Emery Valentine

Emery (or Emory) Valentine (1858 – September, 1930) was an Alaskan politician and the sixth mayor of Juneau, Alaska, from 1908 to 1912 and from 1917 to 1919. He was also a miner, goldsmith, jeweller, assayer, gunsmith, watchmaker, architect, firefighter, and businessman.

Early life

Valentine was born in Dowagiac, Michigan. He traveled to Colorado around the age of 10 and became a miner, until he was injured in an accident. He then learned to be a goldsmith and became an apprentice to a jeweler.

Career

Valentine came to own a number of stores throughout Colorado and Montana, from 1876 to 1886, when he left the states and settled in Juneau in May of 1886. There, he bought a plot of land from Joe Juneau and began his own jewelry store, E. Valentine Jeweler. He would have built a jewelry store in Skagway, but he faced competition from Herman Kirmse, a well-known jeweler.

Architect

Emery Valentine built a number of notable buildings in Juneau, including the Valentine Building, at 119 Seward Street, in 1912, and the Seward Building (now known as Dockside Jewelers), at 145 South Franklin Street. In 1897, he traveled to Skagway, where he built a dock. It was the same dock that local gangster Jefferson Randall "Soapy" Smith was killed in a gunfight by Frank Reid on July 8, 1898.

Firefighter

After coming to Juneau, Valentine organized the Juneau Volunteer Fire Department. At first, the establishment implemented a horse-drawn cart and a hand pump. Usually, volunteers would form bucket brigades to transport water as well. Valentine also donated a specialized wagon to the department in 1897; the wagon carried the slogan "You ring the Bell and we'll do the rest". As mayor, he renovated the department and designed the city's first water system.

Politician

Valentine served as a member of the city council for a single term in 1902. While mayor, he helped to acquire the People's Dock, near the southern region of the town. Although a Republican, Valentine had close ties with the Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party.

Other

Valentine also worked as the Japanese vice-consul. For his service to the country of Japan, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun.

Family

Emery Valentine was married four times, divorced thrice, and widowed once.

Later life

Valentine was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

External link

• The fireman mayor – article for the Internet version of the Juneau Empire