Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2014

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Resource Management

Committee Chair

Patrick Lubinski

Second Committee Member

Steven Hackenberger

Third Committee Member

Steven Moore

Abstract

Despite the wealth of research on the early transcontinental railroads of the West, including certain areas in Washington State, there is little known about the railroad towns, camps and logging communities that arose due to the construction of the Great Northern Railroad in the Stevens Pass area. This thesis summarizes some of the information on the history of the study area, as well as results of a field investigation of archaeological remnants of one railroad town, the town of Alpine. Alpine was a short-lived town established during construction of the railroad ca. 1892 or a little later in 1910, and demolished ca. 1930. It was a remote logging town with access only by rail, and community life strongly influenced by its major employer, the Nippon (later Alpine) Lumber Company. Archaeological remnants extant today are limited to scattered artifacts and seven building foundation remnants obscured by thick vegetation.

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