Anchorage Picture Memories

The Anchorage you love.

Photo by Ward Wells

We thought it would be fun to remember some places in Anchorage that are dear to our hearts. And what better way to begin than to look at where you may have begun your life.

Providence Hospital, originally located at 9th Avenue and L Streets, first opened on June 29, 1939, by the Sisters of Providence.

Many were born in the hospital between 1939 and 1963. A few of those include Mary Jane of Anchorage Memories, along with all her brothers and sisters. And while Mike of Anchorage memories was born in the lower 48, his brother Tom was born in Providence, as was his little sister Sybil.

How about you? Were you or someone in your family born there?

BONUS

Maybe you were born in one of these First Hospitals in Anchorage.

Remembering the Bun Drive-In and the Coke Show

photo by Ty Pierce

Our Story Begins on Christmas Eve, 1959

It was a cold December night when Ron Moore first took his radio show, known as “The Coke Show,” to new heights. Literally.

The show began originating from, as Ron used to say, “high atop the Bun Drive-In” at 601 Northern Lights Boulevard (later named “Wooly Bully Blvd” by Ron and the gang).

The new Coke Show studio was a small booth, affectionately known as the “Chicken Coop” or the “Royal Roost” (remember, Ron was also known as the “Royal Coachman” on his radio program).

The studio sat on the roof of the Bun Drive-In, overlooking the parking lot through a picture window.

The Coke Show and the Bun Drive-In bring back a flood of great memories. Do you have a request and a dedication?

BONUS

Relive those wonderful days and hear the Coke Show once again.

Jonas Brothers Memories

When you had visitors from the lower 48, Jonas Brothers was probably one of the places you took them for a peek at Alaska.

The outside of the building had a rustic Anchorage look, and inside was a treasure chest of Alaska animals, furs, and more.

And did you know that another Anchorage treasure got its start in Jonas Brothers?

In about 1958, Russ and Doris Riemann considered selling books directly to customers in a retail store.

That’s when they joined a lady named Esther Tout, who ran a small 15-by-25-foot bookstore in the same building as Jonas Brothers Taxidermy and Furriers, located on Fifth Avenue.

The little bookstore in Jonas Brothers became so popular that Russ and Doris decided to relocate. Their new location became known as The Book Cache, one of the most popular book stores in Anchorage.

BONUS

Get to know The Book Cache, an Anchorage favorite.

Swim Into Your Memories

Until March 1953, when the Spa first opened, if you wanted to swim in or around Anchorage, you had one choice. It had to be summer, and you had to swim in a lake. Or with your rubber ducky in the bathtub.

Then on March 31, 1952, a man named Edwin Suddock, a wholesale grocer, and his wife, Mary, made a welcome announcement. They were going to build a private, indoor swimming pool in Anchorage.

The pool would be located at 1720 F Street between West 16th and 17th Avenues. The location was just above what would later become the Valley of the Moon Park.

And many remember being bused from school to the Spa for swimming lessons.

Barbara remembers:

“For two weeks, first thing in the morning, a bus load of us were taken to the Spa. It was great to have swimming lessons. I still really appreciate the building design with the wall of windows. But afterward, we had to get back on the bus in our damp clothes, coats, and wet hair.”

BONUS

This will make a splash. Read The Spa Story and remember.

Sydney Laurence and Rainbow Trout

On the west side of the 4th Avenue Theatre was the First National Bank.

You could stand on the sidewalk and enjoy looking at a fish tank, filled with Rainbow trout. Inside the bank was an incredible collection of huge paintings by Alaska’s premier artist, Sydney Laurence.

The paintings were a real treat to look at. Many, if not all, were of the great mountain known to Alaskans as Denali.

And in the Spring of 1961

The first escalator was introduced in Anchorage

Photo by Ward Wells

When Caribou’s Department Store in Spenard announced the grand opening of its store escalator, it seemed like a theme park ride had opened, and most of the town turned out to ride it. Were you there?

Precious Memories

Wow, this has been a great trip down memory lane.

From Our North Stars (that’s you)

From our look at the Alaska Zoo

Tony had this memory:

“I lived in Bruin Park off of O’Malley Rd. from ‘64-’75, my buddy lived across from the Diamond H Ranch and I remember when the Zoo opened how surprised we were that someone would open a Zoo there. But then again there were also Lions in Mt. View back then.”

In our Alaska Zoo edition, we included a picture of an Artist helping Annabelle the elephant paint a picture.

Eric identified the artist for us:

“The artist painting with Annabelle is Diane Barske well known in Anchorage. She has since retired out of state.”

Connect with Mike and Mary Jane

If you still carry an older Anchorage in your bones--certain streets, certain winters, certain small details no outsider would think to mention-- you're in the right place.

Do you have a comment about this edition?

You can also contact us by replying to this email.

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary Jane

The Anchorage Memories Club