Government of Yukon
News archives
FOR RELEASE #05-216
August 19, 2005
Yukon Designates Two Historic Sites In Dawson City
WHITEHORSE - Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor has announced that the Yukon Saw Mill Company Office and the Dawson City Telegraph Office will be designated as Yukon Historic Sites, under the Yukon Historic Resources Act.
The public is welcome to attend the designation ceremonies that will be held in Dawson City on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 9 a.m. at the Yukon Saw Mill and at 10:30 a.m. at the Telegraph Office.
"The Yukon government is proud to be the steward of these very important pieces of Yukon heritage," said Taylor. "The designation and protection of these buildings will provide lasting benefits to all Yukoners while also maintaining Dawson City’s heritage."
The Dawson City Telegraph Office is the first and only architecturally designed telegraph office in the Yukon. Built in 1899, this building illustrates the Canadian government’s presence in the north and its confidence in the continuing prosperity of Dawson City.
The building's architect and architecture are its principal heritage values. Designed by Thomas W. Fuller, of the Department of Public Works in Ottawa, he continued to design the other federal government's prominent, landmark buildings in Dawson City. Fuller eventually became Chief Dominion Architect for Canada.
The Yukon Saw Mill Company was one of the first to cut timber in the Klondike, registering its first timber lease March 1898. At its peak, the company's machine shop was the largest north of Vancouver and its lumber yard stretched over three city blocks along the Dawson waterfront.
The Yukon Saw Mill had far-reaching economic impact, not only for local workers, but also for First Nations and non-First Nation contractors who cut the timber and rafted huge log booms down the Yukon River.
The Yukon Saw Mill Company Office and the Dawson Telegraph Office are the second and third places to be designated as Yukon Historic Sites. The Mabel McIntyre House in Mayo was the first to be designated in Oct. 2003.
The designation of these buildings as historic sites follows the evaluation of their nomination and recommendation by the Yukon Heritage Resources Board, and is supported by the Department of Tourism and Culture.
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| Contact: | |
| Peter Carr | Michael Edwards |
| Cabinet Communications | Communications, Heritage Branch |
| (867) 667-8688 | (867) 667-8947 |
| peter.carr@gov.yk.ca | mike.edwards@gov.yk.ca |