Collection:
Juneau—Douglas City Museum
Object ID:
91.38.003
Accession#:
91.38
Credit Line:
Donated by Mamie Jensen.
Object Name:
Postcard
Title:
Old Witch Totem and the Nugget Shop, Juneau Alaska
Studio:
Curteich, Chicago
Place:
Juneau
Date:
1920
Year Range from:
1929
Year Range to:
1947
Description:
Horizontal colorized photo of "Old Witch Totem" in front of Nugget Shop with the totem poles in front and side, snowy mountains in background. Photograph graphically enhanced and us advertising. Description of "Old Witch Totem" pole and nugget Shop signed by Robert Simpson on back. Printed in blue ink as postcard "C.T." Art—Coloradan"
Inscription: "OLD WITCH TOTEM AND THE NUGGET SHOP JUNEAU, ALASKA" "4 A—H 590" on front
Inscription: "OLD WITCH TOTEM AND THE NUGGET SHOP JUNEAU, ALASKA" "4 A—H 590" on front
Notes:
The Nugget Shop sold curios, jewelry, and art from four different store fronts in downtown Juneau over half a century. Begun as a business partnership between Robert Simpson and William Wright, within a short time it was under the strong hand of Belle Goldstein Simpson. Belle was an aggressive and competitive businesswoman, a strong character and a tireless promoter of Juneau and the Alaska tourism trade.
Belle had a standing order for as many paintings as Sydney Laurence could provide and sold hundreds of his paintings in the Nugget Shop.
Sydney Laurence visited Juneau often, during the 1920s and 30s, usually on his way north in the spring. He would spend several weeks here: painting, sketching, photographing, and doing business with his retailer, Belle Simpson at the Nugget Shop. He stayed in the apartments above the shop.
Laurence used the Simpson's skiff to get around locally and painted scenes of today's downtown, the Mendenhall Flats, and looking both up and down Gastineau Channel.
Robert Simpson was an optometrist and owner of the Nugget Shop.
The "Old Witch Totem" is now on the 8th floor of the State Office Building.
Location of the photo is 123 South Front Street.
Belle had a standing order for as many paintings as Sydney Laurence could provide and sold hundreds of his paintings in the Nugget Shop.
Sydney Laurence visited Juneau often, during the 1920s and 30s, usually on his way north in the spring. He would spend several weeks here: painting, sketching, photographing, and doing business with his retailer, Belle Simpson at the Nugget Shop. He stayed in the apartments above the shop.
Laurence used the Simpson's skiff to get around locally and painted scenes of today's downtown, the Mendenhall Flats, and looking both up and down Gastineau Channel.
Robert Simpson was an optometrist and owner of the Nugget Shop.
The "Old Witch Totem" is now on the 8th floor of the State Office Building.
Location of the photo is 123 South Front Street.
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Nugget Shop
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Postcard "Old Witch Totem and the Nugget Shop, Juneau, Alaska"
"Old Witch Totem & Nugget Shop
Postcard "Old Witch Totem and the Nugget Shop, Juneau, Alaska"
"Old Witch Totem & Nugget Shop