Tag: Alaska

The Sunday porch: Wiseman, Alaska

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An encore porch from 2013. . .
Igloo No. 8 by Jet Lowe, Library of CongressFront porch, near the Koyukuk River at Wiseman Creek, Wiseman, Alaska, July 1984, by Jet Lowe for an Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (all photos here).

For over six decades, this little porch sheltered many hours of masculine conviviality. In 1913, it fronted the Siverly and Bowker Saloon.  The following year, the building was sold to a fraternal organization, Pioneers of Alaska, and then used as one of its local chapters — an “Igloo;” it was Igloo No. 8.

By 1972, the building had been sold again.  At the time of these photos, it was the home of the owner’s son.

Igloo No. 8, HABS, Library of CongressAbove: the back porch and entrance to the kitchen.

Igloo #8, HABS, Library of CongressAbove: the side view.

Fairbanks, Alaska

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“Mrs. Brandt’s home, Fairbanks, Alaska,” 1916, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Fairbanks was founded in 1901 as a trading post supplying gold miners in the area.  It became an incorporated city in 1903. “By 1905, [it] had electricity and sewer service, a powerplant, a three-story skyscraper, saloons, stores, police and fire protection, and a thriving “Red Light” district,” according to fairbanks-alaska.com.

This may be the home of Margaret Brandt, a widow who was a city telephone operator from 1905 to 1938.

The photograph is one of over sixteen thousand created or collected by Frank G. Carpenter and his daughter, Frances, to illustrate his geography textbooks and popular travel books.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Vintage landscape: front walk

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Alaska cabin, Library of CongressLog cabin in Alaska, probably Fairbanks, between 1900 and 1916, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

The photograph is one of over sixteen thousand created or collected by Frank G. Carpenter and his daughter Frances to illustrate his geography textbooks and popular travel books.

There are three more charming Alaska log cabins from the same collection here, here, and here.

Life in gardens: favorite stalk

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What’s not to love about Rhubarb? It’s the easiest thing to grow in Alaska and the moose don’t eat it.*

Rhubarb in Alaska, ca. 1910, Library of Congress
The leaves are toxic.

“Rhubarb stalk in southeastern Alaska,” ca. 1900 and ca. 1925, Frank and Frances Carpenter collection, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Rhubarb is a very popular garden plant in Alaska. “That’s because the few long days of summer sun there help rhubarb grow to five feet or more,” according to The Plate.

Want to know more?  Check out Rhubarb or BUST, a blog all about growing rhubarb in Alaska.

Celebrate bitter things
after long winter
rhubarbs’ red green stalks
and partial sun. . .

—  Sheila Packa, from “Rhubarb“

*Renae Wall, from “What’s not to love about rhubarb,” Peninsula Clarion.