Cape Pole
Encyclopedia
Cape Pole is one of only two populated towns on Kosciusko Island
, the other being Edna Bay
, and has both year-round and seasonal residents. It was a thriving logging camp from 1954 until it was shut down by a federal court ruling in 1978.
1946 Beginnings of Forest Entomology in Alaska: A Spruce Beetle Outbreak on Kosciusko Island Sets the Stage
WWII Initially logging on Kosciusco Island was based out of Edna Bay during World War II
. Large Sitka Spruce
trees were in high demand for making airplanes.
February 18, 1948 Coast Guard rescue plane that was forced down during a mercy flight from Ketchikan to Cape Pole in 1948
1949 The Cape Pole post office was established in 1949 and discontinued in 1953 (Ricks, 1965, p. 9)
1954 L.O.G. Logging established the Cape Pole logging camp in approximately 1954. The company was owned by Lawrenson, Olson and Gibbons. Lawrenson was in charge of the cutters, Ole Olson handled the logging operation. Cape Pole was one of many logging camps in the Tongass National Forest
.
1962 Cape Pole is a logging community with a population of about 100 (Alaska Sportsman, 1962, no. 12, p. 28). there was a camp in both Edna Bay and Cape Pole. The timber fallers also known as cutters were mainly based out of Edna Bay while the logging operations were based mainly out of Cape Pole.
1965/1966 L.O.G Logging sold to Alaska Lumber & Pulp. Howard Clark became manager, Matt Phillips became timekeeper at approximately that time also.
1975/1976 Telephone and Television come to Cape Pole
Lawrenson's wife Stella was a nurse and handled injuries that did not require a doctor. In those days the trip to town to see a doctor was a major undertaking, so most medical issues were handled by Stella.
It is not entirely clear when the earliest residents of Cape Pole first moved there, but there were people with private property before and after the logging camp times.
Cape Pole was an isolated community in Southeast Alaska. Travel to and from the community was almost exclusively by seaplane mainly out of Ketchikan, Alaska.
A cargo boat, the Island Trader, operated out of Ketchikan
delivered heavier freight and sometimes vehicles. It was referred to as the "Mail Boat."
Communications were entirely by mail or radio until around 1975 when the State of Alaska put in a satellite dish bringing limited television and telephone communications.
Audrey Gumm wife of Phil Gumm (Forest Service Employee) was first school teacher
Kosciusko Island
Kosciusko Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska, USA. It lies near the northwest corner of Prince of Wales Island, just across the El Capitan Passage from the larger island. Kosciusko Island has a land area of 171.585 sq mi , making it the 38th largest island in...
, the other being Edna Bay
Edna Bay, Alaska
Edna Bay is a census-designated place on Kosciusko Island in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 49 at the 2000 census....
, and has both year-round and seasonal residents. It was a thriving logging camp from 1954 until it was shut down by a federal court ruling in 1978.
History
February 24, 1944 Coast Guard Cutter McLane delivers mail to Cape Pole while on Cape Decision Patrol1946 Beginnings of Forest Entomology in Alaska: A Spruce Beetle Outbreak on Kosciusko Island Sets the Stage
WWII Initially logging on Kosciusco Island was based out of Edna Bay during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Large Sitka Spruce
Sitka Spruce
Picea sitchensis, the Sitka Spruce, is a large coniferous evergreen tree growing to 50–70 m tall, exceptionally to 95 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 5 m, exceptionally to 6–7 m diameter...
trees were in high demand for making airplanes.
February 18, 1948 Coast Guard rescue plane that was forced down during a mercy flight from Ketchikan to Cape Pole in 1948
1949 The Cape Pole post office was established in 1949 and discontinued in 1953 (Ricks, 1965, p. 9)
1954 L.O.G. Logging established the Cape Pole logging camp in approximately 1954. The company was owned by Lawrenson, Olson and Gibbons. Lawrenson was in charge of the cutters, Ole Olson handled the logging operation. Cape Pole was one of many logging camps in the Tongass National Forest
Tongass National Forest
The Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska is the largest national forest in the United States at 17 million acres . Most of its area is part of the temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, itself part of the larger Pacific temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, and is remote enough to be home...
.
1962 Cape Pole is a logging community with a population of about 100 (Alaska Sportsman, 1962, no. 12, p. 28). there was a camp in both Edna Bay and Cape Pole. The timber fallers also known as cutters were mainly based out of Edna Bay while the logging operations were based mainly out of Cape Pole.
1965/1966 L.O.G Logging sold to Alaska Lumber & Pulp. Howard Clark became manager, Matt Phillips became timekeeper at approximately that time also.
1975/1976 Telephone and Television come to Cape Pole
Lawrenson's wife Stella was a nurse and handled injuries that did not require a doctor. In those days the trip to town to see a doctor was a major undertaking, so most medical issues were handled by Stella.
It is not entirely clear when the earliest residents of Cape Pole first moved there, but there were people with private property before and after the logging camp times.
Cape Pole was an isolated community in Southeast Alaska. Travel to and from the community was almost exclusively by seaplane mainly out of Ketchikan, Alaska.
A cargo boat, the Island Trader, operated out of Ketchikan
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
delivered heavier freight and sometimes vehicles. It was referred to as the "Mail Boat."
Communications were entirely by mail or radio until around 1975 when the State of Alaska put in a satellite dish bringing limited television and telephone communications.
History - Cape Pole School
The school at Cape Pole started out as a one room school. During its high point, it was a two room school with about 30 students. At the end it went back to a one room school.Audrey Gumm wife of Phil Gumm (Forest Service Employee) was first school teacher