No,·emlX'r 2017 Nc"slcltcr ~ Kenai Historical Society ~ P.O. Box 1348 Kenai, Alaska 99611

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Board of Directors: Officers:

President- June Harris Joe Harris Betty ldlcman Vice President-Virginia Walters Bill Nelson Dave Thompson Secretary-Sharon Fisher Frosty Walters Treasurer- Katherine Thompson

Preserving History When Kitty Thompson asked if I would be interested in an INSIDE THIS ISSUE: article about researching the origin of the name of Pickle Hill, I had recently read a thread in the website of Growing Up on the Kenai on the same subject. I was curious as to what she had learned and asked her to send it to me. As I read it, I im­ • PRESERVlNG HISTORY mediately identified with some of her thoughts. Researching is a lot like wandering through a maze- -you find information that takes you nowhere, you get sidetracked time after time, • RES.EARCH ADVENTURE and you are lucky if you ever find a complete or final answer by Kitty Thompson because a lot of information out there is questionable, incom­ • November 2017 Minutes plete, and sometimes outright false. Over the years, as I be­ came interested in trying to record and preseive local history, • THE GENERAL STORES OF the trail remains enticing and somewhat elusive. KENAI by Cori Fandel in a 1975 Kenai High School pro­ I am including in this newsletter a narrative prepared 4 dec­ ject "Narratives of the Kenai­ ades ago as a Kenai High School History Classes Project. I Soldotna Communil y chose this particular story from that booklet because it con­ • ANNOUNCEMENTS tains further information on the history of stores in the Kenai area, and further information about the character I have writ­ ten about before-Bill Dawson (or as in the narration, Daws­ in).

• •••••••••••••• KENAJ HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLE'ITER Written by Sharon Fishe.r If you would like lo contribute ideas and information to the newsletter, please contact me at 776-8254. l welcome and would entertain any ideas you may have for articles, and would appreciate being contacted if you see errors in the information con· tained in the newsletter. RESEARCH ADVENTURE

Recently, during our daily drive around Kenai and to get a coffee, friend husband (thank you Pastor Chuck for the kind term) asked or rather urged me to "find out how Pickle Hill got its name."

Well, that sounds simple enough, right?

My first step, of course, is the World Wide Web. You can find everything you need to know there.

Google gave me many articles that caught my attention:

There is of course, PICKLE HILL BROADCASTING - KDLL

Lany and Loraine Lancashire filed for a 160-acre homestead and built their cabin on top of Pickle Hill in the 195o's. They lived there the rest of their lives.

Loren Stewart homesteaded at mile 2 ofthe Kenai River in 1946. He published the Cheechako newspa­ per starting in 1959. He and his wife, Dorothy, chose the name of their first child by closing their eyes and putting their finger on a peninsula map. Where the finger landed was to be the child's first name. The child's name ended up being 'Nikishka.' Later the child, Niki, was told this story and she said "I am glad my parents did not put their finger on Pickle Hill." Oh, by the way, the Cbeechako subscription rate was $1 for 3 months. It was published till 1986. The Peninsula Clarion started daily publication 1982.

The Redoubt Reporter had a few interesting tidbits on the world wide web. One of these articles was interesting AND informative. Marge Mullen remembers a Pickle Creek when she arrived in the area in 1947.

Al Hersberger, who worked for the Alaska Road Commission from 1948-1951, remembers lots of names of creeks on maps. There were animal names (beaver, mink, otter) and table top items (salt, pepper, sugar, and pickle). The creek flowing in to the Kenai River west of the Kenai Senior Center was called SHK'ITUKTNU. The NU at the end means "flowing water" (something else to research!). The flat park like area to the other side of the Senior Center was a Dena'ina village called SHK'ITUK'T meaning "we slide down." So they made use of the steep river bank to the river. The Civil Aeronautics Administration took over this land in the 195o's for their facilities and family housing. The Dena'ina bad left many years before.

That information brought me to my "research" in the book Once Upon The Kenai. An article in that book was written by my long-time friend Judy (Spiller) Queen. Judy is an old timer here (even though she is much younger than me). When she was 12 years old, her family moved to the metropolis of Kenai from Moses Point (population 17). Judy tells of living in the FAA housing right there. One of the fun things the children of the families living there enjoyed was watclting the trash going down the chutes from the bluff to the river. Cans and everything else went splashing into the river. All I can think is if the environmentalist were around than as they are today, the Spiller family would still be in shackles. Did I mention the FAA built a chute for each family to use.

2 So now on to some more research, where else? A place we can find news, weather, political opinions, sports scores, friendship, live events, and wishes for all occasions. You got it-Facebook. In particu­ lar, one belonging to a group called:"A WORK IN PROGRESS-GROWING UP ON THE KENAI", I posted the question, How did Pickle Hill get its name? Boy, I got answers:

Art M. - I found my thrill on Pickle Hill. (wrong hill I think) Mark B. - Named after the last territorial governor of Ridgeway, Dilliard R. Pickle. (OK I get it, funny one) Diana J. - When the road was being built, the man operating the tractor would slide and get stuck and call it in saying "send help, I'm in a pickle. ( I gave that a Heart response. For all you non -facebookers, that means "I loved" that answer, a little more emotional than a thumbs-up like.) Harry A. and mayor W. - Ifyou are going too fast, you could be in a pickle. Dennis J. - a truck load of pickles went on it's side and everyone said "you know the hill that had all the pickles all over it." (my question, why would there be a truck load of pickles coming to this area in the 4o's and so's? Who would eat them?) Mike W. - Ashlyn E. - The shape of the hill. (I looked at a topographical map and just could not see a pickle.) Carol B. - no one told me but I thought because it is a pickle to get up in icy weather. (Always my thoughts also.) While on Facebook I "discovered" many pictures of Kenai buildings that I probably knew about, but it was great to refresh my memory.

The former post office/thrift store beside the Cabin Park is still empty. The many uses of the Civic League Building and Art Guild beside the Cabin Park also.

I had a desire to see more pictures of Old Kenai. I went back to Once Upon The Kenai and Snapshots and spent hours there. A little old out of the way bar called Kenai Joe's has a history of serving the people of the Kenai area for many years. The folks at Kenai Joe's, John Consiel and Fred Miller, went above and beyond the responsibility of a business. True dedication by our early pioneers.

The first phones in Kenai were battery operated. Gee that is where we are today.

The Representative from Kenai to the 111t Alaska State Legislature in 1959 was Allan Peterson. There was also a representative from Chicken,Alaska.

But as the wee small hours of the morning approach, I best bring my research to a close.

By the way, ifyou know how Pickle Hill got the name, please let me know. I can tell friend husband the answer and perhaps he can give me another research adventure.

Kitty Thompson 3 KENAI HISTORICAL SOCIETY MINUTES *** NOVEMBER 2017

On Sunday, November 6, 2017, the Kenai Historical Society met at the Kenai Visitor's and Convention Center in Kenai. President June Harris opened the meeting at 1:34 p.m.

The minutes of the September 10, 2017 meeting were reviewed by the membership and approved with the exception of a typo. Treasurer Kitty Thompson reported the Alaska USA checking balance stands at $9772.61 (2017 YTD dividend $3.53) and our Credit Union Money Market account balance Is $10,294.52 (2017 YTD divi­ dend $19.21). The Edward Jones Account is $26,675.95 (cash of $1,251.38 and invested amount of $25,424.57). These values are after the withdrawal of $1000 for the scholarship payout. There Is no current update on the Kenai Community Foundation Account., but a quarterly report will be given in December. President June Harris report on the cabins Park, the account balance is $15,557.61, with $6000 earmarked for the payment of the 2018 summer docent. Money will also be taken out for the slgnage of the Swanson River monument now sitting outside the Visitor Center. Joe Harris moved, and Virginia Walters seconded the ac­ ceptance of the financial report, which was approved without objection. Our membership count Is 62. Old Business: In September we voted to contribute $1000 toward the fencing of the drift boat by the Moosemeat John cabin. The city of Kenai Parks and Rec Department installed a very attractive rope fence around the boat. This type of fence is different than what we had agreed to contribute to, so the Society withdrew it's monetary offer. New Business: A request from Visitor Center to change meeting date from Sunday to Saturday to allow meetings to take place during regular business hours for staffing purposes was proposed. Further action is tabled to allow President Harris to meet with the staff supervisor to further discuss the matter. Results of that meeting will be reported back to the membership in December. Letter from John McGuire, son of Jack and Mary McGuire, residents of Walker lane in early 1960's. The letter offers the donation of several items related to the history of the Kenai Pipeline. We sent a response Indicating Interest in the collection. Letter from Dr. Peter Hansen on the subject of extensive items from his medical practice that he feels are his­ torically Important. He is closing out his SO-year practice and has been storing these items and needs to find a new location for them. Would like to donate to the Kenai Historical Society. Discussion ensued as to lack of existing space in the cabins Park, the acquisition of another building that could house the collection, the re­ quirements for that space, and storage until that could be accomplished. Dr. Hansen indicated the possibility of financial contribution toward the building of a one-room cabin to house the collection. President Harris and Dr. Hansen will meet with city officials to see if there is any possibility for storage or the addition of a building with­ in the park (requiring additional space for expanding park boundaries. John Williams reported on the completion of the Fire Truck restoration and thanked the Society for the mone­ tary donation toward that project.

The next meeting will be a December potluck on December 3rd.

Motion to adjourn made by Sharon Fisher with 2nd by Virginia! Walters.

Respectfully submitted by Sharon Fisher, Seaetary.

Speaker: Terri Wilson on history of Oil Industry exploration on Kenai Peninsula

4 THE GENERAL STORES OF KENAI by Cori Fande 1

The Nordstrom Company came to Kenai in March of 1975. Nordstrom bought ou.t Northern Comercial Company and became the specialist store for the Kenai, Anchorage and Fairbanks area •

. ~.~rdstrom is located in two separate sections of the Kenai Mall. The largest section of the store at the north end of Mall supplies women's fashions, teen fashions, lingerie, cosmetics, jewelry, shoes, domestics and children's wear. The main office and loading areas are also located there. The second half of Nordstrom is where Bert's Drug was situated when the Mall first opened, or approximately the middle of the Mall. Its departments are stereo equipment, appliances, housewares and men's wear.

The total sales area of the two sections is ~300 square feet. Nordstrom prides itself in being a specialist store of fashionable wears that are of good quality. Also, its aim is to bring fair prices to its customers. The present store manager is Jack Oprea. The Nordstrom Company, itself, was oriQinated by John W. Nordstrom, who was born in Alvik Neder Lulea, Sweden. John's father died when he was eight years old. At age 16 John was unhappy and wanted to leave home. When he first asked his mother if he could go to America, she did not object but said he would have to raise his own money for the fare. He asked his guardian if he could have the money left to him by his father even though he was not yet 21. The

29 guardian agreed and John used the money for clothing, food and his fare to America. By January, 1891, he was in San Franc1sco; from there he went to Redwood Country, where he got a job as a lwnberjack. Later he went to Seattle, but on arriving he found most of the logging camps shut down and jobs impossible to find. In August of 1896, Nordstrom bought twenty acres of bottom land about a mile outside of Seattle and was going to attempt farming. One Sunday morning while living on his farm he read the headlines of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLINGENCER. Splashed across the page was news that GOLD had been found in the Klondike in Alaska. Together with two friends, Segalson and Kernahan, he boarded a coal freighter and was headed for Alaska in 1897. The trip took four days and their first camp was made on the present townsite of Skagway. They were finally able to reach the south side of the Klondike River whtch at the time was frozen solid, allowing them to walk over the ice into the town of Dawson. Since there were no rooms for rent, the men had to build a cabin about a half mile up the Klondike River. After having had enough of Alaska, Nordstrom returned to Seattle, where he decided to go to business college. In May, 1900, he married a young girl named Hilda Carlson. The same year he met up with Carl F. Wallin, whom he had known in Alaska. Wallin was a shoemaker by trade and on his return to Seattle had set up a shoe repair shop. One day Carl Wallin suggested that they join in a partnership, and so, it was called Wallin and Nordstrom. In July of 1962, the Nordstrom Main Shoe Store in Seattle was con­ sidered to be the largest shoe store in America.

30 In 1975, Nordstrom bought outright the Northern Cormierical stores in Kenai, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Prior to Nordstrom, and even Northern Cornnerical, there was a long line of general stores in Kenai. In the spring of 1785, the Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Russia ven­ tured to the islands near the mainland of Alaska as well as Kenai Penn­ isula and Chugach Bay. Gregori Shelekhov founded the first permanent Russian colony in Alaska, on Kodiak Island. In 1791, Grigor Konovalov and Amos Balushin, representing the Lebedev­ Lastochkin Company, sailed to Alaska. They traveled past the earlier established forts and went sixty miles further up the coast from Fort Alexander before building a new post of their own. The new post was called Fort Saint Nicholas (Nikolaevshy Redoubt) on the Katnu, or Kenai River. Today, this is known as Kenai. At this location, 62 prornyshleniki set forth from the sturdy St. George to build a winter shelter. With ropes they proceeded to haul her up the beach and by using her hull as one of the walls they_built a new redoubt. Bill Dawsin, A man of Scandinavian decent, was running his store in Kenai in 1921. It was furnished with everything necessary to fulfill the needs of the Kenai settlers. Two Dalmatians gave his store memorable character. With the ability to open the latch on the store door, they would let customers enter and never bother Bill when needing to go out. The Dawsin store was a wood structure located near the Kenai bluff. This structure is no longer standing. Two partners, Mr. Palmer and Truman Parrish, purchased the store from Bill Dawsin. Palmer later comnited suicide, so Parrish, ran the store through the 1930's until he sold out and moved to Curkland, Washington. The store's next owner was "Old Man" Hartle.v. He owned the store

31 for only a short time before selling out to Vince Stephan. Hartley's son, Jim, is a North Kenai property owner. Vince Stephan's purchase of the store was around 1945. A tragic fire burned the wood store down in 1947, but Mr. Stephan made a trip down the Cook Inlet and gathered enough materials from an old cannery to re­ build the store. The usual produce available in Stephan's store included apples, oranges, carrots and potatoes. These had to be shipped up from Seattle.

Butter was either canned or packed i~ salt brine. Eggs came from cold storage. On occasion Vince Stephan was able to purchase stalks of bananas fresh off the shipping boats. The fresh fruit was a welcome sight for the Kenai residents. In early 1948 more tragedy struck when Vince Stephan died of pneumonia leaving only a bankrupt store to Mrs. Stephan and the three children: Vincent, Jr., Len and Virginia. Mrs. Stephan remarried to become Mrs. Morton and now resides in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1947 the Kenai Conmercial was incorporated and owned by two families. Mr. and Mrs. Ervin mostly financed the store while they lived in Anchorage. Cecil and Helen Jones were the partners in charge of running the Kenai store. The Jone's general store was located on the Kenai bluff's edge. Being situated near the beach bluff was not only better for the store's trade but also gave a beautiful scenic view. The store itself is still standing in good condition. This portion of the Jone's store is now the home of Roy Jahrig and family. later Kenai Connnerical branched out into two more stores: The

32 Empress Shop, wh·ich was women• s apparel, and a Drug Store. The ·Empress Shop was located in a small building across.from Kenai Joe•s. Mrs. Jones was known to sometimes sleep on a small cot in the back of the building whenever it was impossible for her to get home to her homestead.

Kenai Commercial 1 s second brancn was the Drug St~re, situated diag­ onally from the general store. The building, near the Jahr.ig residence, became the Kenai Annory until a new armory was built. Mr. Stetzer was in charge of running this store. Cecil and He·len Jones divorced and Helen went on to marry Stetzer, the Drug Store manager. Cecil Jones later died of cancer. Even though

Helen's name shuld have been Stetzer, she retained th~ name Jones for business purposes. Mr. Stetzer later conmited suicide. Ine the fall of 1973 Kenai Commercial joined all three of its stores together and moved to a new location, a new store located farther inland than the previous stores. It is still standing on the Spur High­ way which passes through the center of Kenai. Helen Jones ran the Kenai Conmercial for three more years and then sold her business and building to Northern Conmercial. Northern Conmercial ran its new Store in this same building from 1966 until finding the building too small for the population increase of the Kenai Area. Northern Conmercial's new store, built in 1969, was connected to the end of the new Kenai Mall. Northern Conmercial 1 s successor•, Nordstrom Company, being the owners since March of 1975, presently ends Kena1's long line of general stores.

33 Pictured is the former Kenai Corrmercial Building. managed by Helen Jones Stetzer. Later, Helen sold out to Northern Corrmercial Company. When the Northern Corrmercial Company opened its store in the Kenai Mall, then the build­ ing housed N. C. Auto Center.

Nordstrom replaced Northern Corrmercial at this location in the Kenai Mall, March, 1975

34 Bibliography

Hornaday, James C., Editor; Articles by Alan Boraas, Sister Victoria and . Mary Willets; THE NATIVE, RUSSIAN AND AMERICAN EXPERIENCES OF THE KENAI ·AREA OF ALASKA Nordstrom, John W.; THE lftt1IGRANT OF 1887 THE FLAG;. Publication by Northern Conunercial Co. Interviews Mr. Jinm Arness Mrs. Peggy Arness Mr. Casey Jones Mr. Odman Koo ly Mrs. Jack Lewis Mrs. Enid Mclane · Mr. Jack Oprea Mrs. Jetret Petersen

35 KENAI lllSTORICSOCIETY MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Our Orgnni1.ation 1bcrc has been n Jlistoric Society Kenai Historical Society Potluck and since the days before Kenai becom­ ing a city. '11le Society was formed a Monthly Meeting few years before Statehood in 1959, and then went inactive in the early December 3 , 2017-1:30 p.m. 6o·s. It re.1nr1ed in the latter part of Kenai Visitor Center the 6<,.s and has met regularly since. 'The Society had a museum in l'ort Kcnay for some years, and then continued to meet after that closed. A Christmas potluck is scheduled fo r the December meeting; The non-profit Society implemented the Society will be providing a ham and is requesting that and opcrntcs the Kenai Historic members bring potluck side dishes and desserts Cabins Park. open for tours in the summer months. We have office Holiday music will be performed by Kenai High School Cham­ space at the Mooscmcat John cabin. ber Choir under the direction of Simon Nissen but are not open lo the public in that building. Our member meetings are Sept.. Nov.. Dec., Jan., Feb., Mar.. anti April at the Kenai Visitor Center. l'or Oc1. and May. we meet with the Kenai l'cninsula Historicnl Association. Please check the Mcct­ ings and Announcements section on this p:1gc for date information.

Kenai 11 istoric Society 11 IASI l>.O. Box t348 l'l•\l I <;J \Ml Kenui, AK 9961t tllRI

Phone: 283- 1946 Phone: 776-8254 E-mail: [email protected]

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