World War II Aleut Relocation Camps in Southeast Alaska Charles M
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World War II Aleut Relocation Camps in Southeast Alaska Charles M. Mobley O C E WW II ALEUTIAN ISLANDS RESETTLEMENT A N WW II ALEUTIAN ISLANDS RESETTLEMENT T I C WW II ALEUT RELOCATION USAT David W. Branch (April 15-17, 1945) A R C 1stUSAT stop DavidAkutan: W. Former Branch residents (April 15-17,of Akutan, 1945) Kashega, and Biorka disembark AND RESETTLEMENT 2nd1st stop stop Unalaska: Akutan: Former Former residents residents of of Akutan, Unalaska Kashega, and Makushin and Biorka disembark disembark 3rd2nd stop stop Chernofski Unalaska: Harbor: Former UNIONFormer residents residents of Unalaska of NikolskiOF and Makushin disembark, SOVIET disembark board scow to Nikolski First evacuation: St. Paul, St. George, Atka 4th3rd stop stop Atka: Chernofski Former Harbor: residents Former of Atka residents disembark of Nikolski disembark, board scow to Nikolski Akutan 4th stop Atka: Former residents of Atka disembark Second evacuation: Nikolski, Chernofski, USAT David W. BranchSOCIALIST (December 12-19, 1945) REPUBLICS Unalaska FormerUSAT AttuDavid Residents W. Branch (December 12-19, 1945) Akutan, Kashega, Biorka, and Makushin Former Attu Residents Makushin CANADA Biorka Third evacuation: Unalaska Kashega Atka Chernofski Attu Islanders captured by Japanese are taken Atka Nikolski Harbor to Japan for the duration of the war and were returned not to their village but to Atka. First return: St. Paul and St. George 0 15 30 60 120 Miles Kilometers 0 30 60 90 180 Second return: Nikolski, Chernofski, Akutan, Kashega, Biorka, Makushin, Unalaska and Atka Fairbanks Villages and Camps Cities and Towns Miles 0 70 140 210 420 Kilometers 0 70 140 210 420 Projection NAD 1983 Albers Base image from Circumpolar 30 Sec Shaded Relief compiled by USGS EROS Data Center Anchorage National Park Service 2012 E A S R I N G Juneau B E 44 19 -13 Funter Bay y 4 Ma Killisnoo n 2 so 4 St. PaulPaul p 19 m 24 Wrangell ho 7- T 1 Sitka L. e Kodiak un 42 42 t P R I B I L O F I SI S L L A A N N D D SS m J 19 Burnett Inlet o K lia , is il of -13 ka W ar 6 Attu S o 47 T el ly e n 7 A Ju 2 p St. GeorgeGeorge p S D 94 Ward t. Y e T 1 1 o o U A 6 4 k p n S ia 2 Lake l o b ly , u e U u 1 s n m J M d o lu 9 n y o 4 a la a C ka 2 r Is B s u 42 f r S la , 19 ilo te S A 15 ib un n S ne Pr F o S Ju o to te n 2 Kiska s T e itu o 94 ne ple pl st te 5 t. 1 la o eo In tu 94 p P pe p ll ti 1 e vy 0+ 60 e s 7, S a 40 5 ng In A 1 te N ra ll 5- a in W ge 1 L le Dutch Harbor o n K ril op e t ra p e Unalaska pl W S A u p eo o h r 1 p t c a 2 0 e n le on USS Hulbert 16 pl A ra M eop o B 2 p e . a 6 p 2, 1942 1 L d W d June 1 11 vi a A Da s T A O S Atka Nikolski F n U n o o ns O tia n leu a F to A p ple a L eo J p U 50 o 3 t G 1 4 P A SAT David W. Branch December 1 C I alaska on U 2-19, 19 F I Atka, via Un 45 C residents to O C E A N US Military returns Attu O C E WW II ALEUTIAN ISLANDS RESETTLEMENT A N WW II ALEUTIAN ISLANDS RESETTLEMENT T I C WW II ALEUT RELOCATION USAT David W. Branch (April 15-17, 1945) A R C 1stUSAT stop DavidAkutan: W. Former Branch residents (April 15-17,of Akutan, 1945) Kashega, and Biorka disembark AND RESETTLEMENT 2nd1st stop stop Unalaska: Akutan: Former Former residents residents of of Akutan, Unalaska Kashega, and Makushin and Biorka disembark disembark 3rd2nd stop stop Chernofski Unalaska: Harbor: Former Former residents residents of Unalaska of Nikolski and Makushin disembark, disembark board scow to Nikolski First evacuation: St. Paul, St. George, Atka 4th3rd stop stop Atka: Chernofski Former Harbor: residents Former of Atka residents disembark of Nikolski disembark, board scow to Nikolski Akutan 4th stop Atka: Former residents of Atka disembark Second evacuation: Nikolski, Chernofski, USAT David W. Branch (December 12-19, 1945) Unalaska FormerUSAT AttuDavid Residents W. Branch (December 12-19, 1945) Akutan, Kashega, Biorka, and Makushin Former Attu Residents Makushin CANADA Biorka ALASKA Third evacuation: Unalaska Kashega Atka Chernofski Attu Islanders captured by Japanese are taken Atka Nikolski Harbor to Japan for the duration of the war and were returned not to their village but to Atka. First return: St. Paul and St. George 0 15 30 60 120 Miles Kilometers 030 60 90 180 Second return: Nikolski, Chernofski, Akutan, Kashega, Biorka, Makushin, Unalaska and Atka Fairbanks Villages and Camps Cities and Towns Miles 0 70 140 210 420 Kilometers 0 70 140 210 420 Projection NAD 1983 Albers Base image from Circumpolar 30 Sec Shaded Relief compiled by USGS EROS Data Center Anchorage National Park Service 2012 E A S R I N G Juneau B E 44 19 -13 Funter Bay y 4 Ma Killisnoo n 2 so 4 St. Paul p 19 m 24 Wrangell ho 7- T 1 Sitka L. e Kodiak un 42 42 t P R I B I L O F I S L A N D S m J 19 Burnett Inlet o K lia , is il of -13 ka W ar 6 Attu S o 47 T el ly e n 7 A Ju 2 p St. George p S D 94 Ward t. Y e T 1 1 o o U A 6 4 k p n S ia 2 Lake l o b ly , u e U u 1 s n m J M d o lu 9 n y o 4 a la a C ka 2 r Is B s u 42 f r S la , 19 ilo te S A 15 ib un n S ne Pr F o S Ju o to te n 2 Kiska s T e itu o 94 ne ple pl st te 5 t. 1 la o eo In tu 94 p P pe p ll ti 1 e vy 0+ 60 e s 7, S a 40 5 ng In A 1 te N ra ll 5- a in W ge 1 L le Dutch Harbor o n K ril op e t ra p e Unalaska pl W S A u p eo o h r 1 p t c a 2 0 e n le on USS Hulbert 16 pl A ra M eop o B 2 p e . a 6 p 2, 1942 1 L d W d June 1 11 vi a A Da s T A O S Atka Nikolski F n U n o o ns O tia n leu a F to A p ple a L eo J p U 50 o 3 t G 1 4 P A SAT David W. Branch December 1 C I alaska on U 2-19, 19 F I Atka, via Un 45 C residents to O C E A N US Military returns Attu World War II Aleut Relocation Camps in Southeast Alaska Charles M. Mobley Includes bibliographical references. Published by the National Park Service, Alaska Region, Anchorage, 2012 Library of Congress Control Number: 2012936031 ISBN-13: 978-0-9853948-0-6 ISBN-10: 0985394803 Book design and production: Dawne Sherman Color maps: Nicole Ferreira Proofreading: Solyra Sepulveda This project was funded by the National Park Service Affiliated Areas Program in support of the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area, in cooperation with the Aleutian Pribilof Heritage Group. In 1996 Congress designated the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area to interpret, educate, and inspire present and future generations about the history of the Unangan (Aleut) and the Aleutian Islands in the defense of the United States in World War II. In a unique arrangement, the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area and visitor center are owned and managed by the Ounalashka Corporation (the village corporation for Unalaska) and the National Park Service provides them with technical assistance. Through this cooperative partnership, the Unangax are the keepers of their history and invite the public to learn more about their past and present. [FRONT COVER] Two government-owned baidars, or traditional Aleut boats, were brought from the Pribilofs and used at Funter Bay. They were subsequently shared with Atkans at Killisnoo. Alaska State Library Butler/Dale collection PCA 306-1093 [TITLE PAGE] Pribilof villagers arrive at the Funter Bay cannery, June 24,1942. Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association Anatoly Lekanof, Jr. collection [PAGES ii-iii] Map of the Aleut relocation and resettlement. Width of arrows is proportional to the number of evacuees transported. Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents v List of Figures viii List of Tables xiv Acknowledgments xv Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Alaska at War 1 Evacuation 4 Southeast Alaska and the Internment 7 Current Investigation 11 Previous Investigations 14 Organization of This Volume 16 Chapter 2: Funter Bay Cannery 17 Early Years 17 World War II 28 The Aleut Experience at Funter Bay 28 Wartime Construction 33 Post-War Development 33 Current Condition 38 Standing Buildings 39 Building Ruins 43 Features 48 Aleut Cemetery 54 Summary 55 Chapter 3: Funter Bay Mine 57 Early Years 57 World War II and the Camp Experience 66 Wartime Construction 71 Post-War Development 73 Current Condition 77 Standing Buildings 77 Building Ruins 79 Shoreline Features 89 Inland Mining Features 91 Summary 93 v World War II Aleut Relocation Camps in Southeast Alaska Chapter 4: Killisnoo Herring Plant 95 Early Years 95 World War II and the Camp Experience 101 Wartime Construction 104 Post-War Development 104 Current Condition 107 Features on Land 109 Intertidal Features and Artifacts 116 Terrestrial Archaeological Deposits 119 Scavenged Artifacts 120 Killisnoo Cemetery 121 Summary 123 Chapter 5: Wrangell Institute 127 Early Years 128 World War II and the Camp Experience 136 Post-War Development 140 Current Condition 143 Summary 146 Chapter 6: Burnett Inlet Cannery 147 Early Years 147 World War II and the Camp Experience 149 Post-War Development 153 Current Condition 153 Building Ruins 154 Intertidal Pilings 159 Other Features 163 Artifact Scatters 165 Summary 166 Chapter 7: Ward Lake CCC Camp 169 Early Years 169 World War II and the Camp Experience 174 Post-War Development 178 Current Condition 179 Summary 187 vi Table of Contents Chapter 8: National Historic Landmark Evaluation 189 Significance of the Six Properties 192 Aleut Culture Change 193 World War II in Alaska 195 Integrity 195 Funter Bay Cannery 196 Funter Bay Mine 197 Killisnoo 198 Wrangell Institute 198 Burnett Inlet Cannery 199 Ward Lake CCC Camp 200 Summary of Integrity 200 National Historic Landmark Eligibility 200 Chapter 9: Afterword 203 Bibliography 205 vii World War II Aleut Relocation Camps in Southeast Alaska List of Figures (Photograph dates not indicated are 2008 for all sites except the Ward Lake CCC camp, for which photograph dates are 2011) Figure 1.