Alaskan Legacy of Juneteenth

Juneteenth, the day enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned of their emancipation in 1865, reminds us of America’s perpetual quest toward freedom and the life of Melvin Dempsey, whose remarkable journey brought him from bondage in the American South to a leadership role in the fledgling frontier town of Valdez, Alaska.

From Slavery to Self-Determination

Born in 1857 into slavery in North Carolina, Melvin Dempsey was the son of a Cherokee plantation owner and an African American woman held in bondage. After the Civil War, Dempsey made his way north, growing up in Michigan towns like Allegan and Holland, and later moving west to Colorado. There, in the mining town of Deadwood, he became the first Black barber—known for his character as much as his craft. The Deadwood Times described him as “one of the finest men in the hills.”

The Gold Rush of 1898

Dempsey arrived in Valdez in February 1898 aboard the SS Alliance, as part of the wave of gold-seekers and fortune-hunters moving into Alaska during the Klondike and Copper River gold rushes. But he didn’t just come to mine—he came to build.

In a town barely carved out of wilderness, Dempsey quickly became a leader. He helped found Valdez’s branch of the Christian Endeavor Society, opened the community’s first free reading room, and organized a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He also ran one of the town’s first restaurants, feeding cold and weary travelers pushing deeper into Alaska’s interior.

Early Valdez

Later that same year, Dempsey was elected to Valdez’s first town board, serving as one of its earliest trustees. By November 1898, he had been appointed town marshal and justice of the peace, making him one of the first African Americans on record to hold such a position in Alaska. He also joined the volunteer fire department and participated in civic organizations like the Pioneers of Alaska.

In cooperation with others in the community, Dempsey helped organize emergency relief stations along the grueling glacier trail between Valdez and the interior. These shelters provided fuel, food, medicine, and a warm bed to the countless stampeders caught in storms or lost in the snow. Missionary reports from the era credited Dempsey with helping to save many lives.

Prospecting and Legacy

In 1899, Dempsey joined forces with other prominent Valdezians George Hazelet and A.J. Meals, discovering gold near the Chistochina River. This led to the founding of the Chisna mining camp, where Dempsey developed his own claims and continued prospecting into the early 1900s.

In 1915, during one of his expeditions, Dempsey was reported missing while working near Slate Creek. Though people organized a search, no trace of him or his disappearance could be found and locals at the time concluded that he must have been swept away by rushing water.

A Legacy Worth Remembering

Melvin Dempsey’s life is a powerful testament to the meaning of Juneteenth, exemplifying the pursuit of freedom, dignity, and community building in a nation still reckoning and wrestling with these principles.

As we honor Juneteenth, we celebrate not just emancipation, but the enduring spirit of individuals like Dempsey, who carried the torch of freedom all the way to the Last Frontier.

For more stories about the people who shaped Valdez, explore our collections and exhibits.