Episodios

  • Anchorage Pioneer Nellie Brown

    Anchorage Pioneer Nellie Brown
    Jul 21 2024
    As the story goes, when the Anchorage Times Newspaper reporters got off work in the 1960s, they would head over to Club 25. Once there, they would buy Nellie Brown a beer (her favorite was Olympia) and she would tell stories about the very early days of Anchorage.They Met in Cordova, AlaskaJohn “Jack” Brown met Nellie Edith Shepard in Cordova, Alaska in 1911.The two were married on May 1, 1912, in Cordova and soon after traveled by boat to upper Cook Inlet and Ship Creek, where Jack began working as a Forest Ranger.Ship Creek Flats in 1912A tent on Ship Creek, that served as the Forest Service office, was also the Brown’s home when they first arrived in what would become Anchorage.Early homesteaders, J.D. “Bud” Whitney and his wife Daisy, had built a 10-foot by 14-foot cabin that later become the Brown’s home. The Browns made their furniture out of grocery store crates.When Nellie Brown spoke of the area back then, she said:“It was very peaceful and quiet. Nothing unusual happened.”Things were very spread out in those days. The Browns got their mail in Eagle River at a road house along the Iditarod Trail. And for supplies they had to go all the way across Cook Inlet to Knik.In 1913, Jack and Nellie built their own three-room cabin on Ship Creek flats.Yes, You can Share this EditionHey, do you want your friends and family to think you’re swell?Just share this edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club and Podcast with them. You’ll instantly become their favorite person… well, it could happen.Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast. This post is public, so feel free to share it.Alaska Railroad DaysIn 1914, things changed when the railroad set up camp and a “tent City” full of railroad workers sprang up on the muddy banks of Ship Creek.The Brown Chicken RanchHave You Heard of “Green Lake”?In 1920, the Brown’s moved to a homestead about five miles out of Anchorage on Green Lake, where they built a log cabin and a chicken house. They named the area “Alderbrook”.In 1940, the land was selected by the U.S. Army Air Force to become Elmendorf Field, now Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Browns sold the Alderbrook homestead for $2,500 dollars.He Met the Browns in CordovaAlaskan artist Sydney Laurence had met Nellie’s family in Cordova and remained a close friend of the Browns, who had a collection of Sydney Laurence paintings.BONUSTake a look at the fascinating life of Alaska artist Sydney Laurence and discover.348 Harvard AvenueNellie and Jack returned to Anchorage in 1925 and in 1927 they moved into a cottage on Government Hill at 349 Harvard Avenue, where they stayed for most of their lives.Nellie’s DinerNellie Brown holds a cake shaped like her diner seen in the backgroundIn the 1940s, a surplus railroad passenger car became “Nellie’s Diner” in Anchorage. It was a success. Nationally known comedian Joe E. Brown even ate there when visiting Anchorage.There is More to the StoryThere is so much more to this story. But we’ll have to leave the Browns this way.Jack Brown passed away in 1972Nellie Brown continued to live on Government Hill until she moved to the Alaska Pioneer Home in Palmer. She passed away in 1978 at the age of 86 after living over 60 years in Anchorage.BONUSWould you like to know more?Take a look at Jack and Nellie Brown and enjoy.From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our Anchorage Memories VIP Club edition about Joe Spenard.Gene sent in this comment:“My memories of Spenard are wonderful.Our band was the house band for The Lake Shore Club, later the Fancy Moose, the Flying Machine, etc.The Youngbloods (“Get Together) with Jesse Collin Young played there and named a song on their album for beautiful lake Spenard.”A Note from Mike and MaryDid you enjoy this edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club and Podcast?The pioneers, who first came to the mouth of ship creek and helped begin the town of Anchorage, were a hearty bread.Do you have a comment? or did you know Nellie Brown? We’d love to hear from you. To connect with us, just reply to this email, or Contact Us to say, “I love the Anchorage Memories VIP Club”.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories.com Get full access to Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast at anchoragememories.substack.com/subscribe
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    4 m
  • Alaska's Tongass National Forest Facts

    Alaska's Tongass National Forest Facts
    Jul 14 2024

    Passengers on Cruise Ships enjoy part of the Tongass National Forest’s 11,000 miles of Southeastern Alaska coastline. 80 percent of Alaska’s southeast panhandle.

    The national forest designation was made in 1907 by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

    The Tongass National Forest is home to 32 communities and 70,000 people.

    Called the “Crown Jewel” by the U.S. Forest Service, the Tongass, a vast forest, is the largest U.S. National forest at nearly 17 million acres. Or, twice the size of the state of Maryland.

    For comparison, the second-largest U.S. National forest is the Chugach National Forest, in Southcentral Alaska, with nearly 7 million acres.

    Origin of the Name

    The name “Tongass” comes from the Tongass clan of the Tlingit peoples in Southeastern Alaska.

    It’s Big

    The Tongass National Forest is the largest, intact temperate Rainforest in the world.

    What Grows There?

    The canopy of the forest consists of yellow cedar, spruce, and hemlock trees. While the ground is covered by ferns and moss.

    The Tongass National Forest is populated by the biggest trees in Alaska.

    It Rains a Lot on the Tongass

    Rainfall varies from 26 inches in Skagway, to 225 inches in Little Port Walter on Baranof Island.

    In the Good Ol’ Summertime

    Temperatures in the Tongass range in the 50s and 60s. So, it’s mild.

    Yes, You can Share this Edition

    Imagine how amazed your friends and family will be when you share this, Alaska’s Tongass National Forest Facts edition, with them.

    They will be so happy that they will send you on an all expense paid, Alaska Cruise, every year, for the next 5 years… well, it could happen.

    Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast. This post is public, so feel free to share it.

    They Live There

    Did you know that more bald eagles live in the Tongass National Forest than any other place on earth?

    19 areas of the Tongass are designated as wilderness.

    You’ll See a Lot of Fish

    Waterways in the Tongass National Forest produce a massive number of Pacific salmon, earning the nickname, “America’s Salmon Forest”.

    A View from the Deck

    Nearly one million people visit the Tongass National Forest each year. Most are passengers on cruise ships.

    From Our North Stars (that’s you)

    We received this comment about our Club 25 edition that mentioned tent city.

    Avril wrote:

    “Thank you so much for the recent history, I had no idea about tent city, I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

    Do You Have a Comment?

    You can easily send us your comments. Just reply to this email.

    Or, you can Contact Us now to say, “I' visited the Tongass National Forest”.

    Mike and Mary

    Can you say, “Wow, the Tongass National Forest is large!”

    Have you ever seen the Tongass from the deck of a cruise ship?

    Mike and Mary trust that you enjoyed this edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club and Podcast. Alaska is a gigantic place with many stories to tell.

    Until Next Time

    Mike and Mary

    Anchorage Memories.com



    Get full access to Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast at anchoragememories.substack.com/subscribe
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    4 m
  • Anchorage Club 25 Memories

    Anchorage Club 25 Memories
    Jul 7 2024
    For residents and visitors alike, the building in the picture above is a familiar site in Anchorage’s downtown area of 4th Avenue.But our story doesn’t begin here.This edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast is really three stories in one.It’s the story of the Wendler family, what would become Anchorage’s Club 25 and how Wendler Junior High School got its name.On July 5, 1915, as the Steam Ship Mariposa made its way into Cook Inlet. Passengers were greeted by the sight of unspoiled wilderness… and the feeling of excitement for what they would find just ahead of them at the mouth of Ship Creek.On board the Mariposa was Anton J. “A.J” or “Tony” Wendler, his wife Florence and their daughters, Myrtle and Clarice.Wendler first came to Alaska in 1909 and settled in Valdez.But here they were on a steam ship in Cook Inlet, about to join the early settlers of a “tent city” that had sprung up along the banks of Ship Creek. Most were there to build and work on the Alaska Railroad.Everyone else was there to make a living serving the growing community that would become Anchorage, Alaska. And to build a home in this new and untamed land.Welcome to what would become AnchorageAs soon as the Wendlers came ashore at Ship Creek, they had to put together a tent they could call home.They put together two tents. One to sleep in and one they used as a kitchen and place to take their meals.The surroundings were crude at best.Tree stumps were everywhere. It was muddy, dirty and everyone had to haul water from Ship Creek. The Kimura family, who ran “H&M Hand Laundry”, said that clothing they were given to wash by the early residents was full of lice.BONUSWould you like to know more about Tent City?Take a look at this City of Anchorage, Tent City story and discover.Yes, You can Share this EditionAnd when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will buy you a round-trip ticket to any place you want to go… well, it could happen.Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast. This post is public, so feel free to share it.A Grocery and General StoreTony Wendler, and a man named Ray T. Larson, quickly put together a wooden frame and tent structure where they operated a grocery and general store.Ray Larson may have previously partnered with Wendler and the two had come up on the Mariposa together, bringing the necessary supplies to open their grocery and general store. We don’t know. But it sounds likely.July 10, 1915Just 5 days after they first landed in tent city, the Wendlers purchased a lot on the Southwest corner of 4th Avenue and I Street for $555 dollars.Late that same summer, they built the first grocery store in Anchorage.It was called “Larson & Wendler Grocery”.The store included living quarters for the Wendler family.5 Years Later in 1920Tony Wendler went to work for the Alaskan Engineering Commission as the supervisor of the Cold Storage Department. The Alaska Engineering Commission later became the Alaska Railroad.That same year, in 1920, “Larson & Wendler Grocery” was closed.Following the close of the store, Florence Wendler turned the building into a boarding house.Club 25In 1948, Florence and her daughters decided that what the town needed, was a club for women only. An upscale, elegant and private get away for the women of Anchorage.Not to worry guys… men were later welcomed.Club 25 was considered one of Anchorage’s finest restaurants for nearly 30 years.Myrtle Wendler Stalnaker owned and operated Club 25 until 1982.RelocationOriginally located at 4th and I Streets, where the Captain Cook Hotel is now located, the Wendler Building (Club 25) was relocated in 1985 to its current location at 400 D. Street.The OldestThe Wendler Building is the oldest commercial building in Anchorage.The Alaska Centennial Commission dedicated this plaque to the Wendler Building in 1976.The Wendler Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.A.J. Wendler Junior High(now Middle School)A.J. “Tony” Wendler had a heart for the education of our Anchorage youth.Shortly after arriving in what was then just a tent city, Wendler became active in the development of the first school in Anchorage by convincing the government to come up with $36,000 thousand dollars for the project. He later became a member of the first School Board in Anchorage.From 1915 to 1916, Wendler was also the first president of the Chamber of Commerce.In 1959, The A.J. Wendler Junior High School was named in his honor.Curious about Club 25As a boy and a young man, passing by the building, I was always fascinated by the way it looked, and I was curious about its origins… Now we know.Did you ever go into Club 25 or have dinner there?BONUSRead more about A.J. “Tony” Wendler right now.From our North Stars (that’s you)After our look at the Kimura family.Don sent us this comment:“We knew the Kimura family well. I was more acquainted with the children of George ...
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  • The Kimura Family, Anchorage Pioneers

    The Kimura Family, Anchorage Pioneers
    Jun 16 2024
    Our story begins, one afternoon, long ago.Somewhere between the newsreel and the main movie, I sat there, a young boy in the 4th Avenue Theater, when an ad filled the screen.The first thing I noticed was that it was for a local Anchorage business. I had heard the name, “Snow White Laundry and Cleaners” many times before, but knew nothing about them. I became fascinated as I watched their movie theater ad.Snow White Laundry and Cleaners got its humble start back in the days when Anchorage was just a “tent City”.It was muddy, crude, and only there because of the Alaska Railroad.Welcome to Anchorage, Alaska around 1914, 1915 and 1916. It was simply a “tent city” that sprang up around the mouth of Ship Creek.“Harry” Kimura and his wife Katsuki moved from Seattle to what was then Anchorage and took over a small hand laundry from a relative, and gave it the name, H&K Hand Laundry. It was located near 5th Avenue and C Street.By the way, there was no running water.Chop Suey HouseThen, as if he didn’t have enough to do, Harry opened the Chop Suey House in a small building next door to the laundry.Yes, You Can Share this EditionWould your friends or family enjoy learning about the early history of Anchorage?You can easily share this edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club and Podcast with them. And when you do, they will be so happy that they will take you out for the dinner of your choice at your favorite restaurant… well, it could happen.Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club. This post is public, so feel free to share it. The Kimura family grew to include:Sam, who went on to become a professional photographer and taught at the University of Anchorage, Alaska for 23 years. His wife, Joan, an Anchorage artist, designed the seal for the city of Anchorage. William “Bill” Kimura, who became a painter, sculptor, and teacher. And George, who ran Kimura restaurants like the Golden Pheasant Café’ and Nikko Garden.World War IIIn 1941, Harry Kimura was locked in a barracks at Anchorage’s Fort Richardson as part of America’s wartime “internment” program.During that time, his son George was in basic training and was given MP duty outside that same detention center.At some point, the Kimuras left Anchorage.Snow White Laundry and CleanersFollowing World War II, the Kimuras returned to Anchorage and expanded their H&K Hand Laundry into Snow White Laundry and Cleaners.Along the way, they also opened a restaurant called “The Golden Pheasant Café on D Street between 4th and 5th Avenues.Nikko GardenOpened in 1966 and located on Spenard Road near Spenard Lake, Nikko Garden was Anchorage’s finest Oriental restaurant.It quickly became, “the” place to go in Anchorage.A Very Special Note:For many years, Mary and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with dinner in one of those memorable private rooms in Nikko Garden.Today, that restaurant location is but a fond memory for so many Alaskans.In 1979, Nikko Garden burned down.I was a news videographer for KTVA at the time and following the fire, I was assigned to go inside and shoot video of the charred remains. I can still remember the strange, tragic sight of the pond that ran the length of the restaurant.It was covered with black soot and burnt debris was floating in the once beautiful water.Now, even though it’s gone, we will always have the wonderful memories of that fine Kimura restaurant.Nikko Garden – Gwennie’s ConnectionAnchorage Memories did a story about Gwennie’s Old Alaskan Restaurant in Spenard.Gwennie told us that when her and her mother first came to Anchorage, they rented an apartment from the Kimura family and got to know them.Then one evening, many years later, Gwennie decided to drive down Spenard road from her restaurant and visit Nikko Garden.When she walked into the restaurant and George Kimura saw her, he nearly fainted because he hadn’t seen her in so many years.BONUSTo learn more about this remarkable Anchorage pioneer family.Take a kook at the Anchorage’s Kimura Family and discover.What our North Stars (that’s you) Have to SayJuanita sent us this comment:I’ve learned a lot about my hometown and you’ve jogged memories of things I haven’t thought about for years. I can only say YAY!Diana had this to say:Well done and thank you for the trip down memory lane.Patti shared this memory:I remember going to the movies as a kid at the old 4th Avenue Theater. You could watch a movie for a cereal box top and 10-25 cents on Saturday.Connect with UsDo you remember Nikko Garden? Do you know anyone in the Kimura family?You can send us your comments by replying to this email, or you can Contact Us to say, I remember Nikko Garden.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories.com Get full access to Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast at anchoragememories.substack.com/subscribe
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  • Close Encounters of the Moose Kind

    Close Encounters of the Moose Kind
    Jun 11 2024

    They look peaceful enough, but a moose is still a wild animal and they can be dangerous.

    Here are some fun stories of moose encounters in and around Anchorage, Alaska.

    Cindy sent us this one

    “Adam and the Moose”

    “It’s hard to believe that anyone who has lived in Anchorage does not have a moose story.

    Adam had a “Close Encounter of the Moose Kind”. We were going out for a bike ride. I set the bike on the sidewalk and my toddler grandson, Adam, climbed on. As I was pushing him towards the driveway (my head was down, watching him) I noticed two unfamiliar brown tree trunks directly ahead.

    Confused for a second, I thought, “I don’t have trees in the driveway“.

    But they were not tree trunks. Instead, they were the front legs of a yearling moose - close enough for an immediate head-on collision!

    I swooped up Adam, and bolted back into the house. We watched the young moosie from the safety of the living room’s bay window. Needless to say, Adam was very put out that we came back inside before he got his bike ride. As for me, I’m pretty sure that’s the day my hair started turning gray.”

    And Rose told us her moose story

    “There was a Moose in my Way”

    “In the dead of winter in 1973, I took a shower at a friend's house who lived in the foothills of Anchorage (sorry, don't recall the name of the road). He was a young man, living at his parents' house, and he had basically snuck me in when no one was home, so I could take a shower, since where I was living did not have one.

    While I was showering, his mother called him to tell him she was coming home in a few minutes to have lunch, and she asked that he be there. He panicked and told me I had to clear out before she got home.

    My long hair was dripping wet, and I was very angry about having to leave the house in temperatures below zero in such a hurry. I set out on foot down their dirt road to get to the main road where I could hitch a ride.

    All of a sudden, this very tall and large moose ran out in front of me from my left side, snorting with steam coming out of his nose. He just stood there glaring at me and blocking my way to the main road. I was so cold and angry that I yelled at him, "What do you want? Get out of my way, I'm not having a very good day!"

    He stood there snorting at me for a moment and then turned his backside to me and ran on down the road. He had evidently decided that I was some kind of critter he did not want to tangle with. I was able to walk on and make it to the main road where a very nice woman in a warm car pulled over and gave me a ride home.

    I will never forget the look on that moose's face when I told him to get out of my way. I did not know what he was going to do, but I am so grateful he didn't come after me.”

    You can Share this Edition

    Your friends and family will love these “Close Encounters of the Moose Kind” stories.

    So take a moment and share them. Your friends and family will be so happy that they will send you on an Alaska cruise… well, it could happen.

    Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club. This post is public, so feel free to share it.

    Connect with Us

    Did you enjoy these “Close Encounters of the Moose Kind”?

    When you live in Alaska, you can experience all kinds of adventures, like finding yourself a little too close to wildlife… like a moose, a bear or?

    Do you have a comment? Or do you have a close encounter with an Alaska moose story you would like to share? You can contact us at Anchorage Memories.com

    Until Next Time

    Mike and Mary

    Anchorage Memories.com



    Get full access to Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast at anchoragememories.substack.com/subscribe
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    3 m
  • History of Seldovia, Alaska

    History of Seldovia, Alaska
    Jun 9 2024
    In 1908, Seldovia’s “main street” was built along the beach and was only accessible at low tide.You’ll find this Alaska town of about 255 people, located on the shores of Kachemak Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, about 246 miles from Anchorage.However, you can only get there by boat or airplane. There are no roads connecting Seldovia with the rest of Alaska.Athabascans, Aleuts, and Eskimos were the first to discover the area. They set up camps, fished and hunted in and around Kachemak Bay.How Seldovia Got its NameIn the late 1700s, Russian explorers arrived and noticed a heavy population of herring in the waters of the bay. They named it “Zaliv Seldevoy”, which means, “Herring Bay”.The Russians built a trading post and church in the area. The Gold RushWhile Seldovia had a trading post, the Alaska Gold Rush made them a transportation hub.Cook Inlet around Kachemak Bay was open during the winter.Because of that, prospectors from all over the world journeyed to Seldovia to board steamers headed to the gold fields in the upper Cook Inlet.The Seldovia Salmon CompanyBeginning in 1910, the Seldovia Salmon Company began operation. Its success brought canneries who packed herring, shrimp, halibut crab and more.Sadly, following the 1964 Alaska earthquake, the canneries closed.Fox FarmsIn the 1920s, raising foxes in the area around Seldovia was a big business. At one time, those farms were all over the south shore of Kachemak Bay.Yes, You can Share This EditionYour friends and family will be so happy when you share this edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast with them, that they will send you on a luxury cruise around the world… well, it could happen.Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club. This post is public, so feel free to share it.The BoardwalkSeldovia was originally built along the waterfront. Settlers had to use the beach at low tide to get to homes and businesses.Then, in the late 1920s, the community came together to create a wooden boardwalk. The boardwalk was constructed so it could be used regardless of what stage, high or low, the tide was in.The 1964 Great Alaska EarthquakeIt was Good Friday, 1964, when suddenly, a peaceful afternoon was shattered by a 9.2 earthquake that savagely shook for 5 long minutes.The land in Seldovia dropped many feet and the waterfront community was threatened by high tides, reaching as high as 32 feet. The boardwalk, businesses, and homes were flooded by water from Kachemak Bay.The Seldovia waterfront has since been rebuilt and there is still a section of wooden planks that locals call, “the new boardwalk”.BONUSDo you want to know more about Seldovia?Take a look at Seldovia, Alaska and discover.Yes, Seldovia has bounced back several times. So, if you’ve never visited this unique Alaska community on the shores of Katchamak Bay, you need to put it on your list of places to go.BONUSTo enjoy more stories, photos, and videos, visit Anchorage Memories.com and enjoy.From our North Stars (that’s you)From our look at Anchorage Movie Theatre Memories.Helen sent us this:“Lots of wonderful memories of these great old theaters, it was always a treat to go to a good movie and get hot buttered popcorn and a cold Coke! And I remember the Billiken Drive-in in Muldoon - my mom was the short-order cook there for a couple of seasons!”And Patti remembers this:“We used to be able to go to a movie for a cereal box top and a dime. I don't remember if it was Post box top or another one. That was our favorite treat, after we got our chores done.”Jackie commented too:“I don't remember which theater it was, probably the Denali, but in the later 1950s Grandma and I went to see (for reasons unknown) one of those black-and-white scary films. All I remember about it is that during one pivotal scene, Grandma shouted out “LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!” and I was mortally embarrassed! But I caused my own embarrassment at the 4th Avenue Theater during “Lady and the Tramp” when I thought Trusty the bloodhound had been killed. My sobs were so loud, I'm sure they were heard all over the theater.I loved that you mentioned Frank Butte in the Anchorage movie theatre memories edition, as well as your own scary KTVA story. He was our beloved church organist/choir director in the 60s. Terrific musician, fun to sing under, and he played at our wedding. Wonderful man.”And Michael remembers this:“Thanks for sharing the history of Anchorage movie theaters. Great story about The Brain That Wouldn't Die. The movie still scares the heck out of me to this day… lol”Eric made this observation:“I was in the 4th Avenue Theater with a friend in the early 70s. He was an intelligent quirky guy, and he said look up, that's what the Big Dipper looks like from the opposite side of the Universe. And he was right, the Big Dipper was reversed on the ceiling.”Connect with UsDid you enjoy this look at the town of Seldovia, Alaska?If you have a comment, or a suggestion, you ...
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  • Anchorage Pioneer Joe Spenard

    Anchorage Pioneer Joe Spenard
    Jun 8 2024
    In 1916, during his first year in Anchorage, the Anchorage Daily Times wrote the following:“Joe Spenard caused considerable excitement Saturday afternoon when he attempted to drive his yellow car through the doors of Robarts Pool Hall. He made the attempt for a box of cigars promised him by Jack Robarts if he accomplished the feat: otherwise, he was to pay the damages. Joe is still smoking his pipe.”Joseph “Joe” Arthur Spenard was born in 1879 in Ottawa, Canada. Around 1906, he married Edith Lewellyn.Yes, You can Share this EditionWould your friends and family like to know about this colorful, Alaskan character?Sure they would. Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club. This post is public, so feel free to share it.Alaska, Here We ComeIn 1909, Spenard and his wife arrived in Valdez, where he opened a second hand business. When things were slow, he pushed a handcart filled with merchandise through the streets.The pushcart developed into a transfer business in 1913 which he advertised as City Express, a delivery, and taxi service.The Tent City DaysJoe and his wife moved to Anchorage in 1916 when it was still a tent city, where Joe continued his City Express service.He used an REO truck and attached a sign to his radiator with yellow letters.“Time and Tide will Not Wait,But City Express is Never Late”Always a showman, Spenard would run ads like the following that appeared in the Anchorage Daily Times on June 26, 1916.“Of all the cars both big and smallThe Yellow car just beats them allComplete satisfaction, nothing lessIs given by the City Express”Joe Spenard bought a yellow suit with a matching plug hat and wore the rather gaudy outfit on special occasions and as often as he could.On May 1916, the Cook Inlet Pioneer (later, the Anchorage Daily News) reported the following.“The genial, fun-loving Joe Spenard played the part of Santa Clause to about a hundred school children yesterday. Joe dressed in his famous suit of yellow with top hat to match, took the youngsters in relays for an auto ride through the streets of Anchorage, and judging from the smile Joe wore and the singing and laughter of the children, the pleasure was mutual.”The Tale of Lake SpenardAbout 5 miles out of town was a lake. Known as Jeter Lake (an unofficial title) named after a homesteader named Thomas Jeter.But the lake was in the Chugach National Forest and closed to homesteading. Thomas Jeter had to move.Not long after, the land was opened to homesteading and Joe Spenard took up a 160 acre homestead that included the lake.Spenard set out to develop the lake and surrounding land into a full-scale resort, complete with a roadhouse, bathhouses, and a bathing beach.The Creation of Spenard RoadNeeding access to his resort, Joe Spenard persuaded members of the local Anchorage Elks Club to help him cut trees and build a trail, (a corduroy road) from 9th Avenue and L Street across Chester and Fish Creek valleys to the lake. That trail is now Spenard road.Spenard Lake ResortJoe’s Spenard Lake and dance pavilion became very popular with Anchorage residents.But on the night of May 24, 1917, a fire, thought to be set by careless hunters, destroyed Joe Spenard’s houses, dance pavilion, picnic area and other improvements.The End of Their Time in AnchorageHealth problems caused Joe to sell his yellow car and business ventures.The Spenards left for the lower 48 in 1917 for the winter, with plans to return in the spring. But they never did.Spenard Lake Came Back from the AshesThe lake continued to be a popular summer and winter place for recreation for Anchorage residents.In the winter, Spenard Beach Park was a popular place to ice skate. And in the summer, as many as 8 hundred residents and visitors would swim there on weekends.The First U.S. President VisitsIn 1923, President Warren G. Harding became the first U.S. President to visit Alaska.President Harding came to dedicate the Alaska Railroad.While he was in Anchorage, he spent part of an afternoon at Spenard Lake.Anchorage’s Largest NeighborhoodIn 1975, Spenard was a separate city and Anchorage’s largest Neighborhood.Between 1935 and 1950, Spenard’s population went from 3,000 to 47,000 residents.In 1949, the first Post Office was established in Spenard.Here is that story.The Spenard Post OfficePhotos and memories courtesy of John Parker1949, the sign on the Quonset building reads “Post Office Spenard, Alaska”.It was the first building on the corner of Spenard Road and Fireweed. A second building was added later on and a building that is now home to Chilkoot Charlie’s.The StoryThe Quonset buildings were purchased from Army Surplus in Seward.John Parker’s father, Ken Parker, went to Seward by train in 1947 to purchase the Quonset building which was then erected on the site above in Spenard in 1948. The building served as the Post Office and Parker’s Store, the first department store in Spenard.1950, John Parker, his brothers Dave and Don and ...
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  • How Homer, Alaska got its Name

    How Homer, Alaska got its Name
    Jun 4 2024

    Alaska has long been a magnet for colorful characters. In its early days, Anchorage had Joe Spenard and Russian Jack. During the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway had “Soapy” Smith. And you have probably heard of others.

    Many years ago, the Inuit Eskimo and Tanaina Indians settled about 125 miles southwest of what would become Anchorage, on the Kenai Peninsula.

    Gold

    Then, in the late 1800s, a mining company promoter and con man came to an area where a spit of land goes out into Kachemak Bay. He passed himself off as a gold prospector, even though gold mining had never been profitable in the area.

    The con man built living quarters for a crew that would mine for gold. Men, who were working in near-by fish canneries, were lured to the scam because of the living quarters the man offered.

    Miners crowded into the area, but the gold mining venture failed.

    By 1902, the area was all but abandoned.

    About a year after the con man arrived in the area… he was gone.

    Coal

    In the 1890s, coal was discovered in the area.

    The Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town, dock, railroad, and a coal mine.

    Coal mining continued in the area until World War II. There are still about 400 million tons of coal in the area.

    The Beginning of a Town

    From around 1910 to 1920, homesteaders settled in the area, where the coal mine town had begun.

    But this new town needed a name.

    For some unknown reason, it was decided that the new town would bear the name of the con man who had claimed to be a gold prospector. His name was Homer Pennock and that’s his picture at the top of this edition.

    And so, Homer, Alaska was born.

    Yes, You can Share this Edition

    Would your friends or family enjoy this edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club podcast?

    You can easily share this with them, and when you do, they will be so happy that they will give you a lifetime supply of your favorite cookies… well, it could happen.

    Thank you for reading Anchorage Memories VIP Club. This post is public, so feel free to share it.

    Did you know?

    Homer, Alaska, is the Halibut fishing capital of the world.

    And

    Homer has a population of about 5,500 people.

    BONUS

    Do you want to know more about Homer, Alaska?

    Take a look at Homer, Alaska and discover.

    From Our North Stars (that’s you)

    Our look at favorite restaurants in Anchorage brought these comments:

    Molly wrote in to say:

    “some of my favorite restaurants are, the Garden of Eatin, the Rice Bowl, Legal Pizza, Flippers (or Flippy’s) and Harry’s”.

    Larry said:

    “I really liked Elevation 92, Clinkerdaggers and The Corsair”.

    And Sam wrote this:

    “The Lucky Wishbone story was a great one and brought back many a great memory. Dad owned the property on 5th Ave between Pop Hodleys grocery store and a little ways down towards Merrill Field. I don't know the exact street, but that is where my dad started Alaska Towing and Wrecking. So The Lucky Wishbone was one of our hang-outs as kids”.

    Michael Remembers this:

    “My earliest memory of eating at a restaurant in Anchorage was at the White Spot when it was located at 412 C street. This was probably in 1969 or 1970. We had just moved to Alaska (Bethel) in 1968, so it was a treat to have a hamburger there back in the day. Will always remember that!”

    Don wrote this:

    “My memory recalls Klinkerdagger, Bickerstaff & Petts, the original Rice Bowl along E. 5th; then to E. 6th and now The Rice Garden off Sitka St. and E 5th. The Nikko Gardens, and The Garden of Eatin''; both in Spenard.

    Connect with Us

    Did you learn something new about Homer, Alaska? We certainly did.

    And thank you to all our North Stars for the great comments about your favorite Anchorage restaurants.

    Do you have a comment? Just reply to this email, or you can Contact Us to say, “I caught a Halibut in Homer”.

    Until Next Time

    Mike and Mary

    Anchorage Memories.com



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