"Apple Jimmie," one of the characters at Dawson, Yukon, who has made and lost several fortunes, who sells nothing in his store for less than a quarter, is a former Hartford man, at one time having had a store on Front Street, Hartford, and now, rather appropriately, having a store on Front Street, Dawson.
George Peter Wendheiser of Rockville, who has been traveling in various parts of the world for the past two years, recently visited at Dawson and during his conversation with "Apple Jimmie" learned the man formerly was in business in Hartford, when it was a city of 35,000, and that he hopes to return for a visit sometime. Mr. Wendheiser, who is accompanied on the trip by Mrs. Wendheiser, wrote the following regarding "Apple Jimmie" in a letter which was received in Rockville Thursday:
July 12, 1938.
On Board SS "Casca" Leaving
Dawson, Y. T. Canada.
Ran into a great character while in Dawson. "Apple Jimmie." He came in with the rush in "1897" with his basket of apples which he peddled from saloon to saloon and sold them for "one dollar" each. He kept this up for many years. Would not sell anything else, but now in more recent years, he has added all kinds of fruit and Alaskan novelties - post cards, candy, etc., and occupies a double store. Has fine display on
outside front of apples, oranges, melon, etc. Oranges are $1 per dozen (3 for 25c). Watermelon, rather small, are $3 each. Other fruits at same rates. If you should ask for 10 cents worth of anything you are told that he does not sell 10 cent articles. Nothing less than a 25 cent sale. Had an interesting chat with him. He is a real sourdough of course, here 44 years and has never been out during that time. I asked him where he came from and he told me New York. I told him I came from pretty near there, Connecticut.
Lived In Hartford 10 Years.
He immediately brightened up and told me that he came from Greece when he was 17 years old and lived in Hartford for 10 years. Was a candy maker by trade and was in
business On Front Street. His name is James Oglow, but known by every one out here as "Apple Jimmie." He still has his old original apple basket used in peddling back in 1897. He was delighted to see me. First man he had met from there in 41 years. We talked of
Hartford quite a while. Told me he was were sorry for leaving, mistake of his life, if he had only stayed in Hartford and invested in real estate he would be a very wealthy man now. Told me Hartford had 35,000 population in those days, and had grown to over 150,000 now.
Desires To Return Here.
Hi ambition now is to "go out" soon and pay a visit to Hartford, and to his old home in Greece before he passes away. I doubt if he ever will do so, very few ever get up courage and nerve to leave here after staying so long. I think they are actually afraid to start on such a long journey again. He has seen Dawson grow from nothing to a city of nearly 40,000 people, and now back down io less than 1200.
Description of City.
It is in every way a "Ghost City." During several days stay there we walked all over it, must have been a pretty lively town in the old days - street after street filled with stores, dance halls, saloons, now empty or falling down or fire ruins, with here and there a small store still doing business. There are still six or seven hotels, such as they are, all with big fancy names such as Hotel Royal Alexandria, Regina, Occidental, Principal Hotel, Yukonia, et cetera. Rates were more than doubled in honor of our party of 70, from regular $2 double to $6 double and no baths. A bath in single tub in hotel was $1 extra. European rates only, no meals served. Our Hotel Regina was evidently the best of the lot. Hotel was built on a glacier. like most of the buildings here, and old dining room floor bulges in the middle, has raised up nearly three feet last few years, so you walk up hill and down on the other side of the raised place. Common thing here they told us. You can go to bed at night and next morning when you get up and want to go out you have to smash the door, floor has raised and door cannot be opened. No locks on doors in hotel rms. No cellars are dug here, all ice a couple of feet down, so every one builds on top.
Store On Front Street.
"Apple Jimmie's" store is on Front Street here, reminds him of his old Hartford Front Street. He is very proud of some post cards he sells, showing him standing beside the late Will Rogers who stopped here with Wiley Post on their last and fatal ride. They left here just a few days before they were killed. "Jimmie" told me he had a fine visit with Will, who told him that he would take him later down to Hollywood for a visit and a tryout in pictures. "Will" must have enjoyed the visit with "Jimmie" judging from the amused looking smile he has in the post card snapshot. Will and Post also paid a visit at same time to poet Robert Service cabin in Dawson. Poor Will, loved by every one he met, a bringer of
sunshine and smiles to the whole English speaking world. The Klondike gold country brought smashed dreams to thousands. "Jimmie" has made and lost several fortunes, but judging from what others have told me "Apple Jimmie" has had a good time while here and still has some
money left to live on.
