The Evolution of A Marine Industrial Park

1940's dairy farm

The location of the Sawmill Cove Industrial Park has long been productive.

Mr. Edward Morke of Sitka, in 1940, purchased land where Sawmill Creek emptied into the Pacific Ocean for the purpose of starting a business called the Sanitary Dairy.

Using the fresh waters of Sawmill Creek to water his dairy cows, Mr. Morke provided fresh milk to Sitka's children. In 1947, the dairy was sold to Mr. Harold Rice where he operated it until 1952. It was sold to John and Freda Van Horn who renamed it Blue Lake Farms and continued to produce milk until the mid 1950's.

Early 1960's Pulp Mill

In 1956 the site was sold to a newly formed company called Alaska Pulp Corporation. This company would go on to make the first Japanese investment in the United States since World War II.

In 1959, production began at the Alaska Pulp Corporation pulp mill producing wood fiber from timber harvested from the Tongass National Forest under a long term contract with the US Forest Service.

The mill employed 450 Sitkans at full production producing wood fiber used primarily in the production of rayon fabrics and later used in paper manufacturing. In 1993, Alaska Pulp Corporation announced the closure of the mill. After repeated attempts to sell the site and mill, Alaska Pulp decided to demolish the former mill and donate the site to the City of Sitka. In 1999, the City & Borough of Sitka officially took ownership of the site upon completion of demolition.

Since 1999, the City has installed new potable water, new sanitary sewer and new electrical system at the site. A large diameter fresh water pipeline and deep water wastewater outfall pipe have also been completed.

1980's Pulp Processing Facility

Modern Day Marine Industrial Park