'TELEPHONE HILL - City and Borough of Juneau

TELEPHONE HILL
TELEPHONE HILL SITE DESCRIPTION
court house stood on the hill. The building became a Juneau landmark until
razed 60 years later, making room for today's State Office Building (DeArmond
1967).
The name Telephone Hill became firmly attached to the southern end of Court
House Hi 11 when Edwa rd Webster, owner of the Juneau and Dougl as Tel ephone
Company, located his business on the summit of the hill. In 1915 Webster built
an addi ti on to hi shouse, located on the corner of West Second and Di xon
Streets, combining his residence and business. The business remained in the
Webster House until the 1950s, when it was relocated on the east slope of the
hill on Main Street (DeArmond 1967).
A review of land records clearly shows Telephone Hill as an occupied site
from the beginning of Juneau's settlement. Early settlers, usually miners,
claimed lots and constructed temporary shelters. By the 1890s, photographs of
the hill revealed permanent family residences, some still standing today'. The
hill's close proximity to the central business district along Front Street
attracted commercial investors. By the turn of the century, many small
businesses were located at the base of the hill facing Main Street. The high
promontory allowed residents to observe waterfront activities at Juneau·s
wharves located at the foot of the hill near today's Marine Park. Vessel
arrivals and departures on Gastineau' Channel and marine travel between Gold
Creek, Thane, Douglas Island and the townsite were easily observed.
Today Telephone Hill is a combination of private residences and small
businesses, the latter primarily located on the lower portion of the hill.
Juneau citizens still reference the area by its third name, Telephone Hill,
adopted in 1915.·
The Juneau and Douglas Telephone Company continues to occupy a
site on the east slope of the hill.
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