Alley Audio Vision

In 1965 Anchorage was rebuilding after the great earthquake. Ralph's new architectural practice was just getting started and he was dealing with growing pains and an oppressive workload. He was also developing a wonderfully unique and expressive design palette and enjoyed a high level of interest in his projects.

January 3, 1959. Anchorage Times publisher Robert Atwood with the flag and Alaska bigwigs including Alaska U.S. Senators Gruening and Bartlett. Note the 49-star U.S. flag which was only in use for a few months prior to Hawaii becoming the 50th state.

Photos of house for Rod and Gywnneth Wilson in the Sand Lake area of Anchorage which Ralph discusses in this episode. In 1999 on a tour of some of Ralph’s Anchorage projects we found the Wilson house intact and in original condition. In 2023 it has been modified.

Alaska architect Ralph Alley established his solo practice shortly after the 1964 earthquake. Rebuilding work was underway in all parts of the city. Ralph discusses these projects and what he saw on a tour of ruins in Anchorage’s Turnagain neighborhood which sustained heavy damage.

1964-based episode on earthquake aftermath and rebuilding and the beginning of Ralph’s career as an independent architect.

The “lost episode”, finished and released six months after recording.

Ralph Alley and his housemate Dan were about to begin their weekly workout regimen when they were interrupted by the mightiest earthquake ever to hit North America. The State of Alaska, City of Anchorage and the lives of all inhabitants would never be the same again. Ralph provides a firsthand report about what it was like, during and after this insane event.

This video goes into a lot of detail of the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami on Kodiak. Valdez, Cordova, Seward and other coastal towns had similar chaos and damage — in some cases worse than seen here [difficult to imagine!].

The Hillside Apartments, 16th Ave. and G Street. Ralph and his friends walked over here and helped residents retrieve cats, dogs and belongings from the apartments. This is the north side and on the south side the damage to parts of the building was more extreme. Photo from Judith and Malcolm McDonald papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Damage in the Turnagain neighorhood was extensive, with 75 houses completely destroyed. Some that remained intact ended up being moved to other places in Anchorage with better underlying soil conditions. There were few deaths in the earthquake but some of them were here in Turnagain. Photo from Ward Wells Collection, Anchorage Museum.

A two or three long section of the north side of the city’s main street, 4th Avenue sunk between 10 and 20 feet, buckling buildings, streets and sidewalks. The south side of the street [on top of the hill] was mostly OK and some of the buildings are still there today. New buildings were built in the subsidence zone years later after the bluff was stabilized with driven sheet piling. Photo from Ruth A.M. Schmidt papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

A man reads news accounts of the seismic event. Photo from Robert and Wilma Knox papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Anchorage woman boiling snow for water. Water, sewer, electric and other utilities were damaged and it took several weeks to repair and gradually reconnect them. Photo from Robert and Wilma Knox papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

The Hewitt’s Drug Store building that dated from the 1920s was damaged beyond repair and torn down in late 1964. Ralph moved out of a second floor apartment here less than a month before the quake.

After he survived a plane crash in Summer 1963, Ralph traded in his Corvair coupe for a Buick Skylark convertible and left for a weekend road trip to Homer, Seward and back. He recalls the hospitality and scenery along the way. Later in the year, he learns of President Kennedy’s death at the office on a melancholy winter day. After a year marred by tragedy and disappointment, Ralph and two friends decided to throw a fabulous Christmas party.

This is about the same as Ralph’s 1962. The sound quality on this video isn’t great but the owner and the guy he’s speaking with know their history and the details about the car.

The former Edgewater Hotel, Old Seward Highway, Anchorage. Candidate John F. Kennedy stopped here in 1960. After a stint as Alaska Laborers Training School, it is now home to Remade, a non-profit organization with a thrift shop and classes on up-cycling. Photos by Clark Yerrington, 2020.

Turnagain Pass. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2010.

Our Point of View Lodge, Kenai Lake photographed April 24, 1963. Alice and Bob Arwezon photographs, Consortium Library, UAA.

Alice Arwezon at the junction of the Sterling and Seward Highways (Tern Lake) in 1963.

The old general store in Cooper Landing is now part of a museum. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2016.

Liquor store in Moose Pass. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2008.

Fishing boats in Ninilchik, 1960s. Harry and Norma Hoyt family papers, Consortium Library, UAA.

Ninilchik Village with the Russian Orthodox church on top of the hill behind. Francis J. Huber slides, Consortium Library, UAA.

Ninilchik church. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2009.

Stacked stones on the beach, Homer Spit with the top of the Salty Dawg Saloon behind. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2007.

Homer Spit beach. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2009.

Homer Spit and mountains beyond on the other side of Kachemak Bay. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2014.

The Bay View Inn, on the hill on the way down into Homer had quaint 1950s rooms and a panoramic view. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2009.

Homer cabin. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2009.

Seward, AK in 1960. Charles Cassata photographs, Alaska Historical Society Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

House with a Mission style gable roof treatment, downtown Seward. Photo by Clark Yerrington, 2008.

A page from Ralph’s photo album from the 1963 Christmas party at his Anchorage 4th Ave. apartment.

The previous episode was a cliff hanger, with the 4-passenger plane about to crash land. This time, we find out what happened next.

In this 1962-63 based episode Ralph Alley faces his greatest challenge.

Ralph’s career starts to flourish as he becomes intimate with 1960s Anchorage people and places. He speaks about explosive growth of the city and registration exams.

Evangeline Atwood at home in Turnagain in 1954. Photo from Ward Wells Collection.

Ralph sticks closer to home, driving around in his new Corvair to check on the homesites of Anchorage’s elite. He describes what it was like to travel up Spenard Road from the airport to downtown in those days; and recalls some interesting local venues and proprietors.