86 Years for Bugge Beach ParkBy MARY KAUFFMAN
August 14, 2014
The most recent improvement is the completion of new concrete access stairs by First City Rotary at the northern end of Rotary Beach, also commonly known as “Bugge’s Beach.
This popular beach was first owned by Martin Bugge, who in 1915 bought a cluster of six or seven Gold Nugget claims that today would include Bugge Beach and a sizable stretch of the hillside above it. According to the feature article, "Martin Bugge's Beach: Part of the 1915 Gold Nugget Claims" By June Allen, Martin Bugge was a quiet Norwegian miner-to-be who left Minesota during the Alaska Gold Rush to make his fortune. Bugge was of Ketchikan's original settlers at the turn of the 20th century and he was known as a hard worker and died a wealthy man. The first road from Ketchikan to Saxman was built in 1925, providing east access to the Bugge's beach property In 1929, the Rotary Club of Ketchikan leased the beach property from Martin Bugge and did some work on the bathing pool and two years later decided to raise money by public subscription to buy the property from Bugge, to improve it, and dedicate it as a public park. That's why the property's name became changed to Rotary Park; however, Ketchikan folks are known for calling many if not most locations and businesses by "what they used to be" called, wrote Allen. By 1930, Rotary bought the beach property from Bugge for $2500, wrote Allen. Allen wrote, It was a recreation area built by volunteer efforts and enjoyed by all. Even in earlier years, vandals took their toll on destroying the beach. Vandals destroyed the toilets that had been installed, threw broken bottles into the swimming hole resulting in fewer and fewer people going to the once popular park. Then during World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard took on the park as a project, cleaning the glass and debris from the swimming hole, repairing its damaged breakwater, and clearing the grounds. And since over the years, Rotary and other groups have made efforts to keep the park in good shape, wrote Allen. The latest effort to improve Rotary Beach was completed this summer by First City Rotary with the completion of the new concrete stairs that will make access to the beach much easier for a larger number of individuals and groups in the community who previously may not have been able to enjoy this popular Ketchikan gathering area. Funding for the 2014 project was a direct result of Rotary Duck Race ticket sales, with matching funds by Rotary District 5010, which spans throughout Alaska and the Yukon. Past President of First City Rotary, Rosie Roppel, spearheaded the application for the grant from Rotary District 5010, while Coast Guard member, Jennifer Wescott, spearheaded the project management, and Dick Miller was the champion according to Roppel. Despite early construction setbacks this summer due to vandalism on the wooden forms of the stairs which were removed and burned as bon fire material, many additional individuals and groups came together to ensure the ultimate success of the project. Liquid Stone Designs, also known for their work in constructing the new Skate Park, donated materials and labor, and local businessman, Scott Davis, of Cheap-N-Easy Handyman services, donated the replacement lumber and also rebuilt the stair forms after the vandalism incident. First City Rotary plans to continue to make upgrades to the beach and recreation areas in the 2014-2015 year with planned additions such as a fire pit. Fred Monrean, a member of Rotary 2000, engineered the stair project. It is anticipated that Ketchikan’s two Rotary Clubs will continue to partner on various aspects of this important community project according to Roppel.
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