Cooper Landing characters (from left): “Little Jim” Dunmire, Harold and Gary Davis, Beverly and Joe Sabrowski, and “Big Jim” O’Brien, circa 1940s. (Photo provided by Mona Painter)

From nomadic life to stability

The journey of Beverly Christensen — Part Two

Cooper Landing characters (from left): “Little Jim” Dunmire, Harold and Gary Davis, Beverly and Joe Sabrowski, and “Big Jim” O’Brien, circa 1940s. (Photo provided by Mona Painter)
Beverly Christensen speaks at a historical society meeting, circa 1980s. (Photo provided by Mona Painter)

From Nomadic Life to Stability: The Journey of Beverly Christensen—Part One

Christensen spent most of her final decades in long, peaceful stints in Cohoe and Clam Gulch.

Beverly Christensen speaks at a historical society meeting, circa 1980s. (Photo provided by Mona Painter)
This enlarged section of Dr. David H. Sleem’s 1910 map of the Kenai Mining District shows the Shackleford Cabin just above the Kenai River outlet on lower Kenai Lake. The stream entering the lake at the far right is Quartz Creek.

A tale of two Shacklefords, in a way — part two

New facts intruded upon my easy solution to the origins of the eponymously named creek and cabin.

This enlarged section of Dr. David H. Sleem’s 1910 map of the Kenai Mining District shows the Shackleford Cabin just above the Kenai River outlet on lower Kenai Lake. The stream entering the lake at the far right is Quartz Creek.
This portrait—one of few that Richard Shackelford reportedly allowed to be published—graced the 1909 commencement booklet for the California Polytechnic School, of which he was the president of the Board of Trustees. (Photo courtesy Clark Fair)

A tale of Two Shacklefords, in a way — part three

Untangling the origins of Shackleford Creek’s name.

This portrait—one of few that Richard Shackelford reportedly allowed to be published—graced the 1909 commencement booklet for the California Polytechnic School, of which he was the president of the Board of Trustees. (Photo courtesy Clark Fair)
Photo by Clark Fair
Fred Shackleford’s grave (second from right) in the Point Comfort Cemetery near Hope is featured in this undated photo.

A tale of two Shacklefords, in a way — part one

The mystery of Shackleford Creek had me baffled for quite some time.

Photo by Clark Fair
Fred Shackleford’s grave (second from right) in the Point Comfort Cemetery near Hope is featured in this undated photo.
Laden with a game bag full of black bear meat, Dan France heads for camp near the Tustumena Glacier, 1963. Zebra Mountain and the glacier can be seen in the background. (Photo courtesy Fair Family Photo Collection)

A Sheepish Tale

In August 1963, my long-time neighbor and my father flew into the Tustumena benchlands.

Laden with a game bag full of black bear meat, Dan France heads for camp near the Tustumena Glacier, 1963. Zebra Mountain and the glacier can be seen in the background. (Photo courtesy Fair Family Photo Collection)
Photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum
Walter R. Bell poses for a photo in Seldovia in 1918.

For most in Homer, Walter didn’t ring any bells

The marker read: “Walter R. Bell. Buried here July 1921. Born in 1860, Fillmore Co., Minn.”

Photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum
Walter R. Bell poses for a photo in Seldovia in 1918.
A ptarmigan hunter takes in the sunshine near the front door of the Jims’ cabin on upper Surprise Creek, summer 1968. (Photo from the Fair Family Collection)

The two Jims, Part 3: More fun in the finding than in the having

“This is not a gold country, and don’t let anybody kid you.”

A ptarmigan hunter takes in the sunshine near the front door of the Jims’ cabin on upper Surprise Creek, summer 1968. (Photo from the Fair Family Collection)
Big Jim (left) and Little Jim show off some of the furs from a recent winter’s trapping season, circa late 1950s. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)

The two Jims, part two: Coming home and battling a bully

In their early days in the Cooper Landing area, the Jims needed a place to live.

Big Jim (left) and Little Jim show off some of the furs from a recent winter’s trapping season, circa late 1950s. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)
James “Little Jim” Dunmire (left) and James “Big Jim” O’Brien. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)

History Lessons: Coming in for the Landing: An Origin Story

Jim’s Landing honors two close friends: James (“Big Jim”) O’Brien and James (“Little Jim”) Dunmire.

James “Little Jim” Dunmire (left) and James “Big Jim” O’Brien. (Photo courtesy of Mona Painter)
Drew at King Country Creek cabin remains are pictured in 1999. All that remains of the last King County Creek cabin, just inland from Skilak Lake, are these well-weathered logs, which are difficult to find in the tall grass at that location. (Photo by Clark Fair)

An unusual and difficult journey to the Kenai (part 2)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part story about the Kings County Mining Company’s expedition to the Kenai Peninsula in 1898. Part… Continue reading

Drew at King Country Creek cabin remains are pictured in 1999. All that remains of the last King County Creek cabin, just inland from Skilak Lake, are these well-weathered logs, which are difficult to find in the tall grass at that location. (Photo by Clark Fair)
Pictured is Henry W. Rozell, one of the principal founders of the Kings County Mining Company. Rozell, shown here eight years after the expedition to the Kenai Peninsula, was the group’s treasurer. (Photo from ancestry.com)

History Lesson: An unusual and difficult journey to the Kenai

New history column kicks off with the story of Kings County Mining Company’s expedition to peninsula.

Pictured is Henry W. Rozell, one of the principal founders of the Kings County Mining Company. Rozell, shown here eight years after the expedition to the Kenai Peninsula, was the group’s treasurer. (Photo from ancestry.com)
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Time to enjoy, not to annoy

I’m already overhearing growing concerns about whether or not the usual influx of tourists to the peninsula will be dampened due to the surging tsunami of fuel costs.

Nick Varney
Will Morrow

Dad joke fail

I think I’m losing my touch.

Will Morrow
Will Morrow (courtesy)

Everything in its place

The Great Garage Reorganization of 2020 is under way.

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Will Morrow (courtesy)

Getting old is hard to do

Based on the survey questions, I’ve apparently been old for a while now

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Will Morrow (courtesy)

When did I get wise?

When did I turn into that old guy who feels like he has to give everyone else advice?

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Vice President and Outreach Chair Poppy Benson collects litter from the side of the highway at the refuge in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Spring cleaning

Volunteers turn out to remove refuse from the refuge

Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Vice President and Outreach Chair Poppy Benson collects litter from the side of the highway at the refuge in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai and Soldotna libraries release May event schedule

All events are still being held virtually at the Kenai Community Library.

The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Quarantine and taxes

When the first stay-at-home mandates came out, I jumped into it with a “carpe diem” kind of energy.

  • May 18, 2020
  • By Will Morrow For the Peninsula Clarion
  • LifeCommunity