Tag: Jet Lowe

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.

The Sunday porch: Wiseman, Alaska

Cindy at enclos*ureLeave a comment

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

For over six decades, this little porch sheltered many hours of masculine leisure and conviviality. In 1913, it fronted the Siverly and Bowker Saloon.  The following year, the building was sold to the Pioneers of Alaska and used as one of its local chapters — an ‘Igloo;’ it was Igloo No. 8.   The Pioneers, a fraternal organization, was formed in 1907 “for social purposes to keep alive the memories of the early trailblazers.”

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 is the back porch and entrance to the kitchen.

Igloo #8, HABS, Library of CongressAbove is the side view. The flowers and birch trees are so pretty; it’s a pity we don’t have a picture of the view from the front porch. All photos by Jet Lowe.

Vintage landscape: Locke garden

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.    .    .   I keep
a beautiful garden, all abundance,
indiscriminate, pulling itself
from the stubborn earth.   .   .   .

— Paisley Rekdal, from “Happiness“

Historic American Buildings Survey, Town of Locke, CA/enclos*ureA garden plot in a communal garden, Town of Locke, Sacramento County, Ca. Photo by Jet Lowe, April 1984, part of a Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) of the town, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

From the 1984 HABS report:

Locke, California, is a small, rural Chinese ghetto on the Sacramento River.  It was developed in the early 20th century to serve Chungshan Chinese laborers who worked in the fruit orchards and vegetable fields in California’s Delta region. Today, virtually all Chinese communities in America are urban enclaves.  By contrast, Locke has remained an unincorporated village since its founding in 1915.  For this reason, it is unique within the United States as the only extant rural Chinese community still occupied by Chinese people.

Today, the population of Locke is 70 to 80 people, about 10 of whom are of Chinese descent.