In the spring of 1915, over 2,000 prospective workers and merchants assembled at the mouth of Ship Creek.
And more were arriving every day.
Shore Access was Difficult
Pictured above, unloading a barge
Steam Ships anchored in Cook Inlet sent out small launches that brought passengers to shore on Ship Creek Flats.
It was a muddy mess. Horse and foot traffic slogged their way through mud over corduroy log paths and the few hastily laid out boardwalks.
A “tent City” quickly sprang up. It was filled with a rag-tag collection of tents and temporary wood buildings. The conditions were rugged and unsanitary.
Overcrowded and Unsanitary
By June 1915, tent city was dangerously overcrowded and unsanitary.
Harry and Katsuyo Kimura arrived in tent city from Seattle and took over a hand laundry. There was no running water, and the clothes that were brought to them to be cleaned were full of lice.
Years later, the Kimura family went on to build Snow-White Laundry and Cleaners and the very popular restaurant, Nikko Garden. Just to name a couple.
But back in 1915, the AEC, Alaska Engineering Commission ordered that by mid-August, all tents had to be moved off Ship Creek Flats and relocated up onto what is now known Government Hill and the new town site.
What Caused This Rush? It Wasn’t Gold
From May through June 1914, 11 survey parties were sent from Seattle to Alaska.
The purpose of these 11 survey crews, was to determine possible routes for a proposed Alaska Railroad.
BONUS
Take a look at this information about the Alaska Railroad Survey Crews and enjoy.
Yes, You can Share this Issue
Your friends and family will say, “Wow” when you share this Tent City edition with them.
And when you do, they will be so happy that they will name a bright star in the night sky after you… Well, it could happen.
Click on the following link:
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson Decided
In April 1915, needing coal for the Pacific Fleet, the Federal Government decided to access the coal fields of the Matanuska Valley in Alaska.
President Woodrow Wilson made the decision that the Alaska Railroad would run from Seward to Fairbanks. The route would take the railroad past the coal deposits of the Matanuska Valley and would end in Fairbanks.
Then, in 1915, the United States Congress authorized construction of the only Federally owned railroad in the history of the U.S.
Construction headquarters would be established at the mouth of Ship Creek at Cook Inlet.
And because Cook Inlet could be dredged to accommodate larger ships and was a protected boat anchorage, the area was chosen as the Alaska Railroad mid-point.
The goal was to lay 470 miles of railroad track.
The Stampede
It was like a gold rush without the gold
When it was announced that the AEC, Alaska Engineering Commission, was going to hire workers, thousands of people began arriving at Ship Creek Flats. Some were looking for jobs, some for lucrative business opportunities.
Almost overnight, a rugged tent city sprang up among the tree stumps. And the work began.
Who Drove the First Spike?
Martha White, who was born in a cabin just off Cook Inlet, was selected to drive the first railroad spike.
BONUS
Click on the following link:
See how the railroad gave birth to Anchorage and discover.
The Plateau Above Ship Creek
A town was beginning, so lots were then laid out for a 240 acre town site under the supervision of Andrew Christensen of the General Land Office.
First House Built in Anchorage
Located in Elderberry Park at 420 M Street in Anchorage, a home was built in 1915 by Oscar Anderson. Aside from a few log cabins, It was the first wood home built in Anchorage. His home still stands today as an Anchorage tourist site.
Oscar Anderson claimed to be the 18th person to set foot on what is now Anchorage. He lived in his house until his passing in 1974.
BONUS
Take a virtual tour of the Oscar Anderson House and enjoy.
How did they arrive at a Name for this New “Town”?
An election was held on August 9, 1915, to decide on an official name for the town that was springing up before their eyes.
Names to consider included:
Alaska City
Gateway
Homestead
Anchorage
Lane (named after Secretary of the Interior, Franklin D. Lane)
Matanuska
Ship Creek
Terminal
Winalaska
There were 538 votes cast.
The winner was Alaska City with 146 votes.
Lane came in second with 129 votes. Third choice was Anchorage with 101 votes.
Then Governor J.F.A. Strong wanted “Matanuska”.
The Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC) wanted the name “Ship Creek”.
Enter the United States Post Office
Yes, the U.S. Post Office gave the town the name Anchorage.
They appointed Roydon Chase as the first postmaster, and all mail was then sent to “Anchorage, Alaska.”
The new name was quickly added to maps and news stories covering the building of the railroad and the town.
Cook Inlet Pioneer and Knik Newspaper
So much was happening that a newspaper set up shop in town.
From it’s ragged tent office, the first issue of the Cook Inlet Pioneer & Knik News was issued as volume 1, number 1 as a weekly newspaper on June 5, 1915.
BONUS
Knik was once the largest settlement on Cook Inlet.
Goods were shipped from Knik to interior Alaska. But when the Alaska Railroad by-passed Knik in favor of Ship Creek, and when the railroad reached Wasilla, Knik lost its place as a shipping point.
As a result, most of Knik was abandoned and many of the buildings were moved to other communities.
Published Daily with a New Name
In October 1915, the name of the first newspaper in tent city (Anchorage) was changed to the Cook Inlet Pioneer, and it became Anchorage’s first daily newspaper.
*It would later become the Anchorage Daily Times.
From a Rugged Tent City to Modern Anchorage, Alaska
Happily, the town of Anchorage still has a few reminders of its early days.
The Wendler building, in downtown Anchorage, was one of the first grocery stores in Anchorage, and later it was the home of Club 25.
The Oscar Anderson house and the home of the first mayor of Anchorage, Leopold David.
Now, Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. But not that long ago, it was a ragged, tent city, carved out of the Alaska wilderness on the shores of Cook Inlet.
From our North Stars (that’s you)
From our look at “The Lake Illiamna Monster”.
Ben sent us this comment:
“I used to sit in the right seat of my dad’s plane looking down over the float, hoping I’d catch a glimpse of Illie!”
Jim is interested in the $100 thousand dollar reward:
“Now, that is a very interesting story about the Iliamna Lake monster. Thank you for the story. I'm surprised that no one has claimed the $100,000 reward.”
Connect with Mike and Mary
Can you imagine what it was like during those first months in the tent city that started what would become Anchorage, Alaska?
We owe a lot to those early pioneers.
Do you have a comment? You can reach us by replying to this email. Or you can comment below. And you can even Contact Us just to say, “Hello”.
Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Anchorage Memories.com
How a Quick, Dirty Tent City became Anchorage, Alaska