These are stories from people (local and visitors) who want to share a special memory about our beloved island. If you want to share something of your time visiting the island please do not hesitate to contact us!
Our first one is contributed by Richard Rinehart Sr:
I am of the Tee-Hit-Ton Clan, Raven of the Cedar Bark House. "Ya-Kook" - Tlingit
This is about what I remember of the old carving shed. About 1937 when the United States of America was in a depression, and I was 11 years old, there was a CCC camp started in Wrangell to put some people back to work. The pay was only one to two dollars a day, but it was better than no work or money. That's when they started to rebuild Chief Shakes tribal house "Ground Shark House" and new totem poles.
The carving shed at that time was down and across the street below our house where I lived. Though as a small child I didn't know what a depression was. My mother, Jessie Bell Rinehart, had me take some lunch and coffee to my Grampa George Bell, her father, and to my brother, Albert Rinehart, who were both part of the working men.
They would cut and adze timbers for the Shakes house and also carve totem poles, that were to be on Chief Shakes Island. Sometimes they could work outside when the weather was warm and good and dry. My Grampa, George Bell, was one of the totem pole carvers.
Most all the building and the carving was done by 1940 and that's when they had a real, big potlatch Tlingit style. Native tribes and people from all over Southeastern Alaska were invited. And that's also the time they made a new Shakes Chief. His name was Charlie Jones of the Naanyaa.aayi Clan. He was made Chief Shakes VII of the Wrangell Stikine Tribes. They came from every Southeast Native village. The Governor of the Territory of Alaska, Alaska Legislators and people in high government places in Washington D.C. also attended.
They used one of the big war canoes to come ashore on Shakes Island with Chief Charlie Jones VII in the bow.
Part of the celebration was in Russian dress blouses. After Shakes Island, everyone went up to the ANB hall for food and to finish the rest of the potlatch celebration.
This memory was contributed by Big Terry: Another entry into the Shakes Island memories should be the night that Jimmy Shiria landed the crew of the Aurora Marie on the south end of the island in celebration of I'm not quite sure what but it must have been important because everyone talked about it for a long time and it must have been a good thing because everyone laughed. Jimmy might know if it was a religious celebration, the Lord's name was used many times. It had a sobering effect on some people which i guess is a good thing because when they went to the Brig and ordered an Aurore Marie on the rocks you were instantly 86'd so you not only did not get that drink but you got nothing to drink for a while..in that bar at least. Big T
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