Bennett - (MP 40.6)
BENNETT
Bennett, once was a city with a few thousand gold seekers, waiting for the spring to use their boats up north to the Klondike. During the White Pass Container Route's days a welcome place to take a brake and enjoy the wonderful meal at Bennett.
Bennett also was the end of the Skagway, Alaska division as well as the Canadian division from Whitehorse. Today, one a week a special steam train is going to Bennett.
Bennett - 1927
Bennett - June 1927 A small passenger train departs from Bennett, back to Skagway Alaska. An very interesting image from June, 1927. Boerries Burkhardt Collection.
Bennett - 1980
Bennett - Air view (1980) This 1980 photo show very clear the area around the old Bennett station. Baldwin 73, Rotary 1 and Caboose 909 are on a display track on the left side. 3 GE's are ready on the northbound train. One engine still has the Federal Industries colors. Two engines of the American crew turning their engines on the loop track and bring the engines on the front of the southbound train. Boerries Burkhardt collection.
Bennett - 2006
Bennett (2006) White Pass & Yukon Route station Bennett is waiting in the late summer evening sun for his guests. Boerries Burkhardt June 2006.
Tourist Enjoy Bennett Lunch Stop
From the “CONTAINER ROUTE NEWS” magazine August 1960.
Summer tourists who travel over the spectacular White Pass & Yukon Railway invariably report that one of the high spots of the trip is the lunch stop at Lake Bennett ‚ B .C. Here ‚ where in 1898 several thousand Klondike-bound adventurers camped in the largest tent City in the world ‚ the travellers marvel over the shifting colors of the lake ‚ visit the old log church and savor a delicious meal served “family style”.
The responsibility of turning out hot meals for passengers on the regular daily trains and those making the excursion trip to Carcross rests on the shoulders of Manageress Vi Beatty and her capable staff.
Bennett is a lonely spot but for lovers of the outdoors it offers many attractions. Hunting and fishing are the off hours pursuits of Harry Lee, who has been Chief Cook since 1954, and waiter Robin Harrison of Salt Spring Island. Waitresses Linda Logue, a U.B.C. student, and Barbara Barrett of Whitehorse enjoy horseback riding while Rita Neilson, also of Whitehorse, prefers boating and swimming. Kitchen helper Melvin Baker of Carcross finds a multitude of subjects for his hobby, photography.
When she can spare time from her managerial duties, Vi Beatty takes pride in her garden, which flourishes in the long sunlight of a Yukon summer. Vi has been with the White Pass since 1948.
Staff members generally save up their time off until they have two or three free days coming and then make a trip to Whitehorse or Skagway. This gives Assistant Cook Gin Sing a chance to take in some baseball games. Occasional trips are also made by the “casey” to Carcross ‚ Yukon ‚ once the home of George Carmack whose discovery triggered the Klondike gold rush.
Main credit for the successful operation of the Lake Bennett eating house must go to Vi Beatty, whose cheerful smile and ability to keep things running smoothly have been a notable asset to the White Pass & Yukon Route. We hope she will continue to dish out “service with a smile“for many years to come.
| Sitemap | Contact| Disclaimer| |
