Luigi (Louie) Piccolo of Atlin passed away in Vancouver Jan. 18 after a lengthy illness. His smile will be greatly missed by the community.
Piccolo was born in Italy in 1902, and came to Atlin in February, 1932. At first he worked for Marco Pini on Spruce Creek. Gold fever took hold of him and for the next 35 years he and his brother Joe worked McKee Creek.
Both brothers were known as very hard workers. Louie studied the creek and became something of an expert. They persevered, some years making next to nothing, other years cleaning up 200 ounces of gold. During the winter the brothers would go trapping.
They had a reputation for their hospitality, and always welcomed visitors to their McKee Creek cabin. In later years Louie moved into Atlin.
His trademark was his white stetson hat which was replaced by a purple one when it wore out.
Joe died in 1964, and Louie asked to be buried beside him in the new Atlin cemetery. He is survived by a brother in Oregon and many nieces and nephews.
