Alaska VIP Club

Remember the name and the picture on the milk carton of the young lady on ice skates with the fur-trimmed parka?

That was as much a part of your life in Anchorage as Gilman’s bread or going to see a movie at the 4th Avenue Theatre.

Most of us had a carton of Matanuska Maid milk on the table at breakfast. And we all remember that the young lady on the carton was known as the Matanuska Maid.

The dairy got its start in around 1935 as a cooperative created by the colonists who put together the town of Palmer, Alaska.

In its first year, the co-op sold 5,458 pounds of butter and 26,000 eggs.

By the 1940s, they were producing more than $1 million dollars in annual sales.

A 1935 Colony Farm

The photo above shows the Raymond Rebarchek farm.

Hey, we need a Name!

Pictured above is Dorothy Ann Sheely Bush in 1993, she was the school girl who won the dairy naming contest. Also pictured is her mom Charlotte Sheely with Dorothy in 1935.

The Matanuska colony decided, in 1935, that the dairy cooperative should have a name.

A contest was held, and an interesting thing happened.

Dorothy Ann Sheely, a local high school student, came up with the chosen name. Instead of Matanuska “Made”, she came up with Matanuska “Maid”. Her prize was $25. And that was a nice sum in 1935.

BONUS

In 1960, Matanuska Maid wanted a name for the young lady ice skater featured on their dairy products.

Mrs. John Secora of Anchorage came up with the name, “Anuska” which was the contest winner.

Notice that Anuska is Matanuska without the “Mat”.

Yes, You Can Share this Edition

It’s so easy to share this edition of the Alaska VIP Club with your friends or family or even co-workers… And when you do, they will be so happy that they will write a hit song about you that will make you famous… Well, it could happen.

Click on the following link:

Thanks for reading, the Alaska VIP Club. This post is public, so feel free to share it.

A TV Weather Girl and the Matanuska Maid

In the photo above is Phyllis Hayes.

Before Theda Comstock stood behind the KENI-TV channel 2 weather map, astonishing everyone with her ability to write backwards (it was really a camera trick), Phyllis Hayes was presenting the nightly TV weather.

But Phyllis had another fun personality.

Everyone in Anchorage, and throughout Alaska, wanted to see “Anuska”, the Matanuska Maid in person. So, the dairy chose Phyllis and some other delightful ladies, to dress up in the famous fur-trimmed outfit and meet all those eager Matanuska Maid fans at gatherings, events, and parades all over Alaska.

A Fun Memory

When Mary of the Alaska VIP Club was a young girl in Anchorage, she used to sit at the breakfast table with her seven brothers and sisters. As they enjoyed their hot or cold cereal, they would read what was on the Matanuska Maid milk carton and scrape off the wax with their thumbnail. Then they would rotate the carton, scrape wax from the other side, then the other, then… well, you get the picture.

Did you enjoy reading cereal boxes and milk cartons at breakfast? Do you still read them?

Matanuska Maid

Like so many things we remember in Anchorage, the 4th Avenue Theatre, Gilman’s Bakery and even KTVA channel 11, Anchorage’s first TV station, they are all gone now.

And Anuska, our favorite Matanuska Maid, has hung up her ice skates for good. Our favorite dairy that began in 1935, has delivered its last quart of milk.

For our purposes here at the Alaska VIP Club, it doesn’t matter why it’s gone, only that we still have the memories.

For so many years, like Gilman’s bread, the 4th Avenue Theatre or KTVA channel 11, Matanuska Maid was ours… and we loved it.

BONUS

Mike and Mary have a new podcast that we think you’ll really appreciate.

It doesn’t have anything to do with Anchorage, or Alaska.

It’s called, Relaxing Music Moment and you are invited to take a moment for yourself. All it takes is a moment. You deserve a break. And it’s FREE.

The music will take you away, the inviting scenes will transport you.

And you’ll enjoy reading the short, beautifully composed description of each moment you choose.

Take a look at Relaxing Music Moment and… relax.

From our North Stars (that’s you)

From our podcast about the Alaska Gold Rush

Avril wrote:

“I always find out something new even though I lived there for 12 years.  It's truly amazing how these gold rush people lived in tents and survived.” 

Jeanne shared this:

“My maternal grandfather was one of those who left Skagway for Whitehorse to look for gold and his sister, my great aunt, was a “dancehall girl” during the gold rush. 

My grandfather didn't strike it rich, but moved to Juneau, where he married, and my mother was born. My aunt “retired” to the Bay Area for the rest of her life. 

Reading your story reminded me of what my mother told me. I never had the opportunity to know either my grandfather or aunt. Just heard the stories.”

Tom had this memory:

“In the late 1970s while living in Juneau, my brother and brother-in-law from Anchorage decided we would hike the Chilkoot Trail.  After meeting in Skagway, we decided to walk the 9 miles to the trailhead (Dyea) rather than wait for a ride. 

Climbing the steps with a full pack with only minimal provisions was tough, making us realize what the prospectors endured.  There was a Mountie stationed at the top as we crossed into Canada.  After spending a night at a cabin, we made it to Lake Bennett and enjoyed lunch and a train ride on the White Pass & Yukon RR back to Skagway.”

Connect with Us

Great memories of Matanuska Maid.

Now are you hungry for some breakfast cereal in a bowl full of Matanuska Maid milk? We are.

Do you have a comment? You can reach us by replying to this email.

Or, you can Contact Us to say, “I loved the Matanuska Maid Dairy.”

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska VIP Club.com

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

While the Klondike gold fields were in Canada, along the Yukon River, the cheapest entrance was through Skagway, Alaska, or Dyea which was located across the Lynn Canal.

It’s estimated that 100,000 prospectors, known as “stampeders” packed the docks headed for Skagway and Dyea on their way to the Klondike in 1897.

Most left for Alaska by steam ship from Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Ships traveled up Alaska’s inside passage and into the Lynn Canal, the deepest Fjord in North America and one of the longest in the world. Skagway and the town of Dyea were located off the Lynn Canal.

Skagway, Alaska

Muddy streets and hastily thrown together boardwalks greeted weary gold seekers as they left the steam ships and made their way into Skagway.

Dyea, Alaska

Before the gold rush, Dyea was a seasonal fishing camp and a port for trading ships with goods headed for the interior of Alaska. The name Dyea means “to pack”.

Gold seekers came to Dyea to use the Chilkoot Pass to get to the Klondike gold fields. When the stampeders arrived, Dyea consisted of the Healy & Wilson Trading Post, a few saloons and a rugged tent city. There was also a U.S. military contingent, but they were instructed not to interfere in civilian matters.

Dyea is now, mostly, a ghost town.

BONUS

Take a look at this video about the history of Dyea and discover

The Chilkoot Steps

The Chilkoot Pass led stampeders into Canada on their way to the Klondike River. The Canadian Mounties required every prospector to bring a full years worth of supplies with them. So, every person had to make many trips up and down this very long pass to get all their goods to the top. As you might imagine, while stampeders were busy making multiple trips up and down the Chilkoot, theft of supplies was rampant.

The Chilkoot had steps cut into the pass that the stampeders used to get up the steep grade. It was called the “Chilkoot Steps” and it was a hard climb. Imagine doing that over and over until you had all your supplies on the top. Only to have them stolen.

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You can easily share this edition of the Alaska VIP Club with them.

Just click on the following link:

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Enter Jeff, “Soapy” Smith

A brilliant con man, Jeff Smith, brought his gang from Colorado to Skagway to take advantage of the men arriving in Skagway with money to buy goods to get them to the gold fields. And to rob miners returning to Skagway of any gold they found in the Klondike.

Smith even had men working the steam ships headed to Skagway and Dyea. His men found out who had money, so that when the ship arrived and the passengers got ashore, they could be mugged or conned out of their money.

Soapy Smith got the name “Soapy” after a con game. He would sell bars of soap for a dollar with the chance to find 10 dollars, 20 dollars or more, tucked inside the wrapper.

However, Soapy had men planted in the crowd who would “find” the soap bars with money, causing the gathered crowd to get so excited that they would buy up all the soap, hoping to find money in the wrappers.

Of course, Soapy’s men were the only ones to “find” the money (which they later had to give back to Soapy). The take was always enough for Soapy to play a few games of faro.

The Skagway Telegraph Office

There was no telegraph service in Skagway. But Soapy came up with a brilliant con.

The Skagway Telegraph office had a telegraph cable that went as far as the inlet. Inside the office, Soapy’s men would take your message and “send” it. In the backroom, Soapy’s men wrote the “replies”.

People were sending telegrams about how much money they had or how much gold they found. Then Soapy’s men, who were working the Skagway Telegraph Office con, would report to the gang, who would then find various ways to steal the person’s money or gold.

One Man Law

Thieves, thugs, and con men could operate pretty easily because Marshall Rowan was the only lawman in Skagway.

Soapy had tried and failed to get Rowan in his pocket. Later, Rowan was shot and killed by a shotgun blast in a Skagway saloon. It is believed that the shooting was set up by Soapy.

The End of the Klondike Gold Rush

It was over in a short amount of time.

Because of the hardships involved, few make it to the gold.

As for Soapy Smith, some of his men robbed a lucky prospector. The prospector complained, and a mob formed to run Soapy Smith out of town.

But Soapy faced down the mob and in a brief gun fight, Soapy was shot and killed.

From our North Stars (that’s you)

Did you know that you can comment on each edition of the Alaska VIP Club?

You can either reply to this email, or you can Contact Us to say, “I’ve been to Skagway, Alaska.”

A Final Word from Mike and Mary

Did you strike gold?

Just reading about the Alaska Gold Rush was like striking gold… But now you have to make sure that Soapy Smith and his men don’t take it away from you.

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska VIP Club

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

In the spring of 1915, over 2,000 prospective workers and merchants assembled at the mouth of Ship Creek.

And more were arriving every day.

Shore Access was Difficult

Pictured above, unloading a barge

Steam Ships anchored in Cook Inlet sent out small launches that brought passengers to shore on Ship Creek Flats.

It was a muddy mess. Horse and foot traffic slogged their way through mud over corduroy log paths and the few hastily laid out boardwalks.

A “tent City” quickly sprang up. It was filled with a rag-tag collection of tents and temporary wood buildings. The conditions were rugged and unsanitary.

Overcrowded and Unsanitary

By June 1915, tent city was dangerously overcrowded and unsanitary.

Harry and Katsuyo Kimura arrived in tent city from Seattle and took over a hand laundry. There was no running water, and the clothes that were brought to them to be cleaned were full of lice.

Years later, the Kimura family went on to build Snow-White Laundry and Cleaners and the very popular restaurant, Nikko Garden. Just to name a couple.

But back in 1915, the AEC, Alaska Engineering Commission ordered that by mid-August, all tents had to be moved off Ship Creek Flats and relocated up onto what is now known Government Hill and the new town site.

What Caused This Rush? It Wasn’t Gold

From May through June 1914, 11 survey parties were sent from Seattle to Alaska.

The purpose of these 11 survey crews, was to determine possible routes for a proposed Alaska Railroad.

BONUS

Take a look at this information about the Alaska Railroad Survey Crews and enjoy.

Yes, You can Share this Issue

Your friends and family will say, “Wow” when you share this Tent City edition with them.

And when you do, they will be so happy that they will name a bright star in the night sky after you… Well, it could happen.

Click on the following link:

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

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson Decided

In April 1915, needing coal for the Pacific Fleet, the Federal Government decided to access the coal fields of the Matanuska Valley in Alaska.

President Woodrow Wilson made the decision that the Alaska Railroad would run from Seward to Fairbanks. The route would take the railroad past the coal deposits of the Matanuska Valley and would end in Fairbanks.

Then, in 1915, the United States Congress authorized construction of the only Federally owned railroad in the history of the U.S.

Construction headquarters would be established at the mouth of Ship Creek at Cook Inlet.

And because Cook Inlet could be dredged to accommodate larger ships and was a protected boat anchorage, the area was chosen as the Alaska Railroad mid-point.

The goal was to lay 470 miles of railroad track.

The Stampede

It was like a gold rush without the gold

When it was announced that the AEC, Alaska Engineering Commission, was going to hire workers, thousands of people began arriving at Ship Creek Flats. Some were looking for jobs, some for lucrative business opportunities.

Almost overnight, a rugged tent city sprang up among the tree stumps. And the work began.

Who Drove the First Spike?

Martha White, who was born in a cabin just off Cook Inlet, was selected to drive the first railroad spike.

BONUS

Click on the following link:

See how the railroad gave birth to Anchorage and discover.

The Plateau Above Ship Creek

A town was beginning, so lots were then laid out for a 240 acre town site under the supervision of Andrew Christensen of the General Land Office.

First House Built in Anchorage

Located in Elderberry Park at 420 M Street in Anchorage, a home was built in 1915 by Oscar Anderson. Aside from a few log cabins, It was the first wood home built in Anchorage. His home still stands today as an Anchorage tourist site.

Oscar Anderson claimed to be the 18th person to set foot on what is now Anchorage. He lived in his house until his passing in 1974.

BONUS

Take a virtual tour of the Oscar Anderson House and enjoy.

How did they arrive at a Name for this New “Town”?

An election was held on August 9, 1915, to decide on an official name for the town that was springing up before their eyes.

Names to consider included:

Alaska City

Gateway

Homestead

Anchorage

Lane (named after Secretary of the Interior, Franklin D. Lane)

Matanuska

Ship Creek

Terminal

Winalaska

There were 538 votes cast.

The winner was Alaska City with 146 votes.

Lane came in second with 129 votes. Third choice was Anchorage with 101 votes.

Then Governor J.F.A. Strong wanted “Matanuska”.

The Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC) wanted the name “Ship Creek”.

Enter the United States Post Office

Yes, the U.S. Post Office gave the town the name Anchorage.

They appointed Roydon Chase as the first postmaster, and all mail was then sent to “Anchorage, Alaska.”

The new name was quickly added to maps and news stories covering the building of the railroad and the town.

Cook Inlet Pioneer and Knik Newspaper

So much was happening that a newspaper set up shop in town.

From it’s ragged tent office, the first issue of the Cook Inlet Pioneer & Knik News was issued as volume 1, number 1 as a weekly newspaper on June 5, 1915.

BONUS

Knik was once the largest settlement on Cook Inlet.

Goods were shipped from Knik to interior Alaska. But when the Alaska Railroad by-passed Knik in favor of Ship Creek, and when the railroad reached Wasilla, Knik lost its place as a shipping point.

As a result, most of Knik was abandoned and many of the buildings were moved to other communities.

Published Daily with a New Name

In October 1915, the name of the first newspaper in tent city (Anchorage) was changed to the Cook Inlet Pioneer, and it became Anchorage’s first daily newspaper.

*It would later become the Anchorage Daily Times.

From a Rugged Tent City to Modern Anchorage, Alaska

Happily, the town of Anchorage still has a few reminders of its early days.

The Wendler building, in downtown Anchorage, was one of the first grocery stores in Anchorage, and later it was the home of Club 25.

The Oscar Anderson house and the home of the first mayor of Anchorage, Leopold David.

Now, Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. But not that long ago, it was a ragged, tent city, carved out of the Alaska wilderness on the shores of Cook Inlet.

From our North Stars (that’s you)

From our look at “The Lake Illiamna Monster”.

Ben sent us this comment:

“I used to sit in the right seat of my dad’s plane looking down over the float, hoping I’d catch a glimpse of Illie!”

Jim is interested in the $100 thousand dollar reward:

“Now, that is a very interesting story about the Iliamna Lake monster. Thank you for the story.  I'm surprised that no one has claimed the $100,000 reward.”

Connect with Mike and Mary

Can you imagine what it was like during those first months in the tent city that started what would become Anchorage, Alaska?

We owe a lot to those early pioneers.

Do you have a comment? You can reach us by replying to this email. Or you can comment below. And you can even Contact Us just to say, “Hello”.

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage Memories.com

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

Scotland has the Loch Ness monster, also known as “Nessie”.

But did you know that Alaska has the Illiamna Lake Monster, also known as “Illie”?

Alaska Has How Many Lakes?

Alaska has over 3 million unnamed natural lakes, and about 3,197 officially named lakes.

Iliamna Lake

The largest lake in Alaska is Iliamna Lake, located in Southwest Alaska at the north end of the Alaska Peninsula, about 100 miles from Seldovia, Alaska.

That’s a Lot of Water

Iliamna Lake is 77 miles long, up to 22 miles wide and has a depth of 988 feet.

Where Did the Lake Get Its Name?

The name Iliamna comes from the inland Dena’ina Athabascan name “Nila Vena” which means “island’s lake”.

How Does it Compare?

While Iliamna Lake is the largest in Alaska, it’s the 3rd largest lake in the entire United States and the 24th in all of North America.

The Illiamna Lake Monster

Alaska’s Tlinget people tell stories of a creature in the lake, and the Aleut people tell stories of a fish-like monster in the lake.

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Would your friends like to discover Alaska’s Illiamna Lake Monster?

They will be so happy when you share this with them, that they will send you on an all - expenses paid Alaska Cruise… well, it could happen.

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

Monster Sightings

In 1942, a bush pilot named Babe Alsworth and a man named Bill Hammersley were flying over the lake.

Somewhere in the middle, Alsworth spotted something unusual.

Flying lower, he noticed what appeared to be giant fish. Then flying even closer, both the men saw huge fish the color of dull aluminum, The heads of the fish were broad and blunt. The tails of the fish were moving side-to-side.

Note: Whales move their tails up and down.

The two flew even closer and spotted several dozen fish that the two described as looking like mini-submarines. The monster fish were about 20 feet long.

An Encounter with the Illiamna Lake Monster?

As the story goes, an unnamed man was trolling for the Illiamna Lake Monster.

He used 5/16th stainless-steel cables for fishing line with number two tuna hooks, baited with caribou meat.

The cables were tied off to the struts of his float plane. Then the man sat on one of his floats as his plane drifted over the lake.

Suddenly, there was a massive jerk that knocked the man into the lake. The plane was then towed away by something in the water. The man was somehow able to make it back to shore.

Later, the man recovered his float plane. He discovered that three of the steel cables were gone. The 9-inch tuna hooks on the cables that remained had been straightened out.

Monster Stories

There have been many stories of sightings and encounters over the years.

In 1979, the Anchorage Daily News offered a $100 thousand dollar reward to anyone who could provide conclusive evidence that proved the existence of the Illiamna Lake monster.

To date, the $100 thousand dollar reward has not been claimed.

A White Sturgeon?

Here is one possible explanation for the Illiamna Lake monster.

White Sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in North America. At up to 20 feet in length, they can weigh over 1,500 pounds. And a White Sturgeon can live for over 100 years.

And by the way, White Sturgeon are bottom dwellers. Because of that, sightings are rare. And remember, Illiamna Lake is around 988 feet deep.

So, while the stories are fun to hear around the campfire, the monster may just be a species of White Sturgeon, a Pacific Sleeper shark. Or? You decide.

From our North Stars (that’s you)

From our Anchorage Spa Swimming Pool edition.

Karen sent us this comment:

“Dad became a member. I remember the smell of chlorine and the “fog” when you entered the room with the pool. I also remember wading in the “kiddies” pool.”

Diana told us her story:

“Great job, as always! I did start my lessons there but couldn't complete them because I was too afraid of the water. My dad had thrown me in Spenard Lake, and I sank to the bottom and didn't come back up. When they finally found me, they had to give me mouth-to-mouth. I've been afraid of the water ever since.”

Anne has this memory:

“When the spa opened, I started to save the $200. It took 3 years. When I had enough saved in 1956, I decided that it was too late because it was time for college.

I did get to swim at the Spa when I tried to train without a coach to be on the swim team at Anchorage High.”

Douglas sent this comment:

“I learned how to swim there when I was about 6-7. I remember the chlorine taste of the water.”

Gene set along this memory:

“Comically, I nearly drowned during my high school class swimming lesson at the Spa in 1957, and never did learn to swim even though I joined the Navy in '61. But many great memories of splashing around in the warm water of the pool.”

Connect with US

Wow, do you love a good monster story? (look who’s eating all the popcorn.)

Illiamna Lake is a fascinating place in Alaska, with many great stories.

Do you have a comment? You can easily connect with us by replying to this email. Or, you can Contact Us to say, “I saw the Illiamna Lake Monster”.

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage Memories.com

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

What Are Your Memories of the Spa?

Here are just a few from a post about the Spa on the Alaska VIP Club

Eric remembers:

“Learned to swim there. Bussed over from Clark Junior High. How did we have the time to swim before we had to get back to class?”

Barbara had this to say:

“For two weeks, first thing in the morning a busload of us were taken to the Spa. It was great to have swimming lessons. I still really appreciate the building design with the wall of windows. But afterward, we had to get back on the bus in our damp clothes, coats and wet hair.”

Joe shares this memory:

“I swam there. It was only a block from my house.”

Paige remembers the swim club:

“I was on a Swim Club there in 1970”

Marcia has this vivid memory:

“It was Heaven on earth! Our Youth Group used to go there, and I’ve never forgotten the wonder of it all.”

Kathi said this:

“Loved swimming there.”

The Spa’s Beginnings

Until March 1953, when the Spa first opened, if you wanted to swim in or around Anchorage, you had one choice… It had to be summer, and you had to swim in a lake. Or with your rubber ducky in the bathtub.

Then on March 31, 1952, a man named Edwin Suddock, a wholesale grocer, and his wife Mary, made a welcome announcement. They were going to build a private, indoor swimming pool in Anchorage.

The location for the pool was at 1720 F Street between West 16th and 17th Avenues. The location was just above what would later become the Valley of the Moon Park.

The initial cost estimate was $40,000 dollars. Today, that would be well over $400,000 dollars.

Charter Memberships

As a private pool, Spa memberships that allowed access for your immediate family were initially offered for 200 dollars, or around 2,000 dollars in today’s money.

In less than 2 hours, they sold 35 memberships. 2 months later, they had sold 200.

The Original Plan

A smaller initial pool concept of a 30 by 40 foot pool was updated to 30 by 60 feet. The addition of a children’s splash pool also increased the cost of memberships.

Yes, You can Share this Edition

You can share this edition of the Alaska VIP Club and podcast with your friends or family… Come to think of it, you could even share this with some folks you barely know. And they’ll love you for it.

And when you share this with someone, they will be so happy that they’ll bake you a batch of your favorite cookies… well, it could happen.

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

The March 1953 Grand Opening

Over 300 members enjoyed the new facility. The final cost came in at $95,000 dollars, or roughly $935,000 dollars in today’s money.

Everyone loved the south-facing wall of glass.

An aquatic ballet performer named Joyce Dillman was the Spa’s first lifeguard and swimming instructor.

Mary of the Alaska VIP Club

As a student at Central Junior High, I remember being bussed to the Spa in late fall.

“I didn’t know how to swim, so I started with a group as a beginner. Other students were in the intermediate group.

When our swimming lessons were over, everyone else had advanced to the next level. Everyone but me and one other student. We started and left as beginners who never learned to swim.

At the end of each session I remember walking out into the crisp, cold air and getting back on the bus with my long, wet, steaming hair. Ugh!”

The Fort Richardson Field House

Interestingly, a swimming pool was also built on Fort Richardson for military personnel and their dependents about the same time as the Spa.

The West High School Pool

On June 19, 1972, a public indoor pool opened at West High School. At 42 by 75 feet it was larger than the Spa’s pool and no membership was required.

The Spa’s Last Days

There are no references to “the Spa” after 1977, so it’s not clear when the Spa closed its doors.

The structure around the pool was torn down in 1983.

Hal Manning, the new owner, built around the pool and called the new facility the “Country Club” or the “Club House”.

Mike’s Memories

I remember driving by the Spa with my family when I was a boy. The big glass wall of windows looked very intriguing to me. And the shape of the building was very different from other Anchorage buildings.

While I was at Clark Junior High, I remember when we were told that we would be taken to the Spa by bus. There we would receive swimming lessons and that those of us who didn’t know how to swim would learn how.

Following our lessons, we had an open house where each of us made a solo dive into the pool and swam to the far side… When it was my turn, I didn’t dive very well and ended up doing a major “belly flop” in front of a room full of parents. Ouch!

Visit our website

A treasure chest of stories, pictures, and videos of the Anchorage we all love.

Take a look at Anchorage Memories.com and enjoy.

Final Thoughts

Like most of you, I have fond memories of my family driving by the Spa, then I eventually got to swim there, if only for a short time during school.

So, Mary and I of Anchorage Memories hope you have enjoyed this stroll (or swim) down another great memory of days gone by in Anchorage.

From Our North Stars (that’s you)

From our edition about Anchorage pioneer, Nellie Brown. She and her husband, Jack, lived near Green Lake for a time.

Jackie remembers Green Lake:

“Ah, Green Lake. I spent a lovely, sunny day there back in the 50s with my dear friend Cherie, whose dad was military. Beautiful setting and a really carefree afternoon. Thanks for the background info.”

Rozanne had a close connection with Nellie Brown:

“I love stories about her. I worked for her a couple of times while she was still living in her government hill home.” 

Helen had this observation:

“I never realized that the earliest pioneers in Anchorage would have gotten their mail in Eagle River, on the Iditarod Trail, but of course, that makes perfect sense.”

Get in Touch

After our look at the Spa Swimming Pool, is your hair dry yet?

The Spa Swimming Pool is a great memory for so many people who live, or used to live, in Anchorage.

What are your Spa Swimming Pool memories? You can connect with us by replying to this email, or you can Contact Us to say, “I still remember my steaming hair on a cold winter day as I boarded my school bus after a swim at the Spa.”

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska VIP Club.com

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

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, Alaska

John “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 1912

A 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.

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Alaska Railroad Days

In 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 Ranch

Have 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 Cordova

Alaskan 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.

BONUS

Take a look at the fascinating life of Alaska artist Sydney Laurence and discover.

348 Harvard Avenue

Nellie 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 Diner

Nellie Brown holds a cake shaped like her diner seen in the background

In 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.

BONUS

Visit Anchorage Memories.com

A treasure chest of memories of Anchorage, Alaska

Take a look at Anchorage Memories and enjoy.

There is More to the Story

There is so much more to this story. But we’ll have to leave the Browns this way.

Jack Brown passed away in 1972

Nellie 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.

BONUS

Would you like to know more?

Take a look at Jack and Nellie Brown and enjoy.

From Our North Stars (that’s you)

From our Alaska 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 Mary

Did you enjoy this edition of the Alaska 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 Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska VIP Club.com

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

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.

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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.

BONUS

Visit Anchorage Memories.com

A treasure chest of memories of Anchorage, Alaska

Take a look at Anchorage Memories and enjoy.

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 Alaska VIP Club and Podcast. Alaska is a gigantic place with many stories to tell.

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska VIP Club.com

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

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 Alaska 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 Anchorage

As 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.

BONUS

Would you like to know more about Tent City?

Take a look at this City of Anchorage, Tent City story and discover.

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A Grocery and General Store

Tony 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, 1915

Just 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 1920

Tony 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 25

In 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.

BONUS

Visit Anchorage Memories.com

A treasure chest of memories about Anchorage, Alaska.

Take a look at Anchorage Memories.com and enjoy.

Relocation

Originally 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 Oldest

The 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 25

As 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?

BONUS

Read 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 and Kaz; Kathy, Roger, and Wayne.  We all bowled together.

I graduated from West with Kathy. Jim got me started in soil work in Anchorage.  Jim and I both got our bachelor's degrees in geology at Alaska Methodist University.  Jim and his wife Kathy both taught in the Anchorage School System. 

Nikko Garden was one of our favorite dining spots. It was where we saw the most of George and Kaz.  We also knew of Sam and his photo studio off Jewel Lake Road.”

And Dennis offered this:

“I had a friend named Chris, who, I believe, was a nephew of George. Chris was the first bar tender at Nikko Garden, and they hired me as a bus boy!I got to eat after closing with the whole staff! 

When I got married, my wife and I were gifted with dinner at Nikko! Still married 58 years later! Great people! Thanks for the memories!”

Avril shared this memory:

“I remember Nikko Gardens when I lived in Anchorage in the 70s, and yes, it was the place to go. The food was fabulous. Thank you for the wonderful story, and I look forward to going down memory lane again”. 

Connect with Mike and Mary

Club 25 and the Wendler Building have been an important part of Anchorage for many years.

Are you enjoying the Alaska VIP Club Podcast? You can send us your comments by replying to this email. Or, you can Contact Us to say., “I went to Club 25 in Anchorage.”

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska VIP Club.com

 

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

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 House

Then, as if he didn’t have enough to do, Harry opened the Chop Suey House in a small building next door to the laundry.

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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.

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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 II

In 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 Cleaners

Following 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 Garden

Opened 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 Connection

Anchorage 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.

BONUS

To 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 Say

Juanita 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 Us

Do 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 Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage Memories.com

Get full access to Alaska VIP Club at www.alaskavipclub.com/subscribe

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.”

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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.

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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

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