HYDRO POWER / MAN POWER - The Two Part Blue Lake Dam Story

Recent news shows that the City of Sitka is inviting bids for the

Blue Lake Expansion Project. This project includes raising the

height of the Blue Lake Dam by 83 feet, construction of a new

powerhouse with increased capacity, and related work. The scope

of work includes construction of the dam extension, new intake

structure, new intake tunnel section, modifications to the existing

tunnel, new underground surge chamber, new penstock section,

new powerhouse and associated modifications to the switchyard

and other existing facilities.

The Blue Lake Dam has an exciting history - keep on reading!

From the Archives of the Sitka Historical Society & Museum, the

following accounting was documented and published by the Sitka

Public Utilities , August 1961

The Sitka Blue Lake Hydro-Electric Story

Over 50 years ago men with great foresight saw the power potential of Blue Lake and the Medvetcha River

and with little or no construction equipment bravely attempted to construct a tunnel and small dam at the upper

end of the river near Blue Lake. The problems then no doubt were insurmountable and the work had to be

abandoned. A few years later in 1912 and 1913 a small power plant was constructed having a small rock crib dam and a flume leading to the power house which had a single 230 KW generator. Later a second generator

was added. This original power house and dam was built by the Sitka Wharf and Power Co. and was located

only a few hundred feet up the Medvetcha River from the site of the present power house. Some of the concrete foundations and portions of this old flume are still visible.

In 1941 the City of Sitka purchased the electric and water systems from the Sitka Wharf and Power Co. and

on April 8, 1941 the Board of Control of the Sitka Public Utilities met in its first session. Improvement and development of the hydro-electric facilities at Blue Lake have been a continuing concern of the Board. Three

weeks after the first meeting of the Board, a reference in the Minutes of the Board indicates the hiring of the

firm of Burns and McDonnell to make plans for hydro development. The estimated cost of the new dam, power

house, turbines, transmission line, etc. was $224,499, and the Minutes go on to read, “- by waiting a couple of years before going ahead with our plant, materials and labor might be cheaper and the installment of water

wheels, dams, etc. might be quite a saving to the Utilities.”

In January of 1942 the Council was asked to make application for federal aid in constructing a hydro plant, this being the first of many applications and schemes for the financing of a hydro project using the water from

Blue Lake.

Floods in Medvetcha River were a constant source of trouble -- those of 1913, 1926, 1936 and 1942 washing out sections of the dam and flume. This last flood practically washed out the entire system including

considerable damage to the power house and there was some question as to whether the system could be

rehabilitated. But in January 1943, the Board decided to proceed with rehabilitation at the earliest possible time.

This was done and the plant continued to operate until 1947 when another flood destroyed it beyond repair. Prior to World War II the U.S. Navy made extensive developments for the Navy Base on Japonski Island

(now Mt. Edgecumbe) including the installation of a diesel electric system and later the construction of a steam

plant for the generation of electricity. A submarine cable was installed across Sitka Channel in 1942 to supplement the uncertain hydro-electric power at Sitka. From 1942 until 1961 Page 1

(Continued on Page 2)

Blue Lake Dam - 5/30/2012

Sitka Historical Society and Museum

Newsletter May, June 2012

Breaking News - Page 6!!

Page 2

Sitka continued to use the power generated on Japonski Island. During these years as the city's population grew, this power from the Island had to be augmented by the installation of diesel electric units by the city.

All through these years the feasibility of the Blue Lake Project was constantly pursued with the Rural

Electrification Administration, the Federal Works Administration, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and

the Navy all being considered as possible agencies through which funds could be obtained. In May, 1944, the first reference in the Minutes of the Board is found of the possible joint use of the Blue Lake

water for a pulp industry and hydro facilities, and this possibility was hoped for from that time.

Advance planning funds on a total estimated project cost of $518,698 were made available in 1945 by the Federal Government and a survey of the Blue Lake area by Roy Johnson completed in 1947. This was followed

by the Preliminary Report of Harza Engineering Co., in 1948 and the Preliminary Report of Carey and Kramer in

1950. During 1952 and 1953 the Juneau office of the Bureau of Reclamation made extensive rock core drillings at

the dam site which proved very valuable in determining the engineering feasibility of the present dam. Such

drillings are essential to the proper design of a dam and since the cost was borne by the Bureau of Reclamation,

the city saved a considerable amount of money. In 1955 the city again retained the engineering firm of Carey and Kramer to prepare a second report on this

project in view of the imminent possibility of Alaska Lumber & Pulp Co. constructing a pulp mill in the Sitka

area. This engineering report was completed in July of 1956 and established the present plan of development. The Board of Control of Sitka Public Utilities also engaged the services of experts in other fields; they were

Norman Banfield from the firm of Faulkner, Banfield, Boochever and Doogan to handle the legal aspects;

William B. Vadman of Wm. P. Harper & Son & Co. as financial advisers; Richard Thorgrimson from the firm of Preston, Thorgrimson, Horowitz, Starin and Ellis as the legal bond counsel with Mr, Warren Christianson, City

Attorney, representing the city's legal interest. With this group of experts the official family of Sitka started the

slow but steady progress toward the successful conclusion of this project.

At a special election in June of 1956, the people of Sitka voted in favor of issuing $5,000,000 in revenue bonds by the overwhelming vote of 241 to 6. The people later voted to increase this amount to $6,000.000.

The city soon realized that it is one thing to authorize $6,000,000 in bonds and an entirely different matter for

a city, which then had a population of only a little over 2000, to try to find a buyer for these bonds. At that time there was no bond house in the country that would even consider the purchase of these bonds.

This was a discouraging period but the city proceeded with its application for a Federal Power Commission

Permit which was finally issued as a preliminary Permit in 1957 and as Final Permit No. 2230 in 1958.

In 1957 it was officially announced that the Alaska Lumber & Pulp Co. would definitely build a pulp mill at “Sawmill Creek” where the Medvetcha River flows into tide water. The city was further advised that the pulp

mill desired water from behind the proposed Blue Lake dam since during winter there was not sufficient flow to

satisfy the demands of the pulp mill. The sale of this water meant that there would be additional revenue for the city but there was still no one to buy the bonds to start the hydro-electric project.

In the meantime Carey and Kramer, consulting engineers for the project had been proceeding with the design

and the preparation of final plans and specifications. The attorneys, financial advisers and engineers were having regular meetings with Alaska Lumber & Pulp Co. in an endeavor to find a solution to the problem.

Since the city could not sell $6,000,000 in bonds, possibly a solution could be found whereby a low dam and

the upper tunnel could be constructed with the low dam so designed that it could later be increased in height.

This low dam could then at least provide the water necessary for the pulp mill. Finally after almost one year of negotiations the well-known “Water Agreement” was signed in September of

1957 by the city and AL&P. This agreement was later amended in February of 1958 and again in 1959. The

signing of this agreement was the first real tangible hope that construction could begin. It was in this agreement that the Alaska Lumber & Pulp Co. agreed to purchase $2,200,000 worth of Sitka bonds to enable the city to start

this project. The pulp mill further agreed that these bonds would in effect be second mortgage bonds so as not to

impair the possible sale of the remaining bonds. AL&P also agreed to construct the mile long lower tunnel and furnish the city a permanent easement for its use. Alaska Lumber & Pulp Co. therefore made it possible for the

initial construction to proceed. Construction of the low dam and upper tunnel was started in April of 1958 under

contract to Sitka Pulp Mill Builders which was a Joint Venture of Guy F. Atkinson and Howard S. Wright and

Co. This low dam raised the water of Blue Lake 35 feet. It was necessary, however, to excavate 70 feet down below the old river bed in order to reach solid rock for the foundation of the dam, since millions of years ago, the

river bed was much deeper in the Medvetcha canyon than it is today. Concurrent with this contract AL&P was

completing the long lower tunnel so that water would be available for the opening of the Continued on page 3

Page 3

mill. This first stage of construction was completed in August of 1959 at an approximate total cost of $2,200,000.

Sitka now had the base for the high dam and the tunnel system

to convey the water from Blue Lake almost to the power house site

but there still was no real hope in sight for the sale of the balance of the bonds necessary for the construction of the high dam, power

house and transmission line.

A crisis again faced the city since no interest could be found amongst the bond buyers to purchase the remaining $3,800,000 of

revenue bonds. It seemed that prospective buyers had a deep rooted

fear of construction estimates in Alaska and the inability of an Alaskan city to meet its commitments. Sitting in their offices in the

cities in the “Lower 48” they seemed to prefer to do business with

cities they knew, rather than with the unknown cities which they

imagined to be the bleak, rugged, slightly unconventional country somewhere north of the Arctic Circle.

It was about this time that the city decided to approach the

Federal Government through the Regional Office of the Housing & Home Finance Agency in San Francisco on the chance that they

might be able to help. It had previously been the policy of the

Community Facilities Administration of the Housing & Home Finance Agency not to loan funds or guarantee the purchase of

bonds of such revenue producing projects. However, a change in policy occurred just about the time Sitka

submitted their preliminary application. A formal application was then prepared and submitted to the H&HFA.

Mr. Paul Emmert, Regional Director of the CFA in San Francisco could make no promises but felt that Sitka might have a chance to obtain its financing providing certain conditions could be met. Among these conditions

were; (a) an agreement with the Mt. Edgecumbe U.S. Public Health facilities to purchase all of their power from

Sitka; (b) certain modifications to the water agreement with AL&P. After a number of meetings the city was able to work out the modifications to the AL&P contract, but difficulties arose in the obtaining of a power

purchase agreement with Mt. Edgecumbe. The U.S. Public Health Service could not make a contract for the

purchase of power from a non-existent source. On the other hand it was necessary for the city to prove that the

revenue from the sale of this power was available in order to show sufficient support for the bonds. Senator E.L. “Bob” Bartlett then arranged a conference in his office between the U.S. Public Health Service, the H&HFA and

the City's representative. At this meeting it was mutually agreed that a letter of intent to purchase power from

Sitka would be sufficient. This appeared to be the last hurdle except for the big question. Would the H&HFA approve the loan?

On Monday, June 22, 1959, Mayor Earl Shennett received a call from Senator Bartlett in Washington, D. C.

that the loan had been approved and that afternoon Mr. Paul Emmert arrived in Sitka from San Francisco with the official proposal which was approved by the City Council and Board of Control. The Sitka Blue Lake Hydro

Electric Project was the 2nd highest loan ever made by this Agency under that program.

In effect this agreement meant that the H&HFA would agree to purchase the bonds at 5% interest when the

project was completed. The interim financing during the construction period was furnished by a combine of four banks sponsored by Manufacturers Trust of New York. The other three banks were the Bank of America in San

Francisco, National Bank of Commerce in Seattle, and the Miners and Merchants Bank in Ketchikan.

By September of 1959 bids were awarded for the construction of all major items and the city had a comfortable margin for the various contingencies that always occur on construction of this type where so many

unknowns are involved. The construction contracts were awarded to Morrison-Knudsen Co. on the basis of their

low bids which were as follows: Power House……………………$444,580

Steel Penstock…………………..$143,300

Power Transmission Line….……$196,000 High Dam……………….…….$1,306,000

The city received separate bids for the equipment in the power house and the award was made to Mitsui &

Co., Ltd. of Seattle to furnish equipment manufactured by Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan.

Their low bid was $268,814.

Beginning Blue Lake Dam Foundation -1959

Continued on page 4

Page 4

During the 20 month construction period various additions were made to the project such as the inclusion of automatic control equipment,

changes to the power house, miscellaneous work by Sitka Public

Utilities, hoist house, and various other improvements. The final cost

breakdown is approximately as follows:

Power House & Penstock $ 681,000 Transmission Line & Transformer Stations $ 224,000

High Dam $1,404,000

C & D Street Power Line $ 13,000

Hoist House $ 21,000

Purchased Equipment $344,000

Diversion & Tunnel Lining $169,000

Misc. improvements, such as connection to

pulp mill, new diesels, underwater cable

crossing, clearing Blue Lake area, etc. $135,000 Sitka share of cost of road to dam $250,000

Interest during construction $165,000

Misc. administrative costs for engineering,

legal, financial, repayment of advance planning

loan, inspection charges, H&HFA audit costs

and other misc. costs $349,000

In July of 1961 the city was able to sell the $3,800,000 in revenue bonds to Foster & Marshall, a private bond

house, at an interest rate lower than that originally guaranteed by H&HFA. This sale was, of course, consummated

after the project was practically completed, all costs had been determined and it was known that the city had sufficient

funds to complete the project. The H&HFA had a considerable amount of faith in this project from the beginning and the private sale of these bonds proved they were correct. It is hoped that this project may help instill a better feeling of

confidence involving work in Alaska amongst financial houses and business in general which in turn would help other

Alaska cities on their projects. The city now has a very modern hydro-electric system which will provide at least 6000 KW based on a minimum

water year. The system is so designed that a third 3000 KW turbine generator could be added with very little additional

cost. The system is completely automatic and can be controlled from a remote control room in the City Hall. The concrete arch dam utilizes a ski jump type of spillway which is located at the top center of the dam. During

flood seasons the water crests the dam and flows down this center spill way and gains sufficient velocity to hurl itself

over 100 feet beyond the toe of the dam. It will indeed be a beautiful sight to see this man-made waterfall from the

observation platform above the dam. 14 years have now gone by since the City Fathers started the first steps toward this hydro-electric project and it is at

last completed to become another civic improvement to the Sitka Community.

(Part 2) MAN POWER

On May 1st, 2012 we had the opportunity to interview Clint Miller, Willis Osbakken and Larry Calvin, men still living in Sitka who had worked on some portion of the Blue Lake project. Due to limited space in this newsletter, we include their introduction and will devote our next newsletter to the stories they shared with us. The interview was led by Bob Medinger and transcribed and edited by Ernestine Massey. (More Blue Lake Dam on pg 5)

Editorial Notes: 1. We have spelled the Medvetcha River as it appeared in the original story by the City of Sitka. We see that the

same river is often spelled Medvejie and some locals refer to it as Sawmill Creek River. Pronounced several ways, common

pronunciation is “Mead - Vee - Gee”. 2. All Early photos are from the archives of the Sitka Historical Society and Museum.

First

Stage of

Dam at

high

water 7/31/59

Clint Miller began

work in Sitka in

1957 having just

received his

“powder license”. He was in charge of

setting and blasting

the dynamite.

Willis Osbakken spent

a year in ‘58-’59

working in the 5013 ft

tunnel for the water

line to the power house. Later he

worked on the dam.

Larry Calvin , a high school

student at the time, worked

one summer on a survey

crew for the Bureau of

Reclamation when they were interested in building

a dam at Blue Lake.

Page 5

New Museum Acquisitions:

Dale DeArmond Charcoal Print Gift of Jim and Darlene Vowels

Framed color oil painting of Lover's Lane donated by Thomas Nordby

This painting was done in the 1930s or 1940s by Josephine Carter, a Sitka Resident. The painting was hung in the Alaska Exhibit at the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. The donor gave this piece in honor of his parents Jerry and Ken Nordby.

Sitka Blue Lake Hydro-Electric Project

Statistical Data August 1961

BLUE LAKE

Drainage area 37 sq mi

Original area of lake 500 acres

Area of lake at maximum elevation 1225 acres

Original elevation of lake (above sea level) 205 ft Maximum elevation with dam (above sea level) 345 ft

DAM

Height of dam above original ground 155 ft

Depth below ground to solid rock base 70 ft

Length of dam at top 256 ft

Top thickness of concrete 8 ft

Thick section 30 ft

Type of spillway overshot

Cubic yards of concrete 24,000

Cubic yards of rock excavation 12,000

Total construction cost $2,148,000.

UPPER TUNNEL Length of tunnel 1,534 ft

Size (horse shoe type) 10 ft diameter

Total construction cost (including intake, etc) 1,318,000.

LOWER LONG TUNNEL

Length 5,013 ft

Size (horseshoe type) 8 ft and 10 ft

Note: this tunnel was constructed and paid for by AL&P

POWER HOUSE

Size 100’ by 45’

Present capacity (1961) 6,000 KW

Future capacity increase allowance 3,000 KW Controls Fully Automatic

Total construction cost $681,000.

EQUIPMENT FOR POWER HOUSE

Type: Two horizontal turbines and generators 3,000 KW each

(complete with all controls and switchgear)

Make: Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan

Total cost $293,000.

TRANSMISSION LINE AND TRANSFORMER STATIONS

Number of transformer stations 2

Length of transmission line 5.2 miles

Total construction cost (including purchased transformers) $275,000.

TOTAL PROJECT COST

Including legal, administrative, engineering, interest

during construction and miscellaneous costs $6,000,000.

PROJECT DESIGNED BY

Carey & Kramer, Consulting Engineers, 1917 1st Ave

Seattle, WA

PROJECT CONSTRUCTED BY

1ST Stage: (Low dam and tunnels) Guy F. Atkinson and Howard S. Wright & Co

2nd Stage: (High dam, power house and transmission

line) Morrison - Knudsen Co

View of 30 foot thick section of dam

Blue Lake intake works,

12/26/58

This story to

be continued

in our next

publication

later this

summer. . . .

Page 6

Executive Director’s Report

On Fire . . . . The Sitka Historical

Society, Board, Staff, and Volunteers have been scorching the landscape of

Sitka for the last several months with

multiple projects and successes, all centered on our core mission:

To preserve and promote the events, stories and artifacts of the human history of the Sitka area for the inspiration, education and benefit of the public and future generations.

Our largest and most successful effort has been

focused on the new museum. (see accompanying article

and design)

Highlights Include: The Society and Sitka will be the sponsors of the

Statewide Dual Conference of the Alaska Historical

Society and Museums Alaska organizations this

October 10-13. Additional information at: www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org

ANB/ANS Hundred Year Anniversary Historical

Panels: The project will create six panels that will be unveiled at the celebration, then travel the state

before being permanently installed at the ANB Hall.

This is a grant funded effort.

The Sitka Historical Museum Store has had a major make-over, so come in, take a look and utilize your

10% discount as a Society Member.

Welcome to our new Visitor Services Manager Beverly Dexter and summer clerks Heidi Nance and

Ashia Emswider.

We are happy to announce the placement of three museum interns this summer, including: Brooke

Wheeler, Nate Goodman and Logan Halk.

Collaboration with the city interpretive and way-

finding Signage Project. Participation in the Sitka Convention & Visitor’s

Bureau effort to garner more independent visitors

and conferences to Sitka. Acquisition of nearly new exhibit cases and

pedestals from the Duncan Cottage Museum in

Metlakatla. This was a donation worth $40,000 and shipping paid for via a Rasmuson grant.

ANB/Presbyterian Cemetery Clean Up.

Renovation of our collection storage room at the

museum via a grant. Hosting of a History Trivia Night at the Baranof

Brewery.

Community Curating Project, (see curator article pg 7)

Our Super Volunteers: Betty DeCicco, Marilyn

Knapp, Rosemary Carton, Kara Knox, Nancy

Ricketts, Grant Miller, Rhonda Kingwell, Nathanial Bean, and our Board of Directors.

(Option C) This final concept design was approved by the committee and board and will be the base from

which the formal design and engineering will

follow. Timelines are still in flux, but construction

could start as early as 2013.

Breaking News! New Museum, New Reality!

A twenty-five year dream of a new and enlarged Sitka Historical Museum took a pivotal step forward on

May 14th, 2012 when Governor Parnell announced the

approval of the capital budget that included $4,500,000 for the new Sitka Museum, Visitor Center/Desk, and

parking that will be an addition to Centennial Hall.

The dream has been discussed by board members since the early days of Joe Ashby, Nancy Ricketts,

Isabelle Miller, and many others.

As requested, the funding was awarded to the City

and Borough of Sitka, and will extend a forty-two year collaboration with the City and the Sitka Historical

Society and Museum. The capital request was listed as

a priority by the City Assembly for this year. The project has been an eight month focus of the

Rasmuson Foundation funded Foraker Group "Pre-

Development" program that included a local Museum Committee, and included input via several public

meetings. The Committee included Assembly member

Mike Reif and City Public Works Director Michael

Harmon, Tonya Rioux/SCVB, STA participation, Scott Carlee/State Museum, Marilyn Knapp, project

coordinator Martha Schoenthal, board members John

Stein, Pat Alexander, Ernestine Massey, staff and multiple consultants.

Soon the Assembly will be presented with a request

for approval of the “Pre-Development final report that

confirmed a project cost estimate, developed a concept design, and provided several consultant reports.

Extensive planning and fund raising will still be needed

for the permanent exhibits that will be the highlight of the museum, and the key to telling and interpreting our

long and amazing history.

Great appreciation is extended by the Sitka Historical Society and Museum to Senator Bert

Stedman, the Rasmuson Foundation, and the Foraker

Group for supporting the project.

Page 7

Community Curating – It’s Your Museum

The Community Curating Exhibition and Programming Series seeks to give the people of Sitka a greater presence and voice in the museum. Community Curating invites and engages the community to take part in carrying out our mission to preserve and promote the events, stories and artifacts of the human history of the Sitka area for the inspiration, education and benefit of the public and future generations. Three to five temporary Community Curating exhibitions will be held annually. During the process, SHS will partner with local organizations and community members to generate community-curated exhibits and complimentary interdisciplinary events and activities. The first Community Curating exhibition, Community Couture: A Wearable Art Exhibition was held from March 12, 2012 until April 26, 2012 and was met with great success! The exhibit featured wearable art made by Sitkans. Many of the works were inspired by the natural beauty of Sitka and daily life in Southeast Alaska; one was even inspired by an important historical figure in Sitka’s past, Princess Maksoutov. Each piece was created using locally acquired and found materials. The remarkable pieces and accompanying artists’ statements told a story about the eleven individuals whose works were selected for the exhibit, and offered insight into what it means to live here. Nearly seventy-five people attended the opening reception for Community Couture the evening of March 12th. Among those present were the artists whose work was selected from over twenty-five submissions. The artists informally answered questions about their wearable creations, shared their work with their friends and family and fellow community members, and enjoyed light refreshments courtesy of the Greater Sitka Arts Council, a major partner in the exhibit. Visitors to the museum voted on their favorite wearable art piece over the course of the month and winners were announced on our local radio station KCAW 104.7fm and on the museum’s Facebook page. For more information about Community Couture and pictures of the works exhibited and the opening reception, visit us on Facebook. Updates about upcoming Community Curating exhibits will be posted there on a regular basis, so be sure to “like” the Sitka Historical Society & Museum Facebook page and keep checking back! The second Community Curating exhibit, Classically Sitka: Photographs from Our Community opens at 6:00pm at the museum on Monday, Mary 14th. The public was invited to submit their own photographs to be exhibited alongside photos from the Sitka Historical Society’s historic photo collection. A collection of vintage cameras will also be on display. Visitors will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite Sitkan-submitted photograph and winners will be announced the last week of June. The three individuals whose photographs receive the most votes will be awarded gift certificates for photo processing at White’s Pharmacy. Be sure to come to the opening reception and see the exhibit and vote before it closes on June 22nd. A third Community Curating exhibit focusing on Sitka as depicted in literature and poetry will open in late summer. Stay tuned for news about this exciting exhibit throughout the summer! If this exhibit topic is of interest to you, please review the ways you can get involved in the Community Curating Exhibition and Programming Series below and contact the curator, Jackie Fernandez at sitkacurator@yahoo.com Opportunities for Community Engagement and Involvement in the Community Curating Series: Sitkans will have an opportunity to: Loan own artifacts or treasured objects to the museum Work with the Curator to select artifacts, photographs, and archival documents for exhibits on certain themes and topics

Submit exhibition proposals individually or as a group and work with the Curator to select relevant items from the collection Assist with the installation, layout design, label copy development, special events and opening receptions, marketing, and de-

installation Serve on panels to review Community Curating exhibit proposal applications and submissions of works of art and artifacts for

exhibit Submit own creations or works Submit own creations or works of art. A variety of formats and media will be sought

Speak about a particular topic, give a reading, or tell a story

Perform for the public at the Sitka Historical Museum Offer skills in carpentry, painting, heavy lifting, welding, etc. Visit the exhibits and vote on a favorite piece, artifact, piece of writing, etc.

Work and have fun with others Meet more people in your community and learn more about Sitka, its natural, cultural, and historical treasures And much more

Jacqueline Fernandez Curator

1. The artists and staff,

Wearable Art display

2. Local Photos , “Classically Sitka”

If you’re interested in getting involved in any way, please contact

Curator Jackie Fernandez at (907)747-6455 or sitkacurator@yahoo.com

Sitka Historical Society And Museum 330 Harbor Drive Sitka, Alaska 99835

Page 8

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID

SITKA, AK PERMIT NO. 17

Change Service Requested

Contents of this Newsletter The Sitka Blue Lake Hydro-Electric Story Pg 1-5

New Museum Acquisitions Pg 5

Executive Director Report Pg 6 Breaking News! New Museum, New Reality Pg 6

Community Curating Its Your Museum Pg 7

Sitka Historical Society And Museum 330 Harbor Drive -Sitka, AK 99835

Voice (907)747-6455 Fax (907)747-6588 E-mail: sitka.history@yahoo.com

Web: www.sitkahistory.org

Board of Directors President: John Stein

Vice Pres: Pat Alexander

Secretary: Chris Todd

Treasurer: Ernestine Massey

Doris Bailey Karen Christner

Jim Davis

Jerry Dzugan

Sabra Jenkins

Linda Trierschield

Executive Director Robert Medinger

Curator Jacqueline Fernandez

Visitor Services Manager Beverly Dexter

Please visit our Web Site:

www.sitkahistory.org

You will find a wealth of

information plus a

Membership Form online

Our Mission:

To preserve and promote the events, stories and artifacts of the human history

of the Sitka area for the inspiration, education and benefit of the

public and future generations.

Newsletter May-June 2012

Find us on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/

Sitka-Historical-Society Museum /

167383696691834

Meet our new Visitor Services Manager,

Beverly Dexter!