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A Brief Historic Timeline of St. Paul Island
1741-42 * Captain Vitus Bering aboard the St. Peter explores the Aleutian
chain. Ship's physician and naturalist Georg Steller describes many plants
and animals including the Northern Fur Seal.
1786 * Gavriil Loginovich Pribylov came to an
island and named it St. George after his ship.
1787 * St. Paul "discovered" by Russians (Aleut legend not withstanding).
Russian "promyshlennikis," using Aleut slave labor, plunder the island's fur
riches indiscriminately until 1830, when a ban on killing female seals is
imposed.
1799 * The activity and unscrupulous energy of all
the rival sealing settlements which were practically on fur seal rookeries drove
out and near eliminated the seals in 1796. Three years later (1799) the whole
territory of Alaska passed into the hands of the absolute power vested in the
Russian-American Company. These islands were in the bill of sale and early in
1799 the competing traders were turned off neck and heels from the islands and
the Pribilof group passed under the control of a single man, the iron-willed
Baranov. The people on St. Paul were then all drawn together for economy and
warmth, into the single settlement-Stoshnoe at Polovina.
1806 * No seals taken for two years. Most
people moved from both islands to Unalaska.
1825 * Along toward the beginning or end of 1825 in
order that they might reap the advantage of being located best to load and
unload ships, the Polavina settlement, Stoshnoe was removed to the present
village site-Gavanskoe (Harbor). Gavanskoe was already established before
1825. It had a wooden chapel dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul built
in 1821. Thus began a single village site on island.
1834 * Zapooska…Saving the seals. Takes
decrease for conservation purposes.
1835 * For the first time in the history of this
“fur” industry on these islands was the vital principle of not killing female
seals recognized.
1867 * Alaska was purchased from Russia by the
United States of America for 7.2 million.
1868 * Daniel Webster came ashore on St. Paul Island
in April as an employee of Williams & Haven, of New London, Connecticut. He
took charge of sealing then begun in behalf of this firm at Novastoshnah, now
Northeast Point. Hutchinson, Kohl and Company had the only other party there at
this time. This was the first irregular sealing ever done upon this
island since 1804. Webster said that Hutchinson, Kohl & Company and he took
over 75,000 young male seals at Northeast Point alone, that summer of 1868 and
only stopped work because their men, were not only physically exhausted but had
used all of their salt and had no way to save skins. Fur seals never again came
down upon the southern slope of Hutchinson’s Hill after the sealing season of
1868 closed. Webster was in charge of the work at Northeast Point until 1890.
when he conducted sealing on St. George Island. Dan Webster is buried on St.
George Island.
1870 * On May 1st the federal government
enters into a 20-year agreement bringing the Alaska Commercial Company (ACC) [Northern
Commercial Company] to the islands for the first time to work the fur
industry.
1874 * Carts and mules employed for the first time
to carry skins from the field to the salt houses.
1890 * Daniel Webster expresses to Elliot concern
regarding the fur seal population… “There is no use trying to build these
rookeries up again so as to seal here, as has been done since 1868, unless these
animals are protected in the North Pacific Ocean as well as in the Bering Sea.”
On this point the old man was very emphatic, states Elliot.
1904 * Began building present (2000) Ss. Peter &
Paul Orthodox Church.
1907 * Present (2000) Ss. Peter & Paul Orthodox
Church is built.
1910 * Seal population declined to 200,000 from
3.5-4 million, largely due to pelagic (oceanic) shooting of seals.
1911 * In July all pelagic sealing halted as part of
an international agreement-(North Pacific Fur Seal Convention) The Fur
Seal Treaty-between the United States, Canada, Japan and Russia. The Fur Seal
Treaty was the first wildlife treaty written in the history of the human race.
The U.S. Government placed reindeer on Ss. George and Paul Islands of the
Pribilof Islands.
1930 * Fur seal population back up to 1.8 million.
Fredricka Martin first comes to St. Paul.
1942 * Aleuts evacuated to Funter Bay.
1943 * Aleut seal hunters brought back to the island to continue the fur-seal
harvest, leaving behind women and children. Smallpox, measles and
malnutrition are rampant at the abandoned fish cannery in Funter Bay.
On the morning of June 29 [Ss. Peter and Paul Day on the
Julian calendar], the promyshlenniki (fur hunters) remaining on St. George
Island saw land on the northern horizon. On that same day peredovshchik
(foreman/manager) Efim Ivanovich Popov left St. George Island transported in an
open boat and arriving safely on the island named it Ss. Peter & Paul Island.
Supposedly 20 Russian and 20 Unangax men remained on these islands to hunt for
two years, 1786-87. Soon thereafter, Aleuts, primarily form Unalaska and Atka
islands were brought to both Ss. Paul & George Islands on a seasonal basis to
provide the manpower for the large-scale sealing operations. Shortly after,
more men were brought from Atka and St. George to St. Paul, where five or six
rival traders posted themselves on the north shore, near and at Maroonitch and
Vesolia Mista. Other settlements were founded -at Polovina (Halfway), the
location of the village named Stoshnoe (eastern)], -at Zapadni (west) [This area
called Maanax supposedly for Baanya, which means steambath, -and at Novastoshnah
(Recent Growth), now identified as Northeast Point. This settlement was by
Webster Lake. Lincoln Bight at Tsummanah (now people say Tasmania) and Lukanin
were also occupied with little if any historic record.
1944 * Families brought back from Funter Bay. 35 Aleuts had died from
disease, starvation, and confinement during the internment. Population on
St. Paul, 254; on St. George, 126.
1945 * Despite tragedy of Funter Bay, Aleuts had gained insight into the
modern world and no longer would be politically disenfranchised. Begin
meeting secretly to plan for the future. Use of Aleut language forbidden by
government.
1947 December census reported 329 Aleuts, 12 Fish &
Wildlife Service employees, 9 U.S. Coast Guardsmen, 3 U.S. Weather Bureau
employees, and a Russian-born Orthodx priest and his wife.
1948 *
Indian Reorganization Act. Beginning of organizing as the Aleut Community of
St. Paul. Fur Seal population at approximately 4 million. On November 1st
U.S. Post Office established and biweekly airmail service inaugurated. The
first airmail flight to St. Paul on Nov. 1st contained considerable 2nd
class and parcel post, in addition to airmail. Included were letters postmarked
October 29 from Chicago, October 28 from Minneappolis, and October 27 from St.
Louis. 1950 * St. Paul Island launched Fair
and Honorable Dealings lawsuit (Corned Beef Case). Sued the U.S. Government
saying Aleuts grossly underpaid and undernourished. A few small businesses
start up-Ice Cream Shop (owned by Elary Gromoff, Sr.), Star’s Café (owned by
Gabriel Stepetin), Victor’s Coffee Shop (owned by Victor Misikin, Sr.), Grace
Ann’s Café (owned by Mamant Emanoff). Reeve Aleutian Airways is the first
commercial airplane to land and begin service to St. Paul Island...or was
this sooner in 1948 or 1949.
1951 * For the first time Aleuts own vehicles
bought from contractors that built a US Coast Guard Station (Is this the
present [2000] Weather Service Building?).
1953 * Reindeer brought by M/V Penguin from Nunivak
Island. Previous herd killed by military during “the wartime”
1955 * Old school wall blows down
1956 * First movie theatre-Irish’s Theatre owned by
Auxenty “Irish” Stepetin. Present (2000) store built.
1950 * St. Paul launches Fair and Honorable Dealings lawsuit. Sues U.S.
Government, saying Aleuts grossly underpaid and undernourished. Aleuts start
up a few small businesses. Reeve Aleutian Airways is first commercial airline
to land.
1958 * Fredricka Martin speaks to U.N. about treatment of Aleuts. The U.S.
Government is reprimanded by the United Nations. ??Present {2000}USCG
station built??. 1963 * The “Stomp Room” and the
“Juke Box Room” were the teenage dancing hangouts in the Rec. Hall. Father
Michael Lestenkof becomes priest of Ss. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church.
1965 * St. Paul Island students for the first time
“as a group” are sent to Chemawa High School (which was a vocational school
transitioning to a high school) in Oregon.
1966 * Fur Seal Act reestablishes the Pribilof Islands as a Federal
reservation. For the first time Aleuts are permitted freedom of movement on
and off the islands and entitled to fair wages and civil-service benefits.
?1969 or 1970? * IRA Tribal Government of St. Paul
wins “Corned Beef Case”. It takes over 10 years to get the money.
1971 * Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed. Alaskan natives awarded
$962 million to be divided up among 200 native villages. Tanadgusix
Corporation established and City of St. Paul incorporated.
1973 * St. Paul harassed by animal-rights groups. Bomb threats on Pribilofs.
St. George seal harvest stopped. Present (2000) St. Paul School built and use
began. 1974 * Local school begins “Aleut
classes” in the school. “Television” begins.
1975 * First telephone.
1976 * St. Paul Island Tour begins on a small scale. 200 travelers come to
the island. Corp. sells seal "sticks" to the Japanese and Koreans.
Bicentennial of
the United States of America. 1978 * In
December, a fire destroys St. Paul School.
1979 * St. Paul hosts International Fisheries Conference and makes
comprehensive fisheries-management plan. ???Japanese Factory Trawlor Ryuyo
Maru runs aground below Ayagiinax (Tolstoi). Attempts made to protect lagoon
from fuel spill from wreckage.??? 1980 *
Tanadgusix Corporation buys Anchorage International Inn
1983 * St. Paul awarded
$8.5 million from 1950’s “Corn Beef” lawsuit based on unfair labor practices.
“U.S. Government Commercial” fur seal harvest ends. U.S. Government
administration leaves the island marking the first Aleut Independence Day.
8 Aleut men buy boats. Small local fishery established.
Local halibut fishery begins through a joint venture between Tanadgusix
Corporation and Tribal Government of St. Paul; a result of the Halibut Act of
1981, which allows for villages North 56 degrees L.
1984 *
Trust fund set up by U.S. Government. $12 million to St. Paul Island. $2
million for infrastructure. $7 million for the breakwater. Tanadgusix
Corporation operates the last commercial Fur Seal Harvest. July 4-Local Radio
Station KUHB. December 1st-the last time a [human] baby was born on
island-Cassondra Bourdukofsky 1985 * 1st breakwater built and washes away in autumn storm.
Father Michael retires as priest of Ss. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church.
?1986?? * The first subsistence fur seal harvest takes place.
1987 *
July-St. Paul Island Bicentennial 1989 * Tourism industry increasingly sophisticated. First crab-processing
plant set up.
1990 * New, Breakwater finished and dedicated (Harbor Dedication) to
the future of St. Paul Island. Docks built. Tanadgusix Corporation builds first
private dock. 1993 * Per capita income $34,000. Many low-end jobs are available, but
unemployment is still a problem. There are 2 floating processors, 1 onshore
plant and a refueling depot for the Bering Sea fishery.
Aleut dance
revived. The Unisea barge anchors in the harbor to process. Central Bering Sea
Fishermen’s Association and CDQ Program established. St. Paul establishes a
K-12 grade school program. The Pribilof Islands Stewardship Program begins.
In April a
Pribilof School
District team represents our islands in NYO.
Trident Fish Processing Plant built on Tanadgusix Corporation dock. 1995 * There are 30 boats in the local fishing fleet. Airport runway
extended to accept jets. St. Paul is a modern American community with grocery
store, FM radio, satellite TV, clinic, hotel, school, car rental and plane
service 6 days a week. Population is 775, with 230 vehicles and 211 houses
and apartments; 10 new homes and apartments to be built in 1996. There are
over 600 processor workers.
1996 * On January 6 President Clinton signed
Public Law 104-91…Section 3 (c), “Resolution of Federal Responsibilities” was to
begin to resolve all claims with respect to and permit the final implementation,
fulfillment and completion of- Title II of the Fur Seal Amendments of 1983; the
land conveyance entitlement of local entities and residents of the Pribilof
Islands under ANCSA; the provisions of this section of the law and any other
matters deemed appropriate. In February the F/V Citress spilled bunker-C oil
killing thousands of birds. In March the Pribilof Islands Restoration Advisory
Board began in connection to the cleanup activities inspired by PL 104-91.
1998 * The Alaska Commercial Company (ACC)
returns to St. Paul Island to run a grocery business. St. Paul Road Project
takes place. In September the Pribilof Islands Marine Mammal Commission (PIMMC)
is formed. In December wind generation begins with a single unit set up at the
POSS camp.
1999 * In April the doors of a new St. Paul Island
Post Office opened for business. In March, Pribilof Alaska Seafood Company
(PASCO) is formed. In September ADF & G announces drastically reduced opilio
quota for 2000 fisheries. The pastor’s home was destroyed by fire in December.
2000 * The January Opilio fishery is delayed to
April. In June the renovation of Ss. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church begins. In
July Unisea barge leaves St. Paul Harbor. In September a barge hauls off the
last of the debris left by the U.S. Government from its period of administration
of the Pribilof Islands which ended in 1983. New fire truck arrive. On
November 2, the Barreling Shop/Boxing Shed is brought down as part of the NOAA
Clean up Project. Names from beams within are cut out and stored away. In the
summer the final tenant moves out of the “Government House”. On November 7 1st
group of kids (headstart) get bussed to school. On Sunday, December 3, RAA
services St. Paul Island for the last time. On December 5, Reeve Aleutian
Airways discontinues air transport services.
2001 * In July, renovation of Ss. Peter
& Paul Orthodox Church is completed. In June, renovation of the old "Government
House" begins. Sept. 24-ribbon cutting of road connecting uptown to Polovina
Turnpike-extension of Venia Minor. Residential refuse containers change from 55
gal metal drums to wooden bins completed.
2002 * In January the tribal government complex is
placed below the senior citizen center.
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