Bud and Daisy Whitney, Anchorage Pioneers

They have a road named after them in Anchorage.

In the photo above, meet John “Bud” Whitney and his wife Daisy.

**The photo likely shows the Whitneys at their homestead, located where the Boniface entrance to Joint Base Elmendorf – Richardson is located today.

Before settling at Ship Creek, Bud, and Daisy established a homestead near Knik in the Spring of 1910.

Located across Cook Inlet from Anchorage (about a 55 minute drive today), Knik was once a busy trade center.

Years Before the Alaska Railroad

May 5, 1911, the Whitney’s moved from Knik, to the mouth of Ship Creek. Bud prospected for gold in the area and freighted for miners in the nearby Willow Creek mining district.

Four Miles Up the Creek

In 1914, a year before the Alaska Railroad started it’s work at the mouth of Ship Creek, the Whitneys moved up the creek where they were the only settlers in the area.

The location of their homestead, as mentioned under the picture above, is now where the Boniface gate is for Joint Base Elmendorf -Richardson.

For early Alaska homesteaders, just clearing the land was hard, back-breaking work.

At their homestead, Bud and Daisy lived off the land with a garden, raising live stock and hunting.

Let Me be Your Guide

In the summer of 1914, survey teams landed at the mouth of Ship Creek.

They were looking for a route for the Alaska Railroad. Because he knew the area very well, John “Bud” Whitney hired on as a guide.

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Opportunity and the Alaska Railroad

In 1915, the mouth of Ship Creek was chosen as the location for the field construction headquarters for the Alaska Railroad.

Seeing an opportunity, Bud and Daisy Whitney started raising hogs. They sold the meat to railroad workers. The September 26th edition of the Anchorage Weekly Times (note: at that time the paper was weekly not daily) ran a story that talked about the Whitney’s business.

“the Whitneys fed their pigs “sweet peas” that grew well near Ship Creek, and they would shortly bring sixty “fine hogs” to the Anchorage market where the meat was expected to sell for the “high cost” of twenty-five to forty cents per pound”.

Enough with the Homesteading Already

In 1935, Bud and Daisy moved into Anchorage.

Bud worked as a custodian for the new Anchorage City Hall. He also worked as a jailor for Anchorage prisoners.

Daisy became a matron for female prisoners. She also cooked for all the inmates.

Leaving Alaska

In 1945, after 47 years in Alaska, Bud, and Daisy decided to leave for Arizona.

As they were leaving, John “Bud” Whitney said the following:

“We plan to remain Outside (meaning outside Alaska) permanently. But if I can’t learn to talk fancy the way folks in the states do, I guess I will be back before long.”

The Whitneys never returned to Alaska.

Note:

The Whitneys have a road named after them in Anchorage. Whitney road is located near Ship Creek and Government Hill.

BONUS

For the whole story, take a look at John “Bud” Whitney and Daisy Whitney and discover.

A Little Fun for the Whitneys

In the photo above is a crowd scene filled with movie extras for the 1923 “Cap” Lathrop produced Alaska silent movie, “The Chechahcos”.

The scene above was taken in a movie studio located in downtown Anchorage that was built for the movie.

Bud and Daisy Whitney were cast as extras in the scene above.

Bud is the man in the front and middle, wearing a hat, open leather coat and a tie. Daisy is the lady on the left standing at the roulette wheel, wearing dark clothing.

When it was released, the movie was a huge hit all over Alaska.

Connect with US

In the picture above is the Center Theater, in 1955. This movie theater was located in Spenard.

Did you ever see a movie at the Center Theatre? Tell us about it.

We hope you enjoyed this look at early Alaska and Anchorage pioneers, John “Bud” Whitney and Daisy Whitney. They were a hearty breed and helped the town of Anchorage get its start.

Do you have a comment or suggestion? Or maybe you just want to say, “I went to the Center Theater”.

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Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage Memories Club