A part of a unbroken weekly collection on Alaska historical past by native historian David Reamer. Have a query about Anchorage or Alaska historical past or an concept for a future article? Go to the shape on the backside of this story.

A easy query, what was life like in 1922 Anchorage? A century in the past, the standard little railroad hub with round 2,000 residents had one police officer, publicized the uncommon arrivals of latest library books, and was greater than a decade away from having presliced bread. I reviewed the Anchorage Each day Occasions newspaper points for the week earlier than that Christmas, Dec. 18-23, to see what was occurring right here 100 years previously. Some elements had been totally different, and the main points actually assorted, however in some ways, folks then had been like folks now.

The machinations of the native authorities continued by way of the vacations, although their considerations are quaint in comparison with right now. That week, the thirty third Anchorage ordinance took impact, offering penalties for the preexisting ban on curtains or different window obstructions at any of the a number of card rooms, pool halls, cigar shops or smooth drink institutions. Violations of the ordinance carried fines of as much as $100, about $1,750 in 2022 {dollars}, or 90 days in jail. Companies like these had been usually fronts for much less authorized operations, together with playing, prostitution, medication and bootlegging. The curtain ban was meant to hinder their extra legal actions by permitting views inside.

The town coffers contained solely $4,767.14, about $84,000 in 2022 {dollars}. The council couldn’t afford to rent one other police officer, so the ordinance was their meager, next-best possibility. Regardless of their incapability to make use of curtains, criminals continued their operations with no noticeable impression.

Different metropolis actions that week included the set up of a light-weight over the ballpark ice rink and the development of kennels for a canine pound. Ordinances debated included rules on burning refuse, fireplace division service limits, fireplace escape necessities, fireplace security inspections, alley cleansing and the storage of explosives.

Essentially the most placing revelation from these newspapers was the emphasis on adverse information. Tales of racism, crime, accidents, politics, pure disasters and loss of life dominated the entrance pages. At present, many Alaskans are hooked on true crime or commonly doomscroll, obsessively refreshingly their most popular information sources for updates on probably the most miserable of topics. Nevertheless, this urge for food for negativity is nothing new.

The 1922 front-page articles included a number of tales on communities across the nation cracking down on Ku Klux Klan actions. Excessive winds blew two railroad baggage vehicles off the deck of a steamship and into the Gulf of Alaska. The charred our bodies of two pilots had been recovered from a California crash website.

On Dec. 19, the banner headline declared, “Denver Thugs Kill Guard Raid Bullion Cargo.” The day past, 4 armed males openly robbed the Denver Mint, killing a guard, and making off with $200,000 in $5 payments, about $3.5 million in 2022 {dollars}. Authorities recovered $80,000 from the haul, though not one of the robbers or accomplices had been ever charged with the crime. In 1934, Denver Police Capt. James Clark closed the case, stating that each one the robbers had been both lifeless or serving life sentences for unrelated crimes. One of many bandits later admitted his function within the theft however refuted this declare.

Essentially the most tragic story of the week got here on Dec. 23, the final newspaper printed earlier than Christmas. “Child Sufferer of Burning Christmas Tree Trimmings,” blared the banner headline. Whereas putting candles on the household Christmas tree, child Margaret Peterson’s garments caught fireplace, burning most of her physique. She handed three days later.

Macabre and tragic occasions apart, the newspapers had been additionally stuffed with notices of events and reveals. The Women Catholic Membership hosted a card sport occasion. On Dec. 23, college students held little celebrations earlier than embarking on a welcome 10-day trip. Their academics had been gifted “tokens of appreciation consisting of tiny jeweled pins or brooches.” That night time, there was a boxing match at Jack Robarts’ pool corridor, Soldier Lewis versus the “Cook dinner Inlet Child” Walter Cleghorn. The end result was a draw.

Many now-forgotten eating places, together with the Juneau Waffle Home and Royal Café, supplied Christmas meals. The Anchorage Bakery bought jelly doughnuts. And the North Pole Bakery threateningly supplied fruitcakes of varied sizes.

The Empress Theatre, Anchorage’s first movie show, was exhibiting “Kisses,” a silent romantic comedy centered across the titular sweet. A sweet kiss was then a broad time period referring to a small, spherical confectionery not essentially product of chocolate. Hershey’s Kisses had been merely one kind of sweet kiss amongst many. Whereas Hershey first bought their Kisses in 1907, the corporate didn’t acquire the trademark for “kisses” till 2001.

Two days earlier than Christmas, the Elks Membership hosted a dance. The Anchorage Girls’s Membership staged a charity ball on the Elks Corridor on Christmas night. The day after Christmas, the Elks supplied a free film for youngsters on the Empress, with membership members passing out free sweet and fruit. The Elks additionally made preparations to escort and return house any kids whose dad and mom couldn’t attend.

The season’s massive occasion was the Dec. 22 “Passing of 1922″ selection present on the Empress, staged by Anchorage’s American Legion Jack Henry Put up. The manufacturing was their headliner in a fundraising marketing campaign for a everlasting Legion house. The present included a collection of songs, comedy skits, dramatic scenes and a Christmas track. Tickets value from $1 for the most effective seats, roughly $17.50 in 2022 {dollars}. By all accounts, the present was an enormous success.

These residents who needed to go to households within the Decrease 48, or take a winter trip in hotter climes, had few journey choices. Passenger flights from Alaska to the Exterior had been years away. The one secure possibility out of the territory was through a steamship, however these had already made their final stops in Anchorage for the yr. Locals antsy for daylight may nonetheless take the prepare to Seward, the place they might board a steamer certain for Seattle.

After all, there was additionally the purchasing. If the Anchorage residents of 100 years in the past had been much less materialistic than these of right now, it is just as a result of there have been fewer issues to purchase. As a Chovin Provide Firm commercial said, “The spirit of giving, and never the cash worth of the reward is what counts.” Then they pushed their “sensible items,” a “line {of electrical} servants” — or kitchen home equipment, in different phrases.

The Each day Occasions editor acquired in on the enjoyable by noting the obvious relationship between the winter solstice and purchasing insanity. “Among the many unusually solaric results will probably be individuals of each sexes dashing frantically from retailer to retailer with bundles of their arms … 4 days later this tensity of exercise will probably be elevated when some hatless, distraught man will probably be seen dashing right into a retailer in an effort to buy the current he had forgotten.” He concluded with the clever recommendation to “store early!”

Each retailer on the town ran commercials selling what items they’d in inventory and on sale. Among the reward choices can be uncommon oddities right now, like felt sneakers, silk umbrellas, smoking stands and cigarette holders. Nevertheless, a lot of the marketed items had been the types of issues an individual may be attempting to find this Christmas season: jewellery, furnishings, superb garments, purses, vacuums, cookware, skates, skis, toys and coats. In a much less thrilling although fiscally accountable possibility, the Financial institution of Anchorage instructed, “Give your self a Christmas current,” which meant opening a financial savings account. The North Pole Bakery emphasised their loaves of bread, baked recent each day.

In some ways, 1922 Anchorage appears acquainted, maybe slower in tempo but with recognizable developments and motivations. The overwhelming and apparent lesson is that point passes. Most of the horrible issues occurring now will sooner or later be forgotten, changed by the incoherent, inevitable terrors of the longer term. Thus, stay and try fueled by the information that the Anchorage of the previous survived its many issues as will we, however equally be impressed to not repeat the identical errors.

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Key sources:

“1922 Theft of the US Mint in Denver.” Denver Put up, April 1, 2013.

Anchorage Each day Occasions, December 19 by way of December 23, 1922.

“Little Margaret Peterson Succumbs to Her Accidents.” Anchorage Each day Occasions, December 27, 1922, 4.