Michael Gates

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Archivist Lesley Buchan looks through decades-old ledgers in the Yukon Archives vault in 2016. The archive is celebrating it’s 50th year. (Joel Krahn/Yukon News file)

History Hunter: The Yukon’s Memory Bank turns 50 this month

The Yukon was a different place when I first came here 51…

Archivist Lesley Buchan looks through decades-old ledgers in the Yukon Archives vault in 2016. The archive is celebrating it’s 50th year. (Joel Krahn/Yukon News file)
George Black was an important presence in the legal profession in the Yukon for more than 50 years. He developed a reputation of getting acquittals for his clients when conviction seemed a sure thing. (Courtesy/Library and Archives Canada C-039892)

History Hunter: George Black had a storied affair with the law

Michael Gates & Kathy Jones-Gates George Black was a lawyer, a soldier,…

George Black was an important presence in the legal profession in the Yukon for more than 50 years. He developed a reputation of getting acquittals for his clients when conviction seemed a sure thing. (Courtesy/Library and Archives Canada C-039892)
Seventeen Whitehorse men, who enlisted together in the fall of 1915 served in the 67th Pioneer Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. Shown here are: Top Row, left to right: Joseph Bingham, William “Red” Brown, Norman Ryder, James Salvatore. Middle Row, l to r: Laurence R. Wilson, George Ryder, Jimmy Porter, William Hughes, Vido Zic, and John Luich. Front row, l to r: John Hyde, Alfred Cronin, Fred Young, James M. Smith, William W. Burden, Alex Pover, and Robert Holburn. Cronin was killed in action at Bourlon Wood, September 27, 1918.

History Hunter: Whitehorse men served their country in WWI

The Whitehorse Star of Oct. 22, 1915, reported that the first all-Whitehorse…

Seventeen Whitehorse men, who enlisted together in the fall of 1915 served in the 67th Pioneer Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. Shown here are: Top Row, left to right: Joseph Bingham, William “Red” Brown, Norman Ryder, James Salvatore. Middle Row, l to r: Laurence R. Wilson, George Ryder, Jimmy Porter, William Hughes, Vido Zic, and John Luich. Front row, l to r: John Hyde, Alfred Cronin, Fred Young, James M. Smith, William W. Burden, Alex Pover, and Robert Holburn. Cronin was killed in action at Bourlon Wood, September 27, 1918.
James McNeil wearing his Yukon Order of Pioneers sash. Because he had been in the Yukon before the gold rush, McNeil qualified as a member of the fraternity. (Courtesy/The Musum of History and Industry)

History Hunter: James McNeil and uncovering family connections

I have been exchanging e-mails and telephone calls with Kathy Larson in…

James McNeil wearing his Yukon Order of Pioneers sash. Because he had been in the Yukon before the gold rush, McNeil qualified as a member of the fraternity. (Courtesy/The Musum of History and Industry)
By 1929, aged 62, Fred Atwood looked like an elder statesman. (Atwood collection/Dawson City Museum)

History Hunter: The Remarkable Legacy of Fred Atwood

Yukon history has been filled with heroes and adventurers like Joe Boyle,…

By 1929, aged 62, Fred Atwood looked like an elder statesman. (Atwood collection/Dawson City Museum)
The gymnasium in the Dawson Amateur Athletic Association building was transformed into the Family Theatre by the proprietor, Walter Creamer, in 1911. Some time after this photo was taken, Creamer added one more feature: an American Photoplayer piano, specially designed for movie houses, that came with all sorts of bells and whistles to provide sound effects for the films being screened.” (Courtesy/Gates collection)

History Hunter: The first and last picture shows in the Klondike

Moving pictures were invented by the Lumière Brothers in France in 1896,…

The gymnasium in the Dawson Amateur Athletic Association building was transformed into the Family Theatre by the proprietor, Walter Creamer, in 1911. Some time after this photo was taken, Creamer added one more feature: an American Photoplayer piano, specially designed for movie houses, that came with all sorts of bells and whistles to provide sound effects for the films being screened.” (Courtesy/Gates collection)
The film found buried in Dawson in 1978 was encrusted with mud and rust. Many of them became moldy as they thawed out. The films were transported to Ottawa by the military, where they were stabilized by specialists assembled by the National Film Archives. (Courtesy/Kathy Jones-Gates)

History Hunter: Premiere of historical films had a romantic ending

In July 1978, a hoard of silent movie films was uncovered from…

The film found buried in Dawson in 1978 was encrusted with mud and rust. Many of them became moldy as they thawed out. The films were transported to Ottawa by the military, where they were stabilized by specialists assembled by the National Film Archives. (Courtesy/Kathy Jones-Gates)
Modern day events at the Commissioner’s Residence in Dawson City are open to everybody in the community. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Death in the dining room

The Commissioner’s Residence, located prominently on Front Street in Dawson City, was…

Modern day events at the Commissioner’s Residence in Dawson City are open to everybody in the community. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
The pages of this rare photograph album began to curl in the dry conditions in my home. In the Yukon Archives, where the humidity meets preservation standards, they are beginning to flatten again. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Rare photo album finds a permanent home

Seven years ago, I unwrapped a Christmas gift from my wife, Kathy,…

The pages of this rare photograph album began to curl in the dry conditions in my home. In the Yukon Archives, where the humidity meets preservation standards, they are beginning to flatten again. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
Kate Rockwell showing Hollywood actresses how to roll their own cigarettes, January 22, 1942. From left to right: Shirley Patterson, Jinx Falkenburg, Rockwell, and Evelyn Keyes. (Courtesy/Gates Collection)

History Hunter: Klondike Kate in Hollywood

In January of 1942, Kate Rockwell Matson rolled into Hollywood to consult…

Kate Rockwell showing Hollywood actresses how to roll their own cigarettes, January 22, 1942. From left to right: Shirley Patterson, Jinx Falkenburg, Rockwell, and Evelyn Keyes. (Courtesy/Gates Collection)
In April of 1962, the Palace Grand was still being reconstructed. Work continued up to opening day. (Courtesy/Gates collection)

History Hunter: The Dawson City Festival

Dawson City had once been a place of fabulous wealth and magnificent…

In April of 1962, the Palace Grand was still being reconstructed. Work continued up to opening day. (Courtesy/Gates collection)
Commisioner Angélique Bernard and Constable Marc Tremblay with the Jubilee Cake. (Courtesy/Kathy Jones-Gates)

History Hunter: Dawson City is back in business

My wife Kathy and I spent several days in Dawson City over…

Commisioner Angélique Bernard and Constable Marc Tremblay with the Jubilee Cake. (Courtesy/Kathy Jones-Gates)
Whether its spring, and the Mayday Tree is cloaked in aromatic blossoms, or winter and it is bedecked with Christmas lights, the Mayday tree beside City Hall is certain to brighten up your day (or night). (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Martha Black’s wildflowers and the Mayday Tree

Michael Gates & Kathy Jones-Gates With the arrival of spring comes a…

Whether its spring, and the Mayday Tree is cloaked in aromatic blossoms, or winter and it is bedecked with Christmas lights, the Mayday tree beside City Hall is certain to brighten up your day (or night). (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
Here columnist Michael Gates’ grandmother holds a two-metre long rattlesnake on the end of a garden rake. Homesteading in southern Alberta 100 years ago was parched, exhausting and fruitless, says Gates. (Gates collection/Submitted)

Snakes and string and my grandmother

A look at family history

Here columnist Michael Gates’ grandmother holds a two-metre long rattlesnake on the end of a garden rake. Homesteading in southern Alberta 100 years ago was parched, exhausting and fruitless, says Gates. (Gates collection/Submitted)
(Submitted)

History Hunter: The Yukon has a Stanley Cup connection

For a small northern town, Dawson City has achieved some remarkable accomplishments.…

(Submitted)
This early postcard shows the stars and stripes waving above the post office in Dawson City. The flagpole that flies the Union Jack atop the corner tower has been cropped out of this image, and a new one with the American flag has been added. (Courtesy/Gates Collection)

History Hunter: Is our Yukon identity at risk?

I often wonder: does the Yukon have an identity crisis? Clearly most…

This early postcard shows the stars and stripes waving above the post office in Dawson City. The flagpole that flies the Union Jack atop the corner tower has been cropped out of this image, and a new one with the American flag has been added. (Courtesy/Gates Collection)
This rare photo was taken of the Whitehorse waterfront south of Main Street. Several businesses were captured by the unidentified photographer which could be linked to other historical records. (Courtesy/Gates collection)

History Hunter: Every picture tells a story in early Whitehorse

My wife Kathy keeps an alert eye for interesting photos and documents…

This rare photo was taken of the Whitehorse waterfront south of Main Street. Several businesses were captured by the unidentified photographer which could be linked to other historical records. (Courtesy/Gates collection)
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Heritage Awards. From Left to right: The Hon. Ranj Pillai, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Kaitlin Normandin, Bruce Mitford, Beth Hunt, Darlene Johns (receiving on behalf of the late Art Johns), Janna Swales, Elaine Ash (Art Johns), and Commissioner Angélique Bernard. Not shown: Anne Morgan and Jamie Toole. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Yukon celebrates its heritage at annual awards

For the first time since 2019, the Yukon Historical and Museums Association…

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Heritage Awards. From Left to right: The Hon. Ranj Pillai, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Kaitlin Normandin, Bruce Mitford, Beth Hunt, Darlene Johns (receiving on behalf of the late Art Johns), Janna Swales, Elaine Ash (Art Johns), and Commissioner Angélique Bernard. Not shown: Anne Morgan and Jamie Toole. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
The Reverend Joshua Phillpotts, who spent many years in Watson Lake, was the featured speaker at an event sponsored by the Hidden Histories Society Yukon in February 2015. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)

History Hunter: Exploring Yukon’s Hidden Histories

There is history, and there is hidden history. Reading about the events…

The Reverend Joshua Phillpotts, who spent many years in Watson Lake, was the featured speaker at an event sponsored by the Hidden Histories Society Yukon in February 2015. (Courtesy/Michael Gates)
Front Street Dawson City, 1898. The avenue was lined with restaurants, theatres, gambling halls, saloons, dance halls and other services. Al the sinful pleasures could be found on these two blocks in the centre of the waterfront. The last dance hall shut down in January of 1908. (Courtesy/Library and Archives Canada)

History Hunter: The death of fun in Dawson

At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, Dawson City could be…

Front Street Dawson City, 1898. The avenue was lined with restaurants, theatres, gambling halls, saloons, dance halls and other services. Al the sinful pleasures could be found on these two blocks in the centre of the waterfront. The last dance hall shut down in January of 1908. (Courtesy/Library and Archives Canada)