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VOL. 19 NO. 41 KODIAK, ALASKA, OCTOBER 17, 1959 PRICE 10 CENTS
City Shocked by Sudden Death of Ben Kraft
Beloved Merchant Found Dead In Home
After Fall Downstairs On Thursday
Ben Kraft, age 69, oldest mer
chant in Kodiak and well-known
throughout the State, died Thurs
day afternoon at his home here.
He is said to have fallen down the
steps from the second floor of his
home, and was found by Charles
Rush, manager of the meat depart
ment at Kraft’s Supermarket.
Mrs. Kraft, who resides in Cali
fornia, has been summoned and is
expected here Sunday. Other 1m
mediate relations residing here arc
his brothers Emil and Albert, sis
ter, Frieda Blinn,. There are two
other sisters surviving. They are
Mrs. Pauline Hunt, Phoenix, Ari
zona, and Mrs. Margaret Bogen of
Seattle, and son, Walter.
ine fate Mr. Kraft was a princi
pal stockholder in the Bank of Ko
diak and was a vice-president.
He was a member of the Kodiak
Rotary Club, the Elks Lodge No.
1772, and a charter member and
treasurer of the American Legion
here. He received a citation last
month from the vice-commander
of the American Legion, Bud John
son, in recognition of his 30 years
of active participation in the
Legion.
Ben Knaflt entered into employ
ment in the store that bears his
name in 1909. He observed his 50th
year of continuous service in the
store this year. The store was pur
chased by his father, in 1903, from
the North American Commercial
Company. That was the last year
of the sea otter hunting w mil was
the main source of revenue .or the
company at that time.
The company has grown from
the small store at the time of pur
chase until it now occupies almost
two city blocks. Kraft’s Supermar
ket, which Ben started, is a mui
ern, up-to-date grocery store com
parable to most in the country.
He was also owner of Kodiak aw
tors.
O. Kraft and Son, general mer
chandising store, has been a fami
liar landmark in Kodiak since its
purchase. The first addition to the
old store was a meat market and
a much needed cold storage plant
in 1924. This was the first cold
storage plant in Kodiak.
The Drygoods and Merit Depart
OK ®«<ne b„
•** <hgg* by J « AI*J
A copv *°afi Sta‘e fish
*«»g about £,the Proposa,.
Mediately , °.&*gss, we*s’ run
*°n as to ?VafiaWe /0f re n°f J'm
KS*
»r *«srx *« St"»
*f * mmedabfaut 1.300 *Ib
Merest erf „ a f°r distm, Ca^s
J+tZETo°f. ,bm0»<0
We^y to\Z^ProposZT a,nef s,Jn
^^Z 25
ments were added in 1940. It was
at this time developments on the
Naval Station were taking place,
resulting in a great influx of peo
ple here. Kraft saw the need for
enlarged premises where a com
plete line of women’s and men’s
apparel, baiby’s clothing and sun
dry articles could be carried.
The deceased had for many years
conceived the idea of a supermar
et lor Kodiak, feeling the popu
lation was sufficient for this mod
ern way otf merchandising foo-d
LitU'Jls. In 1952, he opened its doors.
Ben Kraft was noted for his
generosity, his willingness to as
sist in a worthy cause, and was a
benefactor to many in Kodiak over
the years.
The stores will remain open the
next few days. Funeral arrange
ments will be delayed pending
the arrival of Mrs. Kraft.
Juneau Favored
As Capital Site
By Sen. Bartlett
JUNEAU —UP)— The city of
Juneau, fending off moves by An
chorage area state legislators who
favor moving the State capitol, got
some strong support from Sen.
Bartlett. He said the legislature
has more urgent matters to attend
to than the proposed move of the
capital from Juneau.
Bartlett said the work of state
*hoed had barely begun. He said
he expected Juneau would remain
iiie capital ‘Tor some time.”
He said it was his “very positive
belief” that investments should
continue to be made in Juneau on
that basis.
Outstanding Artists Play Here Monday
Four outstanding musicians com
prise the Claremont Quartet, the
first to appear in the fall series of
the Alaska Music Trails, sponsored
by the Kodiak Business and Pro
fessional Women’s Club. The art
ists will appear Monday evening,
October 19, at the high school audi
torium.
The members of the Claremont
Quartet who pride themselves in
their sincere and honest admir'-atin
tion for each other’s musical tal
ents r.re well justified in their faith
and trust, according to advance
notices, for each of the individuals
has brought into the quartet a
magnificent background of train
ing, devotion and experience.
Marc Gottlieb, first violinist of
the quartet, was (born in Leipzig,
Germany, and began his early
studies with his father, who was
then teaching the famous Gewand
aus. After coming to this country
he entered the Julliard School of
Music and became a student of
Louis Persinger.
A composer, Mr. Gottlieb’s num
erous creative works include sev
(Continued to Page 8)
A TRIBUTE I
One of the fine men of our town has passed on.
In the simple announcement that death came to Ben Kraft I
Thursday, the thoughts of the residents of Kodiak who knew him
well, are quickened by memories of his many kindnesses, his self
lessness in his performance of charitable acts, and his regard
for the welfare of his fellowman.
Ben was something of a living tradition of Kodiak’s past,
fusing it into its present. Born on Kodiak Island, he was as good
an example as you can find of the familiar saying, “Local boy
makes good.” The names Kodiak and Kraft are synonomous, one
is not complete without the other.
The son of the founder of O. Kraft & Son, Ben grew up in
!he store—s nee eariy youth he was an integral part of the enter
prise. In the pist many years he guided its destinies—through
the war years and into the present.
He gave much thought to- the affairs of the store, and its
various departments. He shewed foresight in its development—
Krafts Supermarket will always remain as a monument to his
endeavors—careful planning brought to Kodiak a store of which
it can be proud. t
Though he always admitted he was “married to his job,” he
still lent a receptive ear to any worthwhile proposal. He could
always be depended on to support any worthy cause or person.
Ben is gone, but he left many friends. He would be very
happy if ho could hear the many expressions of regret at his pass
ing, the verbal “paits” on the back he has received, in the short
hours since his death. The recipients of his beneficiaries in this
town aline would add up into the hundreds.
We mourn his passing, for he was a good Rotarian, a fine
Elk, and a faithful American Legion member—and a good man. B
We will miss him. |j
Kodiak Little League Organizes
Bill Morley Here
As TV Technician
Bill Morley, manager of the
Everett Radio and TV Lab in Ever
ett, Washington, for the past 12
years, arrived in Kodiak this week.
He plans to live here.
He is employed at Hank’s * TV,
and will be (jhieXly engaged in the
repair of radios and TVs.
He is a licensed technician. His
family will arrive later.
Curley Wilson was elected presi
dent of the Kodiak Little League
for the I960 season, at an organiza
ficnal meeting held last Tuesday,
in the multipurpose room of the
grade school on the Naval Station.
Vice-president is Major Charles
Harvey Sullivan, USMC. Other of
ficers include Chief Forest Milas,
USN, as secretary; Charles Mc
Intyre as treasurer. Player agent
is L. E. Bennethum and assistant
player agent, Tommy Frost.
The next meeting will be called
prior to March 31, 1930, according
to Wilson, at which tiipe managers
for the six teams of the League will
he selected for the 1969 playing
season. The date and place of this
meeting will be published later.
Child Picked Up
By Kodiak Plane
Acting on a request from Elmen
dorf Air Rescue, the Kodiak based
Coast Guard RU7241, flew to Port
Ashton, picked uip 6 year old Mary
Deacon, Thursday. The child had
a temperature of 104 for two days,
with symptoms of appendicitis.
Pilot Lt. Clune and co-pilot Lt.
Hodlby flew the child to Elmen
dorf where she was taken to an
Anchorage hospital.
‘Husky' Found O.K.
The Kodiak based UF1261, pilot
ed by Lt. Stanlon and Lt. Cdm.
Vaughn checked the whereabouts
Thursday of the fishing vessel
HUSKY, atfer receiving a call
from Sgt. McLain of Bethel, who
reported no communications had
been received from the 55 foot
vessel.
The boat was located 10 miles
west of Middle Cape at 2:38 p.m.
apparently alright, except for faul
ly radio communieatins.
North Pacific
Fisheries Group
Meeting Monday
Sen. A1 Owen left this week for
Seattle, where he will attend the
forthcoming annual meeting of the
International North Pacific Fish
eries Committee opening there Oe~
tober 19.
“The State of Alaska has an lm
portant -economic stake in this
meeting.” Sen. Owen stated before
he left. “It is the purpose of the
Commission to bring about sound
conservation measures on the high
seas, based on continuing biologi
cal studies.” The studies are con
ducted by all three countries and
an effort to reconcile any differ
ences in the scientific findings,
will be made during the forthcom -
ing meeting.
“The importance of the meeting
to Alaska is evidenced by the fad
that Gov. Egan is scheduled to ad
dress the plenary session,” Owen
stated.
The Commission was established
by treaty, between Canada, Japan,
and the United States, for protec
tion of the high seas fisheries of
the North Pacific Ocean. The
North Pacific, and the Bering Sea
in particular, is the area in which
the Bristol Bay salmon runs feed
and grow to maturity before re
turning to the Alaska Bristol Bay
fishery.
“The treaty imposes certain re
strictions on Japanese fishing in
the area,” Owen stated, “but even
with restrictions, Japanese fish
ing has threatened the very exist
ence of the Bristol Bay runs, and
the livelihood of many fishermen,
including the shoreside workers."
Sen. Owen is an advisor to the
Commission and will be in attend
ance during the three weeks of the
session.
Along The
Waterfront
The waters adjacent to Kodiak
are peaceful these days, as is also
the waterfront adjacent thereto
and the industries along the shore
line.
The Alaska Steamship Company
m/v TATALINA -berthed with 700
tons of freight and left with about
140 tons from here, after about a
24 hour stopover.
The mailiboat EXPANSION is
due to arrive Sunday morning, and
will begin her trip around the
Island possibly in the late after
noon. Arriving back here Tuesday
morning, the ship will load freight
for the Westward. There are about
200 tons awaiting her now.. The
vessel will embark for the Aleu
tians Wednesday or Thursday.
£
King Crab, Inc. processed a
small amount of crab this week.
They now have some shrimp on
hand which will be processed on
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