Friday, August 13, 2021

Socialist history behind Ketchikan Socialist Hall observed.

Ketchikan Socialist Hall was formed and constructed by the Ketchikan Socialist Party sometime during the later end of the 19th century.

Ketchikan’s socialists from the Ketchikan Socialist Party were renting their hall to IWW members in exchange for work. This sharing of space between the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) and Ketchikan Socialist Party began in 1912. (Ref: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/76357238.pdf)

In the February 27, 1913 issue of the Industrial Worker, the official newspaper of the Industrial Workers of the World, a small item appeared announcing the formation of Local 283 in Ketchikan, Alaska, with the group renting space in the Ketchikan Socialist Hall. No further description of the group or its activities appeared that season in the newspaper. Tracing this cannery union and its members’ organizing, then, is also a study of the absence and presence of labor activism at Ketchikan Socialist Hall interestingly enough. (Ref: Industrial Worker, New Local in Ketchikan Alaska, February 27, 1913)

Miners from the Ketchikan Socialist Party organized a job walkout over inequality over wages and workers compensation on September 28, 1915. William Stafford and B. C. Anoyx were responsible for organizing the job walkout. “Miners who walked out yesterday have returned to work today. Trouble is over. Will write and explain.” (Ref: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn94050061/1915-09-29/ed-1/seq-1/ocr/)

Ketchikan Socialist Hall was located at 66 Water Street, Ketchikan, Alaska, US 99901.

No comments:

Post a Comment