I received a letter of wonderful memories of the past from Teslin resident Liz Martyshuk.
Her telling of her Whitehorse waterfront experience and trip brings the reality of years ago to light.
I believe she travelled to Dawson City on the Yukon Rose boat because, on the margin of her letter was written The Yukon Rose.
It does my heart good to get a unique, down-to-earth letter like this.
Thank you so much, Liz.
Her letter follows:
Mr. Jim Robb:
Yes, I know this is a picture of the Whitehorse waterfront.
In 1934, I left home, Teslin, on the last boat of the season — The Yukon Rose.
My brother, aged 12, and me, just a month short of eight years, were on our way to Dawson to attend school and residential school.
I don’t remember how many days this trip took, but I remember we were about 10 days late for the school term.
The picture makes me think of the lonely time for us.
The long warehouses in the picture to the left brings a memory of crates of oranges and how good they smelled. We had to go through the warehouses to board.
And also, on our way to Dawson, I saw for the first time in my life tame, real-live chickens in cages.
So now I’m tired of writing — my hands are so unsteady. Please excuse my scribble.
Liz Martyshuk
Teslin
Anybody with information about the photograph above can write Jim Robb, the Colourful Five Per Cent Scrapbook — Can You Identify? c/o the Yukon News, 211 Wood Street, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2E4, or e-mail through the News website, www.yukon-news.com.