Anton Anderson

Anton Albert Andrew Anderson (1892–1960) was chief engineer of the Alaska Railroad[1] and served as Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska from 1956 to 1958. He has been called "Mr. Alaska Railroad".

The Hodge Building (later renamed Begich Towers) which Anderson designed
Anton Anderson
Born
Anton Albert Andrew Anderson

1892 (1892)
Moonlight, New Zealand
Died1960 (aged 67–68)
MonumentsAnton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
Occupation(s)Engineer, local politician
Known forServing as chief engineer of the Alaska Railroad
Notable workAnton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
Spouse
Alma Menge
​
(m. 1927)​
Children3
Mayor of Anchorage
In office
1956–1958
Preceded byKen Hinchey
Succeeded byHewitt Lounsbury
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
UnitUS Army Corps of Engineers
Battles/warsWorld War II

Biography

Anderson was born in Upper Moonlight, New Zealand to a Swedish father and an Irish mother.[2] In 1914, he moved to the United States to work as a surveyor in Hoquiam, Washington. He passed an engineering examination at Seattle University before moving to the recently founded city of Anchorage, Alaska to work for the Alaskan Engineering Commission. In 1927, he married Alma Menge, with whom he had three daughters: Jean, Patricia and Shelby.

In the 1930s, Anderson worked on the Matanuska Colonization Project, building infrastructure to support the settlement of the Matanuska Valley. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He also participated in the construction of the Eklutna River hydroelectric dam. In 1951, he was elected President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.[3]

Anderson served on the Anchorage City Council before being appointed in 1956 to complete the term of Mayor Ken Hinchey. Anderson was elected the following year, but ill health forced him to resign early.

Anderson died in 1960. In 1976, the tunnel from Whittier to Portage, which he had overseen, was renamed the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.

References
  1. "Obituary: Jean Graves". Anchorage Daily News. October 29, 2003. p. B9.
  2. "Anton Anderson". Cook Inlet Historical Society. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007.
  3. Nyman, Frank (February 1, 2004), "A history lesson: engineering in Alaska has come a long way", Alaska Business Monthly
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