Digital Bob Archive

18 January 1980

FEBRUARY 11, 1881-This newly formed but growing mining camp on the cold shore of Gastineau now has a new name following a hot argument during a special meeting of the miners yesterday. A different name for the camp had been suggested several times and the matter was brought up at the meeting on Wednesday, the 9th. Because of the lateness of the hour, no action was taken but a special meeting was promised those who wished to pursue the matter. In yesterday?s meeting, Mike Gibbons was called to the chair while Thomas Wells, the Navy yeoman, again served as secretary. Three names were placed in nomination. Harrisburgh, the existing name, which was placed on the townsite on October 18 of last year in the location notice recorded by Richard Harris, was the first. The second was Juneau, for Joseph Juneau, the partner of Harris in the original discovery and in staking the townsite. The third name, entirely unexpected and not previously mentioned, was Rockwell for Lieutenant Commander Charles H. Rockwell, U. S. Navy, who has been in camp for several days, having come over from Sitka with a steam launch from the U. S. S. Jamestown. Rockwell did not attend the meeting.

In the debate that followed the nominations, there was a suggestion that the vote be withheld until Dick Harris returns from Sitka so that he could defend the name he originally bestowed. This was quickly shouted down. It was pointed out that Harris had been absent since December, leaving the camp without a recorder until Richard Dixon was elected on Wednesday. There was a call for the question and Chairman Gibbons appointed two tellers to receive and count votes. The ballots were cast and duly tallied and the count showed a total of 18 votes for Rockwell, 15 votes for Juneau and only one vote for Harrisburgh.

Mr. Wells was asked to write to the Postmaster General seeking a post office under the name of Rockwell. He informed the meeting that he had been told in Sitka that Miss Sallie Ball, postmaster and daughter of the Collector of Customs, has already notified the Postmaster General about the new camp and requested authorization for a new office named Harrisburgh. Thus brought some murmurs of disapproval but it was decided to hold the matter in abeyance.