Tiny Carcross, Yukon. The soldiers of the 18th Engineers barely noticed as they travelled past and on to Whitehorse in April. In May the trains carrying the black soldiers of the 93rd Engineers, to the surprise and delight of her citizens, stopped in Carcross and discharged their passengers. Link to another story “Carcross Met the …
Category Archives: Carcross
Carcross Met the Black Soldiers
Carcross had seen trainloads of soldiers pass through and on to Whitehorse. Now, to little Millie Jones’ delight, the black soldiers of the 93rd Engineering Regiment stopped and climbed down in Carcross. Lt. Price’s platoon came first, brought up the Regimental Chaplain, Lt. Finis Hugo Austin, and set up a post office. Millie Jones and Carcross …
Grievous Error–Mine
Grievous errors, I commit them all too often. Here’s my latest. I’ve told you stories about Carcross Yukon many times, it’s a fascinating place. But until now I’ve completely ignored the town’s most famous and important citizen–Polly the Foul Mouthed Parrot. I apologize, and I am here tonight to correct that error or at least …
Sad News
Sad news sometimes visits Stories of Northern Canada and Alaska. Sad news visited today. As of February 27, Millie Jones, the living, breathing heart and soul of Carcross, Yukon lives and breathes no more. Her heart and soul, though, will remain part of Carcross forever. Link to another story “The 93rd came to Carcross” I’ve …
Five Things Define Carcross
Five things define the tiny town of Carcross in Yukon Territory, a train depot, an empty but famous hotel, Matthew Watson’s Store, the world’s smallest desert, and, most important, a full-time population of 512 people—people with attitude. Tourists flock to the tiny downtown and provide life blood to Carcross’s economy. When you join them do …
Russell Wesley on the WP&YR
Russell Wesley’s comment popped up on my post about the White Pass and Yukon Railway the other night, and it took my breath away. Russell got my attention with this, “When I worked on the Yukon and White Pass Railway in the early 70’s, we had no modern equipment. We had a radio that was …
Ghosts Haunt the Caribou Hotel.
Ghosts haunt the Caribou. Fabled figures came to Yukon Territory with the rush to the Klondike gold fields. They created the famous Caribou Hotel that centered life in tiny Carcross. Apparently even death couldn’t make some of them leave its history behind. The story weaves its way through John Firth’s book, The Caribou Hotel. In …