Culture on the Last Frontier
The long winter nights were anything but dull in the boom towns of the
North. Where entertainments were not available, the gold seekers made
their own. Card playing, gambling and story telling filled many miners'
evenings. In most towns a few musicians would form a band - no matter
what the combination of instruments might be. When music was not an option,
the evening might be spent in public readings of books, poetry, or newspapers.
In the larger towns, dance halls, theatrical houses or large saloons became
the center of activity, with entertainers of various capabilities being
brought in for special engagements. Social clubs were formed as soon as
a town sprang up. By 1900, Nome had the Knights of Pythias, Masonic Club,
Arctic Brotherhood, Elks, Eagles, Nome Cotillion Club, Ladies Aid Society,
Pioneer Dancing Club, Pastime Club, Loral Social Club, St. Mary's Guild,
Nome Literary Society, 75 Club, Arctic Chiefs and numerous others. Each
of these organizations held gala balls, masquerade balls, charity balls,
dinners, dances, plays, readings, socials, concerts, Iectures and holiday
celebrations. Issues of boom town newspapers were filled with social notes
and reports of dinner parties, dances and the opening of new theaters
and dance halls.
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Used with
permission.
Gold Rush Centennial Task Force, State of Alaska.
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