George Buchanan was a successful businessman, a coal merchant in Detroit. During the Depression he decided to help boys to get out of town and see Alaska. Every summer from 1923 through the Depression, Mr. Buchanan and 50 or 60 boys journeyed across Canada to Vancouver, sailed up the coast to Skagway, spent several weeks touring Alaska, climbing glaciers, panning for gold.
Part of the deal was that their parents would donate 1/3 of the money ($81), George would donate 1/3 of the money and the boy would work selling items such as kitchen implements door to door to raise the remaining 1/3.
In the White Pass depot building there is a glass display which has one such kitchen gadget that was sold as part of the fund-raising.
On the rocks below the U.S. Customs Station at Clifton are the words “On to Alaska with Buchanan” which was their motto. In 1935, he agreed to take girls, the sisters of the boys who had gone, but he made them earn money by baking pies and darning socks also.
George was born in Thamesville, Ontario on January 29, 1869 and died on this day, March 23, 1939 in Stuart, Florida at the age of 70. He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
Kiwanis Newspaper Online; Time.com article of May 13, 1935 online
My name is John Buchanan and I’m a Great Nephew of George Buchanan. I have some memorabilia of Uncle Georges excursions if anyone is interested. He has an image on his tombstone of my hand in his.
Hi JOhn, I am from Detroit and when I visited Alaska I saw the sign “On to Alaska with Buchanan.” I have almost finished writing a children’s novel about Mr. Buchanan. I would love to talk to you.
Thanks….Linda
My father traveled from Michigan to Alaska in 1923 on one of these trips. I would love to hear more about it. I have researched the Northville newspaper and have a little bit of what the boys wrote back home. Thanks for any information you can give me. Mildred Peterson
Hey Mildred, would love to post any pictures or stories that you have on your father’s trip. I am retired now and do not have access to Skagway records as I live in California. Thank you for your interest and I hope that others will post information too.
Please send e-mail address – will be happy to share information.
Please send e-mail or snail mail address.
Hi Linda,
It’s been a long time. Do you still want to talk. Only just saw your message.
John
Jbuchan@interlog.com
My father went on the first trip in 1921. I would love to hear more about the journeys these boys made.
This is incredible! My name is Chloe, and I am a history education major. I love learning about people who have changed the lives of many back in the day! I’d be so interested in learning more about your great uncle. When I saw the sign for him in Skagway, Alaska I knew I had to learn more!!
Comment
My father went on the first trip. I am looking for photos and memories.
Hi Mildred my name is Mike Sullivan and my father Ignatius Sullivan was on the same trip as your father I believe. I would love to have any info or pictures that anyone had sent or you have.
sullivan001@gmail.com
Thank you
Mike
I have two “packs” of matches that read “on to Alaska with Buchanan. They are in the shape of a barbers shaving cream brush whereas the matches are sticking out of a painted wooden base and the bottom of the base has the striker on it. I take it these where sold as part of the fundraiser obligations. If this was the case, would you know the possible years these would have been sold? Both the red and blue one are in remarkable shape with the red one missing 8 matches and the blue missing none. They were in a box lot that I bought at an auction. Quite a story I found with a little research. I live about 3hrs from Detroit in Canada.
Best regards,
Scott
Hi Linda, I see I’m 2 years late in reading your request.
John H. Buchanan
Jbuchan@interlog.com
11-2-17—Just picked up some junk boxes at a local auction. In the mess was a box of used pencils. One rather fat one, orange in color had the following wording printed on it–“On to ALASKA with BUCHANAN”, below the above was printed “in July Nineteen twenty three”. A Google search found your site and Buchanan’s history. Mystery solved! And I’ll keep the pencil along with your documentation.
Of anyone has any Photo’s etc I would love to have/see copies. My dad took what I believe may have been the first trip in 1923.
Thank you in advance
Mike Sullivan
Sullivan001@gmail.com
I went to Alaska in 2012. Saw the sign from the train. Was excited as I am a Buchanan also. From what I know of my history … ancestors came to US in 1841… settled in Pennsylvania… Germantown area ..
I was wondering what a “On to ALASKA with Buchanan” August 1928 pencil was about; I’m not sure how I came to have one – possibly included in personal documents of my late father’s sent to me by my cousin; he and his family lived in Wisconsin. I have no idea if either he or his brother went on a Buchanan trip. It must have been quite an exciting time.