Welsh Family Photo Collection
Welsh Family Photo Collection
The Welsh family's association with Hoonah through the cannery began in the 1930s, including a period of ownership of the cannery through the 1950s.
According to Patricia Roppel's article in the Alaskan Southeaster Magazine in 2001, "In 1943, R.D. Welsh passed away and his wife Jeanice Welsh took over Bellingham Canning Company and its subsidiary, Icy Straits Salmon Company. In addition she continued to raise six children. Not only did she actively participate in the operation of the Hoonah cannery, but she also leased the Demmert cannery at Klawock. Jeanice Welsh was the only woman executive in Southeast Alaska's salmon industry at that time. In 1946, she purchased the majority ownership in Icy Straits Salmon Company and became its president. It was still a family business; the vice presidents were her sons, R.A. Welsh and W.E. Welsh. The Welsh family's association with the Hoonah cannery lasted through 1953, the last year the cannery in Hoonah operated."
Items in Collection:
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
People and PlacesSummary
Float plane landing in Hoonah in 1950.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Bill Welsh was one of three sons of Robert and Jeanice Welsh. The Welsh family association with the cannery spanned approximately 20 years, beginning in the 1930s.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Old wooden power skiff used in seine fishing shown stored in the cannery storage.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
The fishing tender, The Bear at the gut scow chute.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Boats tied to the scow which is acting as a float at the machine shop dock.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Shown at the Fish House float where a mechanical conveyer would carry fish to the Fish House.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Boats shown tied up at the gut (gurry) scow chute at the cannery.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Pictured in these photos are the cannery docks and pilings in 1948.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Approximately 20,000 fish could be held per scow.
Digital Heritage
2 pages
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
Fishing
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
From the air you can see cannery housing, a fuel tank and in the far top of the photo on the beach front are smoke houses owned by Hoonah families.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Can making machinery in the cannery loft.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Houses at the cannery still remain as pictured and are lived in to to this day by management of the transformed cannery, now Icy Strait Point.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Icy Straits Salmon Company cannery workers sitting on a bench.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
People and PlacesSummary
Pictured back left to right: Bernice and Dottie. Front row left to right: Johan, Liv and Paul holding their dog Blackie.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
Paul Dybdahl, Sr. was the tender captain of the Point Sophia and became the watchman during winters.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
People and PlacesSummary
Once a solid rock wall, still referred to locally as the tunnel.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
People and PlacesSummary
A group of Hoonah children standing on front street in Hoonah.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
People and PlacesSummary
Several houses unaffected by the tragic 1944 fire that burned down most of the town.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
People and PlacesSummary
In this photo of Main Street you can see the post lined roads built with log cribbing.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
The Icy Straits Salmon Company was built in 1912 as the Hoonah Packing Company. The cannery underwent various owners throughout the years and was purchased by the Icy Staits Salmon Company in 1934.
Digital Heritage
Community
Hoonah Community MembersCategory
FishingSummary
The F/V Clarice was a seine boat owned by Hoonah resident William Johnson.