The Goldstein family was one of the pioneering families of Juneau. Reuben Goldstein and his wife Anna came to Juneau from Winnipeg in the early 1880's at which time Reuben anglicized his name to Robert. He settled on the waterfront in Juneau and in 1886 filed a mineral claim on the town site of Juneau. The public discovered this fact in 1888 when the Secretary of the Interior awarded a little over 29(?) acres of Juneau to Anna. The citizens became so enraged over the prospect of losing their homes and property they called a public hearing and decided to either hang Goldstein or throw him in the bay (newspaper clipping from San Francisco Call, Nov. 28, 1896(?)). The case was taken to the General Land Office (Goldstein vs. the Town Site of Juneau) where it was decided in favor of the town. From there it went to the Supreme Court and then referred to the Interior Dept. The claim was determined valid. The land was thought to be worth between $900,000 and $1,000,000.00 and apparently Goldstein settled for a sum of money instead of the land.

The Goldstein children, Charles, Molly, Flora, Minnie, Will, Belle, and Isadore (Issie) (and possibly another) were some of the early business-owners in Juneau. Charles started a fur-trading business and eventually opened the Goldstein Emporium (gutted by fire in 1939). He and his wife, Laura, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the Governor's mansion in 1939 (Governor Gruening). Isadore (Issie), the youngest Goldstein, served three terms as mayor of Juneau from 1923-1925 and 1933-1937. Belle owned the Nugget Shop with husband Robert Simpson.