Totem Shakes Island Dedication in 1940
Original caption reads: "Dedication ceremony for completion of work at Chief Shakes Is. Wrangell. Center figure may be USFS Chief Frank Heintzelman." Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
Description
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed the Chief Shakes Historic Site in 1940 on a 0.704 acre tract of land located on Shakes Island in Wrangell Harbor. The park was part of a larger U.S. Forest Service program focused on the restoration of totems and Native cultural assets. At the center of the park is a 1940 replica of an early 19th Century Tlingit community house. Nine totem poles surround the house—a Sealion Prince, Kadashan Red Snapper, Kadashan Crane, Underwater Grizzly, Three Frogs, Bear Up Mountain, and Sea Serpent. Seven of these totems poles are reproductions of older poles, while two are originals. All were carved in 1940 as a Civilian Conservation Corps project. Six posts are incorporated in the house. Four of these posts are ancient house posts of Chief Shakes’ “Shark House,” and two of them are an original pair of Raven Clan house posts.
The park was finished and dedicated in 1940, under the supervision of Linn A Forrest, an architect with the U.S. Forrest Service. As World War II began and the need for relief work declined, the CCC phased out its operations in Southeast Alaska. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The 1970 nomination form of the National Register of Historic Places notes the exceptional historical significance of the Native art pieces at Shakes Island: “The Shark House houseposts incorporated in Chief Shakes Community House have been characterized in an Alaska State Museum report as perhaps “the oldest and finest set of houseposts in existence.” At least one source states that these dogfish totems were brought from Old Wrangell to Wrangell in 1832, while another suggests that they were carved eight years before the first Russian ship arrived in the Lituya Bay area. It is not inappropriate to categorize these unique carvings as national treasures.”
Part of the Chief Shakes Historic Site photographic and ethnographic material published by the Living New Deal was provided by courtesy of Linn A. Forrest (1905-1986). Forrest was a practicing architect who photographed the totem poles at the time of their restoration, between 1939 and 1941. Forrest oversaw the joint program of the Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps to recruit Alaska native carvers in the restoration and recarving of totem poles throughout Southeast Alaska. Employed by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon, Forrest transferred to Juneau, Alaska in 1937, where he undertook the totem restoration as one of his first projects. Under his supervision, indigenous carvers preserved and restored 103 totem poles and three Tlingit and Haida community houses. Forrest documented the restoration process and maintained notes and a photo record of a significant portion of the work. He used a Leica camera designed for the then new Kodachrome 35mm color slide format.
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Interior view of the Shakes House
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Original caption reads: “Exterior of Shakes House as worker begin the project, photo by L. A. Forrest, 1939.”
Exterior of Shakes House
Original caption reads: "Exterior of Shakes House as worker begin the project, photo by L. A. Forrest, 1939."
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Aerial view of Shakes Island
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Original caption reads: View of the bare framing work as the Shakes House project begins.
Framing at Shakes House
Original caption reads: View of the bare framing work as the Shakes House project begins.
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Original caption reads: “Workers on the roof of the Shakes House.”
CCC Workers
Original caption reads: "Workers on the roof of the Shakes House."
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Original caption reads: “View of the Shakes House exterior part way through the construction project. Notice wooden walkway to haul goods and avoid the mud.”
The CCC at work on the Shakes House circa 1940
Original caption reads: "View of the Shakes House exterior part way through the construction project. Notice wooden walkway to haul goods and avoid the mud."
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Original caption reads: “Image of carver, collected by L. A. Forrest.”
CCC carver at work in 1939-1940
Original caption reads: "Image of carver, collected by L. A. Forrest."
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Original caption reads: “Transporting a pole across a elevated scaffolding.”
CCC workers at Wrangell
Original caption reads: "Transporting a pole across a elevated scaffolding."
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Original caption reads: “L to R: Joe Thomas, George Collins, Charlie Jones, and William Tamaree.”
CCC master carvers Joe Thomas, George Collins, Charlie Jones, William Tamaree
Original caption reads: "L to R: Joe Thomas, George Collins, Charlie Jones, and William Tamaree."
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CCC workers framing the Shakes House
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CCC workers framing the Shakes House
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Master carver Joe Thomas
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CCC workers at Wrangell
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Original caption reads: “Photograph shows the bear totem in the process of being raised next to Chief Shakes House, photographer unknown, 1940. Image shows workers pulling the totem upright with ropes attached.”
The CCC raising the Bear Totem at Wrangell
Original caption reads: "Photograph shows the bear totem in the process of being raised next to Chief Shakes House, photographer unknown, 1940. Image shows workers pulling the totem upright with ropes attached."
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Original caption reads: “Image showing the raising of a totem pole.”
The CCC raising the Bear Totem at Wrangell
Original caption reads: "Image showing the raising of a totem pole."
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Original caption reads: “Image showing recently raised totems.”
CCC construction site at Wrangell
Original caption reads: "Image showing recently raised totems."
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Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
Totem Shakes Island
Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
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Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
Totem Shakes Island Aerial View
Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
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Original caption reads: “Chief Shakes VII, Charley Jones, Wrangell 1940.” Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
Chief Shakes VII, Charley Jones, Wrangell 1940
Original caption reads: "Chief Shakes VII, Charley Jones, Wrangell 1940." Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
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Original caption reads: “Charley Jones, Chief Shakes VII, Wrangell Island. Dedication 1940.” Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
Charley Jones, Chief Shakes VII, Wrangell Island, Dedication 1940
Original caption reads: "Charley Jones, Chief Shakes VII, Wrangell Island. Dedication 1940." Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
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Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
Totem Chilkat Blanket
Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
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Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
Totem Chilkat Blanket
Photo courtesy of Linn A. Forrest.
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Circa 1939-1940
War Canoe at Wrangell
Circa 1939-1940
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Totem War Canoe Ceremonial Paddles, 1939
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OriginalCaption reads Linn wearing fedora near center – guess dedication Wrangell Island 1939.”
Linn Forest at Dedication circa 1940
OriginalCaption reads Linn wearing fedora near center - guess dedication Wrangell Island 1939."
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Original caption reads: “Community gathering in front of Chief Shakes’ community house, part of the House dedication ceremonies.”
Dedication 1940
Original caption reads: "Community gathering in front of Chief Shakes’ community house, part of the House dedication ceremonies."
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Dedication 1940
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Original caption reads: “Tlingit elders in front of Chief Shakes’ Community House”
Dedication 1940
Original caption reads: "Tlingit elders in front of Chief Shakes’ Community House"
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Original caption reads: “Tlingit elders wearing regalia standing in front of Chief Shakes’ house, 8-3-1940”
Dedication 1940
Original caption reads: "Tlingit elders wearing regalia standing in front of Chief Shakes’ house, 8-3-1940"
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Original caption reads: “Tlingit elders in front of Chief Shakes’ Community House”
Dedication 1940
Original caption reads: "Tlingit elders in front of Chief Shakes’ Community House"
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Dedication 1940
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Original caption reads: “Photograph of a Tlingit carved long boat full of paddlers with Charlie Jones (Shéiyksh, Kadaneik, Gushxheen) wearing the Killerwhale Flotilla Robe and standing in front, photographer unknown, 1940.”
Dedication 1940
Original caption reads: "Photograph of a Tlingit carved long boat full of paddlers with Charlie Jones (Shéiyksh, Kadaneik, Gushxheen) wearing the Killerwhale Flotilla Robe and standing in front, photographer unknown, 1940."
Source notes
Chief Shakes Historic Site, Shakes Island, National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, 1970, accessed July 21, 2017.
Project originally submitted by Steve Forrest (with documentation courtesy of Linn Forrest); Brent McKee on July 21, 2017.