Matanuska Colony Diary Documents 1935 Train Journey to Seattle
In "Cheechako to Sourdough: Excerpts from a Colonist's Diary of the Matanuska Colonization Project," Margaret Miller chronicles the rail journey of Matanuska Colony settlers from St. Paul to Seattle in May 1935. On May 14, she observed passengers resting upright in filthy coaches. By May 16, groups from Michigan and Wisconsin arrived in Seattle, enjoying picnics and entertainment while appreciating hot baths at the Frye Hotel. Bob Higginbotham became notable for transforming train seats into beds. Unfortunately, contagious diseases spread among children, resulting in quarantines; some families missed the inaugural sailing of the North Star. Miller later released her narrative as "A Creek, a Hill, and a Forty" in 2024, which was passed down to her grandson-in-law, Ray Bonnell.
Key facts
- Margaret Miller wrote diary entries during the May 1935 Matanuska Colony train journey from St. Paul to Seattle
- The Michigan and Wisconsin contingents arrived in Seattle on May 16, 1935, while rain fell on the tent city in Palmer
- Seattle planned two days of picnics, speeches, and shows, but many travelers preferred hot baths and beds at the Frye Hotel
- Colonist Bob Higginbotham was celebrated for converting train seats into makeshift beds
- Arville Schaleben reported the journey in the Milwaukee Journal on May 15, 16, and 17, 1935
- Measles appeared among Minnesotans aboard the St Mihiel, and quarantine forced several families onto the second sailing of the North Star
- Miller's account appears in "Cheechako to Sourdough" in the PMHA Miller collection
- Ray Bonnell published Miller's story as "A Creek, a Hill, and a Forty" in 2024
Entities
Artists
- Margaret Miller
- Bob Higginbotham
- Arville Schaleben
- Ray Bonnell
Institutions
- Palmer Museum
- PMHA Miller collection
- Milwaukee Journal
- Frye Hotel
- St Mihiel
- North Star
Locations
- Seattle
- United States
- Palmer
- Alaska
- St. Paul
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Wisconsin