N.E. Culbertson (d. 1928)
Dr. Culbertson was a physician in Dawson from 1911 to 1920.1) He was living on Front Street in Dawson in 1914. His two-story log house was between St. Paul’s Anglican Church and the Commissioner’s Residence.2) Dr. Culbertson was one of the best-known physicians in Dawson until August 1920 when he and his wife took up residence in Whitehorse. He was the new medical health officer for southern Yukon and in this capacity he looked after the medical health of the police and First Nation people, and he opened a private practice as well.3)
In October 1920, Dr. Culbertson was called to treat Otto Kastner’s child. The child and his mother were on the sternwheeler Casca, so the doctor hired R.H. Palmer who got him to Yukon Crossing in fourteen hours. Dr. Culbertson drifted down river from there in a small boat and met the Casca at Hells Gate above Fort Selkirk. He came back with the Kastners to Carmacks where a car was waiting. The child was out of serious danger and the doctor returned home by car. The child and his mother continued on the boat and, upon arrival, the child was removed to the Whitehorse General Hospital.4)
In September 1920, St. Paul’s Hostel was opened in the former Dawson residence of Dr. Culbertson. This new institute was meant to provide a home for children, other than First Nation and Inuvialuit, whose circumstances prevented them from getting a school education. The formal opening was conducted by Bishop Stringer. The Church owned the Culbertson residence and planned to expand it as needed.5)
Dr. Culbertson and his wife Florance were active in Whitehorse society in the 1920s. Florance helped organize a masquerade ball in October 1924, and she played in the band. Dr. Culbertson was a strong member of the Tourist Committee and was prominent in church circles. He played tennis and was the president of the Whitehorse Curling Club.6) In November 1924, the annual curling bonspiel opened in Whitehorse with five events under the President-Vice-President competition. The big event was for the Culbertson Cup, donated by Dr. Culbertson.7)
The Culbertsons left Whitehorse in November 1927 when Dr. Culbertson took a year’s leave of absence to do post-graduate work in Edinburgh and London. He sold his piano to the Ericksons who kept it at the Regina Hotel for many years.8) The Culbertsons died at sea on their return trip to Canada.9) Doctors R.K. Behrns and Hilda Behrns, the physicians at Mayo, took charge of the Whitehorse Hospital until the doctor from Atlin, Dr. Wride, could arrive to take over.10)