Company History

Our founder, May Jefford, was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska. May’s father, Wallis George, owned Juneau Cold Storage and was one of three partners who built the Baranof Hotel.

After her older brother Wally died of TB and her parents divorced, May and her mother moved to Anchorage.

May was courted by bush pilot Jack Jefford, who brought her Alaskan art and native handicrafts from the villages he visited. May and her mother opened The Alaska Treasure Shop.

May and Jack were married and the Alaska Treasure Shop was sold while May took time to raise four children. She got back into the business in 1969 when she founded Westco, which now operates seven Remember Alaska and Once in a Blue Moose stores in Anchorage, Seward, and our newest store in Juneau. (By sheer coincidence, this store is in the building where May held her first job at age 16, working for Belle Simpson in the Nugget Shop.) Three of May’s children and four of her grandchildren are active in the business.

May playing with boats with brother Wally in Gold Creek.

May’s father, Wallis George, proudly shows off a new Juneau Cold Storage vehicle.

Juneau Cold Storage facilities on the waterfront.

May plays her flute in the 4th of July parade.

Juneau downtown in the 1930s.

The Governor's house in Juneau in the 1930s. It has changed a bit since then.

May on her brand new trike.