Government Hill Yesterday and Today An oral history of life on Government Hill as told through the people that lived it. Government Hill Yesterday and Today An oral history of life on Government Hill as told through the people that lived it. October 1, 2012 Municipality of Anchorage Community Development Department Planning Division ii Government Hill—Yesterday and Today Government Hill Yesterday and Today Introduction ~ ◘ ◘ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v CIVIC AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. 27 ◘ PURPOSE . 1 ◘ GOVERNMENT HILL AND THE PORT OF ANCHORAGE. 29 ◘ INTERVIEW PROCESS . 2 ◘ ALASKA STATEHOOD. 30 ◘ PRESENTING THE INTERVIEWEES. 2 ◘ CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1960s). 31 ◘ GEOGRAPHIC AREA . 8 ◘ THE EARTHQUAKE OF ’64 . 32 ◘ THE FIRST PEOPLE . 10 ◘ THE NEXT ERA (1970s to Present) . 35 ◘ NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS. 35 What We Talked About ~ ◘ CHANGES ON GOVERNMENT HILL. 37 ◘ EXCITING THINGS WE STILL TALK ABOUT . 38 ◘ HOW GOVERNMENT HILL GOT ITS NAME. 11 ◘ CLOSING THOUGHTS . 39 ◘ WHY WAS GOVERNMENT HILL SO SPECIAL? . 11 ◘ IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ELEMENTS . 12 Appendices ~ ◘ NOTABLE PEOPLE OF GOVERNMENT HILL . 15 A: NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT. 43 ◘ HOUSING ON GOVERNMENT HILL . 16 B: GERLEK’S HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT HILL. 45 ◘ RAILROADERS . 19 C: “NO HOMEBODY”—AUSTRID GARRETT . 47 ◘ GROWING UP ON GOVERNMENT HILL . 21 D: REFERENCES. 49 ◘ MILITARY MOVES TO GOVERNMENT HILL. 24 E: INTERVIEWS . 51 ◘ URBAN RENEWAL . 27 Government Hill—Yesterday and Today iii iv Government Hill—Yesterday and Today ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The story of life and growing up in Government Hill can only be told Government Hill Community Council: by the people who have lived and worked here, who helped found ◘ Bob French, President Anchorage, Alaska, through their work, personal commitment to the ◘ Stephanie Kesler, Vice President community, and friendship to many. Anchorage Historic Preservation Commission, who contributed their Thank you to the special people that agreed to be interviewed: comments and expertise to this report: ◘ Bobbie Bianchi, Artist and Historian ◘ Mrs. Mary J. Barry ◘ Mrs. Mavis Hancock ◘ Debbie Corbett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ◘ Ms. Bobbie Bianchi ◘ Mr. Darrel Hess ◘ John Crittenden, AIA ◘ Ms. Sidney Billingslea ◘ Mr. Brian Hoefler ◘ Douglas Gasek, SHPO Ex Officio ◘ Elizabeth Grover, Historic Preservation Associate ◘ Mr. Tom Brennan ◘ Mr. Jack B. Karterman ◘ Darrell Lewis, National Park Service ◘ Mrs. Marjorie Ellis ◘ Ms. Melanie Ellis Lynch ◘ Richard Porter, CEO, Knik Tribal Council ◘ Mr. Weaver Franklin ◘ Mr. John Nelson ◘ Michelle Ritter, Chair ◘ Kim Varner Wetzel, Planning Consultant ◘ Mrs. Austrid Garrett ◘ Mr. Jerry Peters ◘ Mr. Stephen Gerlek ◘ Mr. Stephen Saunders Municipality of Anchorage ◘ Mrs. Lucile Halfacre ◘ Mr. Stewart E. White Community Development Department: ◘ Jerry T. Weaver, Jr., Director ◘ Carol Wong, Long-Range Planning Manager You’ve done your community proud! ◘ Rachel Wintz, UAA Intern ◘ Susan Perry, Principal Office Associate ◘ Joni Wilm, Government Hill Neighborhood Plan Richard Porter and Aaron Leggett provided the history of the Dena’ina Athabascans from the History of the Dena’ina Athabascans of Upper Tikahtnu (The Upper Cook Inlet), which was used for Thank you, Mayor Dan Sullivan, for acknowledging the importance information on the pre-history of the Government Hill area. of and supporting historic preservation in Anchorage. Kristine Bunnell Senior Planner | Project Manager Government Hill—Yesterday and Today v vi Government Hill—Yesterday and Today PURPOSE The purpose of the Government Hill Oral History Project is to capture and relate the personal histories of the people living and working on Government Hill, and to tell and preserve the stories of this special place for future generations. We hope that you enjoy this compilation of Government Hill history, memories, and events. The Government Hill neighborhood is the oldest neighborhood in Anchorage, known from Dena’ina stories and legends for its salmon runs along Ship Creek; contact with the Russians, British, and Americans; homestead farms and tent dwellings; the Alaska Rail- road; the military build-up; the 1960s Urban Renewal; the 1964 Earthquake, and its present-day renaissance. It was established to supply housing for workers building the Alaska Railroad and evolved to provide land and resources for Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson. This neighborhood and its residents have played an integral role in the founding of Anchorage as Alaska’s largest and most prosperous city. An ever-changing community of over 100 years, Government Hill has accommodated a variety of populations with a wide array of life experiences. Government Hill has a unique history that is commu- nicated through its people, architecture, and natural environment; these elements all contribute to an exceptional and cherished quality of life. Government Hill means many things: “Elnena” or Dena’ina Country to the Dena’ina Athabascans, home, community, neighborhood, family, friends, school, play, hunting, fishing, work, trust, and taking care of each other. As Bobbie Bianchi said: “I wouldn’t live in any other place . Government Hill is my home.” Government Hill—Yesterday and Today 1 INTERVIEW PROCESS Eighteen people were interviewed for this oral history. They were asked several questions, including: Name, birthdate, birth location, where they grew up, and when they came to Government Hill. These questions prompted memories about life working as a railroader, serving in the military, or as a civil service worker. What was it like for the family members? They talked about how they enjoy the views, natural surroundings, community atmosphere, kids playing in the streets and on the ski hill, and neighborhood friendships. Government Hill families formed tight bonds through their work and community involvement. They played, fought for their community, supported each other through good and bad times, and even vacationed together. All interviews were transcribed and are available electronically from the Municipality of Anchorage, Community Development Department, Long-Range Planning Section or in the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Archives at the UAA Consortium Library, Anchorage, Alaska. PRESENTING THE INTERVIEWEES The people quoted in this report include four who were born in Anchorage–one who claimed Government Hill as his first home. The others moved to Government Hill either alone as adults or with family. The families moved there for employment with the Alaska Railroad or a station assignment at Elmendorf Air Force Base or Fort Richardson. They were born between 1911–1959, and their residency on Government Hill began as early as 1923. 2 Government Hill—Yesterday and Today Mary J. Barry was born in Seward, Bobbie Bianchi was born in Alaska, in 1928. She moved to McAllen, Texas, and moved to Government Hill with her husband Government Hill with her husband Melvin Barry in 1951. Mary’s father and two children in 1975. They was a German expatriate and lived in the Hollywood Vista traveled back and forth between Apartments until base housing was Germany and Alaska to work for available. She returned to the the Alaska Railroad. Government Hill neighborhood in the early 1980s and bought Cottage He worked on river boats that No. 12 in 1990. delivered supplies along the Yukon Mel and Mary Barry Photo—Brian Braunstein —Barry Collection River. He married Mary’s mother, Bobbie is an artist and local historian whom he met in Germany who is enthusiastic about sharing the history of Government Hill and sometime after World War II. They returned to settle in Seward, the surrounding area. Bobbie participates in many community where Mary and her siblings were raised. efforts, including membership on the Anchorage Historic Preservation Commission. Bobbie is routinely consulted on many Mrs. Barry met her husband Melvin, whose family was part of the aspects of past and present life on Government Hill, including the colony project in the Matanuska Valley, while visiting a friend in the creation of the beautiful new Government Hill logo by Alaskan artist area. “Well, I had gone to the Matanuska Valley to visit a friend . Barbara Lavallee. so we went camping over the weekend . then she said ‘they’re having a dance in Palmer. Would [you] like to go?’ And I said ‘yeah!’ That’s where I met my husband. I was still going to college at the time . and I had two years to go. Well, he very patiently waited Sidney Billingslea was born in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1959. The until I was through.” Korean War brought both of Sidney’s parents to Alaska. Sidney's father was a soldier and her mother Mary wanted to take Journalism at UCLA, but they didn’t offer the was a nurse in the Air Force. program at that time, so she majored in English literature, which was Sidney’s parents met at the Officers’ “the next best thing.” She wasn’t sorry afterwards, feeling that Club at Fort Richardson. Sidney “you get exposed to this great literature, and why did these people moved to Government Hill in 1988 last while others didn’t.” Mrs. Barry has written and published eight after living with her parents in books during her writing career, including five Alaskan-themed Anchorage and Soldotna. “I always histories, two humor, and one about the Russian samovar (teapot). loved the smaller neighborhoods of Mary provided: Jack and Nellie Brown Pioneer Settlers of Anchorage, Anchorage, and Government Hill Alaska-by Mary J. Barry was the perfect small neighborhood Photo—Brian Braunstein downtown.” Sidney provided historic photos for this report. Government Hill—Yesterday and Today 3 Tom Brennan came to Alaska in 1967 from Austrid Garrett was born in Minneapolis in 1912. She moved to Massachusetts. “My wife and I got married Government Hill in 1945. and decided that we didn’t want to settle Austrid’s husband was with the down in the east. We were looking at either Northwest Air Transport Alaska or Australia. So we bought an Command, a civil service International Travelall and a houseboat on position at Elmendorf Air Force wheels and towed it up.” Since that journey, Base. She joined her husband, the couple has raised two sons.