A “spot in the road”, Carcross housed 100 Tlingit Natives, the Watson Trading post, a railroad depot, Caribou Hotel and Bar and the famous singing, foul mouthed parrot, Polly. Over 10,000 soldiers would pass through their little village on their way to build the highway. In May of 1942, 1200 segegated soldiers of the 93rd arrived. The first white man that ten year old Millie Jones had ever seen was black. By mid-June, most of the 93rd was gone. One hundred and thirty troops remained to guard the bridge and help unload equipment at the depot. The 340th, a white battalion, passed through on their way to Teslin River.
