Alaska Coastal Airlines Hangar Historic Survey, September 2006

Coastal Ellis Airlines continued their operations out of the Alaska Coastal
hangar. They owned and operated the greatest exclusively amphibian airline
in the world, with the largest fleet of the legendary Grumman Goose in
private hands. Today five of Alaska Coastal Ellis Airline planes sit in
museums around the world. These museums include the McChord Air Force
Museum in Washington, DC, the National Canadian Aviation Museum in
Ottawa, the Tongass Historical Museum in Ketchikan, the Yanks Air Museum
in Greenfield, California, and the Swedish Air Force Museum in Linkoping.
In 1968, Alaska Airlines purchased Alaska Coastal Ellis Airlines. Alaska
Airlines did not wish to continue floatplane operations based out of the
Alaska Coastal Airlines Hangar building, so Dean Williams and Bill Bernhardt
formed Southeast Skyways in late 1968 to fill the void, renting the hangar
facility from Alaska Airlines. Southeast Skyways was strictly charter until
1969, when Alaska Airlines asked Southeast Skyways to take over the
former Alaska Coastal Ellis Airline routes.
In 1974, Henry Camarot, Louis Dischner, and Frank Irich purchased the
Alaska Coastal Airlines Hangar. The building was remodeled for use as a
retail center with restaurants, shops, and offices. They named the bulldinq
"Merchant's Wharf" which continues to serve as a retail center today.
About this time Southeast Skyways was purchased by Wings of Alaska.
Although the hangar and repair facilities have been converted to retail uses,
Wings of Alaska continues to operate from a floating dock to serve the
tourist trade. These floats and associated aircraft activity are reminiscent of
former operations at this location and serve as a reminder of the history and
historic events of this aspect of Juneau's past.
Historic Property Evaluation Alaska Coastal Airlines Hangar Page 16