The Wickersham House is located in Juneau's most venerable residential district, Chicken Ridge, at 213 7th Street. Some of Juneau's most prominent early residents lived in this Victorian home.
The house itself, although large and well-situated, bears few distinguishing architectural features. It is sturdy, solid, functional but without the gingerbread characteristic of turn-of-the century, fashionable near-mansions. This simplicity was more characteristic of Alaska than the Lower States.
It was built in 1898 by Frank Hammond, owner of the Sheep Creek Mining Company, who enjoyed the affluence to build as he wished.
Strength, comfort, quality and convenience were considerations he prized above pomp and ostentation.
Building supplies were not a serious problem as they were in the Interior. Juneau, as the major mining center of the Far North since 1880, had well-stocked lumber, hardware and furniture supply houses and was a principal ocean port north of Seattle and San Francisco. He built accordingly, and the house as Hammond built it remains virtually unaltered.
The second owner was John Malony, a lawyer for Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Company and the founder of Juneau Cold Storage. Malony was persuaded to sell the house to Bartlett Thane who needed a big place in which to entertain.
Thane was the manager and director of the Alaska Gastineau Mining Company. Thane, a highly respected promoter of the mines, entertained Charles Haden, New York investment banker and Daniel Jackling, comptroller of the nation's copper industry.
The Honorable James V. Wickersham who served as U.S. District Judge in Alaska from 1900-1908 and as Territorial Delegate to the Congress of the United States for 14 years, purchased the home in 1928 and lived there until his death in 1939 at age 82.
Wickersham also edited the seven-volume Alaska Law Reports, a Bibliography of Alaskan Literature, and Old Yukon Tales Trails and Trials.
"No other man has made as deep and varied imprints on Alaska's heritage, whether it be in politics, government, commerce, literature, history or philosophy. A federal judge, member of Congress, attorney and explorer, present-day Alaska is deeply in debt to him." said Evangeline Atwood, author of Frontier Politics.
Wickersham was responsible for "Home Rule", the Alaska Railroad, the University of Alaska, and Denali National Park (formerly Mount McKinley National Park).
Deborah Bell-Wickersham (1863-1926) was the judge's wife for 46 years. They had three sons, Darrell, Andrew and Howard. Darrell was the only one that lived to adulthood. He had no children of his own.
Grace Vrooma-Bishop, a widowed school teacher with no children became the Judge's second wife in 1928. After his death in 1939, she continued to live in their Juneau home until her death in 1963.