[2] Beginning in 1902, a group of Seattle businessman sought to establish a railroad to connect southern Alaska with Fairbanks in the Interior.

His brother Frank lived in Seward and was responsible for selling lots in the town and overseeing the railroad construction, as John remained in Seattle.

When a telegraph connection to Seward was completed, Ballaine provided news from the lower 48 states in his paper.

[2] In 1905, Frank Ballaine married in Seattle and returned to Seward and began construction of his residence.

In that same year, six other homes of similar quality were constructed on that block, and the street was nicknamed "Millionaire's Row", as the owners believed Alaska would soon have one million residents and Seward would be its "Gateway".