Anchorage First Job Memories

What was your first job in Anchorage, Alaska?

In the picture above, a boy sells newspapers in Anchorage, circa 1918-1920.

If you grew up in Anchorage, what was your first job?

Did you move to Anchorage from somewhere else in Alaska, or from the “lower 48?”

Growing up, your parents likely told you to “clean up your room”, “take out the trash”, or “do the dishes.” But those jobs didn’t come with an actual paycheck.

Remember how good it felt to get the reward of money in exchange for your hard work.

Mary Jane of Anchorage Memories, Recalls Her First Jobs

Wah! Wah! Wah!

That’s the sound all babysitters hear.

When I was in the 5th grade, my very first job was watching and caring for my nieces and nephews, and neighborhood children. And because some parents referred me to other parents, I was the go-to babysitter for even more children. And yes, the pay was very good.

As a high school senior, I worked as a child attendant at the Anchorage Montessori School for 3 and 1/2 hours each weekday.

The 3 to 5-year-olds enjoyed listening to children’s records, playing games, and sing-alongs. In addition, I read stories to them. Interesting that now I’m the author of several children’s books.

Back then, my paycheck from the Montessori school made me feel all grown up at 17.

Yes, You Can Share This Fun Edition

And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will create a bronze statue of you with a plaque proclaiming to the world that your first job was in Anchorage, Alaska… well, it could happen.

Mike of Anchorage Memories Had Three First Jobs

At the ripe old age of 14, I had a newspaper route, delivering the Anchorage Daily Times to my neighborhood near East High School.

I saved the money I earned from that job and purchased a used Sears Moped.

Not long after that, A friend of my parents asked me if I would like a job as the janitor for their hair salon in downtown Anchorage. I agreed to give it a try. But after a few weeks, it was obvious that working in a hair salon was not for me.

When I was 18, I got a part-time job at KTVA channel 11, and that led to a 30-plus-year career in television broadcasting.

What was your first job in Anchorage?

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From Our North Stars (that’s you)

From our “Favorite Teachers” edition.

Randy remembers:

“Mike/Mary. So many wonderful teachers from the days that the first Williwaw opened (1960 first grade) up through graduation at East High in 1972. Far too many to mention. All I know is that most created the most memorable education this old man could have. We had some great teachers.”

Edi has these favorites:

“Two of my favorite teachers were math teachers - Mr. Hardin in junior high and Ms Rougier in high school. I went on to major in math in college. Mr. Granville was a junior high school principal who also taught classes in Alaska Geography and History. He always included humor in his classes. One other favorite was a language teacher - Mrs. Dahl, in whose classes I studied Spanish, which I also continued to study in college.”

When I was in school there was only one Anchorage Junior High/Senior High School. It was downtown on 6th Ave. Part of the time the junior high schoolers went to school in shifts. The senior high schoolers went when they had classes scheduled. They tried to set up our class schedule so that we had a free period near to noon so we could eat lunch. But, one semester I ate half of my lunch at 10:00 and the other half after I finished at 2:00.”

Becky recalls:

“Mountain View Elementary when it was brand new gave me a great start and I remember all my teachers there very well. Possibly my favorite was Mr. (Howard?) Barr who had been in the military and still carried himself that way. I had a wonderful time studying the Civil War in his class--a hobby of mine, still.

At Orah Dee Clark, I loved Mrs. Lily Neilson's Eng class and can still remember her reading Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, giving all the characters different voices. SO great!

At East High, I loved the music teachers - Mr. Kirke Muse and Mr. James Everly - of course, but also those who insisted that i work hard. (I came from the "do only enough work to get an A or maybe a B" school of tho't.) Mrs. Joan Baxter taught English Lit and for her I DID work. And it paid off with higher grades (imagine it). So in one sense she is probably my most unforgettable teacher at EAHS.”

Dennis had these favorites:

“While attending Ora Dee Clark School, I had a few favorites.. I was a band guy as well, and Mr. Kelly was the band director then.... But as for teachers, Mrs. Von Rohr, for algebra and Mr. Whitner (sp?).

Ahh, good memories.”

Gene remembers:

“Perhaps the one teacher who had the biggest impact on my life was Jack McGuin, the band director I learned from, first at the downtown Jr. High where he was my teacher in 7th and 8th grades, and then through all four years of high school band at the school on Romig Hill.”

Friederike recalls:

“Mr. Joe Buckingham, Ev DeMello, and Mr. Ed Harbke were my favorites. Each taught me life lessons and skills I’ve used every day since. We all remained friends until their individual passings.”

Send A Message to Mike and Mary Jane

Those great memories of our first jobs in Anchorage, Alaska, remind us of that time in our lives when our horizons were limitless, and anything was possible.

What did you learn about yourself from your first jobs in Anchorage?

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Until Next Time

Mike and Mary Jane

The Anchorage Memories Club