McCormick, Richard (Senior)

Biography

Richard McCormick, Senior, was born on August 8, 1859, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

By 1886, a number of families connected with the developing Treadwell mining operations began settling on Douglas Island. Among the earliest permanent residents were Richard McCormick, Nicholas King, George Shotter, Mike McKanna, P.H. Fox, and Henry Mead. Their arrival marked the beginning of the residential community that grew alongside the mines on Douglas Island.

In 1888, McCormick married Nora Connors-McCormick. The couple had eleven children, including Richard McCormick, Junior.

McCormick worked for many years in positions connected to the mining industry that dominated Douglas Island. He served as a blacksmith at the Mexican Mine, one of the early mines associated with the Treadwell mining complex. In 1911, he served as postmaster at Treadwell and later worked at the Treadwell Foundry.

Richard McCormick, Senior, died on May 3, 1934, at the age of seventy-four in Pacific Grove, California. He was buried in the Douglas Catholic Cemetery.

Sources

• Survey and Inventory of Douglas Historic Cemeteries

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 

Manning, Bessie C.

Association: Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Igloo No. 6

Role: Charter Member

Associated Places: Iowa; Douglas, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Seattle, Washington

Biography

Bessie C. Manning was a charter member of the Juneau Igloo No. 6 of the Pioneers of Alaska.

She was born Bessie C. Johnson on October 21, 1889, in Iowa to Peter and Jenny Johnson. She came to Alaska with her parents in August 1898 during the early years of settlement in the Juneau–Douglas mining district.

On September 18, 1912, she married James L. Manning in Douglas, Alaska. The couple later divorced.

Bessie remarried on December 24, 1929, to Martin A. Lavenik.

In 1930, she was working as an assistant postmaster in Juneau.

Bessie C. Manning died on September 19, 1964, in Seattle, Washington.

Sources

• 1900 and 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Douglas, Alaska
• 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Juneau, Alaska
• Douglas Island Weekly News, September 18, 1912
• Alaska Daily Empire, December 26, 1929
• Alaska Sportsman, February 1965
• U.S. Social Security Death Index
• Alaska Marriage Certificate

Bradford House was constructed around 1910 at 839 Dixon Street. This Craftsman Bungalow-style residence is a contributing member of the Chicken Ridge Historic District.

Zina and Gertrude Davis Bradford occupied the home. Zina worked for the Standard Oil Company and was appointed postmaster in the 1920s

The front elevation is asymmetrical in its composition featuring paired double-hung windows in the small roof dormer and a square single sash window on the right side of the enclosed porch addition. The nearly square building (25' x 24') is 1-1/2 stories with full basement. Also features a nearly full length (20' x 7.5') shed roofed addition (1940's) to the west side.

Exterior walls are clad with stucco on the first story, coursed wood shingle siding on the gables, and horizontal beveled clapboard siding on the addition. Although the stucco was added in later years the building retains its architectural integrity. The side gabled roof system is covered with composition shingles. Additional features include partial length shed roofed roof dormer, closed cornice gable ends, and exposed rafter tails. The structural system consists of wood balloon frame and concrete foundation.

Primary Name: Clark, Josephine Carlotta

Filed as: Clark, Josephine Carlotta

Also known as: Josephine Carlotta “Lottie” Clark; Lottie Spickett

Occupation / Association: President, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Women’s Igloo; Postmaster, Juneau, Alaska

Associated places: Juneau, Alaska; Santa Clara, California; Yuba County, California; Stockton, California; Sacramento, California

Keywords: Josephine Carlotta Lottie Clark, Lottie Spickett, John T Spickett, Juneau postmaster Hoover administration, Pioneers of Alaska Women’s Igloo presidents, Spickett Apartments Juneau, Louvre Theater Juneau, early Juneau businesswomen

Biography

Josephine Carlotta “Lottie” Clark served as President of the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Women’s Igloo in 1923, 1926, 1933, and 1943. She was born in Santa Clara, California, on September 23, 1867.

Lottie was raised on her father’s ranch in Yuba County, California. After receiving her early education in a private school, she attended business college in Stockton. Upon graduating, she was employed in a business office in Sacramento.

She married John T. Spickett in Sacramento on December 24, 1896. Mr. Spickett was involved in the theater business and was engaged to bring a troupe of performers to Alaska. Lottie accompanied him to Juneau in November 1898.

The troupe performed at the famous Louvre Theater in Juneau. After completing the engagement, the Spicketts had grown fond of Alaska and decided to make Juneau their permanent home.

During the time the troupe performed at the Louvre Theater, Lottie worked as office manager for the S. Blub Store. She later joined the office staff of the B. M. Behrends Company, where she worked for ten years.

In 1916, she and her husband constructed the Spickett Apartments on Fifth Street in Juneau and made their home there.

Lottie Clark was appointed Postmaster of Juneau in 1928 by President Herbert Hoover and served in that position for eight years. After retiring from the post office, she continued managing her business interests in Juneau.

Sources

Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Women’s Igloo records.

Primary Name: Spickett, John T.

Filed as: Spickett, John T.

Also known as: John T. Spickett

Occupation / Association: Theatrical producer and performer; hotel proprietor; theater operator; postmaster of Juneau; charter member and president, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Men’s Igloo; Grand President, Pioneers of Alaska Grand Igloo

Associated places: Bristol, England; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Sacramento, California; Juneau, Alaska

Keywords: John T Spickett, Juneau Men’s Igloo charter member, Pioneers of Alaska Grand President, Franklin Hotel Juneau, Orpheum Theater Juneau, early Juneau theater history, Juneau postmaster 1908, Elks Lodge 420 Juneau

Biography

John T. Spickett was a charter member of the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Men’s Igloo, and served as its president in 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1930. He also served two years as Grand President of the Grand Igloo of the Pioneers of Alaska.

Spickett was born in Bristol, England on January 4, 1858. He came to the United States with his parents in 1870, and when he was six years old, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan.

In his youth, Spickett was drawn to the theatrical profession and became both a performer and manager-producer. He made two trips to England as a member of Haverly’s Minstrels. In 1891, he operated an amusement concession at the Chicago World’s Fair.

In 1896, Spickett organized a touring company that performed at the Juneau Opera House. After leaving Alaska, he toured California for two years.

While in California, he married Josephine Charlotte Clark in Sacramento. The couple returned to Juneau in 1898 to make their home.

Spickett’s first major business venture in Juneau was the purchase of the Franklin Hotel in 1899, also known as the Occidental Annex at Front and Main Streets, which he operated until 1905. He later opened a liquor and cigar stand across the street.

A staunch Republican, Spickett was appointed postmaster of Juneau in 1908 and served until 1912. During that period, he and his wife also operated a newsstand and music store in connection with the post office. After leaving the position, he sold the newsstand to James Barragar and entered the moving picture business.

Spickett opened the Orpheum Theater at Main Street and Willoughby Avenue, which at the time was considered the finest theater in Alaska. After securing films and establishing his show house, he also served as an agent for the Canadian National Railways for several years.

Later, he operated additional theaters, including the Dream and the Palace, eventually selling the Palace to Lawrence Kubley. After a long and successful theatrical career, he retired from active business life.

In politics, Spickett remained active as a Republican and served as Chairman of the Republican Territorial Committee.

Spickett was also deeply involved in fraternal organizations. He was the first member initiated into Juneau Lodge No. 420, B.P.O. Elks, where he served as an early secretary and helped sustain the lodge in its formative years. For many years, he organized the Elks’ minstrel shows, and the last of those productions was dedicated to him.

John T. Spickett died in Juneau, Alaska, on July 31, 1932.

Sources

Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850–1950, Volume 2, pp. 302–304, Ed Ferrell