Clark Fair

  • 137 Stories
  • Page 7 of 7
Chester LeRoy Oughton was in his mid-60s and still serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Alaska when these photos were taken at McNeil Island federal penitentiary in Washington in 1972. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)

The Seward jailbreak of 1952 — Part 2

Prisoners Frank Charles Oliver and Chester LeRoy Oughton had been foiled in their attempt to reach the central Kenai Peninsula

Chester LeRoy Oughton was in his mid-60s and still serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Alaska when these photos were taken at McNeil Island federal penitentiary in Washington in 1972. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)
Chester LeRoy Oughton’s entry photos at the Alcatraz Island federal penitentiary in 1953. Oughton was convicted of first-degree murder in Alaska. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)

The Seward Jailbreak of 1952 — Part 1

The fugitives were Franklin Charles Oliver and Chester LeRoy Oughton.

Chester LeRoy Oughton’s entry photos at the Alcatraz Island federal penitentiary in 1953. Oughton was convicted of first-degree murder in Alaska. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)
Photos from Seward Community Library Association collection in Alaska Digital Archives S.S. Yukon is perched half left on the rocks after the steamship broke in half, the stern sank out of sight. This forward section remained wedged on the rocks off Cape Fairfield, near the entrance of Prince William Sound.

The heroic rise and tragic fall of ‘The Screaming Swede’ — Part 2

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part story about Jimmy Johnson, a commercial fisherman who suffered an ignominious demise on the Kenai… Continue reading

Photos from Seward Community Library Association collection in Alaska Digital Archives S.S. Yukon is perched half left on the rocks after the steamship broke in half, the stern sank out of sight. This forward section remained wedged on the rocks off Cape Fairfield, near the entrance of Prince William Sound.
This is the memorial plaque that since 2001 has adorned the grave of James William Johnson, also known as “The Screaming Swede.” Photo courtesy of Peggy Arness.

The heroic rise and tragic fall of ‘The Screaming Swede’ — Part 1

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I would like to thank Peggy Arness for access to her history files and the Resurrection Bay Historical Society for access to its… Continue reading

This is the memorial plaque that since 2001 has adorned the grave of James William Johnson, also known as “The Screaming Swede.” Photo courtesy of Peggy Arness.
The spruce-covered cliffs behind Cliff House were the inspiration for the cabin’s name. (Photo courtesy of the Fair Family Collection)

Twists and turns in the history of Cliff House — Part 3

So many oddities. So many contradictions. So many holes in the story.

The spruce-covered cliffs behind Cliff House were the inspiration for the cabin’s name. (Photo courtesy of the Fair Family Collection)
Robert “Bob” Huttle, posing here next to Cliff House, spent the night in this cabin in April 1934 and mused about a possible murder there. (Photo courtesy of the Huttle Collection)

Twists and turns in the history of Cliff House — Part 2

How much of the doctor’s actions Bob Huttle knew when he stayed in Cliff House 10 years later is difficult to know.

Robert “Bob” Huttle, posing here next to Cliff House, spent the night in this cabin in April 1934 and mused about a possible murder there. (Photo courtesy of the Huttle Collection)
This 1940s-era image is one of few early photographs of Cliff House, which once stood near the head of Tustumena Lake. (Photo courtesy of the Secora Collection)

Twists and turns in the history of Cliff House — Part 1

Here, then, is the story of Cliff House, as least as I know it now.

This 1940s-era image is one of few early photographs of Cliff House, which once stood near the head of Tustumena Lake. (Photo courtesy of the Secora Collection)
File

Peninsula Crime: Bad men … and dumb ones — Part 2

Here, in Part Two and gleaned from local newspapers, are a few examples of the dim and the dumb.

File
File

Peninsula Crime: Bad men … and dumb ones — Part 1

Gleaned from local newspapers, are a few examples of the dim and the dumb.

File
In this 1950s image, Chell Bear (left) and Lawrence McGuire display a stringer of small trout they caught through the ice in front of the homestead cabin of Bob Mackey, for whom the Mackey Lakes were named. (Photo courtesy of the Kenai Peninsula College Historic Photo Repository)

History with a sense of humor, Part 2

The second in a two-part collection of humorous tales gleaned from old newspapers on the central Kenai Peninsula.

In this 1950s image, Chell Bear (left) and Lawrence McGuire display a stringer of small trout they caught through the ice in front of the homestead cabin of Bob Mackey, for whom the Mackey Lakes were named. (Photo courtesy of the Kenai Peninsula College Historic Photo Repository)
The welcome sign for the City of Kenai, as seen in this city Facebook page photo.

History with a sense of humor, Part 1

The first part of a two-part collection of humorous tales gleaned from old newspapers on the central Kenai Peninsula.

The welcome sign for the City of Kenai, as seen in this city Facebook page photo.
This undated John E. Thwaites photo, perhaps taken near Seward, shows the S.S. Dora grounded. (Alaska State Library photo collection)

Resilience of the Dora, part 3

Her long career had come to an end at last.

This undated John E. Thwaites photo, perhaps taken near Seward, shows the S.S. Dora grounded. (Alaska State Library photo collection)
This John E. Thwaites photo shows the S.S. Dora near Sand Point, Alaska. Thwaites sailed as mail clerk on the Dora between at least 1905 and 1912. (Alaska State Library photo collection)

Resilience of the Dora, part 2

The S.S. Dora touched lives on and became part of the history of the Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska.

This John E. Thwaites photo shows the S.S. Dora near Sand Point, Alaska. Thwaites sailed as mail clerk on the Dora between at least 1905 and 1912. (Alaska State Library photo collection)
This undated photo shows the stern of the S.S. Dora near a dock on her northerly mail route. (Alaska State Library photo collection)

Resilience of the Dora, part 1

The Dora traveled from the West Coast to Southeast Alaska, to Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet, to Bristol Bay and the Aleutian Islands, and occasionally all the way to Nome.

This undated photo shows the stern of the S.S. Dora near a dock on her northerly mail route. (Alaska State Library photo collection)
Photos from Ancestry.com In January 1900, when Dr. R. J. Alcorn began serving a sentence for manslaughter, he posed for these mug shots as Convict #739.

Filling in the blanks: The Dr. Alcorn story — part 2

Although Dr. R. J. Alcorn spent only a few years in Alaska, he certainly got around.

Photos from Ancestry.com In January 1900, when Dr. R. J. Alcorn began serving a sentence for manslaughter, he posed for these mug shots as Convict #739.
Photo from Ancestry.com This circa 1913 Alcorn family portrait shows Dr. R. J. Alcorn, his son Argie, his daughter Wilma, and his wife, Dr. Cora E. Alcorn.

Filling in the Blanks: The Dr. Alcorn story — part 1

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is Part One of a two-part story about a physician/surgeon who came to Seward in the 1920s with some curious blank spots… Continue reading

Photo from Ancestry.com This circa 1913 Alcorn family portrait shows Dr. R. J. Alcorn, his son Argie, his daughter Wilma, and his wife, Dr. Cora E. Alcorn.
Document from Ancestry.com Orville Lewis Albery was a 49-year-old chiropractor in Seward when he supplied the information for this draft card. Although Albery signed the card, the official who filled out the remainder misspelled Albery’s name.

Peninsula History: No fortune like misfortune, part 2

Part Two of a two-part story about a few of the unlucky and the unwise among the long history of medical professionals in Seward.

Document from Ancestry.com Orville Lewis Albery was a 49-year-old chiropractor in Seward when he supplied the information for this draft card. Although Albery signed the card, the official who filled out the remainder misspelled Albery’s name.