Alaska Facts and History
Alaska Facts and History
Did you know that coal played an important part in the history of Alaska and Anchorage? You'll visit the Matanuska Coal Fields in this edition.
The subject of the oil painting above is Captain Nathaniel Portlock.
In 1786, British trader, Nathaniel Portlock first discovered coal in Alaska at a location named Coal Cove. That area is now Port Graham on the Kenai Peninsula.
In 1855, the first commercial coal mine in Alaska was opened by the Russian - American Company near Port Graham.
Around the 1900s
The U.S. Government, and as a result, some financiers, became interested in the Matanuska coal fields.
High Quality Coal to Fuel U.S. Battleships
Because of the rich, high quality coal deposits in the Matanuska fields, the Alaska Rail system was developed.
In 1914, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. Congress passed the Alaska Railroad Act, authorizing construction of the Alaska Railroad to pass through the Matanuska, Little Susitna, Broad Pass and Nenana coal fields.
Coal was also needed by the Alaska Railroad.
In 1916, the first load of coal arrived in Anchorage.
From its tent city days and up through the early days of Anchorage, coal was a major source for heating.
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Enter Evan Jones
Pictured above are Bronwen and Evan Jones at their 1932 Anchorage home.
In 1917, Evan Jones arrived in Anchorage. He then became the Superintendent of the Doherty coal mine on Moose Creek. Later, Jones was superintendent of the Eska and Chickaloon coal mines, owned by the Alaska Railroad.
In 1920, Jones teamed up with Anchorage pioneers Z.J. Loussac, Oscar Anderson, a hotel operator named Mr. Collins, a dentist named Mr. Blyth and Dr. Boyle.
The group leased 2,240 acres on the slope of Wishbone Hill off the banks of the Matanuska River, just north of Palmer, Alaska.
Jonesville, Alaska
To accommodate the workers and their families, the tiny community of Jonesville was established. The town included houses, a school, and a hospital.
At one time, the Evan Jones mine was the largest coal mine in Alaska. It was also a major supplier of coal for Anchorage and the Alaska Railroad.
The Evan Jones Coal Mine Fire
In November 1922, then Fire chief J.W. Greene and Thomas Bevers were sent to fight a fire that had broken out in the Evan Jones Coal Mine.
Greene and Bevers took Anchorage’s brand new La France pumping truck to the fire.
On site, they began pumping water from a nearby lake. They sprayed as much as 1,200 gallons of water per minute into the coal mine.
The two ran the pumper for three hundred hours with only one break for maintenance. When it was over, Greene and Bevers had a world record for continuous pumping. The fire was extinguished, and the mine was reopened.
5.5 Million Metric Tons
The Evan Jones Coal Mine produced around 5.5 million metric tons of high quality coal from 1920 into the 1960s.
The mine supplied coal to Anchorage, neighboring Fort Richardson Army base and Elmendorf Air Force Base.
BONUS
Would you like to know more about Evan Jones and the Alaska Coal Mines?
Take a look at the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame and discover.
DOUBLE BONUS
Do you remember the 1966 musical hit by Lee Dorsey, “Workin in a Coal Mine”?
Click on the following link and enjoy the memory.
Alaska Fact
Palmer was just 40 miles south of the Evan Jones coal mine.
But did you know that on July 6, 1917, when the Palmer Post Office was first opened, it wasn’t called Palmer, Alaska.
At that time, the small community was called “Warten”, Alaska.
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Connect with Us
Have you ever filled up a bucket from a coal bin? Mike’s family spent time on a farm near Wasilla, Alaska, and it was young Mike’s job to fetch coal for a stove.
Did you enjoy this edition of Alaska Facts and History?
We’d love to read your comments. To connect with us just reply to this email. Or you can reach us right here to say, “I’ve been workin in a coal mine, goin on down down”. Remember that song?
Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Anchorage Memories.com
When I was younger, (1947 - 1951) well lived at 710 W. 7th Ave. There we had a coal bin. After one very dirty event, Dad explained to me in no uncertain terms that I was never to get into the coal bin, again. The coal truck might dump a load of coal on me. He would never let me watch him fill the coal scuttle and fill the furnace. He knew my propensity to copy him.
When I was older, I accompanied my Dad on numerous trips up to Sutton, Jonesville, Eska. He was Chief Engineer with The Alaska Railroad and was always keeping track (pun intended) of the railroad, there. Also, I accompanied him to the Ship Creek Power Plant an we would walk through the underground utilidors over to the locomotive shops. At that time, Ship Creek Power Plant was still burning coal to generate electricity.
My mom was the first female hire at Anch. Police Dept. She was pregnant with me at the time she worked there. The chief chose to lay her off due to the pregnancy. Dealing with neer-do-wells might cause her harm. There were two patrolmen, the chier and mom.