Yukon who is who

Joe Gatt (d. 1947)

Joe Gatt was born in Tyrol, Austria and around 1900 he came to the Yukon from Switzerland. He was the brew master for the O’Brien Brewing and Malting Co. Ltd. (Klondike Brewery) in Klondike City [Tr’ochek]. He lived at what came to be known during his era as “Lousetown” where he built and ran a hotel that catered to the prostitutes and their clients. As the community population declined, Gatt became the self-styled “mayor.” He was one of the last residents and he died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Dawson where many old-timers ended their days.¹⁾