Incredible Stories of the North!

Polly the Parrot

The Caribou Hotel. The place where Polly partied.

Have you ever heard a story so incredible you could scarcely believe it? In today’s blog, I am going to tell you the story of a foul-mouthed whiskey-drinking parrot that survived the Klondike Gold Rush and lived to the ripe old age of 122.

Polly’s early years in the Yukon

Polly the Parrot’s story begins in Vancouver as the pet of barber who traveled to Dyea in 1898 to join the stampeders in their search for gold. After hiking over the Chilkoot Pass, Polly and her owner made their way to the Yukon. Unfortunately, Polly didn’t appreciate being ripped from her Vancouver home at the age of 48, so she immediately developed a hatred for gold miners and bit them whenever given the chance.

Polly acquired a new owner in the Yukon. Captain James Alexander ran the Engineer Mine, which was situated on the shore of Tagish Lake east of Atlin. Polly lived a happy life at the Engineer Mine for the next 20 years.

In October of 1918, Polly’s mom and dad went for a trip down south. Unfortunately, their choice of transportation was The Princess Sophia. The vessel hit a reef while navigating the Lynn Canal, which is never good. The boat sank and everyone on board drowned in the icy cold water’s south of Skagway.

Polly was an orphan.

Polly want a shot of bourbon?

Fortunately, Polly found a new home and moved to Carcross with her new owner, Dorothy McClennon. Polly’s permanent residence became the Caribou Hotel and where she lived in the diviest dive bar that ever was. Surrounded by surly miners and raging alcoholics, Polly quickly turned into a foul-mouthed feathered clucker with a penchant for drinking rotgut whiskey. Within the dark and dreary confines of the Caribou, Polly learned to spit, sing opera, and constantly expand her filthy vocabulary.

Interestingly, Polly ferociously bit miners whenever given the opportunity but when children came into the bar she flew over to them, landed on their table and sang them a beautiful song. Polly was also renowned for belting back shots of whiskey until she got blackout drunk and fell off her perch onto the dirt floor below.

Canadian Reporter Dennis Bell wrote a story about Polly that read, “The world-famous Carcross parrot is probably the oldest, meanest, ugliest, dirtiest bird north of the 60th parallel.” That’s no way to talk to an old lady, jerk. Show some respect!

Polly the Parrot’s legacy

Polly outlived her owners. Hell, Polly outlived just about everyone, proving that a lifestyle of heavy drink and ornery, foul-mouthed hatred generates enough spite-fuel to live well over a century. In 1972, Polly finally fell victim to her hedonistic lifestyle and died at the young age of 122.

Today, you can visit Polly’s grave at the Carcross Cemetery. Her gravestone reads,

“Under this sod lies a sourdough parrot Its heart was gold, pure 14 carat.
Polly now can spread her wings leaving behind all earthly things.
She ranks in fame as our dear departed. A just reward for being good-hearted.”

Born in 1850, Polly lived through the Civil War, two World Wars and Michael Jackson’s early years. That’s amazing when you think about it. On this Christmas Day of 2019, let’s take a minute to honor Polly the parrot’s memory with a shot of whiskey and rewatch of Bad Santa on Netflix.

There are many incredible stories of the north. Someday soon, I will share another. Until then, Merry Christmas to all and to Polly a good night.

Rest in Peace Polly the Parrot. You flew so high you touched the sun.