Bartlett L. Thane
Encyclopedia
Bartlett Lee "Bart" Thane (August 26, 1877 – November 7, 1927) was an American mining engineer who pioneered hydroelectric power in Juneau, Alaska
. The world's first thin arch dam, Salmon Creek Dam, was constructed by Thane.
, USA, in August 1877. His parents were Joseph E. Thane and Laura E. Thane. His father was a well-known orchardist from Niles, California. His maternal grandfather was Judge Harmon J. Tilden. Thane's sister was named Laura. He attended the University of California, Berkeley
, where he graduated with a degree in mining engineering
in 1899. While attending the university, he played college football
and was the quarterback
of the 1898 California Golden Bears football
team that defeated Stanford
in the "Big Game
" for the first time by a score of 22 to 0. He was also a member of Skull and Keys and Kappa Alpha Order
at Cal.
to work at the Sumdum Chief Mine south of Juneau. He was the first superintendent of the Eagle River Mining Company (1903-1910), before becoming Managing Director of the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company
. By 1911, he had controlling interest in six Juneau area gold mines. In 1912, he took control of the Perseverance Mine and developed it into the world's largest. With the assistance of his former college football friends, Thane constructed Salmon Creek Dam
, the world's first thin arch dam, in 1914.
In 1915, Thane and other mining and business executives established Juneau's first golf course, in the Mendenhall Valley
. Between 1918 and 1919, Thane quit the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company, moved to San Francisco, and then returned to the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company. In 1921, after the Alaska-Gastineau Mine shut down, Thane attempted to develop his facilities for a new pulp mill, but a deal with Japanese investors failed in 1923.
. They lived in what was to become the Wickersham State Historic Site on Chicken Ridge in Juneau during the period of 1914-1916, along with their daughter, also named Juliet Fay Thane (born August 2, 1906 in Juneau). Thane's sister Laura married James R. Whipple who became a business associate of Thane's.
In a Draft Registration Card completed in September 1918, Thane listed his permanent address as the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. He identified himself as a mining engineer with an office at San Francisco's Crocker Building. Also, in a 1923 passport application submitted of a trip to Japan, Korea, China and Australia, Thane listed San Francisco as his permanent residence. Thane died in New York City
in 1927. Thane, Alaska
, and Thane Road, on the Gastineau Channel
, were named in his honor.
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
. The world's first thin arch dam, Salmon Creek Dam, was constructed by Thane.
Early years
Thane was born in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, USA, in August 1877. His parents were Joseph E. Thane and Laura E. Thane. His father was a well-known orchardist from Niles, California. His maternal grandfather was Judge Harmon J. Tilden. Thane's sister was named Laura. He attended the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where he graduated with a degree in mining engineering
Mining engineering
Mining engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the practice, the theory, the science, the technology, and application of extracting and processing minerals from a naturally occurring environment. Mining engineering also includes processing minerals for additional value.Mineral...
in 1899. While attending the university, he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and was the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
of the 1898 California Golden Bears football
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
team that defeated Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
in the "Big Game
Big Game (football)
The Big Game is an American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. It is typically played in late November or early December...
" for the first time by a score of 22 to 0. He was also a member of Skull and Keys and Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
at Cal.
Career
Thane first came to Alaska in 1897. He was hired by Herman T. TrippHerman T. Tripp
Herman Tilden Tripp was an Alaskan politician, including mayor of Juneau, Alaska from 1906 to 1907. He was also a Republican member of the First Alaska Territorial Senate from 1913 to 1914, and a member of the Fifth Alaska Territorial House of Representatives, from 1921 to 1922. For both terms,...
to work at the Sumdum Chief Mine south of Juneau. He was the first superintendent of the Eagle River Mining Company (1903-1910), before becoming Managing Director of the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company
Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company
The Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co. had its offices in 25 Broad St., New York City, New York, USA. It was the operating company for the Alaska Gold Mines Co. in Alaska, USA. It worked the Alaska-Gastineau Mine/Perseverance Mine in the Silver Bow Basin, approximately from Juneau and processed its ore...
. By 1911, he had controlling interest in six Juneau area gold mines. In 1912, he took control of the Perseverance Mine and developed it into the world's largest. With the assistance of his former college football friends, Thane constructed Salmon Creek Dam
Salmon Creek Dam
The Salmon Creek Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Salmon Creek, northwest of Juneau, Alaska. Built in 1914, it is the world's first constant-angle arch variable radius dam. Since it was built, over 100 such dams have been constructed all over the world....
, the world's first thin arch dam, in 1914.
In 1915, Thane and other mining and business executives established Juneau's first golf course, in the Mendenhall Valley
Mendenhall Valley
Mendenhall Valley is an area of Juneau in the U.S. state of Alaska. The valley, named for physicist and meteorologist Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, was formed by Mendenhall Glacier over the course of roughly three thousand years...
. Between 1918 and 1919, Thane quit the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company, moved to San Francisco, and then returned to the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company. In 1921, after the Alaska-Gastineau Mine shut down, Thane attempted to develop his facilities for a new pulp mill, but a deal with Japanese investors failed in 1923.
Personal life
In June 1902, Thane married Juliet Fay Blaine (born March 27, 1879) at Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. They lived in what was to become the Wickersham State Historic Site on Chicken Ridge in Juneau during the period of 1914-1916, along with their daughter, also named Juliet Fay Thane (born August 2, 1906 in Juneau). Thane's sister Laura married James R. Whipple who became a business associate of Thane's.
In a Draft Registration Card completed in September 1918, Thane listed his permanent address as the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. He identified himself as a mining engineer with an office at San Francisco's Crocker Building. Also, in a 1923 passport application submitted of a trip to Japan, Korea, China and Australia, Thane listed San Francisco as his permanent residence. Thane died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1927. Thane, Alaska
Thane, Alaska
Thane is a neighborhood in the City and Borough of Juneau in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located along Gastineau Channel, it begins one mile south of downtown Juneau and consists of approximately two dozen homes spread over five miles...
, and Thane Road, on the Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel is a channel between the mainland of the U.S. state of Alaska and Douglas Island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska. It separates Juneau on the mainland side from Douglas , on Douglas Island. The first European to sight the channel was Joseph Whidbey early in...
, were named in his honor.