Edgar Tarwater, Anchorage Pioneer

There's a street named after him.

In the 1924 photo above, Edgar “Tar” Tarwater is the fellow in the middle with his hands in his back pocket, standing next to a dog.

Note:

The picture above was taken at the end of 3rd Avenue in Anchorage, where Austin E. (Cap) Lathrop had built a back lot of sets for his movie, “The Chechahcos”.

Tarwater Avenue

The Anchorage suburb of Mountain View is where you’ll find Tarwater Avenue, named for the man we’re featuring in this edition.

In the picture above (date unknown), Edgar Tarwater is the man holding his coat with his back to the camera.

The Bank of Anchorage

In 1923 or 1924, Edgar Tarwater came to Anchorage and found employment as a cashier at the Bank of Anchorage.

At that time, the bank was located on the corner of 4th Avenue and G streets in the Alaska Building.

In 1924, the Bank of Anchorage moved to the Reed Building at 614 west 4th Avenue. That building was also known as the International Order of Odd Fellows building. The bank was on the first floor.

A Big Change

The Alaska Railroad was completed in 1923 and in 1925, Anchorage experienced a down-turn in the economy.

The Bank of Anchorage closed and the Bank of Alaska purchased all of its assets.

Tarwater then joined the Bank of Alaska as its Anchorage Branch Manager. E.A. Rasmuson was the President of the bank.

Hey, Let’s Advertise on the Radio

In the photo above, KFQD radio was located on 4th Avenue.

In 1924, radio station KFQD became the first radio station in Anchorage and Alaska.

Tarwater became a regular listener.

At one point, Tarwater spoke with Rasmuson about having the Bank of Alaska advertise on KFQD radio. Tarwater’s idea was for the bank to sponsor a show called “Mr. Laughlin”. The show featured a man who played the pipe organ for 30 minutes every week.

But Rasmuson considered radio advertising to be “below the dignity of banks.”

Yes, You Can Share this Edition

It’s a fact, people love learning about Alaska. And meeting the pioneers of Anchorage who built a town on the shores of Cook Inlet will bring Alaska right to them.

Share this with your friends and family… Go ahead, make their day.

Click on the following link:

Vice President of the Bank of Alaska

Tarwater’s banking career was successful. He became the Vice President and kept that position until he retired in 1938… But he kept working as an insurance agent for Gould and Gould.

World War II

The picture above is of Merrill Field

Tarwater was named the Superintendent for Merrill Field during its World War II days.

The Anchorage Fur Farm

In the picture above is Nome dog musher Scotty Allen and his dog, “Baldy”.

In 1928, a group, including Tarwater, began the Anchorage Fur Farm, with famed dog musher, Scotty Allen.

The farm was located on 10 acres at 10th and M Streets.

BONUS

Would you like to know more about Scotty Allen?

Take a look at Scotty Allen and discover.

Anchorage’s First Golf Course

Circa 1930s Keystone View Company, stereoview card #1082

In the picture above is the first Golf Course in Anchorage

Edgar Tarwater was also a founding member of the Anchorage Golf Club. He also helped create and lay out the first golf course in Anchorage (seen above).

“Fore”

The golf course actually shared its grounds with the first airstrip in Anchorage. It was located in what is now the Delaney Park Strip on 9th Avenue between A and P Streets.

Can You Imagine?

When planes took off or landed, golfers were supposed to give them the right of way.

Only in Alaska…

A Final Note:

Edgar “Tar” Tarwater left Alaska and later passed away in Seattle on August 5, 1944.

But his contributions remain in a place we love, called Anchorage, Alaska.

Meet Joe Spenard

From the e-book:

“Joe Spenard caused considerable excitement Saturday afternoon when he attempted to drive his yellow car through the doors of Robarts Pool Hall. He made the attempt for a box of cigars promised him by Jack Robarts if he accomplished the feat: otherwise he was to pay the damages. Joe is still smoking his pipe.”

BONUS

Meet the man, the myth, the legend.

Take a look at Joe Spenard and enjoy.

From our North Stars (that’s you)

From our look at Soldotna, Alaska

“In the late 1960s my Air Force buddies and I would spend a lot of summer days fishing the Kenai River at Soldotna, and also many other glorious fishing spots on the Kenai. I recall fondly the “combat fishing” for reds at the Kenai/Russian River confluence. Great memories.”

Jim

“Love Soldotna, very beautiful. Great memories of our bowling teams from Bethel attending the Alaska State Bowling Tournament in Soldotna a couple of times at the Gold Strike Lanes and Sal's Klondike Diner which are both gone now. The very first 300 game in the State Tournament history was bowled there by Frank Fitka from Bethel...Great memories!”

Michael

“love the history nuggets for Soldotna.”

Randall

And Ron wrote to us about this Anchorage memory.

“My family and I visited Anchorage in 1962. It was part of an extensive vacation that year. I was only ten at the time, so memories are faint, but I do remember taking several trips to areas just outside the town limits to farms, and glaciers.

However, the best memory was having breakfast at the “Frisco Cafe”! What a breakfast. A few years later, we were deeply saddened when the 1964 earthquake happened, and we saw our favorite spot had sunken 10 plus feet below street level.(The picture was in Life Magazine or the Saturday Evening Post) My brother and I still talk about this and the great memories of visiting this area.”

Ron

Connect with Mike and Mary

“Hey Mary, Edgar Tarwater was a true Anchorage and Alaska pioneer. And can you imagine playing golf and having to watch out for airplanes on the fairway?”

Do you have a comment about our look at the early days of Anchorage and our pioneer, Edgar Tarwater?

You can reply to this email, or you can Contact Us to say, “I used to live on Tarwater Avenue in Mountain View.”

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska Stories