Northwest History. Alaska 7. Anniversary, United States

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1936
• Subjects: founder of Alaska reindeer herds; Max Johnsen; kippered salmon; golden wedding anniversary; Seattle; frozen North; Alice; anniversary dinner; Harold Killdall; the Johnsens; New York; Lapland; King Oscar of Norway; Dietrich Iversen; United States government; gold miners; thriving industry; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Alaska; Norway; Pacific
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/88594

Founder of Alaska Reindeer Herds Has 50th Anniversary. Founder of Alaska Reindeer Herds Has 50th Anniversary Max Johnsen, viking son who took some of the first reindeer to Alaska and also gave the world kippered salmon, observed his golden wedding anniversary in Seattle last week. The pioneer of Alaska, happy as he was in 1899 after successfully wintering 536 reindeer in the frozen North during months of hardship, was never happier than when, with his wife, Alice, he joined seven of their sons and daughters last Thursday in the anniversary dinner. The family met at the home of a son-in-law, Capt. Harold Killdall, 1901 Fifth Ave. W. Live on Alki Point Mr. Johnsen, now 72 years old, and his 73-year-old wife live quietly in their Alki Avenue home while folks around them little realize the part they played in the building of Alaska. In 1898 the Johnsens arrived in New York with the reindeer, brought from Lapland, and transported them to Seattle by rail and thence to Alaska by boat. Then came months of hardship. There was a hard winter and no food available for the animals. "1 wrote to King Oscar of Norway, whom I knew personally," Mr. Johnsen recalled. "I wrote also to my uncle, Dietrich Iversen, | who later became premier of Norway, and pleaded for aid. The I King 'came through.' Enough i reindeer moss was gathered to feed my reindeer. It was shipped, frozen, to New York, mixed with other feed, but it thawed there and became useless. Then the United States government bought hay for the reindeer and they were saved. Pleaded With King "In my plea to the King, I told him the gold miners of Alaska had counted upon the reindeer for food and would be in serious circumstances if help were not given." Mr. Johnsen managed several this work that he introduced kippered salmon. An employe of his company conceived the idea of smoking the salmon, and Mr. Johnson improved upon his method and prepared the salmon on a large scale. The public liked the new preparation, and it now is a thriving industry. From Mr. Johnsen's small herd of 536 reindeer, that industry has grown to great proportions. The first reindeer were brought here under contract with the United States government which appropriated $200,000 for the project. MR. AND MRS. MAX JOHNSEN. He helped build Alaska.