Marshall Cultural Atlas: Searchable Marshall Cultural Atlas

This collection of student work is from Frank Keim's classes. He wants to share these works for others to use as an example of culturally-based curriculum and documentation. These documents have been OCR-scanned and are available for educational use only.

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A Brief Historical Sketch of Hooper Bay

A Brief Historical Sketch of

Hooper Bay

Hooper Bay is located twenty miles south of Cape Romanzoff and approximately twenty-five miles south of Scammon Bay. It is on the coast of the Bering Sea on the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta. The present town is separated into two sections. The old townsite is located on two gently rolling hills. The newer section is located on slightly lower land a quarter mile southwest of the older section toward the airport. Hooper Bay's first name was "Askinuk" which refers to the mountainous area between Hooper Bay and Scammon Bay.

The present Yup'ik name is Naparyarmiut since it is located on the slough called Naparyaraq which drains out to the body of water called Hooper Bay. The name, Hooper Bay, came to be used to describe the town when the U.S. Post Office was established here in 1934.

1878 --	Hooper Bay ("Askinuk") site first reported in December of this year b~ Edward W. Nelson of the U.S. Signal Service.
1880 --	Population, 175.
1890 --	Census records a population of 138 residing in 14 dwellings.
1906 --	Diptheria epidemic sweeps the coast killing most of the people in the area.
1906 --	Alaska Native Allotment Act passed by U.S. Congress.
1909 --	First log cabin B.I.A. school built.
1919 --	Influenza epidemic, again wiping out much of the population.
1920's --	USS. Boxer brought teachers, supplies, doctors, and nurses to Bering coastal villages.
1924 --	Olaus Murie, Herbert Brandt (both famous ornithologists), visit Hooper Bay to study wildlife here.
1927 --	Old Catholic church built.
1928- 34 --	Hooper Bay serves as headquarters for the Jesuit Missions.
1929 --	Old Protestant church (Covenant) built. First airplane visits Hooper Bay.
1931 --	Little Flower of the Snow Sisters Order established here.
1934 --	Hooper Bay Post Office established.
1938 --	Traditional Village Council established
Late 1930's --	Reindeer introduced into Hooper Bay area.
1939 --	Population, 297.
1941 --	B.I.A. School closed during War years
1946 --	B.I.A. School reopened.
1947 --	Native Store established.
Late 1940's --	Reindeer moved out of Hooper Bay area (north to St. Michael's)
1950 --	Population, 307.
1954 --	Airport constructed.
1958 --	National Guard armory built.
1960 --	Population, 460.
1963 --	Present K-8th grade elementary school built by BIA.
1965 --	U.S. Public Health Service clinic constructed, and three health aides trained by P.H.S. to operate it.
1965 --	Headstart Program established by RurAlcap.
1966 --	Hooper Bay incorporated as a Second Class City with a City Council. Village Council stops functioning because of a misunderstanding of its purpose.
1968	-- Alaska Village Electric Cooperative begins service here in December. -- Tomaganuk's Store established.
1969	-- Wien Airlines begins regular flight service to Hooper Bay.
1970	-- Population, 490. -- Alaska State Housing Authority builds 20 homes here.
1971	-- Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed by U.S. Congress on Dec. 18. -- Jay's Flying Service begins.
1972	-- Water well in old part of town constructed.
1973	-- Hooper Bay Traditional Council reestablished.
1974	-- Santa Fe Flying Service replaces Jay's Flying Service.
1975	-- Public Safety building and Magistrate's Office established. -- Present 9-12 high school constructed by the B.I.A. and turned over to Lower Yukon School District R.E.A.A. in December. -- Federal Townsite Patent of 365.27 acres issued to Hooper Bay by B.L.M. Trustee on Dec. 15. -- Green's Theater begins operation. -- Indian Self-Determination Act passed by U.S. Congress.
1976	-- A.V.C.P. Housing Authority constructs 31 homes.
1977	-- Hill's and Joe's store begins operation. -- A few people from Hooper Bay begin work on the Trans Alaska Pipeline.
1978	-- New Catholic Church constructed. -- Phillip Naneng's candy store constructed.
1979	-- Sea Lion retail store opens. -- Sea Lion Corporation's Recreation Center constructed. -- United Utilities Inc. (90% owned by Sea Lion Corporation) begins installing telephone service here. -- Water well in new housing area built.
1980	-- Commercial herring started in Kokechik Bay, 10 miles to the north of the city. -- Boardwalks in new housing area built. -- Summer fresh water system built. -- Agnes Hoelscher becomes first woman mayor of Hooper Bay. -- Population, 624.
1981	-- Accelerated O.C.S. leasing schedule announced by U.S. Dept. of the Interior. Reaction against this schedule very strong by Hooper Bay and other villages in area. -- A.V.C.P. prohibits oil and gas industry representatives from coming into area.

Compiled by Maria Green,
Hooper Bay

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A Brief Historical Sketch of Hooper Bay