To the people of Skagway,

 I just visited your quiet town in June and had a wonderful time! While I was there I took the opportunity to visit the site of Harriet Pullen — a distant relative. With the help of Tamara, a very pleasant lady who we later saw on the White Pass train, we set about to find Harriet’s house. Going in I knew it had burned but did not know what would be left. In finding the property, I was a little put back to find it overgrown and barely passable. But we looked around, found the chimney, a stone marker, but not the grave of Harriet. For whatever reason she has been lost to time. I checked with the Park Service and they have no idea where her grave is. Using pictures from the Internet, I went back and spent time looking for any remnants of her marker.

I did find rocks in the approximate location and paid my respects. I read the site marker and the Skaguay Alaskan newspaper that just so happened to have a story of the Women of the Gold Rush. I hope that someday a proper marker could be put there and celebrate the life of this extraordinary lady! As a bonus the White Pass Rail could use this opportunity to further its historical lessons. Her grave is within 20 feet of the tracks! I hope this letter intrigues the people of Skagway to not let a part of Skagway’s history fade away. Of course my interest is that of a distant relative. I’m in the lineage of Jenks Pullen, founder of Pullen’s Corners — what later became Romulus, Michigan. Thanks again for the pleasant visit and special thanks to the troop at F.O.E. #25 for the excellent experience. We absolutely loved the vaudeville show! It was a pleasure talking to the performers after the show.

Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Donald Pinckney, 

Michigan