Homesteading in remote areas of Alaska represented years of hard work. Yet Strawberry Point was known for its fun & hospitality. What made “The Flats” so special?

We’re going to answer that question with not what, but WHO. Her name was Ruth Matson—a much-loved “Gustavus Rose” who bloomed from the moment she landed on the shores of Salmon River (along with husband Fred) in September 1930.

Ruth Wenz was born (early 1900’s) in St. Marie, Illinois, a small town where her physician father practiced medicine and her mother taught school. As a very small child Ruth was already fascinated by music. Her first instrument was her mother’s guitar, which Ruth played as she sat on top of it. It collapsed under her enthusiastic strumming, ending her career as guitarist. By age 6 she graduated to the piano and wrote her first song one year later called “My Mamma’s Waltz.” At age 12, the family relocated to the state of Washington where she attended Normal School in Bellingham and the University of Washington in Seattle majoring in Journalism and Music. She accepted a 3-year teaching position—earning her diploma as she went.

In 1927 Ruth married Fred who had been migrating back and forth to Alaska on cannery tenders since the age of 17. The “Call of the North” was beckoning the salty fisherman, who wanted to take his new wife to the land he loved. She was not so sure! Ruth argued that she loved the big cities, “lacked a pioneering spirit”, and could not imagine being so far away from her family circle. With mounting pressure from Fred, Ruth confessed “If I were busy doing work I enjoyed, perhaps I might like it up in Alaska”. An inquiry with the Commissioner of Education landed a teaching contract in “a little agricultural district” called Gustavus.  Ruth was smitten, and described her arrival on “The Flats” as “amazed & delighted” at finding such a friendly community with merry children, fields of waving grass, and fat cattle.

Ruth & Fred soon became the social hub of the community—throwing parties for every conceivable celebration, and hosting game nights. Wild progressive rounds of pinochle (nonstop with the Buoys in later years) and cooties would go on for hours. Prizes would often be potatoes or rutabagas from her garden. She organized music groups and taught piano to almost every young lady in Gustavus. Her beloved instrument still resides in their original homestead (proving up in 1940) where Amy Youmans lives today. Ruth & Fred enjoyed a deep friendship with Harry & Jake Hall, sharing incredible, uncharted adventures by boat—chasing gold in Glacier Bay. Ruth wrote (as “Ye Olde”) a Gustavus News column in the Juneau newspapers spanning over 40 years. Before all was said and done, the Matsons would teach school (and Fred troll fish) in Gustavus, Port Alexander, Tenakee, Pelican and Hoonah (11 yrs.). But Strawberry Point was always home where Ruth loved, counted, and named her wild feathered friends, tutored children, planted flowers, tended her vegetable & strawberry gardens, wrote articles, published a book Happy Alaskan’s, We, played music and hosted the entire community like a shining star.

“My face is not pretty,” she once wrote, “and years have not made it prettier.” She objected to her nose. saying, “On father it had dignity, on me it is only prominent!”  She allowed that she had an honest face and friendly brown eyes. But my eyes are “fenced in by glasses” she lamented. “My only claim to beauty is the dimple in my right cheek.” Perhaps she never fully understood that the smile on her face and the size of her heart made her absolutely beautiful!

Here’s a little known tidbit. Ruth calculated that she spent 20+ summers steering the boat, cooking, washing and drying out Fred’s wet clothes while trolling fish in Alaskan waters. Not once did she ever fish or hunt!  She didn’t have the stomach for it. In fact, she said, “Secretly I silently apologized to each fish I would see him catch!” What a lady!

Homesteading in remote areas of Alaska represented years of hard work. Yet Strawberry Point was known for its fun & hospitality. What made “The Flats” so special?

We’re going to answer that question with not what, but WHO. Her name was Ruth Matson—a much-loved “Gustavus Rose” who bloomed from the moment she landed on the shores of Salmon River (along with husband Fred) in September 1930.

Ruth Wenz was born (early 1900’s) in St. Marie, Illinois, a small town where her physician father practiced medicine and her mother taught school. As a very small child Ruth was already fascinated by music. Her first instrument was her mother’s guitar, which Ruth played as she sat on top of it. It collapsed under her enthusiastic strumming, ending her career as guitarist. By age 6 she graduated to the piano and wrote her first song one year later called “My Mamma’s Waltz.” At age 12, the family relocated to the state of Washington where she attended Normal School in Bellingham and the University of Washington in Seattle majoring in Journalism and Music. She accepted a 3-year teaching position—earning her diploma as she went.

In 1927 Ruth married Fred who had been migrating back and forth to Alaska on cannery tenders since the age of 17. The “Call of the North” was beckoning the salty fisherman, who wanted to take his new wife to the land he loved. She was not so sure! Ruth argued that she loved the big cities, “lacked a pioneering spirit”, and could not imagine being so far away from her family circle. With mounting pressure from Fred, Ruth confessed “If I were busy doing work I enjoyed, perhaps I might like it up in Alaska”. An inquiry with the Commissioner of Education landed a teaching contract in “a little agricultural district” called Gustavus.  Ruth was smitten, and described her arrival on “The Flats” as “amazed & delighted” at finding such a friendly community with merry children, fields of waving grass, and fat cattle.

Ruth & Fred soon became the social hub of the community—throwing parties for every conceivable celebration, and hosting game nights. Wild progressive rounds of pinochle (nonstop with the Buoys in later years) and cooties would go on for hours. Prizes would often be potatoes or rutabagas from her garden. She organized music groups and taught piano to almost every young lady in Gustavus. Her beloved instrument still resides in their original homestead (proving up in 1940) where Amy Youmans lives today. Ruth & Fred enjoyed a deep friendship with Harry & Jake Hall, sharing incredible, uncharted adventures by boat—chasing gold in Glacier Bay. Ruth wrote (as “Ye Olde”) a Gustavus News column in the Juneau newspapers spanning over 40 years. Before all was said and done, the Matsons would teach school (and Fred troll fish) in Gustavus, Port Alexander, Tenakee, Pelican and Hoonah (11 yrs.). But Strawberry Point was always home where Ruth loved, counted, and named her wild feathered friends, tutored children, planted flowers, tended her vegetable & strawberry gardens, wrote articles, published a book Happy Alaskan’s, We, played music and hosted the entire community like a shining star.

“My face is not pretty,” she once wrote, “and years have not made it prettier.” She objected to her nose. saying, “On father it had dignity, on me it is only prominent!”  She allowed that she had an honest face and friendly brown eyes. But my eyes are “fenced in by glasses” she lamented. “My only claim to beauty is the dimple in my right cheek.” Perhaps she never fully understood that the smile on her face and the size of her heart made her absolutely beautiful!

Here’s a little known tidbit. Ruth calculated that she spent 20+ summers steering the boat, cooking, washing and drying out Fred’s wet clothes while trolling fish in Alaskan waters. Not once did she ever fish or hunt!  She didn’t have the stomach for it. In fact, she said, “Secretly I silently apologized to each fish I would see him catch!” What a lady!