SITKA, ALASKA
Klein typically is in charge of buildings, like Sitka’s Pioneer Home. Totem Square is an unusual adventure in landscaping for her. She says work has progressed well since her last visit in December.
“At that time there was a rumor going around that it was going to be a parking lot, and I can see where that impression was come by. However, we’ve done a lot of work that’s unseen. We actually did a lot for the drainage of the site. Underneath the D-1 that you see are two drain fields and drainpipes that will alleviate some of the mushiness that happened every year. There’s a little bit of a slope that’s also going to mitigate damage to the seawall. As far as use of the site, it’s going to be better, and as far as viability of that seawall, it’s really going to help.”
Problems with the seawall were a major factor in causing the state to take action in Totem Square. The park is heavily used by locals and visitors alike, and the historic seawall was showing signs of deterioration. Klein said planners had to balance public safety against the need to preserve the historic masonry structure.
“Most of the seawall wasn’t touched. It was protected. I don’t know if people remember seeing the plywood up on the water side. That was to protect any rocks from falling down and creating larger voids. Work on top of the seawall is what you’re seeing now. We had those columns with cedar logs going through, and some of those logs weren’t in very good shape. People cringed seeing kids next to that. It wasn’t very safe. We did go through the state Historic Preservation Office, and we had to follow the guidelines for cultural landscapes. We’ve reintroduced a look reminiscent of the way it was. They’re re-installing the rock face on the columns, so you’ll still see rock coming up from the seawall. And in between the columns will be a series of four cables, and then on top of that we’re going to have the cedar poles again. So, it’s going to meet code, number one; number two, it’s going to be historically correct.”
Both the seawall and the original totem pole in the square were designed by carver George Benson around 1940, in a tangled episode of miscommunication between government agencies that – for better or worse – has become part of Sitka’s history. The pole depicts Alexander Baranov, the first general manager of the Russian-American Company, in possibly an insulting manner. Many in Sitka’s Tribal community believe the pole to be inappropriate. Local carver Tommy Joseph and former National Park Service conservator Ron Sheetz did a detailed assessment of the pole after it was taken down and stored for the winter. Klein says the pole is salvageable.
“And so the report came out that it was in amazingly good condition. Ron especially was surprised how little rot was there, considering its age. Sometime in the seventies they cut the butt off, and there was concern that water was wicking up there. There’s some preservation work that should be done, we’re in discussion about that. But I have not had a chance to speak to the Sitka Tribe or the Cultural Committee, so until I do so I can’t tell you what’s going on there.”
Regardless of any agreement that state and tribal officials reach about the pole, Totem Square itself will be reopened – without a pole – by summertime. Klein expects sod to go in around mid-May. While the grass is taking root, the public will be allowed to walk along the seawall and other pathways. Klein thinks that the square will be rededicated possibly sometime in the fall.
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