Histories of Anchorage: Jacob Marunenko, aka “Russian Jack,” likely hid at least one illegal distillery near where today’s Anchorage residents jog, bike and ski through his namesake park.
Also: Who was “Wild Bill” Nelson and what was his beef? And what was the deal with that huge snowman outside the Dimond Center in ’88?
Histories of Anchorage: In 1916, Pilger’s General Store advertised three rolls of toilet paper for 25 cents, a princely price. It would likely have been some of the worst, roughest toilet paper you’ve ever encountered.
Histories of Anchorage: When described simply, O’Callaghan’s causes were always noble, whether peace on earth, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, or something as prosaic and useful as bicycle access. What made him a memorable character was how he went about advocating for those causes.
Histories of Alaska: Disney’s new film “Togo” gets important stuff right about desperate run to Nome in 1925. Not the least of which: Balto is limited to seconds on screen.
Histories of Anchorage: For many old time Alaskans, the loss of horses, addition of paved streets, and threat of baths were unwelcome signs of a transition into a more modern place.
Histories of Anchorage: During every population boom, Alaskans became interested in terms to divide residents from newcomers, words like “cheechako,” “sourdough” and “real Alaskan.”
Histories of Anchorage: In the early days of the city, the area was home exclusively to prostitutes whose crib houses lined both sides of the road.
Histories of Anchorage: For two decades, The Spa was the only pool available to Anchorage civilians. If you wanted to swim in any season other than summer, you swam at The Spa.
Anchorage histories: From the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, chinchilla breeding was a national investment fad and Americans across the country were hustled out of their savings. In this at least, Alaskans were no better than those Outside.
Despite her Quaker faith, Mahala Dickerson was known for her ferocity. Her confrontations, fueled by an utter lack of patience for fools, became the stuff of Anchorage legal legend.
Histories of Anchorage: Chief John Sturgus was shot with his own gun in February 1920. No one was ever arrested for the crime, and Sturgus became Anchorage’s first unsolved murder.
![“Alaska Sourdoughs in Dither Over Consignment of Bathtubs.” [San Bernardino] Daily Sun, March 31, 1946, 4.](https://www.adn.com/resizer/Oh_-Jg-YHuWI2p2olbmmtNESErA=/600x400/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-adn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/I3QDKBGESBEJLN5JT3LVSU3HRQ.jpg)
