SEWARD’S
All-Weather
SEAPORT
Is Alaska's
Greatest Asset
Territorial Library
4-50
Seward SeaporrKecord
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD, ALASKA
Vol. VI, No. 40
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 1949
Price 10 Cents
Kenai Celebrates
Opening Of
Public Library
The story of Kenai and us
neighboring homestead popula
tion cannot be told in a single
issue, nor in a dozen issues. The
public spirited enthusiasm of
these people is evidenced in the
opening of a public library on
Wednesday evening of this week
in the school building, with 2000
books as a nucleus for expansion.
Under the leadership and
guidance of Mrs. Allan Petersen,
wife of the Deputy U. S. Mar
shal, and a teacher in the school,
and with the support of Mrs. Ray
James of Seward, who acted as
a sort of silent partner to help
them over the bumps, a library
board was formed.
In August, 1948, the board or
ganized itself with Mrs. Peter
sen as president, Mrs. Kent Ful
ler, secretary; Walter Cavish,
treasurer, and Allan Petersen,
Mrs. Larry Lancashire, Mrs.
Harry Mann, and Jack Irans the
other members. Without funds,
books or even a room, the board
set themselves a goal. They
would have a library by Novem
ber 1, 1949.
Unlike a great many other at
tempts at public service, this
group reached its goal. Not on
Nov. 1, but on Nov. 1U. A room
in the school building was ob
tained. The men built shelves,
and because the room is used by
school children, the shelves must
be protected. This was done by
a series of removable doors, per
mitting use of the room by the
children, and the transformation
into a library by night. Which
in itself is an ingenious arrange
ment.
A letter from Mrs. Maxine j
Lee, who with her husband, Ir-j
vin, is homesteading at Soldotna,1
to friends in Columbus, Ohio,
Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Williams,
brought a gift of nearly 2000 ■
volumes.
Many hours of volunteer labor
have prepared books for the
shelves, catalogued and recorded
them for accountability, and the
library is now open with Mrs.
Gil Lemon and Mrs. Burton Car-!
ver as librarians.
After registration of borrow
ers for the first time, a reception
was held in the apartment of
Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Connelly,
principal and teacher. The li
brarians, board members, Miss
Dorothy Unsell, teacher; Mrs. I.
H. Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Scarlet,
Mrs. Ervin Rheingans, Mrs. Earl
Carter, Mr. Kent Fuller, Mr. and
Mrs. Ray James, and Mrs. Mil
dred Kirkpatrick and others at
tended the reception. Ice cream,
cake and coffee were served.
Of the remarks made in the
course of the evening some will
please the people of Seward.
They were to the effect that the
people of Kenai want to do busi
ness in Seward. They have found
Seward to be “fair, honest, rea
sonable, and above all, courte
ous.”
• • •
At The Hotels
The Van Gilder—John Utter
strom, Seattle; James E. O'Mal
ley, Fairbanks; David tienzler,
Mr. and Mrs. Bronson, Allan W.
Woodin, Anchorage; Henry Hoy
son, Harley Carlstrom, Oliver
Basklund, W. G. McPhillips',
Roy Fobain, C. A. Smith, Alex
Schedel, Russel McIntyre of
Lytle & Green, Mile 58.
The New Seward—Edward F.
Casey, Needham, Mass.; C. R.
Griffin, Seattle; V. B. Stephens,
Alex McDonald, Mrs. Hildur H.
Johnson of Anchorage; William
H. Kiloh, Edward Paluska of
Juneau; Mrs. Edward J. Farren,
Adak; Mrs. Alice Bell.
Raymond Tressler of the Bear
Lake Sawmill was in Anchorage
Wednesday to meet his son who
was arriving from the States.
City Mayor Proclaims!
Beginning of
Seal Sale Campaign
Mayor Lanier today issued a
formal proclamation urging all
residents of Seward to "demon
strate their interest in Stamping
out tuberculosis in Seward
through their unqualified sup
port of the 1949 Christmas Seal
Sale’’ of the Seward Committee,
Alaska Tuberculosis Association,
which opens Monday and will
continue until Christmas.
In issuing his proclamation,
the Mayor praised the tubercu
losis control program of the
association, particularly its pro
jects directed at helping to find
"unknown” cases of the disease
in the vicinity. These unknown
cases, he explained, are those
not reported to the health au- j
thorities. Many of them are
early cases and the people them-;
selves may not know they are
ill since the disease has no ob
vious symptoms in an early
stage, he said.
"The more we cooperate with
and lend our support to all the |
association’s projects, the closer j
we shall be to victory over j
tuberculosis in Seward,” the |
Mayor added. "Since the annual I
Christmas Seal Sale constitutes j
the sole support of the associa-1
tion, we take an active part in
the campaign to eradicate the
(Turn to Page 4)
Feast of Obligation
At Robbins Home
The Feast of Obligation is an
annual celebration held on the
15th of November for members
of The Grand Cross of Color,
which is an honor conferred by
the Assembly of Rainbow for
Girls for outstanding services
to the Assembly.
Seward assembly has con
ferred this honor on only five
persons, Mrs. Eda Myers, Bever
ly Abrahamsen, Beverly Seater
Oliverson, Del Robbins and his
wife Lenore.
Since the Oliversons recently
moved to Franklin, Idaho, there
are now only four members of
the Grand Cross left in Seward,
and they celebrated the Feast of
Obligation by a dinner at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Robbins.
Mrs. Robbins carried out the
color scheme in violet which
made a beautiful setting.
C. of C. Sets Date For
Election of Officers
The Chamber of Commerce at
a special meeting Thursday eve
ning voted to meet in the Meth
odist Church parlors on Thurs
day, Dec. 3, at 8 p.rrw for nomina-!
tion of officers. Election will be
held one week later on Dec. 15.
SECOND HAND STORE OPEN
FOR BUSINESS
Glenn’s Second Hand Store,
operated by Glenn Williams, is
open for business in the building
formerly occupied by the Kenai
Bakery.
The new enterprise is operat
ed in true second hand store fa-i
shion with the slogan, “We Buy |
and Sell Anything.”
Sid the Florist is located in
the same building, having re
cently moved there from his old
location on Third Avenue.
BAKE SALE
The Altar Society of Sacred
Heart Church will hold a bake
sale at Werner’s Market on
Wednesday, Nov. 23.
The sale will begin at 9:00
o’clock in the morning and
goods for Thanksgiving will be
fresh for the holiday dinner.
On Display . . .
Watch for the VFW Auxiliary
Baby to be on display soon.
Junior Women's Club Cedar
Chest in window of the Youth
Center.
Masonic Rites For
A. D. Balderston
Sunday, 1 P.M.
On Wednesday of this week
in the City of Seward, Alaska,
as it must to all men, death came
to Archibald Dugald Balderston,
long time and much respected
resident of Alaska.
Born in Delhi, India on June
14, 1873, Mr. Balderston passed
away at his Seward home on the
evening of Nov. 16, 1949.
Balderston came from Lon
don, England to Walla Walla,
Wash., in 1891 and to Alaska in
1914. He has lived in the Terri
tory continuously since then. He
was employed as chief clerk for
The Alaska Railroad during the
First World War and served as
assistant superintendent of con
struction for the Railroad for
several years.
Coming to Seward in 1927,
Balderston was city clerk for
nine years and then became
manager of the Van Gilder Hotel
until ill health forced his retire
ment in 1941.
He became a member of the
Elks Lodge in Walla W’alla,
Wash., in 1894 and was still a
member of that lodge at the time
of his death.
In 1931, Mr. Balderston be
came a member of Seward
Lodge No. 219 F. & A. M., and
was also a member of Seward
Chapter No. 10 Eastern Star.
Besides his widow, Inez Bal
derston, Seward, he leaves a
sister in London, England, and
a brother, 11. S. Balderston, of
Riverside, Calif.
Funeral services will be held
at the Masonic Hall in Seward
at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20,
Brothers of Seward Lodge No.
219, F. & A. M. in charge. In
terment will be in the Masonic
Plot in the Seward Cemetery.
Social Security Adm.
Representative Here
Edward Paluska, field repre
sentative of the Juneau field
office of the Social Security Ad
ministration, is in Seward and
expects to remain several days.
During his stay here, PalusKa
can be reached at the New Sew
ard Hotel for information or
assistance in filing claims for
payment under the Old-Age and
Survivors Insurance provisions
of the Social Security Act.
The monthly payments made
under this program fall into two
main groups:
(1) To insured wage earner's
age 65 or over who are tempor
arily or permanently retired,
to their wives age 65 or over,
and to their children under
age 18.
(2) To the survivors of insured
workers who have. died. These
may be children under 18, wid
ows (of any age) who have such
a child in their care, widows
age 65 or over, and dependent
parents age 65 or over.
When there is no survivor
eligible for monthly payments!
at the time of the wage earner's
death, a lump-sum payment may
be made to the widow or wid
ower, if living with the wage
earner at the time of death, or
to whoever paid the funeral
expenses.
These Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance payments are made as
a matter of right, Paluska point
ed out, and are not based on
need. They are not made auto
matically—a claim must be
filed.
Roller Skating . . .
Civic Center
Adults: Friday and Saturday
7:30 to 10:30 p.m., 50c
Grades: Saturday and Sunday
2:00 to 4:00 p.m., 25c
Acting Governor of
Alaska Proclaims
Thanksgiving Nov. 24
Acting Governor Lew M
Williams issued yesterday the
following proclamation:
“Whereas, The President ol
the United States has, by procla
mation, designated Thursday,
November 24, 1949, as Thanks
giving Day, and has called upon
the People of the Nation to
pause in their daily pursuits to
give thanks to a Divine Provi
dence for the blessings which
have been bestowed upon our
country; and
“Whereas, we in Alaska have
especial cause to be grateful
for a most abundant fish har
vest, the greatest in many years
in Southeast Alaska; for favor
able action by Congress appro
priating substantial sums for'
building up adequate defenses]
in our Great Northland to de-1
fend our free American way of i
life; for the advancement of!
necessary funds for the proper
housing of our people; for a
public works program which
will provide our communities
with needed street improve
ments, sewers, water systems
and other facilities which will
make Alaska a better place in
which to live; and
"Whereas, November 24 starts
the sixth annual Worldwide
Bible Reading Program, spon
(Turn to Page 4)
Homer People Plan
Trip To Seward
Information given by D. C.
Brownell at the Chamber of
Commerce meeting Thursday
evening reveals plans of a num
ber of Homer residents to maKo
the trip to Seward when tne
roads are in condition for autos.
Expectations are that the road
from Kasilof to Homer will be
safe for travel by Dec. 10 and
the Homerites have set that date
as tentative for the junket. The
road has been bladed as smooth
ly as possible and with freezing
weather it is hoped that the road
can be kept open until spring
thaws set in.
Hope has been expressed that
Sewardites plan to welcome the
visitors and see that appropriate
entertainment is furnished.
DeHorns, Sea Hawks
Win Second Games
Ably assisted by teammates,
“Moose" Steinwall, reaching his
stride which garnered his All
Alaska title and the title of most
valuable player at the 1947 Fur i
Rendezvous tournament, led the
DeHorns to a complete victory
over the Boosters Wednesday
evening at the Civic Center. The
DeHorns’ teamwork was excep
tionally good.
Danny Merino, Nobby Club
guard, kept the tilt with the Sea
Hawks nip and tuck during the
first quarter by swishing several
long set shots. The Nobby Club
was handicapped by the tempor
ary loss of Terry Fillingim, out
of the game due to injuries, and
Perry Stockton, unable t6 be in
the game until the last quarter.
In their first game on a large
court without practice, the Sea
Hawks displayed good ball han
dling and broke through the
Nobby Club defense repeatedly
to do most of their damage under
the basket.
The playing of all teams
showed an all around improve
ment and. the sizeable crowd
showed its approval.
Players have cancelled games
for tonight and for next Wednes
day — tonight to attend the
School Carnival and Wednesday
to attend the dance at the Civic
Center for benefit of the Univer
sity Fund. The next regularly
scheduled games will be the All
Stars vs. Sea Hawks, Friday,
(Continued on page 2)
Rev. Paul 1. Irwin
On Way To N.Y.
To Meet Board
The Seward Chamber of Com
merce at its special meeting
Thursday evening heard and ap
proved the plans of Rev. Paul I.
Irwin for his trip to New York
City to confer with members of
the Board of Education of the
Methodist Church in. an effort to
secure the location for Seward
of the proposed liberal arts col
lege, planned for construction in
approximately two years some
where in Alaska.
After some discussion it was
decided that Seward’s delegate
to the conference should leave
for New York as soon as possible
and Rev. Irwin was able to have
his plane reservations set ahead
one week. He was to go to An
chorage today and leave there
Saturday morning, going by way
of Minneapolis and Chicago.
All University Fund money
collected so far has been depos
ited in the Bank of Seward to
the University Fund account
with Dr. J. H. Shelton in charge
of expenditures.
In the event there is money
left after all subscriptions are
in and all trip expenses are paid,
the balance will remain in the
University Fund. Such action is
deemed necessary because now'
that Seward has “thrown its hat
in the ring" on this project,
there is no intention to give up
in case the way is a bit rocky at
first. Sewardites are convinced
they want the college here, and
acting on this evident fact, the
committee has determined to
continue working on the project
until a definite location has been
qhosen and construction begins.
In case Seward is chosen, the
University Fund will be used to
defray expenses (if any) in
volved in furnishing any inform
ation needed, such as maps, sur
veys, etc., to the Methodisf
Board of Education.
It is opportune at this time to
inform the public that the pro
posed liberal arts college is defi
nitely not to be a religious
school.
The Board of Education of the
Methodist Church has founded
approximately 125 colleges and
universities in the United States,
including Stanford University
and the University of Southern
California. The Boards next
project is the establishment of a
liberal arts college somewhere
in Alaska.
It is Seward’s purpose and
hope that the college be located
here.
SQUARE PANCING FOLLOWS
GIRL SCOUT CEREMONY
AT JESSE LEE HOME
The Jesse Lee Girl Scouts
held an Investiture ceremony
Wednesday evening at 7:30 at
the Jesse Lee chapel. Each new
candidate for membership held
a lighted candle while explain
ing the Girl Scout laws. Then
■each scout told of one good turn
she had done during that day.
The wildcat patrol presented
dramatizations of three Scout
songs. These were entirely ori
ginal and were greatly enjoyed
by the audience.
Following the ceremony the
girls and their guests (Boy
Scouts) enjoyed an evening of
square dancing in the gym.
Refreshments were served by
members of the troop commrttee.
Thanks to the Woman’s Club,
troop sponsors, this troop is pro
gressing nicely.
SERVICES AT THE
LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lutheran Church services will
be held Monday, Nov. 21, at
8:00 o'clock p.m. in the Seward
Lutheran Church. Rev. A. O.
Odegaard will officiate.