January 2006 - Kasilof Regional Historical Society

Kasilof Regional Historical Association, Inc, P. O. Box 3 Kasilof, Alaska 99610
January 2006 Vol. 2 ,No. 1 262-2999
horse, dogs, goat or cow and chickens. I dearly loved helping care
for the animals. Another of my very important jobs was making
sure the wood boxes were full. appreciated by one and all on the
very cold frosty mornings of winter. We had a barrel stove in the
living room and a wood cook stove in the kitchen.
Dolly Christl's Home, Woodshed, Barn and original
Road. K-Beach Road was widened over to the house.
Photo from '60's
Memories of Life in Kusilof
By Dolores (Dolly) Margaret Cole Christl
Our adventure in Kusilof began with my grandparents. My grandfather
Perry Cole belonged to a Fox Farm Association in New York. He
visited many fox farms in different parts of Alaska compiling research.
Grandfather fell in love with Alaska and in 1926 left New York for
Kusilof with my grandmother Lillian and six children. Their family
consisted of Burton, Mildred, Lucille, Dorothy, Comer and Milton.
My Uncles Burton drown in Pollard Lake as a boy. The whole Cole
family worked on the fox farm which was located where George
Pollard now lives.
My father, Comer Cole built our first family home in an area we called “
Sleepy Hollow” located up Mink Creek. Sadly Mink Creek has all but
disappeared after the earthquake. This one room cabin at “Sleepy
Hollow” was bought by Carl Crocker, (Slim’s brother). He added a
room to the cabin and made it into a small house. Our family then
moved to Ed Zettle’s place. Ed married my Aunt Lucille and built a
frame house right in the middle of what is now K-Beach road. I
presently live in the barn pictured above built by my father and I. The
White Zettle/Cole house pictured was moved to Reflection Lake when
K-Beach road was built.
Some of my first memories are when I started school in the early 40’s.
In 1940-41 Harry Heckle and I got to go to school. Kusilof school
started about 1933 and continued until 1941. At this time the Weiler
family left our community and there weren’t enough students to pay a
teacher. Not until the orphanage was started in 1952 did we have a
consistent school program again. Who needed school anyway, my
mom home-schooled me and I was really too busy to bother with formal
school. I had a barn full of animals to care for; we had a
We lived like kings as far as I was concerned, we ate moose,
sheep, a bounty of seafood and our garden produce. At five years
of age, I occasionally provided a Spruce hen or Ptarmigan for
dinner. I was a good shot and had my own 22 . After the war my
parents became concerned about my education or lack thereof and
decided to go “outside” for a year so I could catch up. It turned
out Alaska’s education system was one of the best and I tested two
grades higher than my current grade so in three months we packed
up our things and flew to Anchorage on one of the old prop planes.
It took hours to get to Anchorage and longer yet to get back home.
As a child work was just what we did. I loved going with my
father to get winter wood and walk his trap line. He had a trap line
from our place to the river and part of crooked creek. He trapped
coyotes as there were no wolves here at that time. When I was 7 or
8 years old I had my own weasel trap line. I learned to clean and
prepare my pelts and sent my first batch into Seattle with my
father’s coyote pelts and got $15.00 for the furs. How exciting it
was receiving my first earnings. That was a lot of money to me,
although I really didn’t need much money. I used my money to
buy Christmas presents from Montgomery Wards Catalogue and
fondly remember the little violin planters I bought Dolly Gerberg
that year. I still have one of the violin planters she left me when
she died. (Continued on Page -2-)
Pictured
My father, Comer Cole
in 1929 or '30 with a
9-3/4 lb. rutabaga. It
was noted on the back of
the picture that it was
taken Sept. 28 their first
snow fall of the year.
Also noted Sir John
Mullen from England
touched the rutabaga!
The white structure is
the weather station that
eventually ended up at
the Kasilof air strip.

Page 2 - Kasilof Regional Historic Association, Inc. - January 2006
My Life in Kasilof cont'd from Page 1
My father had a dog team for transportation before he married. At this
time he also delivered mail by dog team. My father was excellent with
animals. He trained his dog team so well that he had what was called a
loose leader team. The lead dog just ran loose in front and the rest
followed. My mother was not so fortunate, one time she hitched up the
team to make a visit to Sandwicks. The dogs would only run as far as they
wanted and would turn around and run back home. I barely remember the
large dog team. I had a two dog sled team for fun. At the time we moved
to our K-Beach home we did not have a large dog team for transportation.
For entertainment during these days we would travel to each other’s homes
after the river froze. The visiting usually was a overnight affair and
involved playing cards and enjoying a meal together. Fourth of July was
always a big summer celebration for the community. We assembled on the
beach and had a party at the old Kasilof Packing Co. Cannery. Everyone
would bring their picnic and after eating the games would begin. I
remember, one game that was a favorite, all the children raced to a spot
where coins were hidden in the sand. I always was the last in this contest
but I didn’t mind it was fun!
As time passed fox farming began to loose its profitable edge and
gradually the fox farmers were forced to seek other means of employment
and those who did not leave for the states turned to fishing. The women
worked at Libby’s Cannery. I remember spending many happy days on
the beach fishing. At some point my father and mother worked at the
cannery and I went to stay with Harry and Dolly Gerberg during the
fishing season. This began a friendship mentor relationship which lasted
until Dolly’s Gerber’s death in 1997. I thought then and still do, that Dolly
Gerberg could do anything and do it well. She fished, trapped, sewed fur
and cloth, gardened and cooked expertly.
All in all I still think Alaska is the best place to live. I loved the life style
of my childhood. I think it was easier to live that lifestyle than the one we
live today.
KRHA Movers and yet another building are Gary
Titus, Tom Daulton, Bill Nelson and Mike Wiley
KASILOF HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of our association as stated in the
Articles of incorporation are:
*to disseminate historical information about our
area.
*to collect any material that pertains to the
history of the area.
*to provide for the preservation and accessibility
of such material.
*to conduct archaeological investigations of
aboriginal or pioneer sites in the area.
*to bring about the preservation of historic
buildings, monuments and markers.
Dues:
Individual $10.00 Life Membership $100
Membership dues run from January 1st to
December 31st each year.
Thank you for joining, your dues, donations,
membership and assistance will help to preserve,
research and display our local history.
Honorary Life Members:
Stanley McLane
Dale Dolifka
Linda McLane
George Calvin
Each of the aboved named individuals have
contributed above and beyond to our
Association!
Cole house and one acre fenced in Area where they grew
oat hay for the horse. The tall spruce at the side of the
house is the huge tall one now on K-Beach.
Paid Life Members:
Dolly Christl
Dexter Lee Ivie
Kristin Meyer
Michael Wiley
Fredrica Billingslea
David Letzring
Jacquline Swanson

Page 3 - Kasilof Regional Historical Assocation, Inc. - Jamuary 2006
Riverside Silver Fox Ranch BEFORE
KRHA Moving Erickson "Riverside Silver Fox Ranch"
"The Riverside-Silver Fox Ranch located on the north bank of lower
Kasilof River, was established in September, 1921, by Abraham
Erickson, and was originally stocked with six pair of silvers from the
Schoen Brothers Ranch (located on Uyak Bay). Little success has
been had. In March, 1923, there were 7 pairs of silver foxes at this
ranch." (from the report by Walter G. Culver "Miscellaneous
Observations Kenai Peninsula and Vicinity February 23-March 15,
1912".
.
We are moving this historic Riverside-Siver Fox Ranch from its
original location to the Museum location on K-Beach Road. KRHA
crew composed of Gary Titus, Bill Nelson, Tom Daulton, Mike Wiley,
Erik Huebsch and Catherine Cassidy assisted in dismantled the
attached building see pictures.. Our next step will be preparing the
foundation and completing the move.
The mild winter weather this year has provided perfect conditons
necessary to complete this task.
Riverside Silver Fox Ranch AFTER
Anchorage Daily Times September 10, 1928,
page 4:
"Raising of foxes growing industry in Kusilof region. Inlet
section proving fine place for propagation of silvers. The fact
that nearly all the prize winning silver foxes at last week's fair
came from Kusilof shows the advance of this growing Alaskan
industry in that vicinity. Archie McLane, who arrived in town
last week to show his and Abram Erickson fox entries at the
fair, was among the first fox breeders to engage in the industry
at Kusilof. This little settlement of the Kenai Peninsula is
situated at the mouth of the Kusilof river, a meandering little
stream that carries the glacial waters of Lake Tustumena
through a woody wilderness and empties into Cook Inlet. Here
the Kusilof Packing Co., once canned salmon, but now the fox
raising industry is the sole enterprise of the district. Within an
area of only three square miles there are no less than seven
fox ranches, with an eighth, that of Perry Cole, an eastern fur
farmer, now in the process of construction and calculated to be
in operation soon on a large scale. Most of these ranches
have been producing quality pelts for over five years. Perhaps
the oldest established farm is that of Abram Erickson, who was
the highest individual point winner in the fox exhibit at the fair."
State of the Organization 2006
From the Desk of the President: Stanley McLane
This past year we applied for a state grant to
up-grade the museum as well as move and renovate
the cabins.
Lot lines have been erased so we now have all
three lots tax exempt.
We also requested the State of Alaska turn
over the "Watchman's" cabin at the mouth of the
Kasilof River to KRHA . We than will be able to apply
for a grant to preserve it.
Much has been accomplished this past year but
there is always still more to do.
Work in the must do Stage:
*Install doors and windows in Fox Kitchen
*Setup watch tower on the Fox Kitchen
*Rebuild Fox Houses
*Move Swanson Cabin (Fox Farm Cabin)
*Move Airport Building
*Set up a KRHA Web Site
*Build Shelter for Mining Exhibit
*Fund Raising Projects
*Landscape Area.
*Paint McLane Center (outside)
We can use your money to operate but we
need your help to grow!