Belinda Mulrooney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belinda Mulrooney
|
|
|---|---|
Mulrooney (center) in front of the Dome City Bank, which she founded
|
|
| Born | May 16, 1872 County Sligo, Ireland
|
| Died | September 3, 1967 (aged 95) Seattle, Washington, United States
|
| Nationality | Irish-American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, hotel owner, bank founder |
Belinda Mulrooney (1872–1967) was a very successful businesswoman. She was known as the "richest woman in the Klondike". Belinda made a lot of money during the gold rush. She lost it all, but then she earned a second fortune. This money lasted for most of her life.
Contents
Early Life and Big Dreams
Belinda Mulrooney was born in County Sligo, Ireland. When she was young, her family moved to Pennsylvania. Her father worked as a miner in Scranton.
Belinda decided to make her own way in the world. She started a sandwich stand in Chicago in 1893. This was during a big event called the World's Columbian Exposition. She used her earnings to travel to San Francisco in 1894. There, she opened an ice cream parlor.
A fire destroyed her ice cream shop. But Belinda did not give up! She found a job as a stewardess on a ship. This ship traveled from California to Alaska. She earned extra money by selling things like clothes and fancy items to passengers.
Journey to the Gold Rush
In 1896, gold was found in Juneau, Alaska. This made Belinda want to move north. Soon after, the famous Klondike Gold Rush began in Canada.
Belinda was very smart. Instead of looking for gold herself, she bought supplies. She spent $5,000 on things like silk underwear and hot water bottles. She carried these items over the difficult Chilkoot Pass. Then she sold them in Dawson City for six times what she paid! This happened in June 1897.
Smart Business Moves
Belinda used her profits to build a restaurant in Dawson. Next, she built a roadhouse called The Magnet. A roadhouse was like a small hotel for travelers. Then she built the Grand Forks Hotel and restaurant. This hotel was close to the gold fields.
As she became richer, she started buying parts of mining claims. By the end of 1897, she owned or was a partner in five claims. She sold one of her hotels for $24,000. Then she built the best hotel in Dawson. The Fair View Hotel opened on July 27, 1898. It had a restaurant and rooms for thirty guests.
A Clever Rivalry
Belinda once worked with another Klondike legend, Alex McDonald. They planned to save cargo from a wrecked ship. But McDonald got there first! He took all the food, leaving only boots and whiskey for Belinda.
Belinda got her revenge later. The next spring, McDonald needed boots for his workers. He had to pay Belinda $100 for each pair!
New Beginnings and Success
On October 1, 1900, Belinda married Charles Eugene Carbonneau. He called himself a "Count" and said he was a French aristocrat. But he was actually a salesman from Quebec. By 1903 or 1904, they separated. Belinda lost her fortune around this time. She officially divorced in December 1906.
Belinda started over again. She moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1904 or 1905. There, she became successful once more. She opened the Dome City Bank in Fairbanks with her younger sister, Margaret.
Later Life and Legacy
Belinda Mulrooney eventually retired. She moved to Yakima, Washington, where she built a large mansion around 1910. She helped support her family until her money ran out. She then moved to Seattle, where she passed away in 1967.
Images for kids
-
The Magnet road house
-
The Grand Forks Hotel, around 1898
-
The Fair View Hotel, around 1899
