. The structure retains character individually and as a significant example of Juneau's residential stock. The original fabric is intact and therefore its historic integrity as well.