Colonel Solomon Ripinski was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.

Ripinski was born on April 15, in Rypin, Poland. He received a good European education and studied at some of the best military schools in Europe. Here he acquired a thorough knowledge of drafting and considerable skill in sketching, drawing and painting.

Mr. Ripinski graduated with the rank of second lieutenant of cavalry and being too young to enter the service, visited many of the principal cities of Europe.

Coming to the United States he made a partial tour of the Eastern and Southern States and located at Shreveport, La., where he engaged in merchandise. He moved to Sacramento, California and opened a studio where he painted several fine oil paintings.

After a short residence in California he located at Salem, Oregon, in 1878, and became identified with the State Militia, rising rapidly to the rank of colonel.

In 1878 he received from the Oregon State Fair Association and Mechanics fair, at Portland Oregon the, first prize for the emblematic Masonic chart.

Under the administration of Governor W.W. Thayer, Mr. Ripinsky was honored with an appointment on His Excellency’s staff as aide-de-camp, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a High Free Mason and a Sir Past Chancellor Commander Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Arctic Brotherhood.

Colonel Ripinsky came to Alaska in 1884, with the famous Arctic explorer the late Lieutenant Frederick Swatka. Under Attorney-General Haskett he was appointed clerk and in 1885 commissioned to establish a United States Government school in Western Alaska. Transferred from Unalaska to Chilkat, he became principal of the school at that place, and served one term.

He was owner and founder of the townsite of Haines Mission. From 1887 to 1890 he was connected with
the Pyramid Harbor salmon cannery, and during the latter year opened a general merchandise
store on his own account at Chilkat, Alaska.

In view of his services to the Government, one of the Chilkat Mountains has been named for him; Mount Ripinsky is 3,680 feet high.

Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850-1950, Volume 1, p270-272, by Ed Ferrell (May 1, 200