Artifact of the Month: February 2017

Lure of Ketchikan: Billingsley Jewelry Store

Frank Billingsley, born around 1900 in Buffalo, New York was the middle child of a jeweler. Frank along with his older brother Harry and younger brother Jim all served in the Canadian Army during WWI. By 1924, Frank was living in California when he decided to move to Alaska. Once in Ketchikan, Frank opened Billingsley Jewelry Store at 201 Main Street, a location previously occupied by Knox Brothers Jewelry and later Walker Drug. Billingsley's store, famous for two large totem poles carved by Sydney Campbell at the front, was popular with locals and visitors alike. After 22 years of operation, Billingsley shocked the community when he abruptly closed his store in 1954 and liquidated the remaining stock of jewelry, curios, bone china, silverware, and leather goods. Shortly after moving his family back to California, Frank fell ill and passed away. His widow, Loretta, lived until 1971. Daughter Norma Sonneschein, now in her 80s, still lives in California.

This month's featured artifact was recently donated by a Billingsley family member to the City of Ketchikan. This photo offers a rare glimpse of Ketchikan's tourist market and is the only photo in the collection showing the inside of Billingsley's store. By the 1930s, tourism in Alaska was a thriving business. The unidentified man, presumably store proprietor Frank Billingsley, is surrounded by elaborate displays of baskets and miniature totem poles that were among the most popular tourist collectibles.

Ketchikan Museums, KM 2016.2.3.1