Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04232026 Historic Preservation Packet1963 1965 2005 kintual All-Amenca City 1 I I.. The City of Seward, Alaska HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA City Council Chambers, 410 Adams Street Please silence all cell phones and devices during the meeting Chair Tanguy Libbrecht Vice Chair Sue Ward Commissioner Mary Ann Benoit Commissioner Donna Walker Commissioner Art LeMaster Commissioner Todd Mashlan Museum Curator Allison Stacy City Clerk Kris Peck April 23, 2026, Immediately Following Work Session 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL 4. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT (Those who have signed in will be given the first opportunity to speak. Time is limited to 3 minutes per speaker and 36 minutes total time for this agenda item.) 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA (Approval of Consent Agenda passes all routine items listed under Item 7. Consent Agenda items are not considered separately unless a commission member requests. In the event of such a request, the item is returned to the Regular Agenda. Marked with *.) 6. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS A. Proclamations and Awards B. City Administration Report C. Chair Report D. Other Reports and Announcements 1) HPC Facebook Report pg. 3 E. Presentations (Presentations are limited to ten minutes each, excluding Q&A, and are limited to two per meeting unless increased by council.) 7. CONSENT AGENDA A. Minutes of Preceding Meeting 1)* Approve January 15, 2025, HPC Meeting Minutes ...pg. 38 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Other Items 1) Hoben Park Updates .pg. 42 2) St. Peter's Updates Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda DATE 1 1 P a g e 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Other New Business 1) Historic Preservation Award Nominations pg.44 2) Review HPC 2026 Priorities and Meeting Dates pg. 49 10. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required.) A. Reminder of Meetings 1) Regular Meeting and Work Session on August 20, 2026 .pg. 50 a. All material will need to be submitted on Wednesday, August 5. B. Other Items 1) None 11. CITIZEN COMMENTS (There is no sign in for this comment period. Time is limited to five (5) minutes per speaker.) 12. COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO CITIZEN COMMENTS 13. ADJOURNMENT Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda DATE 2 1 P a g e Facebook Page Report April 23, 2026 HPC Meeting Mary Ann Benoit Overview The data below reflects the statistics for our Facebook page from January through March 2026. We had about 6500 views, and 2000 viewers, our page reach was down from the last report, but we got 31 new followers, for a total of about 1400 followers. We had 230 visits to the page. Our followers are consistently more women than men and they are all age ranges, generally over 25 years old. Most are from Seward, Anchorage and Bear Creek. Posts were developed for the rest of the year and will be scheduled as attached. Viewers 0 2.0 K 4, 83.8% 400 200 Jan 21 Feb 10 — Viewers Mar 2 Mar 22 Views 0 6.5K y74.2% 600 400 200 Feb 10 Views Mar 2 Mar 22 3 Follows 0 31 .L 78% 4 3 z Jan 1 Jan 21 Feb 10 Mar 2 Mar 22 Visits 0 230 ,L 52.3% 20 15 10 5 0 Jan 1 Jan 21 Feb 10 Faceboolc follows Facebook visits Mart Mar 22 4 Audience Demograph... Trends Potential audience Followers 0 Lifetime 1,400 Age& 0 gender 20% 15% 19% 5% ,- 9% 18-24 25-34 38-44 45-54 55-64 65+ 1. Women � Men 63.8%362% Tap cities Tap Seward, AK fgalrttsates 20.6% 98% Anchorage, AK Mexico 16.5% 19A% Bear Creek, AK India 5.595 10.2% Wasilla AK Philippines 1.9% 19.2% Kenai, AK Australia 1A% 1 0.1% Homer, AK Ghana 1.3% 1 9.1% Soldotna, AK Indonesia 1.195 1 0.1% Fairbanks, AK Kenya 0.9% 1 9.1% Knik, AK Thailand 0.8% 1 0.1% Palmer, AK United Kingdom 0.8% 1 9.1% 5 #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #HeartOfSeward #PreserveDowntown May 5-1 Ni A Y IS PLACES AND HERITAGE BENEFITS OF TOURISM HISTORIC May is Historic Preservation Month —a time to celebrate the places that hold our stories, our dreams, and our resilience.Join us this month as we share the stories that shape Seward. In Seward, every historic building, every weathered brick, every well -loved corner reminds us where we came from —and why it's worth protecting. Preservation isn't just about looking back.It's about honoring the spirit that built our community... and carrying it forward with pride and care. This month let's celebrate Seward's rich history, the beauty of our historic places, and the people who work every day to keep our story alive. Because when we preserve our past, we invest in our future. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #PreserveOurPast #PreservationMonth #CommunityRoots PREBLAND PRO MO ES CELEBRATES A HISTORIC ORIC AND PROMOTES THE 5R ECONOMIC ..c7,4z,,...?--,—,.{} 6 5-2 Historic preservation begins the moment we choose to notice. Have you ever taken a day just to wander Seward's downtown and check out the Historic Walking Tour? Every building has details worth noticing —handcrafted signs, original woodwork, and the echoes of old dreams. Slow down. Look closer. You might just fall in love all over again. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #DowntownSeward #ExploreLocalHistory #historicwalkingtour .-1I_: - r - ' iul -j-° ,.-• __: i The Cable/Telegraph House y...,_....... 5-3 This building carries more than history — it carries a creative legacy. This building, constructed in 1916, and known as the Generations Building, is often referred to as the Sexton House. Sylvia Sexton was a dynamic, creative, and adventurous woman who embodied the Alaskan pioneer spirit. One of the most popular young businesswomen of Seward and a prominent Alaskan photographer, her beautiful images capture AN ADVENTUROUS, CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER _...�._'&g ' IS e n > the essence of the daily life of her friends, family, and the outdoor activities she enjoyed. She was well known, loved, and active in the community. ...d.,m The Sexton House '�� 7 Sylvia moved to Seward in 1904 from Sunrise when her father, George Sexton, was transferred to be Seward's first deputy U.S. Marshal. She brought her passion for photography with her to Seward. Sylvia moved freely around the town and captured Seward's daily life in pictures during this pioneering time. Her photos made Sylvia one of the most recognized photographers on the Kenai Peninsula famous for her scenic views. George Sexton bought the Coleman House in 1907, and Sylvia opened her store there, selling curios, confectioneries, and photography. George renamed it the Sexton Hotel in 1913. The Sexton Hotel and her store burned in 1935. While the store was a total loss, Sylvia was undeterred, opening a temporary new store in the former Seward Commercial Company building, a then a permanent location in the Generations Building, which was an annex of the Seward Commercial Company. The store, aptly named "Sylvia's," operated until 1951. In the picture of Fourth Avenue before the fire, the Generations Building is visible on the right side of the street, with the awning. "Generations" pays tribute to how the Sextons and this 1916 building, called the Sexton House, have withstood the test of time, including the 1964 earthquake and tsunami. The Generations Building reflects the spirit of Seward's adventurous photographer, Sylvia Sexton, and her family #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #WomenInHistory #SewardHistory #HistoricBuildings #Sexton 8 5-4 Few places in Seward reflect continuity, care, and community like Brown & Hawkins. Brown & Hawkins is the oldest continuously operated business in Seward. T.W. Hawkins came to Seward in 1903 and went into partnership with Charles E. Brown, building what would become a general store, clothing store, and the Seward Commercial Club (now Sweet Darling's). They provided provisions to pioneers throughout the territory and became the first bank and telegraph office in Seward and more. Brown and Hawkins were also active in other ventures. Brown operated a satellite store on a barge, the S.S. Bertha, at Ship Creek and the Brown & Hawkins store in Anchorage. Hawkins supported artist and author Rockwell Kent during his stay on Fox Island. The Brown & Hawkins store is mentioned several times in Kent's book Wilderness: A Journal of Quiet Adventure in Alaska. Kent even painted a portrait of Hawkins' daughter Virginia which can be seen in the Seward Community Library and Museum. In 1946, ill health forced Hawkins to lease the store to his son, James. T.W. Hawkins died later that year, and James ran the store for 10 years. In the 1920s, James had taken lessons from the famous Dutch painter Jan van Empel, who painted the unique Ascension painting at Saint Peter's Episcopal Church. There are several of James' original paintings upstairs in Brown & Hawkins James turned the store over to his sister Virginia in 1956 and left Seward for San Francisco to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. Under Virginia's leadership, the buildings were recognized for their historic significance and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Virginia was instrumental in establishing the Resurrection Bay Historical Society in 9 Seward. She hosted many high school dances upstairs in the famous ballroom and was always there for families in need of clothing, food, and money. In 1989 Virginia passed the torch to son Hugh Darling and his wife Iris, and they began a complete renovation to preserve the building and restore it to its original condition. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #BrownAndHawkins #SewardHistory #CommunityLegacy 5-5 WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC We see this truth reflected throughout downtown PRESERVATION? t , - Seward. 4 "A community that respects its" "A community that respects its history respects itself. The history respects itself. The preservation of that history through the preservation of preservation of that history through ,fir" sites important to it can help a community realize its the preservation of sites important '..d strengths and use them to improve the lives of all its to it can help a community realize its ` . strengths and use them to improve residents." the lives of all its residents." #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #DowntownMagic #PreserveOurStory PHIL RABINOWITZ 10 6-1 ' ,i%• yY` r ` , F ,1;., r" ImaGine the '' �: J +� �r 7 > r• �' drag c. , . I. Ai. f i Q r , .; r. w . . . : '' f�'� i _ 1 1 nail.. and opened plc lilxl our past. Every Building Has a Story. Seward has been telling these stories for more than a century. When you walk down Second Ave imagine the hands that laid the bricks, hammered the nails, and opened the first doors. Every building is a love letter from our past —crafted with care, and passed down with hope. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #DowntownMagic #PreserveOurStory hands peal laid II pricks. hammered the doors. iserr building is a IncnIOW from 6-2 MILLIONAIRE'S ROW These homes remind us what `modern' once meant — and what still endures. ftm From Seward's earliest days, Millionaire's Row (built between 1904 and 1906) represented modern life and progress to a frontier town that still had stump -strewn, muddy streets and board sidewalks. These homes c.' ° � 1� I embodied a genteel society during a period when Seward started to find its identity. This beautiful row of houses is on the west side of the Seward Highway (Third Avenue) Houand House ': == north of Jefferson Street. Many locals believed Seward would become the New York of the Pacific, Alaska's capital, and a university town with a million citizens. This sounds far-fetched today, as it also did then to more skeptical visitors and business investors of the time. 11 The Holland House belonged to Murray B. Holland, the general storekeeper for the Alaska Central Railway. He built the home in 1905 between G.E. Winter's house and J.B. Cameron's. That summer, "the clang of pounding nails must have resounded through the town and echoed off the mountains." These interior photos showing the Holland House represent what must have been the "epitome of civilization" in Seward. These photos are unique because it is challenging to find interior pictures of Seward homes from that era. The Holland House was placed on the Seward Historic Register in 1999 #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #MillionairesRow #HistoricHomes #SewardHistory 6-3 What is Historic , I.° wZ elm_ a''' i�II 11A11 Historic preserve ation means and appearance of historic -- -' - - Preservation? n7'. -~ n Nn `' safeguarding the existence elements of the community. - - - - --- -- At its heart, preservation is about helping people care for the places they love. Historic preservation is safeguarding the existence and appearance of historic elements of the community. The Historic Preservation Commission helps do this by offering guidance to the city, by helping to educate our community on history, and by assisting people to find resources to maintain, renovate, rehabilitate or restore their historic properties. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #PreservationInAction #CommunityStewardship 12 6-4 WILY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? "Historic preservation can add to a community's understanding of and .. - t pride in its history, and bring ` �`� economic and other benefits. It makes sense for communities to 1 ` encourage the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of historic properties." PHIL RABINOWITZ Seward's historic buildings show how preservation and progress can coexist. "Historic preservation can add to a community's understanding of and pride in its history, and bring economic and other benefits. It makes sense for communities to encourage the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of historic properties." #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #PreservationBenefits #CommunityPride #SenseOfPlace #EconomicVitality #PreserveWhatMatters #SewardHistory #SewardHistoricPreservationCommission Jul 7-1 More than a century later, the mountain still calls. There are many tales of races on Mount Marathon before the first official race in 1915. What is truth and what is conjecture remains a mystery and is what Alaskan stories are made of. Native Alaskans may have conquered this "hill" while hunting or for other purposes long before the arrival of the Russians, the early residents such as the Lowells, or later characters like Al Peel and other lookouts who may have used the mountain to place bets on the arrival time of the steamers. Many have run and won this great foot race, much to their competitors' amazement and annoyance. In 1915, Seward learned it would be the terminus for the Alaska Railroad. Locals celebrated this Mount Marathon Race 13 important news with a parade, baseball games, potato sack races, dances, and the first formal race on Marathon Mountain. Runners in that race were James Walters, George Kosmos, Eric Burman, Joe Bolduc, and Doc Daykin. Walters came in first with a time of one hour and two minutes and won $35.00. Kosmos came in second, winning $10.00, and Burman came in third, winning $5.00. Seward businesses donated prize money with the hope to make Seward a Fourth of July destination. After 100 years, Seward has become a favorite place for Alaskans to celebrate the nation's holiday. Alex Bolam broke the hour barrier in 1916, with a winning time of 55 minutes and 12 seconds. His record stood until 1928, when a young boy named Ephraim Kalmakoff defeated him with a time of 52 minutes and 35 seconds. Ephraim was a resident of the Jesse Lee Home and was just 14 when he won with this record time. Ephraim also won in 1929 and 1930. His 1928 record stood unbroken until 1957. Ralph Hatch of Seward was a six -time winner in 1946-1950 and 1953, receiving the first perpetual trophy. Many conquered this "hill" long before the first official race in 1915. It calls to young and old alike, "climb me, I challenge you!". They have taken the mountain's dare, including warrior women and kids like the Jesse Lee boys. They race against themselves and each other; just for the challenge and fun. Even families have made a day of it, as well as solo hikers just looking for a solitary moment alone in the sky. The race is one of the oldest foot races in America and is still going strong today. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #MountMarathon #SewardTraditions #AlaskaHistory 14 7-2 at . e historic elements Some of Seward's most important historic elements aren't buildings at all. Even engineered solutions became part of our shared story. Historic elements are Structures, Neighborhoods, Landscapes, Building or landscape features, and Culture. A historic element would be the remains of the old flume that used to contain Lowell Creek at the edge of Resurrection Bay. You can see the flume in this old photo and read about it on the Historic Walking Tour sign. "Taming Mother Nature for Now". A few remnants of it can be seen at the water's edge. Lowell Creek used to rage down through Seward, wreaking havoc, destroying bridges, and blocking access to the north side of town. It was such a problem that in 1927 the Alaska Railroad constructed a small diversion dam and flume (or wooden tunnel) that ran down what is now Jefferson Street to empty into Resurrection Bay. The flume couldn't handle the debris and a diversion tunnel was later driven through the adjacent mountain to carry the stream in 1940. The exit is where you see our big waterfall. It was such a feat of engineering and so significant to Seward's history that it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #HistoricInfrastructure #CulturalLandscape x ;e, _ . -- , Structures. Neighborhoods, Landscapes. Building or landscape features, Culture 15 7-3 Historic preservation includes four possible activities. Each approach reflects a different way of caring for history. Preservation is preserving a place as it is in the present fixes up a deteriorated historic property, often for a use other than its original one Restoration means putting a building or landscape back the way it was originally, or at a historically significant time in its past Reconstruction is the creation of a historically accurate copy of either a specific historic property that no longer exists or an example of one from a chosen historical period. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #PreservationBasics #HistoricEducation How Can You Preserve , - } r �`�: ' ' , _ i History? illRehabilitation a �'��' 7. '"`� r :L1. „ �, • . " _dt,_ - ti a...a...e.mofM,n.�. MaryLad.,. Preservation. itcltalkililalion. Restoration. Reconstruction 16 7-4 WILL HISTORIC PRESERVATION RESTRICT MY PROPERTY RIGHTS?' The National Register does not restrict a properly owner's private properly rights. Owners of National Register properties can remodel. renovate, sell, or even demolish their properly with no restrictions. Significant modifications may result in removal from the National Register. The federal government regulates alterations to historic properties where federal funds have been invested. The same applies at the state and local level. (:ity governments may regulate National Register properties Through a local historic preservation ordinance or roni1I The City or Seward has no such regulations. • 8-1 August A BUSTLING TERMINAL Fourth Avenue Wharf Knowledge helps property owners make confident decisions. The National Register does not restrict a property owner's private property rights. Owners of National Register properties can remodel, renovate, sell, or even demolish their property with no restrictions. Significant modifications may result in removal from the National Register. The federal government regulates alterations to historic properties where federal funds have been invested. The same applies at the state and local level. City governments may regulate National Register properties through a local historic preservation ordinance or zoning. The City of Seward has no such regulations. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #PreservationBasics #HistoricEducation #propertyrights What we see today rests on layers of what came before. In 1903, Seattle developer John Ballaine and a group of settlers landed in (what would become) Seward to build a railroad. Before long, the Seward townsite was neatly laid out and the Fourth Avenue wharf that you could once see from here was built and buzzing with activity. The wharf included a railroad dock, which allowed ships to unload goods immediately onto trains that served Anchorage and Interior Alaska. If you look west toward the SeaLife Center, imagine there was once a busy dock serving commercial boats, ships, and trains. All kinds of goods were unloaded and loaded for Seward and Interior Alaska. Passengers would disembark to stay in Seward or continue further into Interior Alaska by train. The green building to the right is the Seward Depot, established in 1917. The Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 destroyed warehouses, docks, and intersecting railroad tracks. You can see remnants of a pier, boat ramp, and the old rail tracks if you look closely in the water. All along the shoreline that stretches from here to the current harbor, you can see the rail tracks and old piers. It's fun to investigate, and you may feel grateful that you were not here to experience that quake and tsunami! The Fourth Avenue wharf and the railroad serving it were a vital part of Seward's history and economy. With the destruction of the wharf and the railroad, Seward's economy and character were forever changed. 8-2 FOUNDERS DAYS AUGUST Z8, 79a3 4 Founders Day reminds us how quickly dreams became a community. Founders Day. On August 28, 1903, Seattle developer John Ballaine and a group of settlers landed in (what would become) Seward to build a railroad. Before long, the Seward townsite was neatly laid out and the Fourth Avenue wharf was built and buzzing with activity. The wharf included a railroad dock, which allowed ships to unload goods immediately onto trains that served Anchorage and Interior Alaska. This photo shows the Ballaine House on Third Ave built in 1905 by prominent Seward businessman Frank Ballaine, L ? — 18 who was the brother of John Ballaine, who is considered the founding father of Seward. #FoundersDay #SewardAK #SewardHistory #HistoricPreservation 8-3 Your voice helps shape how Seward honors its past. It really takes all of us to encourage historic preservation. Our public officials and planners have the power to enact change to preserve our history, but they need to hear from us that we want that in your community. Make your voice WHO SLIM :LD ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? ''u # ;, i i A i I 1 s --- 1L1I" _ OFFICIALS AND PLANNERS heard. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #PreservationBasics #HistoricEducation PUBLIC 19 8-4 What's A Quonset? 400 and 408 Sixth Ave Quonset huts were innovative, lightweight instant buildings first manufactured in 1941. They were popular with the military because they were easy to transport and could be put together quickly by people without any construction knowledge. As such, they were used extensively by the military as barracks during World War II. In 1941, the Army stationed 171 officers and 3,278 enlisted men at Fort Raymond just outside of town, mainly in tents. Later, these tents were replaced with Quonset huts and wooden barracks. The 420th Coast Artillery Corps was stationed in this area during World War II. Originally named Battery E, the 205th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) Battalion, was re -designated the 420th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) Battalion in April of 1942. The 420th Coastal Artillery Battalion was an anti- aircraft unit charged to protect the area. You can imagine the impact a large army had on Seward and that all those men needed things to do beyond the time they spent protecting us. The military brought in entertainers, such as Ingrid Bergman, who performed at the Dreamland Theater. The two Quonset huts you see here may have housed visiting entertainers. It's rumored that Lauren Bacall may have stayed in one of these two huts. About 1944-1945, when Fort Raymond and nearby Fort McGilvery were closed, military buildings were re - purposed for homes, offices, storage, churches, and other uses. Jack Sadusky of Seward remembers buying a Quonset near here as his first home in 1949. These huts are still in their original location and now serve as unique vacation rentals, owned by Alaska's Point of View. Even temporary structures can leave a lasting legacy. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #quonsethut #HistoricDowntown #SewardHistory 20 8-5 Seward's historic character is a big part of what draws people here. Anything that draws people to the community increases community pride and satisfaction, creates jobs, or increases WHO SHOULD ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? investment is good for business. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #PreservationBasics #communitypride _� 1111 THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY Se I tember� 9-1 This building was created by a lady for the ladies, and upon its completion, was declared "the classiest structure on the street." Mrs. Jessie Ellsworth was industrious. In 1916, she had Architect C.W. Winstead design and construct her new cement g building to become Ellsworth's millinery shop and sell women's clothing and accessories. To keep the ladies happy, this was a necessary service in a pioneer country. The Ellsworths were not all work and no play; they were a musical family. Mr. Ellsworth worked as a chemical assayer, and in 1916 was the town bandmaster while Mrs. Ellsworth sang in the quartet and played the piano. In May of 1920, she and a group of Seward musicians performed in Anchorage to "a large and appreciative audience" and received a favorable review by the Anchorage Daily Times. In 1927, Ellsworth's was sold to the first in a series of owners who continued the tradition of keeping the ladies happy by selling women's clothin:, accessories, and fabrics. After 1937, Carl Orlander THE CLASSIEST STRUCTURE ON THE STREET 1 . ' ! " e " 1, 1 kt 6 yl m " wu,,p, Orlander Building '`" 21 opened Orlander's in the old Ellsworth's building to sell fine jewelry for women and men. Orlander was a kind man and a loyal friend. After the 1964 earthquake, with his valuable jewelry exposed through broken storefront windows, his only concern was caring for the safety of those around him. A friend recalls that when he entered his shop with another friend, Bill Miller, he picked up a watch from the broken glass on the floor and gave it to Bill, telling him that it made him feel useful, not like an old man of no value. At that moment, the building was no longer the classiest structure on the street, but Carl Orlander certainly showed others what genuine kindness and class were all about. This building reminds us that kindness and community are also part of our history. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #WomenInBusiness #HistoricDowntown #SewardHistory 9-2 Preservation is part of what makes a place worth visiting. Historic preservation brings business to town. Heritage tourists spend money while they are here. Historic preservation is just good business. As a business owner, consider how it might benefit your business. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #SenseOfPlace #CommunityHeritage WHO it SHOULD ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? T _! 1 - 7511' 1 4 THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY 22 9-3 preservation preserves the historic, architectural, and aesthetic character and heritage of a community and helps to \\7i\' E\COL IL U:R IIiSTORLC PRESERVATION?Historic - i to '_ provide a sense of place and continuity. This photo of the "Second Annual Hunt, Kenai Peninsula, Seward, Alaska, Nov. 1, 1911" taken by Rev. L.H. Pedersen gives a feeling of the character of the town at the time. That sense of place still defines Seward today. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #SenseOfPlace #CommunityHeritage • ,'. .,,it m3 ' �� tl , r" `tl 441., s 1 llic—. 1 > �- - �: .: _ — _,,11 IT PRESERVES THE HISTORIC, ARCHITECTURAL, AND AESTHETIC CHARACTER AND HERITAGE OF A COMMUNITY OR AREA, AND HELPS PROVIDE A SENSE Of PLACE AND CONTINUITY 23 9-4 , , ; . , • Preservation isn't abstract — it affects our daily life. Preserving history brings more than memories —it brings real benefits. It strengthens property values, creates local jobs, attracts visitors, and makes our community a more vibrant, inspiring place to live. Investing in our past is an investment in your future! #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #EconomicVitality #PreserveToProsper ;'"�'' L( ,= f I r _ - r `w_- - -= = .s _ = = D6rp.e.sode9nn MORE THAN MEMORIES —IT BENEFITS. VALUES, CREATES LOCAL JOBS. OUR COMMUNITY A MORE PLACE TO LIVE. Se-erd CemR PRESERVING HISTORY BRINGS BRINGS REAL IT STRENGTHENS PROPERTY ATTRACTS VISITORS. AND MAKES VIBRANT, INSPIRING 9-5 Pride grows when care is visible. Historic preservation isn't about freezing time, it's about honoring our roots while moving forward with pride. A well-preserved building or district becomes a symbol of community spirit, resilience, and hope. When we care for our past, we build pride that shines through everything we do. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #CommunityPride preservation The Guccrnnlcut Historic preservation lime —it's about honoring moving forward and Pride .► (:able IIouse isn't about freezing our roots while with pride. #OurHeritageMatters October 24 10-1 GAMES, GHOSTS, AND HISTORY Coroner's Jury Ver1iC1 In ,.u. Bahl. Death ff Van Gilder Hotel This beautiful historic hotel has played a legendary game, ghosts, and famous pilots. From Kellogg, Idaho, E. L. Van Gilder purchased the lot for $4,000 from T.W. Hawkins and constructed the Van Gilder office building in 1916. The building changed hands (and uses) frequently in its early years, but in 1921 was sold to Joseph Badger, who began operating it as the Van Gilder Hotel. Over the decades, the Hotel has changed names and uses and even played host to a legendary, ongoing pinochle game that visitors could watch from the front windows. Since as early as 1921, the Hotel has been haunted with sightings including will-o'-wisps and orbs, two men wearing bowler hats standing behind the front desk, and three children running from room to room giggling. However, the most famous ghost is "Fannie," a guest from room 202 killed by her husband in 1950. The local newspaper published an account of the April 5, 1950 murder of Fannie Baehm by her husband. The Van Gilder is an integral part of the early Seward fabric, documented on their walls. It contains pictures of characters like Seward settler Eva Lowell and her pet porcupine and scenes of the railroad workers who lived and worked close by during World War I. There are even scenes of President Warren G. Harding's visit, who came to Seward in 1923 to drive the final gold spike in the railroad connecting Seward and Fairbanks. Guest rooms are ornately furnished in period decor. The lobby, lit by antique Victorian fixtures, has a front desk fashioned from an old oak saloon -style bar with a brass foot rail. Early guests to the Hotel included salespeople, railroad and government officials, and, in 1923, U.S. President Warren G. Harding's territorial executives. In 1924, the Van Gilder was a stop for the Army Air Service Team that made the globe's first aerial circumnavigation. Known as the "Round the World" pilots, when the Army Air 25 Service Team's floatplanes landed in Resurrection Bay, it was the first time that many of Seward's 1,000 residents saw an airplane. In addition to being a place to stay, the Van Gilder has housed Masonic and Odd Fellows lodge rooms, the Seward Gateway newspaper, doctor and attorney offices, Christian Scientists, and the Seward Women's Club. The Van Gilders were active in Seward, but only lived here for a short period. Their daughter Florence was a member of the Athenaeum Literary Society and won a high school debate promoting "Examinations should be abolished" in January of 1916. That sounds like a great idea! The Van Gilder Hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Few buildings hold Seward's stories quite like this one. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #VanGilderHotel #HistoricHotels #SewardHistory #HauntedHistory #GamesGhostsAndHistory #HistoricWalkingTour #S ewardHistoricPreservationCommission 26 10-2 WII'S' ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION; IT is AN EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES. IT IS THE ULTIMATE RECYCLING! It is an efficient use of resources and ultimate recycling. When historic buildings remain loved and used, they continue doing what they were built to do —bring people together. Historic preservation conserves resources, reduces waste, and saves money by repairing and reusing existing buildings instead of tearing them down and building new ones. Resurrect Art Coffee House is a great example. Re - purposed from a church to a business, it is still connecting people in the community. This building was constructed in 1917 to serve as the new Methodist Church. The Methodists eventually outgrew the building, and in January 1949, they sold it to the Lutherans. In 1992, the Lutherans sold it to Mike and Deborah Olson, who turned it into the Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery. The Olsons passed the beloved property to Mike and Raylene O'Connor, who loved and cared for it, and then sold it to Micheley Kowalski and Michael Steward in 2015. Since then it has sold again. This old church shows us that historic buildings are often best preserved when occupied by a thriving business with owners who love it. See the historic walking tour sign, "Dreaming and Connecting" out front for more history. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #AdaptiveReuse #ResurrectArt #HistoricBuildings #PreserveSeward 27 10-3 WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? JIB VAN GELaft ■ HOTEL - IT CAN ADD CHARACTER AND/OR CHARM TO A COMMUNITY, AND EMPHASIZE ITS UNIQUENESS. These stories are part of what makes Seward unforgettable. Our old buildings make Seward unique, give Seward a lot of character and attract tourists. We are one of the few towns on the road system that still retains our historic character. Did you know that the Van Gilder Hotel, built in 1916, has played host to a legendary game, ghosts, and famous pilots? It used to host to a legendary, ongoing pinochle game that visitors could watch from the front windows. Since as early as 1921, the Hotel has been haunted with sightings including will-o'-wisps and orbs, two men wearing bowler hats standing behind the front desk, and three children running from room to room giggling. However, the most famous ghost is "Fannie," a guest from room 202 killed by her husband in 1950. The local newspaper published an account of the April 5, 1950 murder of Fannie Baehm by her husband. The Van Gilder is an integral part of the early Seward fabric, documented on their walls with pictures of many famous Seward characters. See the Historic Walking Tour sign on the front, "Games, Ghosts, and History". #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #VanGilderHotel #HistoricHotels #SewardHistory #HistoricWalkingTour 28 10-4 A Legacy for the Next Generation Imagine a Seward where our children and grandchildren can walk the same streets, touch the same walls, and feel the same stories that shaped us. That's the gift of historic preservation: a living legacy of beauty, resilience, and connection. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #LegacyOfLove #PreserveForTheFuture :t Legacy IMAGINE A GRANDCHILDREN TOUCH THE for ti"„,t ,i� SEWARD SAME STORIES the Next Generation ,, ll t �� WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN WALK THE SAME WALLS, AND FEEL THAT SHAPED US. _ . AND STREETS, THE SAME 10-5 OONSHINERS AND HANGERS—ON %s Even our rebellious chapters helped shape Seward. This house is part of "Home Brew Alley," also called Alley A, which was home for a "whole bunch of moonshiners and hangers-on," according to John Paulsteiner in his book, Seward Alaska, the Sinful Town on Resurrection Bay (1975). Distilling whiskey and brewing beer are entwined with Seward's early history. Although Alaska's "Bone Dry law" of 1918 prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcohol, the bootleggers in Home Brew Alley kept churning out liquor and beer. Prohibition in 1920 was also generally ignored, with speakeasies existing all over town. Some ingredients to produce local booze, like sugar, were rationed. Famous bootlegger Sam Romack told Paulsteiner he had the foresight to have most of the sugar reserved from Brown & Hawkins, enabling his business to boom, __"__ _ s_ s=- - - - $' .;. _ ,� f- = _ - ome Brew Alley `. making him a primary bootlegger. Sam Romack lived on Home Brew Alley, and City Marshal Bob Guest also lived here and guarded Romack's booze in his basement. Marshal Guest was the entire Seward police force. He 29 made nightly rounds to Home Brew Alley and the city designated Red Light District known as "The Line" located nearby (between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, and Railway Avenue and Washington Avenue). "Special Rounds" were made monthly to collect 10 dollars from each bootlegger and lady of the evening. Both Home Brew Alley and The Line were short walks from the dock, where ships likely provided much of these businesses' clientele. In 1945 the City Council decided to improve Seward's image and renamed Home Brew Alley to Champagne Avenue. The new street sign was uprooted and tossed on the ground by the rebellious residents. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #HistoricWalkingTour #HomeBrewAlley November 11-1 r :-/- r1" � This building still stands as a reminder of how Seward endured. In the summer of 1941, as preparations for World War II were beginning,"`,, the military arrived and established Fort Raymond. In October 1940, the lot in front of you was sold by Leon Urbach to construction contractor Ray James for $500. The James Construction Company signed a contract to construct an apartment building by December 1941. It was perfect timing, as the November 23, 1941 fire destroyed at least 16 buildings on the east side of Fourth Avenue, including 56 apartments and 100 rooms. These new apartments came at a good = . ,. � f m._a_ - ...a.p.._ 235 Third Avenue - 30 time, to a perfect time. After the fire, people joked that "when the Japanese fly over they won't bomb us because they will think we have already been bombed." Then, on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked, drawing our country into war. A January 6, 1942 letter by the National Resources Planning Board stated, "Seward is a pathetic spectacle. The town is staggering under the blows of the 1). The prospective change of the Alaska Railroad Terminus to Whittier, 2). The fire, 3). Quartering here of 3000 soldiers and 4). The war with its blackouts, evacuation orders and virtual taking over of the town by the military, etc." With war at hand, there was a shortage of building materials, with long lines for cigarettes, nylon stockings, liquor, and more. Even worse was the lamented shortage of women! "The Line" (Seward's infamous Red Light District) was just a short walk down the alley from this building. Although it got its start during hard times for Seward, this building still stands today and serves as a home for a wide range of locals and visitors. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #WWIIHistory #FortRaymond #HistoricBuildings #SewardHistory 31 11-2 y ENCOURAGE saasz Fp saaPa( IT PRESERVES HISTORIC PRESERVATION? l` r! 4 .1% , - , a _ i in. V r __ nl .d..-_ Ar- Historic preservation preserves old methods of workmanship. Preservation keeps knowledge alive, not just buildings. Many modern buildings are built to last a short time — 25 to 30 years. Workmanship and building methods are often not as careful or durable as methods used in the past, when buildings were expected to last indefinitely. By working on historic buildings, new generations of craftsmen learn the techniques to improve modern buildings as well. Look at the beautiful craftsmanship of the Resurrect Art C/wrcfi /7dTaerra3le Seward , ,, OLD METHODSOPWORKMANSHIP Coffee House on Third Avenue, that used to be the Episcopal Church, built in 1916 as an example. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #Craftsmanship #BuiltToLast #PreserveOurPast 11-3 WHY ENCOURAGE r IT CAN ATTRACT OF A DETERIORATING HISTORIC PRESERVATION? .~� _ _ - • I • i 11 thiiiii, �_- Preservation often begins with one person seeing potential. Historic preservation can attract investment and change the nature of a deteriorating neighborhood or area. The Government Cable House for example, was once a run down home, but was lovingly restored, and now operates as a successful vacation rental property. The Government Cable House is on the Historic Walking Tour and has an interpretive sign in the front with it's interesting history. This property and its interpretive sign was the inspiration for the Seward Historic Walking Tour. INVESTMENT AND CHANGE THE NATURE NEIGHBORHOOD OR AREA 32 #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #HistoricRestoration #AdaptiveReuse #HistoricWalkingTour 11-4 .• ... ,d.....,• • - i If Walls Could Talk- The Malloy House- 313 Sixth Ave Named for its original owner, Bessie M. Malloy, this house had a previous life on a hill above Second Avenue. After avalanches buried some of the neighboring houses, Malloy purchased this lot for $250 and moved the house here. This house has seen a lot, including an influx of more than 3,200 soldiers in Seward during World War II, Alaska statehood in 1959, and the most exciting of all: the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. During the earthquake, the Anderson family (who lived in the house at the time) had to run for their lives, leaving the front door wide open as the Standard Oil tanks a block away exploded and the earth shook. In 1970, the National Research Council described the devastation of that day by saying, "probably nowhere in south central Alaska on March 27, 1964, were there more hairbreadth escapes than among the 2,300 inhabitants of the seaport town of Seward...". Owner Susie Anderson White was 9 years old when she wrote, "All of a sudden everything broke loose, and we were shaking real bad. I started to scream, and my sister Sharon told me I didn't stop screaming. We saw a huge explosion. It was the Standard Oil tanks going up in flames. When we went past the boat harbor, we could see boats being lifted up by the tidal wave." Her father, Val Anderson, wrote, "We spent the night listening to the = Malloy House" == 33 Standard Oil tanks exploding, the tidal waves coming in and watching the great red glare of the fire lighting the skies and mountainsides. We didn't think there was a chance in the world our house could survive." But the house did survive and kept adapting to changing times. Today Seward depends more on tourism, and this house offers nightly lodging to these travelers. It hears their stories, and now they hear its story. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #MalloyHouse #SupportLocalHistory December 12-1 I _ �rcic rr�FSF�t�r� `' "" Choosing historic spaces keeps Seward's story alive every day. Supporting Preservation Supports Community When you support local businesses in the downtown historic area, you're doing more than shopping —you're helping preserve history. Our historic buildings thrive when they are filled with life, laughter, and love. Every visit helps keep Seward's heartbeat strong Thanks to all "_I h� F the businesses helping to maintain the historic character in our community. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #ShopHistoric #SupportLocalHistory IT CAN BE A GOOD INVESTMENT 34 12-2 The Hale House. Families like the Hales helped shape Seward beyond bricks and mortar. Eugene (Gene) Hale was instrumental in the founding of Seward. Like the others in Millionaire's Row, his house was built in 1905 for the prominent citizens in town. The Hale family was a visible feature of Seward's business, art scene, and social life. The family's patriarch, F.G. Hale, was the president and a founder of the Bank of Seward and the Seward Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Eugene Hale was the vice president of the Seward Ladies' Auxiliary. They formed committees on religion, arts and crafts, photography, geology, transportation, wildflowers and fruits, literature, needlework, and education. F.G. Hale had three sons. Eugene (E.E) Hale worked at the Bank of Seward, Dr. C.L. Hale was a local dentist, and Fred M. Hale also worked at the Bank of Seward. Fred became active in the Seward Gun Club, the Volunteer Fire Department, the Seward Commercial Club, the local school board, and the Arctic Brotherhood. The Arctic Brotherhood was a 35 fraternal organization organized in 1899 by Gold Rush stampeders. As a member of Seward Camp 21, Eugene was "keeper of the nuggets" in 1906. The Hales were hunting enthusiasts. One such hunt happened in 1911, where Eugene and his brother Fred competed with teams of other well-known local citizens. The Hale family's photo collection (F.G. Hale Collection housed at the Resurrection Bay Historical Society within the Seward Community Library and Museum) provides an insightful window into early Seward society life. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #MillionairesRow #SewardHistory #HistoricHomes 36 12-3 12-4 WHO SHOULD ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? HISTORY BUFFS. Built to Last MANY OF SEWARD'S DOWNTOWN HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAVE STOOD STRONG THROUGH EARTHQUAKES, FIRES. AND FIERCE STORMS. IN PARTICULAR, THE WEST SIDE OF FOURTH AVE. TRUE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT CAN STAND THE TEST OF TIME. Stories grow stronger when they're shared. Are you a history buff? You know the importance of history to our community. Be a champion for preservation by sharing your knowledge, excitement, and stories. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #BeAPreservationist #CommunityVoices #ProtectOurPast Built to Last Many of Seward's downtown historic buildings have stood strong through earthquakes, fires, and fierce storms. In particular, the west side of Fourth Ave. They remind us: true craftsmanship and community spirit can stand the test of time. When we protect these buildings, we honor that strength —and our own. #HistoricPreservation #SewardAK #StrengthThroughHi story #SewardStrong 37 CALL TO ORDER The January 15, 2026, regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chair Tanguy Libbrecht at 6:30 p.m. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Todd Mashlan led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL There were present: Tanguy Libbrecht, presiding, and Sue Ward Mary Ann Benoit Dona Walker Art LeMaster Todd Mashlan comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Allison Stacy, Museum Curator Kris Peck, City Clerk Excused — None Absent — None Vacancy — One CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT — None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Ward/Benoit) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the September 18, 2025 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 38 Proclamations and Awards Seward Historic Register Plaque Awards: Urbach's, Standard Oil House, Alaska's Point of View will be deferred to the next meeting in April 2026. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATION, AND REPORTS City Administration Report Museum Curator Allison Stacy asked Commissioner Benoit to provide a report on Historic Preservation's Facebook page. Chair Report Chair Tanguy Libbrecht was grateful for the commission's accomplishments in 2025. He noted there was one vacancy on the commission. He summarized the work session with Community Development. He was excited to see historic preservation rank so highly on the community surveys. Libbrecht was grateful for the commission for all their work, and for everyone who was participating in historic preservation efforts in the community. Other Reports and Announcements UNFINISHED BUSINESS Hoben Park Updates Stacy described efforts for acquiring lilacs and a new bench. She summarized from the report in the packet regarding the crumbling cement wall and need for a new fencing. The commission discussed the fencing with Stacy and analyzed historic photos. Hoben Park was missing roughly half of the fencing and needed further funding to finish the gate. The commission also discussed the need for the gate, the involvement of the Parks and Recreation Department, the width of the railings, spacing the fencing with gaps, and the need to bring back price estimates at the next meeting. Stacy noted the spikes on the fencing were a safety issue. She presented two ideas to modify the fence for safety: small flat tops, or a long flat barrier along the top of the spikes. Libbrecht suggested a ball on top of each spike. St. Peter's Updates Mashlan provided an update on St. Peter's Episcopal Church. There was community space for weddings, baptisms, funerals, recovery groups, and more. He provided an update on renovations, grant funding, garden boxes, and gravel for the parking area. 39 NEW BUSINESS Lowell Creek Dolphin DOE Section 106 Report The commission reviewed the written report and said they had no concerns. Hoben Park Preservation Agreement Review Stacy said this was included for review before being sent to city management. The commission had no concerns with the agreement as written in the packet. Historic Preservation Award Nominations The commission reviewed the nominations for Kenda Warlow and Michael Burmeister which were both submitted by Carol Griswold. The commission noted these would be on the April agenda for final review before going on to City Council as proclamations. Review HPC 2026 Priorities and Meeting Dates Stacy explained the 2026 schedule included in the packet. The commission thought the schedule looked good and was well organized. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Regular Meeting and Work Session on April 23, 2026 CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Peck wished everyone a Happy New Year. Libbrecht was thankful for support from City Administration and the Parks & Recreation Department. Benoit was happy to see that historic preservation ranked so highly on the community survey. LeMaster echoed Benoit's comments. Mashlan noted it was the 250th anniversary of the United States and wanted to consider ways to celebrate in historical preservation type of way. 40 Stacy was also proud to see historic preservation ranked so highly on the survey. She mentioned upcoming events for the 250th anniversary and the theme for Alaska is baseball. She thanked the commission for being responsive when she was asking for meeting materials. Ward recalled some baseball history of Alaska regarding Seward and Valdez. Peck reminded Stacy that it was also the 250th birthday of Jane Austen. Stacy described upcoming festivities to celebrate Jane Austen. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Kris Peck City Clerk Tanguy Libbrecht Chair 41 City of Seward Community Library and Museum - Hoben Park Refurbishment - Proposal - Owner Info: City of Seward - Parks & Recreation PO Box 167 / 238 Fifth Ave Seward, AK 99664 907-224-4055 TIE Contractor Info: Premier siq,erdBuild Premier Construction LLC PO Box 2572 Seward, AK 99664 907-617-4266 Description of Work: Contractor will provide all Management, Supervision, Transportation, Labor, Materials, Equipment and Supplies necessary to refurbish the concrete wall and decorative rail at Hoben Park. Existing concrete wall will be refurbished by cutting out and replacing cracked area. Minor cracks will be ground / gouged then injection epoxy repaired. Existing old fence foundation fragments will be ground down to below surface level then the entire wall section will be pressure washed then recoated with cementious finish to 12" below existing grade. A new capstone will be installed at the south column. A 48" wide set of stairs will be poured in place at the knockout along the south wall. Steps will be about 7" rise and 12" tread width. Stair finish will be exposed aggregate - no railings are required. The city -owned historic railing coatings contain lead. All rail sections will be blasted with lead abatement additive blast media. TCLP testing of spent media will be conducted then will be disposed of IAW all laws and regulations. Blasting will be conducted using all PPE, Air Monitoring, and Containments appropriate for lead containing materials. Fence sections will be straightened and repaired to uniformity to the best of our ability. A continuous cap will be fabricated and installed onto the top of the fence's finials that protrude through the fence top - as a safety consideration. Installation feet, end connections, and connecting posts will be fabricated to match the fence style and form then weld installed onto the fence sections. All blasted and fabricated metals will be coated with one coat Duraplate 235 then one coat Sherloxane 800. All refurbished fence sections will be installed in locations as directed by the City representative using connections that are epoxy embedded into the top of the concrete walls. *Our concrete repair crew is available the last week of April only. This proposal is contingent on a speedy approval so we can have the concrete repair / refurbishment portion of the work completed by April 30, 2026. Proposed by: Thomas A Loertanaging Member - Premier Construction TOTAL: $ 49,344.53 Date: Accepted by: Date: City of Seward 42 Hoben Park — Restoration Project Quotes OHA Grant Total: $24,000 Option 1: Concrete Only - $14,000 (Premier Constructions) - Complete repair of the West Wall (wall closer to Alaska Sealife Center) concrete to include removing of the iron corrosion. Option 2: Restoration of the Rails - $36,000 (Premier Constructions/Storm Chasers) - There is lead paint found in the rails. The contractors will need to sandblast, straighten, weld, zync coat, all of the above to make sure that the fencing is restored, protected for long-term, and meets regulation code. Option 3: Fencing Restoration, Concrete, and Installation/Total Project (Premier Constructions/Storm Chasers) - $49,344.53 - See Attachment. Allie's Suggestion Unfortunately, Hoben Park's Restoration Project I believe is going to take longer than expected. With the circumstances of lead found in the paint, the heavy corrosion and repair needed for the concrete, and the additions needed to make the fencing meet regulation code, the total project price well exceeds $24,000 as you can see. My suggestion for this summer, as the grant project is due September 2026, HPC has Premier Constructions take care of the concrete restoration on the West Wall. The remaining $10,000 can be put towards collaborating with Parks & Recreation to beautify the park, whether it be fertilizer — new plants — new bushes/trees — water supply - whatever that department may have their wish list. Another possibility is to also spend the remaining funds towards a railing and concrete step placed on the North Wall (Railway Ave.) I can get us a price quote for that option when I get back. 43 2024/2025 SEWARD HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD NOMINATION FORM Please submit nomination form to the City Clerk: Person you are nominating for this award: (self -nominations are acceptable) Name: al j ci'\C e_ t iU r Me i Stt? 1r Nominee's contributions towards historic preservation in the community of Seward: Please check all the applicable boxes listed below and include a brief description of the nominee's contributions. (You may use the back of this form) sc)e Survey and inventory work of historic architectural and archaeological resources in the community. Development and submission of National Register of Historic Places nominations for properties within the community. Contribution towards education of citizens regarding local historic preservation and community history. )( Research and documentation of the history of the community of Seward. ❑ Publications about the history of the community of Seward. ❑ Reconstruction and restoration work towards historic preservation in the community. ❑ Curatorial, historical records, photo collections, or museum contributions which contribute to the community's historic heritage. ❑ Organization of historical records for easy reference for others to gain a better understanding of Seward's historic heritage. ❑ Contributions towards historic preservation planning. ❑ Oral history contributions towards preserving Seward's historic heritage. ❑ Progress towards having a climate controlled centralized historic collection in Seward. ❑ Any other contributions related to historic preservation (please explain). Nominee has been notified of nomination: ki Yes ❑ No qb7-22y-3y 3v o-lK Nominee contact info: Phone:Q61-y22-7t5( E-Mail: VYI►Choe(eistei6:9a(aS'kQ'(VV Submitted by:Ca I vj s W o Phone: ciO ' 7 - 22-t/-j eeaC For more information, contact the City Clerk's office at 907-224-4046 or clerk@cityofseward.net There is no deadline for this nomination. All nominations will be considered at the April meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission. 44 October 18, 2025 I nominate Michael Burmeister for the Seward Historic Preservation Award for his outstanding work on the Fort McGilvray Historic District nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. On December 27, 2022, seventy-nine years after Fort McGilvray was decommissioned, the Fort McGilvray Historic District was officially recognized as a significant historic site on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in Caines Head State Recreation Area about 7 miles south of Seward, the defensive military fortification played a key part in the Seward Harbor Defense Network from 1941-1943 during World War II. It was built to protect and defend the strategic ice -free port of Seward against a possible Japanese invasion. After years on the Alaska State Parks Seward Area Citizen Advisory Board's list of goals and many failed attempts, local Park Technician 1 Michael Burmeister tackled the massive project, coordinated archeological surveys and research, assisted in mapping the site, wrote the extensive nomination, and shepherded it to fruition. Without Michael's efforts, the impressive historic site and its remarkable history might have continued to fade into the past. In addition, Michael assisted Kendra Warlow, 2025 VIP, (Volunteer in the Park), with her research in the Fort McGilvray Historic District. The spotlight resulted in a new focus and community celebration of Seward's WWII history and the legacy of Fort McGilvray on September 13, 2025 in collaboration with Alaska State Parks, the Resurrection Bay Historical Society, the new Friends of Caines Head State Recreation Area, and the Seward Community Library and Museum. New educational exhibits at the site and in the Seward Museum, trail improvements, and trail signage are in the works to continue the legacy of Fort McGilvray. Whether pen in hand or a pulaski, Michael will be there working to improve the visitor experience and protect the cultural resources at the Fort McGilvray Historic District. Thank you, Michael! Submitted by Carol Griswold, c_griz@yahoo.com 45 2024/2025 SEWARD HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD NOMINATION FORM Please submit nomination form to the City Clerk: Person you are nominating for this award: (self -nominations are acceptable) Name: /<ev 4V'a WO' V`(OcA.) Nominee's contributions towards historic preservation in the community of Seward: Please check all the applicable boxes listed below and include a brief description of the nominee's contributions. (You may use the back of this form) ❑ Survey and inventory work of historic architectural and archaeological resources in the community. Development and submission of National Register of Historic Places nominations for properties within the community. Contribution towards education of citizens regarding local historic preservation and community history. Research and documentation of the history of the community of Seward. Publications about the history of the community of Seward. Reconstruction and restoration work towards historic preservation in the community. Curatorial, historical records, photo collections, or museum contributions which contribute to the community's historic heritage. Organization of historical records for easy reference for others to gain a better understanding of Seward's historic heritage. ❑ Contributions towards historic preservation planning. ❑ Oral history contributions towards preserving Seward's historic heritage. ❑ Progress towards having a climate controlled centralized historic collection in Seward. ❑ Any other contributions related to historic preservation (please explain). Nominee has been notified of nomination: Yes 0 No 4I 7 Nominee contact info: Phone: 53 't 8 Submitted by: al r£31 6, S boo (e( E-Mail: Kend sac WcprIO W iti(ti I o C©l41 Phone: ?(�% —� Zvi — Ste 2 0 For more information, contact the City Clerk's office at 907-224-4046 or clerk@cityofseward.net There is no deadline for this nomination. All nominations will be considered at the April meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission. 46 October 18, 2025 I nominate Kendra Warlow for the Seward Historic Preservation Award for her outstanding volunteer work in support of Seward's WWII history, Fort McGilvray's legacy, and founder of a new non-profit Friends of Caines Head State Recreation Area. Kendra Warlow signed on as a volunteer for Alaska State Parks at Caines Head State Recreation Area in early summer 2025. Over the summer, she proved to be a "volunteer extraordinaire." Out in the park, she guided hikes and gave interpretive history tours of Battery 293 (the Fort), and the Fort McGilvray Historic District to visitors and provided special programs for the Seward Parks and Recreation Outdoor Adventure Summer Camp and Kenai Mountain Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Coastal Connections Kids Camp. In her "spare" time, Kendra created a Friends of Caines Head State Park Facebook group, recruited board members, completed the daunting 501c3 paperwork, filed the paperwork, obtained the EIN number, and made the long -wished for Friends group a reality. Passionate about history and WWII, she dove into the museum's historic newspaper collection, and digitized Fort McGilvray's South Beach Sourdough weekly newsletters from the 1940s. Kendra researched the 250th and 267th Coast Artillery Battalion, collecting historical documents, maps, photographs, slides, letters, films, and more. Her work culminated in a community celebration of "Seward's WW II history and Fort McGilvray's Legacy" on September 13, 2025, which she organized and coordinated with the Seward Community Library & Museum, the Seward Community Library Association, and Alaska State Parks. The public packed the Seward Community Library and Museum Community Room, many dressed in 1940s finery, including Kendra as host and speaker Jack Sinclair, retired Alaska State Parks Superintendent. Jack shared memories of developing the then brand-new Caines Head State Recreation Area and uncovering Fort McGilvray from the wilderness shrouding the Fort after it was abandoned in 1943. The US Army Corps of Engineers' 1941 once top-secret silent color film of the building of Fort McGilvray was shown to the amazement of all. Kenda presented her passion project, a keynote presentation, "The Story of the 267th Coast Artillery Battalion and Fort McGilvray", and launched her major project, an interactive and educational map of Fort McGilvray where users can virtually walk the Fort Trail and learn what was/is there based on original declassified maps, WWII photos, South Beach Sourdough newspapers, and three hours of recorded interviews with the veterans of the 267th Coast Artillery Battalion. 47 A limited reproduction run of historic US Army sweatshirts worn by the men at South Beach were sold at the event in support of the Friends group. Afterwards, the celebration continued with a fundraiser 3-course historically accurate 1940s dinner in partnership with the Flamingo Lounge and Seward Community Library Association to support the Friends of Caines Head State Recreation Area. Wearing her historic South Beach sweatshirt, Kenda also presented "We Take Dares, The Story of the 267th Coast Artillery Battalion and Fort McGilvray" via Zoom at the September 25, 2025 Alaska State Historical Society Conference, and networked with the founder of the Alaska Military History Association who shared more photos of the military at Caines Head. Link to her 20-minute presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXE8SNxj5Ho at 59:32. Kendra is not done and plans to continue her research into the history of the Fort McGilvray Historic District when she returns next summer. This "volunteer extraordinaire" has certainly earned the Seward Historic Preservation Award. We thank her for her incredible work on behalf of Alaska State Parks, veterans, and the Seward community. Submitted by Carol Griswold, c_griz@yahoo.com 48 2026 Historic _ Priorities and Preservation Meeting Commission Schedule Updated on 2/20/2026 DATES WS-MTG Business Priorities Results Jan. 5 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 15-Jan WS - Community Development Presentation on Comprehensive Plan - Plan, reflect, & discuss successful completion/growth of HPC by 2030 Great discussion with Community Development - awareness, national register listings, education are all key. Potential to update commission plan. MTG Facebook Page Report; Approve September Meeting Minutes; Share Historic Register Plaque Awards; Hoben Park Updates; St. Peter's Updates; Historic Preservation Award Nominations; Review and Confirm HPC 2026 Meeting Dates & Priorities - Plan & Coordinate completion of Hoben Park Update - Admin to begin 2025 CLG Report - Upload new Social Posts and Engagement via Facebook Awards deferred to next meeting. Discuss HPA Nominations next meeting to present in month of May. Apr. 8 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 23-Apr WS Presentations Discuss Community Development GIS Mapping & Historic Lamp Posts 49 MTG - Facebook Report; Discuss Hoben Park Updates; St. Peter's Updates; Approve January 2025 Minutes - Updates on CLG Movements, Any Ongoing or Potential Grants SUMMER No Work Session or Meeting Hiatus Aug. 5 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 20-Aug WS Final plans and completion of Hoben Park Restoration Project MTG Approve April Minutes; Facebook Page Report; Hoben Park Summary; St. Peter's Updates - Ongoing Grant Project Updates Nov. 18 HPC MATERIAL DEADLINE: Turnover to Admin. 3-Dec WS - Draft 2027 HPC Priorities and Meetings MTG Approve August Minutes - Finalize and select 2026 CLG Project - Work on Annual Report 50