Seward
/'/;<• Gate-zvay Cily of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Record
Seward's .///-// father Port is ./laska*s Greatest AsseA.
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD. ALASKA
Vol. IX. No. 1
SEWARD. ALASKA, FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1952
Price 10 Cents
Dor? Carlos Brownell,
Staunch Sewcardife,
Taken By Death
Don Curios Dr o \v n o 1 1. for
many years Seward's foremost
citizen, died at 8:55 am. Wednes
day . July 12. at t'u' ago of 70. lie
was the oldest citizen of Seward
with the exception of Andy Ras
mussen, who came here one
month sooner.
Mr. Brownell was horn in
California on March 17. 1882.
When he was a small boy lie
came with his parents to Alaska,
living first at Skagway and later
Valdez. Don Carlos was aboard
the first boat coming to Seward
in LH)2, out disemoarked at Val
clez mid persuaded his father to
come to Seward to purchase
property. The elder Brownell
bonse.t the List lot to be sold
in the new town, and the son
came on to Seward with the next
boat a month lab r. The lot was
the present she of the Yukon Bar
and Liquor Store at Fourth Ave
nue and Washington Street.
Mr. Brownell often told laugh
ingly !. jw he and his father,
having no knowledge of timber
falling, cut a large tree on the
lot, but because of the dense
growth of timber, the tree would
—i, ftwag1
Don Carlos Brownell
• iot fall. They had to hunt an
experienced woodsman to cut
the timbt r before a small build
ing could be erected on the lot.
They paid $1000 lor that first
lot. Air. Brownell has said. They
set up in the hardware business
jn the store which was continued
until the time of his father's
death.
Soon after arriving in Seward
the elder Brownells homesteaded
a tract of land north of town,
which included what is now the
home 'place, First Lake, and the
lower slopes of Marathon Moun
tain. This homestead was sold
to the City of Seward in 1050
to be subdivided as a residential
and parK area.
For the past 27 years Mr. and
Airs. Brownell owned and oper
ated the Liberty Theatre. It
burned in the big fire of 1040
and was rebuilt on the present
site. It was purchased last month
by an Anchorage firm.
Don Carlos Brownell lias done
as much for Seward, the Kcnai
Peninsula and Alaska as any
man in the Territory. He was
elected Mayor of the City of
Seward in April 1031, serving
nine successive terms. During
that time, he negotiated organi
zation and construction of the
Seward Eleetr.c System, which
was an outgrowth of a plan to
install a hydro-electric plant at
Lost Lake. At the time, the Fed
eral government would not enter
into a plan to assist in financing
the hydro project, but substi
tuted the RFC program result
ing in the diesel generated plant
(Turn to Page 4)
ORDERS WATER SYSTEM
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
Bids werfl awarded to Johns
Man villi' Company for transite
pipe to be list'd in construction
of the new water distribution
system, last Monday ni ,ht at a
special meeting.
The bid offered by Pacific
Water Works company was ac
cepted for fittings and valves
needed in the project.
Bids for laying the pipe and
other construction will be open
etl August 4. These are to be
advertised and supervised by
Felix .1. Toner, engineer for the
city on the water and sewer
projects.
Ls!ale Jcsmcs Plaslerer
Dies na Stevie
Mrs. Lillie James Plasterer,
who was the first Seward post
mistress. in Pil'd, diet! m Se
attle June la. Fu ural services
u t re held .) une t 7.
Mrs. Plasterer lived in Daw
son m la.Ill as a young girl. \v ith
tile opening in tin. me. t-awil of
S wain b\ jam..- ialin.ne in
1. o... *.ie earn.' neie a, d s. t up
lie lirst kisIMe.v a S.o.e e.died
Ti.e .uasxa S t>r t'he i:r-n post
onice was in tile store a drs.
P.estt to r. then Lillie C iordon,
wa.-> tile Li's! posiin. ti't-ss m
Sew ard, w h. ai a .: io i - a- kept
in; eight y al's
Sin was le olds pantograph
< r ;n the am a at tunt t. i. . and
many of her pilotograpns. ... ai
ing t:ie name or initials of Lube
Cord an and the ciate «>» ti e ; n
shut ,.i • ■ now treasured immo
r . - oi cany history in Alaska.
The Alaska S.uop. out. ro.vt'lt
of the •original store, was sold
in lo4J to J. \’.e brow and
con unites limit r the same name.
After selling the store and other
properties in Seward, sile moved
to Seattle, where she married
Mr. William Plasterer, December
Io, 1,44.1. air. Plasteier was re
tired from the firm of boil Mar
cite in Seattle.
Mis. Plasterer had no chil
dren and is survived only by
her iius;>and.
FOUK SEW AADITE3 ELECTED
lO LEdO-Si D£»JT. Or f EEs
Fur members of the Seward
Ain i‘i can Lu.pun Post a.ui Aux
m.u;> ii'C. ,\\a Da par ii in if of
iii. s a. lae ao:ivvkiiOn ne.d m
1_;_ tv 4*1 i ,ii: . I l A.
Edwin fdantm > \.as appoint
ed £>ergcant ai Arms; Alary
Stoeckle. cumin.an Conslitution
and By-Laws; v era Farcmson,
chaitinan Finance; ami Agnes
aanikula, chairman Poppy Cum
mittee for 1953.
Other officers elected in this,
the 3 3rd annual convention,
were Esther Clithero of Sitka,
Department president of the
Auxiliary; and Richard llard
castle, Ketchikan, Department
Commander of the Legion.
The 1953 convention will be
at Cordova.
HISTORY OF MT. MARATHON
RACE IN SEWARD
Fact and fiction are pretty
well mixed in any history of
the race on Mt. Marathon. The*
4th of July Committee has made
a serious effort in the past two
years to sift truth from rumor,
however, and have been able to
establish a definite record on
winning time and dates, except
in a few instances.
The date of the first running
is obscured, but was apparently
in 1915 or 191(1. The story goes
that a wager of $100 was made
by a groceryman by the name
of Gus Borgcn, to the effect
that the mountain could be
climbed and the man return to
(Turn to Page 2)
Seward C. of C. Gets
Reply Regarding
Strike Te!egrcmi
Torino.i Bio. president Seward
Chamber ol Commerce, was
authorized to represent the local
Chamber at Commerce and City
of Seward at the meeting of
Alaska Development Board at
Mount MeKinlo> Park in An
gust.
The meeting is a joint effort
by the Development Board, Al
aska Visitors Association and
Alaska Chambers of C ommerce.
Every Chamber of Commerce
has been contacted to stud a
representative to discuss terri
torial and municipal problems,
and the.r p- >xsibl • solution.
Reply io C. of C. Telegram
'the lollowing telegram was
received in reply to one address
*. ct to Alaska Division Seattle
C hamber of Commerce concer.,
ing efiects of the saiiors strike
tu re:
"Seward Chamb r of Comr.n r
Si a or i. Alaska
"Kolkm in , wire s-. nt t- via
•John Id Steelman, Assistant
lac 1 r - :.U .. 1. \v :ule lli .is
\Vasiiiiit,l( o. DC.
" • 1 ha..k you f<>r your 1 11
of June L-liii in a..s a er to
ft am
s h i o n
Alov J. a i
S: lil.il a I 1.
tie
and t.
mote:
lions are uad- rw..\
ecbbimiy oi Alaska
tense program is .
dized. dunlin.l i
lave lim.ilcr
1,-ii'e negoma
Tiie whoit
and the dc
> mg jeopar
s important
Llgil
■a in
it \ cli obi a. a fir,
not a ■
n reliable
ni.', i ... Our
tit.ii s'aouli
t . veil and
d fense co
strike. Defense woi
slowed down. As y
s' i 'action so >: m
de'a\ s in
-...a. Bus obliga
iso 11 • of concur i
nr ol i' v. National
mounting due to
■ work is seriously
know eon
i is short and
!y. Piece meal
relief cargo does not ae com
plish objective of uninterrupted
sii: ipiug. We feel settlement can
only come through efforts of
your office. Appreciate a wire
from you indicating what action
you are taking.'
"Suggest similar action by
YOU.
• • G LEX N CA R RIXGTON
Chairman, Alaska Division
Seattle Chamber of Commerce”
TO CHECK POSSIBILITIES OF
AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Juneau—The National Guard
Bureau Air Division will make
a survey of Alaska to determine
the possibility of an Air National
Guard for Alaska. The personnel
making the survey are expected
to arrive in the Territory some
time during the second week in
July. Visits will be paid Juneau,
Fairbanks and Anchorage.
The Air National Guard of
the United States is not com
posed entirely of fighter and
light bomber s madrons but also
communicat urns outfits, weather
stations', aircraft control and
warning squadrons and many
other highly specialized units
which offer y >u the best in
technical training.
If there is sufficient interest
by the public, air units for
Alaska may be authorized. In
terested personnel arc asked to
contact your 1 o c a 1 National
Guard headquarters today.
GRAM
— JULY 4-5-6
FRIDAY, JULY 4
10:00 A.M.—
Ride the MOOSE GOOSER—R.R,
Visit Concessions & Games—4th
1:00 P.M.—~
Meet Visitors from Asichorc^e and
Fairbanks—Ranroed D e pov
£3 >
i:3G P.M.—
Strcfcf Pc: r ado*
PevParade
-Rents, Dos! Sue-av and
Kid Races—4tb Avenue Cosed
CASH PRIZES
J
TrfJ
5 SU ■>
10-Yard Foot Race
IG Yard Fool Race
20-Yard Foot F. ce
20-Yard Foot Race
20-Yard Foot Race
30-Yard Foot Race
50-Yard loot Race
50-Yard Foot Race
100-Yard Foot Race
1 GO-Yard Foot Race
100 Yard Foot Race
30-Yard backwards Race
30-Y rJ ’’acl cards Race
Horse and Rider Duck
Sack Race
Three-Legged Race
Shoe Scramble
CASH PRIZES
Bovs u'-dcr 5
Girls under 5
Bovs 5-7
Girls 5-7
E<oys 8-10
Girls 8-10
Boys 11-15
Girls 11-15
Boys 16-20
Girls 16-20
Free-For-All
Boys 11-13
Girls 11-13
Eoys 10-18
Bovs 12-13
Boys 12-16
Girls 10-15
t». w, y a* a fc i v.s »
itC
To Seaport Record Office & Return
To Seaport Record Office & Return
To 3c-ward School & neii rn Cir!c
To Pat's Garage & Return Boys 1
ALL BICYCLE RACES START AND Fit
SEWARD HARDWARE (Riders may ride
4:00 KM —Tug-of-Wesr
Dockside and Skipside Long:
1 C~se of 'eer to E - ~h PrrticipJ
3 C"s-s or p>**rr to ^ ;rh
(Donated by Seward Retail Liquor
Concessions f: Q,rriv,i}s
i;*:o MOOSE COOS-211
Elks and lerion CJubs op on ».i
Gileses c:J evening—Dancing Pa
GRAND FIREWORKS DISPLAY CANCELL
Boys 10-13
Oil’s 10-13
thru School Age
thru School Age
ISH IN FRONT OF
through finish line).
shoremen
•t
^ariicmant
Dealers)
Me:nb;?r3 end
Refreshments
FD—Sailers' Strike
SATURDAY, JULY 5
10:00 A.M.—
Ride the MOOSE GOQSER—Raitroad Ave.
11 :C0 - i 2r00—'Visit Concessions
Games - Money Scramble for Kids
1:00 P.M.—Train Arrives from Anchorage
1:15 P.M.—
Demonstration by Volunteer Fire Dep't.
(Vacant Lot across from Post Office)
2:00 P.M.—SHARP
ANNUAL RUNNING MT. MARATHON RACE
(Continuous broadcasting of race positions by
radio and amplified on street loudspeakers.)
3:30 P.M.—Amusement Games - Concession
Stands - Moose Gooser Rides - Visit Clubs,
Cafes, Amusement Places
5:30 P M.—Train Leaves for Anchorage
9:30 P.M.—‘-Public Dance at Civic. Center
AWARDING PRIZES FOR RACE — 11:00 P.M.
SUNDAY, JULY 6
Koon ’{3! LHej* h—
PUBLIC PICNIC AT CITY PARK
Motor Tours - Moose Gooser Rides - Visit
Concessions