Postlethwaite-Jones Cabin, Nolan, on Smith Creek, Bettles, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

Significance: In autumn 1907, a major gold strike was made by three immigrant Swedish miners, John Anderson and brothers John and Louis Olson, on Nolan Creek, a tributary of Wiseman Creek, located approximately five miles upstream from where Wiseman Creek flowed into the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River at the town of Wiseman. More than a million dollars in gold was extracted by Nolan Creek operations in 1908. By March 1909, more than 50 steam plants and 300 miners were operating in the district.

Gold miner "Poss" Postlethwaite is thought to have constructed his one-room cabin, built using traditional horizontal log construction, on Smith Creek, a tributary of Nolan Creek, about 1909. In 1921, Bobby Jones, a Welshman, joined Postlethwaite in his mining operations. The cabin's second (east) room was most likely added at that time. The shed additions on the west end were present by the 1930s. In his important study about Wiseman, "Arctic Village" (1933), pioneering conservationist Robert Marshall included a photograph of the then 78-year-old Postlethwaite, describing him as "the oldest man in the Koyukuk." Marshall quotes Postlethwaite as having spent 32 winters in the area. Jones continued to reside in the cabin until his death in the 1960s.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N2182
Survey number: HABS AK-24
Building/structure dates: ca. 1909 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1921 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: before 1930 Subsequent Work