The Occidental Hotel in is one of the many forgotten historic hotels of Skagway, Alaska. This news article will explain and divulge into the history behind Occidental Hotel.
The Occidental Hotel in Skagway was built around 1878 as a 2-story building at McKinney Street near Broadway Avenue. The Daily Morning Alaskan had dubbed Occidental Hotel the “Best appointed hotel in Skagway”. Occidental Hotel was notable for having a large warm lobby that was comfortably heated and elegantly furnished with electric lights. The hotel was built on a European Plan. Ernest F. Miller was the manager and proprietor of Occidental Hotel. Ernest F. Miller and D. M. Brogan were managers of Occidental Hotel. (Ref: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062035/1899-09-06/ed-1/seq-1/)
A small grip sack full of gold, which probably weighed 70 pounds, was placed in the custody of manager Ernest F. Miller in 1898. The gold was placed into a safe which had cash ranging from $1,500 to $2,000 dollars. (Ref: http://alaskaweb.org/itn/skgynews/18980211.html)
NINETEEN DAYS FROM DAWSON.
Five Men Arrive With Big Sacks of Gold.
Nineteen days from Dawson, establishes a brand new record. The record makers are: Thos. W. O'Brien, of Toronto; Colin Henry O'Brien, his son, aged 5 years; Robert Lowrie, Steward Menzie and John McIntyre, of San Francisco, and Joseph McNeil, of Ontario.
The party left Dawson on Jan. 20, and reached Skaguay Feb. 10, having covered the distance in exactly 19 days. They had four dog teams of five dogs each. The party encountered some cold weather on the way out, about 47 degrees below; most of the way, but at Tagish, it was even colder. Cohn Henry O'Brien is a fine, stout little fellow, bright as a new dollar, and stood the journey like a veteran. He was born at Circle City.
Thos. W. O'Brien has been a trader at Circle City and Forty Mile since 1887. Mr. Leonard has also been in the country since 1887. All the members of the party brought considerable gold, Mr. O'Brien having the largest amount. A small grip sack full, which probably weighed 70 pounds, was placed in the custody of Manager Miller, of the Occidental hotel, while the hotel safe containing all the way from $1,500 to $2,000.
In conversation with a News representative, Mr. Lawrie said that he estimated the output of gold this winter at about $10,000,000. The output will be curtailed somewhat on account of an insufficient supply of candles, and many claims were not worked early in the season because of the strike of miners to keep up wages. Plenty of men can now be had for one dollar an hour but first class men command $1.50.
According to Archeological Investigations in Skagway, Alaska, Volume 10, The Occidental Hotel had been operating a saloon by 1887. (Ref: Archeological Investigations in Skagway, Alaska, Volume 10)
The Daily Morning Alaskan called Occidental Hotel the “Best appointed hotel in Skagway” in 1899. Occidental Hotel was elegantly furnished with electric lights and was comfortably heated. Occidental Hotel was notable for having a large warm lobby and reasonable terms. The hotel was built on a European Plan. Ernest F. Miller was the manager of Occidental Hotel. (Ref: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062035/1899-09-06/ed-1/seq-1/)
The Occidental Hotel was the best hotel in Alaska for the general public due to their best accommodations and reasonable prices. (Ref: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062035/1899-09-06/ed-1/seq-1/)
The Daily Morning Alaskan called Occidental Hotel the “Leading Hotel in Skagway” in 1900. Occidental Hotel had the best bath rooms in Alaska. Occidental Hotel had been the leading hotel in Skagway throughout much of the early 20th century during the early 1900s by boasting and advertising about their elegant rooms in newspapers such as Skagway Journal and The Daily Morning Alaskan. (Ref: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062035/1900-05-11/ed-1/seq-2/)
The Daily Morning Alaskan reported about Occidental Hotel having the most comfortable rooms in the city. (Ref: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062035/1899-04-15/ed-1/seq-1/ocr/)
However the hotel would close in/around 1902 to never operate again. The Kelly Block (better known as the Daily Alaskan Building) and Occidental Hotel were demolished in 1964. (Ref: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:FTE0ml_y9lMJ:https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/klgo/skagway.pdf+&cd=16&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-b-1-d)
Occidental Hotel was located at McKinney Street near Broadway Avenue, Skagway, Alaska US 99840.
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