The Coal Creek and Woodchopper Creek dredges both began operations in 1936. The placer claims were bought by General A.D. McRae in 1934 and managed by Ernest Patty, who left his job as Dean of the College of Geology and Mining at the Alaska Agricultural and Mining College in order to oversee the mining operations. When the Patty Family ceased management of the dredges in 1957, Coal Creek alone had recovered over three million dollars. After being owned by several operators, both properties were sold to the National Parks Conservation Association in the early 1980s and subsequently donated to the National Park Service.
From the guide to the Coal Creek Mine Records, 1934-1983, (University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Polar Regions Collections & Archives)
