Jack Wade, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Jack Wade is an unincorporated community
in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
, Alaska
, United States
. Its elevation is 2,428 feet (740 m), and it is located along Wade Creek at 64°9′15"N 141°27′35"W (64.1541667, -141.4597222), about 46 miles (74 km) south of Eagle
near the Canadian border. Founded as a mining camp around 1900, it was named for Jack Anderson and Wade Nelson, the original locators. Jack Wade received a post office
in 1901, which remained until 1948.
Brief History of the Jack Wade Creek Mine:
Because of questions as to whether claims were in Canada or Alaska, many miners filed claim locations in both Dawson City, Yukon territory and Eagle, Alaska. Jack Wade Creek's first claims were located in 1892, and have been worked continuously ever since. The creek was named for Jack Anderson and Wade Nelson, the original locators. In 1936, the bucket line dredge working at Franklin was bought, dismantled and hauled by horses over the ice to Jack Wade Creek by the Yukon Placer Mining Co., which owned the claims. In 1938, Fred Whitehead had the contract to build the small airstrip at Jack Wade Creek, and the airstrip for Franklin, on the ridge between Franklin and Jack Wade. George Robinson went to work for "the Company" on Jack Wade in 1932, went to war in 1941 and returned to the creek in 1949. In 1951, George bought Jack Wade from the Company, mining on his own, until the early 1970s when his health forced him to slow down. George died in 1989 at the age of 83. He lived in a log cabin built at the turn of the century and told stories of the old miners, good and bad season, of walking to Dawson for a few days of cards and girls, of the big nuggets; 25, 33, 56 & 70 ounces that the creek has given up. His lifestyle hadn't changed much since he first came to the creek 55 years ago. In 1986, Bureau of Land Management told George his claims were no longer valid, and the Sierra Club has a court order closing down 85% of the mining in Alaska at the end of the 1987 season, which not only ended George's income, but put an end to his lifestyle that had not changed in over 100 years. But George Robinson pleaded his case in court, and got his claims back.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 6,174. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its elevation is 2,428 feet (740 m), and it is located along Wade Creek at 64°9′15"N 141°27′35"W (64.1541667, -141.4597222), about 46 miles (74 km) south of Eagle
Eagle, Alaska
Eagle is a city located along the United States-Canada border in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, United States. It includes Eagle Historic District, a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The population was 129 at the 2000 census...
near the Canadian border. Founded as a mining camp around 1900, it was named for Jack Anderson and Wade Nelson, the original locators. Jack Wade received a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in 1901, which remained until 1948.
Brief History of the Jack Wade Creek Mine:
Because of questions as to whether claims were in Canada or Alaska, many miners filed claim locations in both Dawson City, Yukon territory and Eagle, Alaska. Jack Wade Creek's first claims were located in 1892, and have been worked continuously ever since. The creek was named for Jack Anderson and Wade Nelson, the original locators. In 1936, the bucket line dredge working at Franklin was bought, dismantled and hauled by horses over the ice to Jack Wade Creek by the Yukon Placer Mining Co., which owned the claims. In 1938, Fred Whitehead had the contract to build the small airstrip at Jack Wade Creek, and the airstrip for Franklin, on the ridge between Franklin and Jack Wade. George Robinson went to work for "the Company" on Jack Wade in 1932, went to war in 1941 and returned to the creek in 1949. In 1951, George bought Jack Wade from the Company, mining on his own, until the early 1970s when his health forced him to slow down. George died in 1989 at the age of 83. He lived in a log cabin built at the turn of the century and told stories of the old miners, good and bad season, of walking to Dawson for a few days of cards and girls, of the big nuggets; 25, 33, 56 & 70 ounces that the creek has given up. His lifestyle hadn't changed much since he first came to the creek 55 years ago. In 1986, Bureau of Land Management told George his claims were no longer valid, and the Sierra Club has a court order closing down 85% of the mining in Alaska at the end of the 1987 season, which not only ended George's income, but put an end to his lifestyle that had not changed in over 100 years. But George Robinson pleaded his case in court, and got his claims back.