Bill Miller of Atlin, BC, submitted the above photo because it shows the completed building, and the photo I used in a previous column didn’t. The photo came from the Atlin Historical Society’s archives. He also sent an informative letter and some relevant pages from Diane Smith’s A Guide to Atlin’s Historic Buildings, which mentioned “a prototype of the Atlin Inn was designed by a Chicago architect in 1914 for the White Pass and Yukon Route Company. When the Atlin Inn was opened, the company’s new lake boat, the MV Tarahane, launched in the spring of 1917, transported visitors across the lake to town.
“Thus began a business that would attract thousands of tourists over the next 20 years to visit Atlin. It all ended in the fall of 1935, when the White Pass Company sold the assets to the Atlin Inn and boarded it up forever.” This information came from Diane Smith’s A Guide to Atlin’s Historic Buildings.
Thanks to Bill Miller of Atlin, BC for the flowing letter:
In response to photograph of the Atlin Inn in the September issue of the News, I offer the following: you are correct the Inn was built by the White Pass and Yukon Route to accommodate tourists that the company has transported from the south.
The last part of their journey was by steamboat from Carcross to Taku Landing, then after a short tram ride over a portage (one of the locomotives can be seen at McBride Museum) they were carried across Atlin Lake to the hotel on the MV Tarahne (presently on blocks at the shore and continuing to serve the community for plays, teas, weddings, etc.)
The view of the hotel you printed is not the completed building as a third wing was later added. For 20 years Atlin was a popular destination for tourists, but this all ended in 1935 due to the depressed economy and the growing use of aircraft. I enclose relevant pages from Diane Smith’s A Guide to Atlin’s Historic Buildings and a photograph from the Atlin Historical Society’s archives collections that shows the completed building. Should you require additional information do not hesitate to call upon me.
Best regards,
Bill Miller
Anyone with information about this subject, please 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.