The mural panels painted during the paint weekend got their last top coating this Saturday.  The ‘Top Coat Gang’ has now placed a top coating three different times to get all of the panels ready for their install.  Nichole Feemster would like to thank all the volunteers that have come out to help with the mural that she has spent months working on.

Watch for the mural to start it’s install phase on the South side of the Library Museum building this next week.  The museum exhibit opening will be coming in May and the mural will be in place!

Photos are taken in the Hertz of Seward garage, where the ‘Top Coat Gang’ has been hard at work…can you recognize anyone?

The ‘Top Coat Gang’
Photo by: M Tougas

“Missed a spot here!”
Photo by: M Tougas

Carefully following a line
Photo by: M Tougas

Welcome to Bits of History! Lee has already taught us about the mountains on the western side of side of Seward. Now he takes us on a journey to the mountains east of Seward. Special thanks goes out to Harold Faust for assisting in the research of this “Bits” segment.

Nichole Feemster thanks the wonderful community folks that signed up and stopped in to help with the panels this last weekend.  18 panels, size 4×8, were given their first, second and sometimes third coats of paint during the paint weekend at the cruise ship terminal.  Thank you to the Alaska Railroad and the City of Seward for the space to set up and paint, and the Library Museum volunteers for helping to move, set up and help with the weekend details.  Nichole was on site each day to oversee the painting and directing the helping hands.  She would like to thank the volunteer painters, some came more than one day, and a *special Thank You to Mary Daniels for soups and baked goods, Yum!

The panels are getting the artists final touch and will then have a top coating applied before they are ready to go up on the white walls of the South side of the Library Museum building.  Our helping hands:

Come help paint the Library Museum mural panels today and Sunday at the cruise ship terminal! Snacks and goodies provided by some wonderful volunteers ( thank you Mary Daniels and Mary Huss).  Meet Nichole Feemster, the local artist, and help with the completion of the mural panels that will be placed on the South side of the Library Museum.

All supplies are provided, just wear comfortable clothes that can handle a little paint and comfy shoes.  Adults and teens welcome.  We are offering community service time to all Seward High students that come by complete a time slot.  Painting will take place at the cruise ship terminal.  Thank you to the Alaska Railroad and the City of Seward for their help with the location to do this community event!

Special thanks to the folks already signed up, public can come and drop in to give a hand anytime, we will be there.  A good way to ignore the new snow outside.  Or, just stop by to see the work in progress. She has her color drawings out for viewing of the entire project.  We’ll have the coffee on!

This is the largest mural to be worked on in Seward and Nichole Feemster has been busy.  She needs some extra hands to get the final panels ready.

Saturday, April 6 ~ 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  (drop ins welcome)

Sunday,  April 7 ~ 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.- need some hands for clean up and break down @ 2pm!!

Cruise Ship Terminal

Our award-winning series is back for 2013! Learn about the All-Alaska Sweepstakes and how it became an inspiration for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Embracing History, Growing by Volumes becomes reality

Organizers say everyone in Seward is invited to celebrate the dedication of the new Seward Community Library Museum next Saturday afternoon, January 12, but that preschoolers and school children and their parents are especially welcome. Besides an opening dedication ceremony with singing by the Seward High School Chorus, and self-tours, two afternoon presentations by nationally-known children’s author Nancy White Carlstrom are scheduled along with fun, school child “book worm” craft activities at the afternoon-long celebration that begins at 1:30 p.m. with the formal dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. Free book bags, and free books by White Carlstrom, are available on a first-come basis for preschool and early reading children who attend the event.

White Carlstrom is the author of the popular “Jesse Bear” series. A former resident of Interior Alaska, she will be leading two presentations on Saturday. The first one, “Singing with Jesse Bear” from 2:30-3:00 p.m. is designed for preschoolers to 1st graders. The second White Carlstrom presentation, “Writing in Alaska: From Idea to Finished Book,” is aimed at older readers and writers from 2nd to 5th grade.
Children will have two age-appropriate craft stations to choose from and they will be treated to locally baked “book worm” cookies.

“Seward residents deserve a big pat on the back for sticking with this new facility during the nine years it took to plan, develop, fund and finish it,” says Keith Campbell, Chair of the building committee. The $10.3 million, 16,300 square-foot facility provides the highest possible energy efficient standards, ADA compliant access for all patrons, and provides better preservation of Seward’s historical and cultural collections. Originally envisioned in 2002 as part of Seward’s 100th anniversary year celebration in 2012, the new facility will contribute to Seward’s quality of life and its economy; provide additional, flexible meeting spaces for community gatherings, events and small conferences, and more space for books and educational exhibits.

The Seward Community Library Museum is formally open for business on Monday, January 14th.

Embracing History, Growing by Volumes becomes reality

Organizers say everyone in Seward is invited to celebrate the dedication of the new Seward Community Library Museum next Saturday afternoon, January 12, but that preschoolers and school children and their parents are especially welcome. Besides an opening dedication ceremony with singing by the Seward High School Chorus, and self-tours, two afternoon presentations by nationally-known children’s author Nancy White Carlstrom are scheduled along with fun, school child “book worm” craft activities at the afternoon-long celebration that begins at 1:30 p.m. with the formal dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. Free book bags, and free books by White Carlstrom, are available on a first-come basis for preschool and early reading children who attend the event.

White Carlstrom is the author of the popular “Jesse Bear” series. A former resident of Interior Alaska, she will be leading two presentations on Saturday. The first one, “Singing with Jesse Bear” from 2:30-3:00 p.m. is designed for preschoolers to 1st graders. The second White Carlstrom presentation, “Writing in Alaska: From Idea to Finished Book,” is aimed at older readers and writers from 2nd to 5th grade.
Children will have two age-appropriate craft stations to choose from and they will be treated to locally baked “book worm” cookies.

“Seward residents deserve a big pat on the back for sticking with this new facility during the nine years it took to plan, develop, fund and finish it,” says Keith Campbell, Chair of the building committee. The $10.3 million, 16,300 square-foot facility provides the highest possible energy efficient standards, ADA compliant access for all patrons, and provides better preservation of Seward’s historical and cultural collections. Originally envisioned in 2002 as part of Seward’s 100th anniversary year celebration in 2012, the new facility will contribute to Seward’s quality of life and its economy; provide additional, flexible meeting spaces for community gatherings, events and small conferences, and more space for books and educational exhibits.

The Seward Community Library Museum is formally open for business on Monday, January 14th.

Here are a few pictures of the museum move that show the work that went fast and smooth.

News from the Library; according to Patty Linville, Director of the library museum, the goal set Friday was for the books to all be unpacked by the end of the day. Rachel James and all the staff and volunteers have made this work go faster than expected.

Amazing. Thank you volunteers and Library Museum staff, you rock!

More information about the museum move can be found on their face book page:

http://www.facebook.com/SewardMuseum

Happy Holidays Seward!

 Click the Holly for our Holiday newsletter

The muscles that moved the Library and Museum collections in record time…

Moving the pallets at the museum.

After the moving…

Construction of the Seward Community Library Museum is nearing completion, and plans are underway for a community grand opening celebration on January 12th. Regular library services will begin in the new building on January 14th. Seward Community Library will be closed from December 9, 2012 – January 11, 2013.

After 50 years of service at its current 5th Avenue and Adams Street location, the existing Library will close its doors for the final time on Saturday, December 8th at 6:00 pm. Everyone is invited to visit the library on December 8th between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm to celebrate Seward Community Library’s 50 years at 5th & Adams Street.

Patrons are encouraged to visit the library on, or before, December 8th to check out materials before the closure. Due dates will be adjusted for the closure, a drop box will remain available for returning materials, and no late fees will be accrued during the Library’s closure. Library staff apologizes in advance for any inconveniences this extended closure may cause for our patrons, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the Seward Community Library Museum grand opening celebration on January 12th.
There will be numerous opportunities for volunteers to assist in the preparation, packing, moving, and unpacking of the Library Museum. The greater part of the move is anticipated to take place from December 10 – 21st. Please sign up at the Library if you are interested in helping with this exciting community project.

Due to the extended closure in December and January, Seward Community Library’s annual Wish Tree Program, which provides donations for new children’s, junior and young adult books, will take place after the library has moved into the new building. However, anyone wishing to make a donation to the Wish Tree Program may still do so at the library before December 8th.

In addition, use of the existing Library conference room will not be available during the month of December, and will have limited availability throughout November. The new Library Museum building will have a large community room on the first floor, and a small meeting room on the second floor available for reservation.

Please contact the Library at 224-4082 with any questions, or for more information.

Here are a few of the pictures I came across in his picture book from around 1950. I thought I would share with u. I have more if u would like to view some.  Thanks Bob.

Part Two of the Alaska Flag story explores the background of the Alaska Flag poem and song.

JUNEAU – On Oct. 10, the Alaska State Historical Records Advisory Board (ASHRAB) awarded Amy Carney and Lee Poleske archival Certificates of Excellence for their innovative Bits of History series of 5- to 7-minute historical videos covering all aspects of Seward, Alaska’s past. Carney is the Seward Community Library Museum Collections Coordinator, and Poleske is a local historian who has tirelessly volunteered to gather and share Seward’s history for all who care to listen.

Carney and Poleske used archival records including photographs, maps, newspapers, and 16mm archival video footage to produce 40 videos that are accessible on the Seward Library website and YouTube.  Topics covered include the first Moscow to New York flight in 1929 with a stopover in Seward, the story of the Alaska state flag created by 13-year old Benny Benson of the Jesse Lee Mission School in 1927, and the 1928 Mt. Marathon race.

The ASHRAB members noted that this collection of historical vignettes is local history at its best and that the medium chosen enables the older generation to communicate with and pass on the torch of history to its successors.

The ASHRAB, coordinated by the State Archivist, is a 9-member Governor-appointed state board. The ASHRAB believes that the collection and preservation of historical records, Alaska’s priceless legacy, are fundamental to understanding our past and guiding our future. This was the ASHRAB’s second award.

recent flood waters expose the foundation of an old Seward church

by Brent

The recent flooding that Seward  experienced has uncovered a bit of history.

Knot So Fast Feed and Garden Store, at mile 3.5 of the Seward Highway, was hit hard by food waters. After the water had receeded, the foundation of an old church ( Church of God) was exposed. No  inscription or dates could be found on the remains of the foundation.

An interview with several of Seward’s life long residents provided the following bits of infomation: The church was there around the 1940′s and was gone by 1957. A few seem to remember that the church was a Quonset Hut, probably left over from World War II.

When the Seward Highway was being improved in the early 1950′s,  gravel was taken from an area next to the church. The resulting pit then filled with water. Most have recollections that the proximetry of this new body of water next to the church is how it came by the name Preacher’s Pond.

While many had difficulties remembering the church,  many could recall (some with fondness, or so it seemed) Riley’s Bar that was situated close to where Preacher’s Pond is.  Riley’s burned down sometime between 1953 and 1955.  Local resident Louis “Packy” Dick recalls that you could buy a case of Oly Beer for 12 dollars back then.  Asked about his age at the time, he responed with a laugh and a grin.

The property was held by the Church of God in Anchorage until 1985 when it was sold to Michael Dunn and Carol Souza.  They operated Bored Feet Lumber until Michael’s death in 1990.  The land was then transferred to Michael’s daughter, Elizabeth (Becky) Dunn and is the current home to Knot So Fast Feed and Garden.

Becky provided some additional history regarding  the current building that is home to Knot So Fast. The building was originally constructed as an army barracks in 1954.  After it was no longer needed by the army, it was transfered to the City and was home to the Teen and Youth Center until the SeaLife Center displaced it.  The building was moved from downtown to its current location in 1996.  The building was gutted and reinforecd to withstand, literally, tons of animal feed.  Becky credits this reinforcecment to why the building remained standing during the flood.

While the ‘Northern Lights’ siding is going up on the outside of the Library Museum, the inside progress is at a point that will allow guided tours.

If you would like to do a walk through ‘Hard Hat Tour’ of the Library Museum, we have eight spaces available for this coming Wednesday evening, October 3rd, 5:45 meet up, 6:00 start. Info is available at the Library.  Stop into the library to sign up, we will be taking only eight persons this Wednesday, Oct 3rd.

Space is limit to eight persons, we will give one more tour if we have the interest, later in October.

Follow our progress at our website: http://somethingforus.org

Seward Community Library Museum Building Committee (SCLMBC)

Story Hour walks to see new Library Museum

Hard Hat Tour this summer for Res Bay Historical Society

Northern Lights siding on the exterior

Undercutting on the road to Exit Glacier at mile 7.5. Photo taken September 26, 2012

The road to Exit Glacier between mile 7 and 8.6 within Kenai Fjords National Park remains closed due to flood damage. The road is no longer safe for two-way traffic due to undercutting of the asphalt road surface. Visitors can access the Exit Glacier area on foot or bicycle by parking at the Resurrection River trailhead at mile 7.

The park’s priority is to ensure that the road will be fully useable in May 2013. Construction to repair road damage is schedule to begin October 2, 2012. We anticipate that the road to Exit Glacier will close for the winter on November 1.

We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide an update if the road closure status changes.

Harding Icefield excursion, circa 1982. Photo by Keith Knighten

Are you interested in finding out how the Exit Glacier area was used prior to it becoming part of Kenai Fjords National Park?

Join Kenai Fjords National Park staff on Friday, October 5 at 6:30pm in the Seward Community Library for an update on an oral history project that recorded the uses of the Exit Glacier area before 1980. Hunting, trapping, snowmachining, and guiding were just a few of the topics that were explored. These interviews, photos, and maps are now illustrated on Project Jukebox, a digital oral history program at the University of Fairbanks. We hope you can join us!

For more information please call Shannon Kovac at 422-0541.