Woody Island Writer Asks Question
About Marmot And Chirikof Islands
Mrs. Yule Chaffin (Mrs. Darrell
Chaffin) wife of the manager of the
FAA at Woody Island, has a letter
in the current newsletter of the
Alaska Stockgrowers Association
wondering if an earlier article in
that newsletter which was picked
up by the Mirror didn’t confuse
Marmot and Chirikof Islands.
Her letter reads, “I would like
to question an item in your last
Newsletter. The item was picked
up by our local Kodiak Mirror and
people have been confused as to
whether Marmot Island was really
meant or Chirikof. Many people
seem to think that the Marmot
Island mentioned must have been
meant to be Chirikof Island—un
less Marmot might be a nickname
given to Chirikof.”
‘‘We do have a real Marmot Is
land in this vicinity, however. A
glance at the map reveals that Mar
mot Island is a very small island
lying to the northeast of Kodiak
near Afognak, where Chirikof is
a larger island farther away to the
southwest.
PENAL COLONY
It is very possible that Chirikof
may be known by some by the nick
name “Marmot." Back in the 1800’s
a Russian penal colony was located
there and the prisoners (and their
descendants) spent a great deal of
time hunting the ground squirrel
or “Perry’s Marmot” for the use
of fur in making of parkas. Chiri
kof Island was also once known
as “Ookamok Island—I have an
old map from 1886 on which it
was so named.”
The newsletter continues that
the letter from John Grounds in
reference to the above letter. . . .
“Being interested in island prop
erty, I came in contact with the
owners of islands and things that
happened around and about the
island.”
“It is my present understanding
that Chirikof Island is now owned
by Mr. Van Hawkins and Mr. Hor
ace J. Woodworth—Mr. Hawkins
occupying the island ranch.”
A CHALLENGE
“This island has been a chal
lenge to its owners throughout its
cattle history, leaving a trail of
beached and broken ships, battered
and lost planes and missing men;
but if any man is equal to this cal
lenge, I believe that it is Mr. Wood
worth who has owned stock in the
Chirikof Island Cattle Co., for a
number of years and has had a
herd of cattle that he has boated
from one island to another and
has made a careful study of the
Christmas
—And happy
holiday wishes
to all of you
who have been
our customers
Kodiak Laundry
■ *-m-.m.mm. m mm mm m m m m m m «. • «.
islands along the Aleutian chain.”
‘‘At present he has about 80 head
of cattle on the Island of Simeonof
in the Shumagin Group and a nice
home there. Mr. Woodworth is a
man of great integrity and inge
nuity and I believe that the Chiri
kof challenge can be met by this
man. He owns a power barge that
he has equipped with a large reefer
which will cool the Chirikof beef.
This barge is now at Anchorage »or
the winter and its owner is design
ing a carriage for it so that it can
be pulled from the rough breakers
while being loaded with beef. . . .
These boys are making news and
history both while they’re just
running their ranch and we would
certainly like to hear from them
with more news of what they are
doing by the way of the Stock
growers Newsletter.
The article concludes, “Marmot
Island is located about 40 miles
north of Kodiak, off the east 6hore
of Afognak Island. I have recently
obtained the Robt. Chamberlain
holdings on this island and my
daughter and her husband are now
residing there. Mr. Chamberlain,
the ‘Grand old man of the island’
lived there for 20 years. He now re
sides in Kodiak with his many
friends.”
Merry Christmas
i
May the holi
days be filled^
with joy and ^
happiness for^
you and your e
family.
*'/
flLVINE S MARINE REPAIR
W'
We bow our heads in prayer for peace
and love among mankind on earth.
KODIAK ELKS LODGE NO. 1772