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by Coleen Mielke 2010
Susitna Station is on the east bank of the Susitna River, about 2 miles downstream from the mouth of the Yentna River. Today, this entire Susitna, Yentna and Deshka River area is a popular recreation destination for cabins, fishing and river travel. However, not much has been written about its history.
The 1890 Census for the Susitna area says there were 147 people and 27 dwellings at Susitna. Shem Pete, a Dena'ina elder said there were closer to 600-700 Indians at Susitna. That population was decimated after the turn of the century, by small pox and tuberculosis. A few years later those that survived the first epidemics, were wiped out by the influenza epidemic of 1918. In the winter of 1918, Shem Pete said he and two other men were the only ones left to bury the dead at Susitna.
There were quite a few businesses at Susitna Station, including at least two trading posts and a post office. It was the last source of supplies for prospectors heading into the Interior.
SUSITNA STATION HIGH TIDE
This photograph is on a post card. The back of the card says
the owner of the card traveled to Susitna Station on a boat called the Swan,
56 miles (boat is in the photograph). It also says there were approximately
25 log residences at
Susitna Station (unfortunately it does not say what year).
PROSPECTORS PURCHASED THEIR SUPPLIES AT
SUSITNA STATION
BEFORE THEIR JOURNEY UPRIVER
SUSITNA
STATION
This post office was open from 1906 to 1943. On the right side of this photo is Nagley's General Store, which H. W. Nagley operated from 1908 to 1918 (when he opened a store in Talkeetna). When my husband was a boy (in the 1950's) his family stopped at the Susitna Station to explore. The river had eroded the bank away to a great extent and the only thing still standing was Nagley's store (and it too was on the verge of falling into the river). They have fond memories of exploring the old store building which still had bales of tea, packed in lead foil, receipt books and other items that the Nagley family left behind.
THIS ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY TRADING POST WAS BUILT IN ABOUT 1885
Photo's are from
the Michael and Carolyn Nore Collection
Thank you for
sharing!!
Photos are for research only, do not re-publish without
permission
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