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JOE RIDGE's avatar

Primarily Nunaka Valley and then Chester Valley. Then, on to Clark in 1973.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Joe - We appreciate your comment. I’m also a Clark alumni.

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Ronnie's avatar

My family lived in Anchorage from 1957 1960

I thought my brother and I went to school named Airport Heights? 1st 2nd 3rd grades. I don’t see that listed. We lived on Eugene st l believe. My Dad grew up with Charles (Chuck Higgins) in Asheville NC. He convinced him to come there. Love all the memories.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Ronnie - Yes, there is an Airport Heights elementary school in Anchorage. And thank you for mentioning that school. We are happy to learn that you are enjoying the memories we share here on the Anchorage Memories Club.

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Patricia's avatar

Regarding Mt. View Elementary. I attended grade school in that same building, but it was then called Talkeetna Elementary. My second grade teacher was Mrs. Gilman of Gilman's Bakery fame. In 4th grade, we had 44 kids with only one teacher who was with us the entire day. We were certainly more disciplined and obedient in those days.

If my memory is correct, there was a fire in the school during the 54/55 year and we double shifted at Airport Heights Elementary. When our school reopened it was renamed Mt. View Elementary. By this time my family had moved closer to downtown and I attended Denali where I had my first male teacher, Mr. Belote. He later became the Jr. High boys PE teacher.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Patricia - small world. Mr. Belote was my P.E. teacher at Clark Jr. High. Thank you for sharing your memories.

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Melinda's avatar

From 1959 - 1963, I attended Government Hill Elementary School as we lived in Panoramic View Apts. and we all walked to school.

My parents bought a new house on Abbott Loop Road, and we rode a school bus to Abbott Loop Elementary School from 1963 -1964. After the earthquake, my folks decided to leave Alaska and we moved to Virginia the summer of 1964.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Melinda - Thank you for sharing your story. Did you know that Government Hill was the first neighborhood in Anchorage? Glad you enjoyed this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club.

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Paula's avatar

Nunaka - K through 6th grade.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Paula - we appreciate your comment. Great to hear from Nunaka Valley -

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Jerry Watd's avatar

Tom, Jim, Jerry, Patsy, Joe & Jack Ward all went to Denali. Great memories.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Jerry - Glad to hear from a Denali alumni. Happy that you enjoyed this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club.

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Michael Lefner's avatar

Thanks for sharing...Great memories! Are those schools still there?

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Michael - Sadly, Denali was torn down. I think Mountain View elementary is still around. Happy that you enjoyed this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club.

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Claudia Welborn's avatar

I attended North Star until 3rd grade, then we moved and I attended Inlet View before going to Central Jr High.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Claudia - Thank you for sharing the schools you attended.

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Joe Fournelle's avatar

I went to Denali for first grade in 1955. My teacher was Miss Rook in Room 47. There must have been a lot of first graders because we were on a double shift. I was on the morning shift.(My brother, in the third grade had a "normal" school day.) I lived in Rogers Park so I rode the school bus. I had no understanding of time back then but it was dark when we got on the bus to go to school and somewhere around or after noon when we came home. I don't remember an ice rink but I do remember a large snow pile that appeared when the playground a was cleared of snow. We played king of the mountain on it. After the snow was gone there was the slide, swings, and monkey bars. Yup I remember Dick, Jane, Sally, Spot and puff: "Run Spot run! Run, run, run!" Reading opened a whole world for me. I have fond memories of Loussac Library on F St. In 1956 Lake Otis School opened so we walked to school; crossing Northern Lights Boulevard and Lake Otis Road (NOT Parkway). No traffic signals, crossing guards, or patrols. It's amazing the memories that surface after 70 (!) years. Oh, and Lake Otis was the Huskies too! The student body chose Huskies over several other Alaska wildlife that first year Lake Otis was open.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Joe - Oh the memories. You have a better memory than I do. You even remember your room number at Denali. Thank you for sharing.

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Joel Dolphin's avatar

I went to Denali in 1992 (K) and then 1996-1999 (4th-6th). Great memories.

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Michael R Dougherty's avatar

Joel - Great memories indeed. Always great to hear from a Denali elementary school alumni. Thank you for sharing.

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