FOLKLORE A BIG PART OF APPALACHIAN CULTURE

Port Chatham - The Haunted Ghost Town in Alaska

Today's researchers call Port Chatham the town that bigfoot destroyed. But is that true? There is a great deal of history that surrounds this location and it doesn't necessarily mean bigfoot was behind the making of this 'ghost town'.

Let's look at some history of the location and try to put things more in perspective.

First off, the only official name of this location is Portlock. It was named for the British Naval officer Nathaniel Portlock who allegedly came ashore here in 1787. Portlock was established in the early 19th century as a cannery town, mostly dealing with salmon. The population consisted mostly of Russian and Aleuts. There was a chromite mining town nearby named Chrome.

Around 1900 an American firm brought in a fishing fleet and built the cannery. In 1921, Portlock was granted an official post office.

• Joe Christian 48 yrs - Possible WW1 Vet , Taxi Driver , Lifelong resident of Harlan County , Lived through the Great Depression , Murdered Last week of April 1942 by Manzo Shepherd , Sherman Clouse and Howard Hensley
• Manzo Shepherd 24 yrs –Petty Criminal, Pulled 2 years in prison with Sherman Clouse in 1937 for car theft. Small in stature, Very bad disposition that got worse after being in Prison.
• Sherman Clouse 22 yrs – Longtime friend of Manzo Shepard and partner in crime, Pulled 2 years in Prison with Manzo in 1937 for car theft , Brother in Law for a Short Time
• Howard Hensley 26 yrs – Family Friend possible relative
• Mallie Shepherd 48 yrs - Manzo’s Mother, Helped to burn the car stolen from Joe Christian after his murder. The inside of the car was covered in blood.
• Jack Heaton 26 yrs. - Nephew of Joe Christian – Shot Manzo at his second trial in front of 300 people May 21st 1942. Tried for Manzo Shepherds Murder in February 1943