August 2008 - Kasilof Regional Historical Society

Kasilof Regional Historical Association, Inc,
P. O. Box 3 Kasilof, Alaska 99610O
August 2008 Vol. 4. No. 3 262-2999
Slackwater Cabin Restored by Kenai Nat. Wildlife Refuge's Youth Conservation Corp.
by Lara Olsen and Casee Penrod
Cabin Parts Systematically Arranged
Gary Titus, Dave Stimmel and the Youth Conservaton
Corps. (YCC) have just finished rescuing Abe Erickson's
Slackwater Cabin. The YCC crew: Ryan Beltz, Christa
Kennedy (leaders), Jake Cheek, Dom Eubank, Tyler Johnson,
Mike Horton, Lara Olsen, Kim Cabot, Kahlia Johnston and
Casee Penrod worked faster than expected. Instead of taking
two days to dismantle the cabin it took only six hours!
It is said that Abe Erickson's slackwater cabin was
built around the 1930's. The cabin was used by parties
traveling up the Kasilof River to Tustumena Lake. Planks for
the cabin were slavaged from the Cook Inlet fish traps and
taken by skiff upriver to slackwater. The name slackwater
refers to the first section of water after the rapids that is
calm.
As the YCC crew carefully dismantled Erickson's 8'5" x
10'3" trapper cabin, they learned the history of the cabin.
For instance the group learned about the historical "grafitti"
that was engraved inside the cabin. The cabin has squared
timbers, three wire covered vents, one room , one large
window and one side window all covered with mesh screen.
Left to right; Mike Horton, Casee Penrod, Kahlia Johnston,
Lara Olsen, Christa Kennedy (kneeling). Back Row, Left to
Right, Ryan Beltz Jake Cheek, Kim Cabot, Dom Eubank, Tyler
Johnson, Gary Titus, Dave Stimmel
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and KHRA are
working together on this project to preserve history of the
Kenai Penninsula. The slackwater cabin will be on a long
term loan to the museum for use to interpret local history.
Gary Titus had the YCC crew reassemble the cabin at
the Kasilof Regional Historic Museum. Gary and his winter
crew are planing on rebuilding the base of the cabin
.
The YCC crew also cleared the ground for the cabin site and
built a gravel trail.

Page 2 - Kasilof Regional Historic Association, Inc. August 2008
Museum News
Catherine Cassidy, Director
Road construction in front of the museum made access a
bit difficult for much of the summer. The re-paving and widening of
the Kasilof end of K-Beach Road was completed at the end of July.
The museum has been open many days in August with some new
faces. Local teens Maddy Ransom and Sarah Evenson have been
on staff this summer. They have learned about local history and
the museum exhibits so that they can be informative resources for
visitors. They have also worked hard on cleaning and maintenance
projects like painting. Currently the young ladies are creating an
historic time-line for Kasilof. This exhibit displays significant events
in our history such as the first salmon cannery in 1882, the first fox
farm in 1917 and the completion of the Sterling Highway in 1949.
The KRHA Board of Directors is facing the happy, but
daunting, task of spending $70,000 in a grant from the State of
Alaska. The grant application included all kinds of projects from
upgrading the museum’s electrical system to cabin restoration. It
takes much planning and work to spend money; and we still have
to worry about fundraising because none of the grant funds may
be spent on day-to-day operating expenses like heat and
electricity. We have a busy winter ahead of us and would welcome
any volunteers!
From the Desk of President Brent Johnson
The health of an organization can sometimes be
measured by activity. If that is true, Kasilof Regional Historical
Association is vibrant. After 4 years of applying, Ann Letzring’s
state grant application was successful. The State of Alaska
awarded the $70,000 grant as requested. A huge thank you is in
order to local legislators Mike Chenault, Kurt Olson and Tom
Wagoner. This money will allow us to upgrade our water system,
heating system, building, cabins and several other things. We
can look forward to healthy discussions as we try to get
maximum benefit with the generous but finite money.
Meanwhile, Ann continues to produce our newsletter and write
other grants.
Erik Huebsch has been overseeing a new educational
set gillnet fishery for KRHA. The 2008 commercial salmon
season was closed for most people July 26, certainly the earliest
closing date in over 35 years, and very probably the earliest
closing date in over a hundred years. The educational fishery
permit will have extra meaning this fall as numerous people may
not have gotten their winter supply by traditional methods.
The museum building is being painted. Soldotna
Historical Association is borrowing our Tom Daulton to lead their
cabin restoration project. Tom, who was trained by expert cabin
restorer, Gary Titus, goes with a bevy of KRHA tools.
Our monthly meetings continued this summer and we
were treated to another session of pioneers sharing tales at the
August public meeting. The pioneer gab sessions have been
taped by Jim Bernecker and are available on CD courtesy of
Superstructers Inc.
KRHA is part of the Kenai Peninsula Historical
Association and they are busy making a new edition of Alaska’s
Kenai Peninsula: The Road We’ve Traveled.
These are just items from the top of my head. It’s
busy-ness as usual and we’re a healthy organization. Well,
maybe we should have our heads examined.
Brent Johnson, president
Erickson's Slackwater Cabin Ready for Winter Crew
Kasilof Regional Historical Assn. Auction
Is Now collecting:
Auction items
Volunteers
Advertisers
Collectors
Pie volunteers
Call: 262-5125
Present state of Watchman's cabin after another
summer of abuse.
Dave Letzring has met with Mayor Williams, Mike
Chenault, Kurt Olsen and Tom Wagoner trying to save
this historic old building!

Page 3 - Kasilof Regional Historical Association Inc. August 2008
Pollard House Withstands the Winds of Time
Ann Letzring
This grand old historical Kasilof home was built in 1928
by Louis Nissen and Ole Frostad for Perry Cole. The Cole's were
among the original Fox Farmers.
The home was bought by a group of investors including
Clayton "Doc" Pollard who hired Perry as manager. Many of the
business operations Perry planned to develop were; a lumber mill,
raise muskrats, dude ranch, fishing guide as well as raising mink
and fox These business did not prove profitable and eventually
Doc Pollard bought the house.
The original Kasilof road began at Heinie Bergers place
(Trujillo's) on the river and extended seven miles to Pollards. As
word got around a dentist was in Kasilof, desperate clients would
often walk the distance to get help. George remembers the old
joke; "walk 2 days to see the Doc and he pulled the wrong tooth".
Nevertheless, Doc Pollard countinued many years to provide a
much needed service to people on the Kenai Peninsula.
A Big Thank You to our Summer Workers
Dave Letzring
With the help of paid workers Toma and Asa Johnson
our gravel for the drive was spread, dead trees cut and brush
cleaned up and burned. Charles Fodor prepared, and painted
the outside of the McLane Center.
We also had volunteer labor to scrape our dory, do
sanding on the McLane Center, plant our garden, clean and
paint the inside of the McLane Center and many other jobs.
YOU ARE ALL APPRECIATED - THANKS!
THEN -Pollard House 1930's
Kasilof Regional Historical Assn.
(KRHA)
Meetings are held on the second
Thursday of each month:
*Sept. 11th next KRHA Meeting
6:00 P.M. At the McLane Center
Your Officers are:
Brent Johnson, President
Mike Wiley, Vice President
Dave Letzring, Secretary Treasurer
Catherine Cassidy, Museum Director
Gary Titus, Director Cabin Restoration
Board Members: George Jackinsky,
Tom Daulton, and Bill Nelson
NOW - Pollard house 2008

Sept. 11th at 6:00 p.m. Regular Business Meeting - 7:00 Special Program to be Announced
Oct. 9th at 6:00 p.m. Regular Business Meeting of K.R.H.A. - 7:00 Special Program to be Announced
Nov. 14th 6:00 p.m. Tentative Annual Auction
call 262-5125 for more Information
Join KRHA & Support Local History & Education
Membership dues are $10.00 due January 1st, 2008. Life Membership dues are $150
Make check to Kasilof Regional Historical Assn. mail to P. O. Box 3, Kasilof, Alaska 99610
NAME
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ADDRESS
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Volunteer: (Circle your interests)
3 hour museum help, cabins rebuild, auction, garage sale, maintain grounds,
special projects, building maintenance, painting,
Kasilof Regional Historical Assoc.
P. O. Box 3
Kasilof, Alaska 99610