Jennie Parker, driver. Archie Chase on hood, Glen Parker rear, Alberta & Jeannie Parker on boat edge. Unidentified man on top. Bert Parker likely at helm. Photo by Matsons from shore as boat goes N. to early homesteader's "landing" short distance from Salmon River Bridge. Click for more on Matsons....

After coming to Gustavus, Alaska in 1930 and teaching for 2 years, Ruth Matson accepted a 2 year teaching position at Port Alexander.

But the Matsons were truly in love with Gustavus and came back during the first summer (1933) following the school year in P. A. and lived on their boat about at the location of their future homestead home.

Harry Hall (and all the other locals) had missed them very much and begged them to come back and stay. Harry went so far as to bring his farm and garden equipment to the location the Matson's had settled on (Lou Medieke's original attempted homestead) and began breaking ground for Ruth's first gardens.

Living on their boat on the shores of Salmon River in the summer of 1933, the Matsons had a grand view of all the comings and goings to the early homesteader's river landing situated close to the Salmon River Bridge and Charlie Parker's slough.

What Fred & Ruth saw on this particular day was Jennie Parker sailing past in her "new" arriving vehicle---a mail transport car to be used for the once-a-month mail run to haul the mail from the landing (mail arriving by private boat after picking up the load left on the anchored out scow) to the "post office" in her home.

The Matsons returned to teach another year at Port Alexander, and went on to teach off and on thru the years back in Gustavus and at Hoonah, Tenakee Springs and Pelican. GHAA has archived original writings of Ruth Matsons from all of these teaching (and Fred's fishing) assignment locations that will be posted in time on the pages of this Gustavus, Alaska history site.

At all times, the Matsons (who patented their homestead in 1940) considered Gustavus, Alaska to be their "home", and in deed did spend every possible month, summer, and year in Gustavus until they could settle down in their retirement to be full-time residents.

Jennie Parker, driver. Archie Chase on hood, Glen Parker rear, Alberta & Jeannie Parker on boat edge. Unidentified man on top. Bert Parker likely at helm. Photo by Matsons from shore as boat goes N. to early homesteader's "landing" short distance from Salmon River Bridge. Click for more on Matsons....

After coming to Gustavus, Alaska in 1930 and teaching for 2 years, Ruth Matson accepted a 2 year teaching position at Port Alexander.

But the Matsons were truly in love with Gustavus and came back during the first summer (1933) following the school year in P. A. and lived on their boat about at the location of their future homestead home.

Harry Hall (and all the other locals) had missed them very much and begged them to come back and stay. Harry went so far as to bring his farm and garden equipment to the location the Matson's had settled on (Lou Medieke's original attempted homestead) and began breaking ground for Ruth's first gardens.

Living on their boat on the shores of Salmon River in the summer of 1933, the Matsons had a grand view of all the comings and goings to the early homesteader's river landing situated close to the Salmon River Bridge and Charlie Parker's slough.

What Fred & Ruth saw on this particular day was Jennie Parker sailing past in her "new" arriving vehicle---a mail transport car to be used for the once-a-month mail run to haul the mail from the landing (mail arriving by private boat after picking up the load left on the anchored out scow) to the "post office" in her home.

The Matsons returned to teach another year at Port Alexander, and went on to teach off and on thru the years back in Gustavus and at Hoonah, Tenakee Springs and Pelican. GHAA has archived original writings of Ruth Matsons from all of these teaching (and Fred's fishing) assignment locations that will be posted in time on the pages of this Gustavus, Alaska history site.

At all times, the Matsons (who patented their homestead in 1940) considered Gustavus, Alaska to be their "home", and in deed did spend every possible month, summer, and year in Gustavus until they could settle down in their retirement to be full-time residents.