The first thing that came to mind? Look at all that bluff! One of the book’s first pictures, for example, is a shot of the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library.Īs somebody with no familial ties to the central peninsula, it’s pretty neat to flip through the book and try to align old pictures with my understanding of the borough’s current layout. Navarre Admin Building, on Binkley Street, near the Joyce K. Glick Assembly Chambers, which is located inside the George A. An index of surnames in the back makes it a great go-to guide when I want to know more about the person for whom a street or building is called.Īs the government and education reporter at the Clarion, for example, I’ve spent a lot of time in the Betty J. “Once Upon the Kenai: Stories from the People” is a mosaic of voices from some of the peninsula’s most recognizable names. “Readers should keep in mind that one person’s recollection may differ from another’s and the value of this book lies in its individuality,” writes Project Director Jetret “Jettie” Petersen, in the preface. However, as editor Mary Ford writes in the book’s introduction, that is part of the charm. Of course, someone’s lived experience might not necessarily line up with another’s.
Beyond getting hooked in by the old family and town photos and colorful narrative, I’ve come to view the tome as a valuable source of modern Kenai Peninsula history. I was therefore quite delighted to happen upon a copy of “Once Upon the Kenai,” which I snagged for $0.50 after finding it in a pile of other Alaskana for sale at Bishop’s Attic in Soldotna. From the Kahtnut’ana Dena’ina, to settlers in the 20th century, to contemporary vagabonds, the peninsula is rich with history I always want to know more about. Undoubtedly the steepest learning curve, however, was playing catch-up on the thousands of years of history that make the Kenai Peninsula so special. box and shoveling snow were all new experiences for me. It’s no surprise that there is a bit of a learning curve: Buying studded tires, obtaining a P.O. There were the par for the course jokes about it being cold, the dark winters and the bears. People in the Lower 48 had a lot of things to say when I told them I was moving to Alaska.
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