HomeMy WebLinkAbout08122021 Historic Preservation Mtg. Laydown - Benoit - Walking Tour PamphletWelcome to the Seward Historical Walking Tour.
Visit www.cityofseward.us/walkingtour for additional
information, sources, and our partners and
contributors. �;II;•� i
We encourage you to visit these .;ggs•�g.; .,
buildings to see them and read their �'Lt j•il��'
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interpretive panels (if they have :'y!.6�t�;F;l:l'1�.9i;:���1•:
one), but only go into those buildings �•i,�;, •.i,�
that are active businesses or public rin'i'��'•.I, ;•'
facilities.
Some locations do not have signs, so the information
in this pamphlet will inform your visit.
300 First Avenue
Jan van Empel's house, 1925
Jan van Empel, the famous Dutch/American painter
stayed here while painting the "The Resurrection" at
Saint Peter's Episcopal church in 1925, using Seward
residents and himself as models.
335 First Avenue
Brownell House, 1904
(Sign: Imagine and Inspire)
Don Carlos "Cad" Brownell, Sr. was part ofthe 1903
landing party and purchased the first commercial lot
and built the D.C. Brownell Hardware. Artist Rockwell
Kent who often stayed here.
235 and 239 Second Avenue
St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Rectory, 1906
(Sign: Peace To Those Who Are Far Away)
Seward's oldest church, on the National Register of
Historic Places. Known for its unique 1925 painting
ofthe Ascension of Christ behind the altar by Dutch
artist Jan van Empel.
315 Second Avenue
Captains Oldow, 1918
Notable residents include Captain Don Oldow,
captain of the Alaska Ferry's Tustemena, and his wife,
Captain Pam. The two ofthem pioneered excursions
to the Kenai Fjords National Park starting in 1980.
318 Second Avenue
Manthey House, 1920
(Sign: House Resurrected)
Gustave and Clara Manthey bought the property in
1924. Many interesting things were found in the wall
during remodeling.
08122021 HP Mfg. Laydown - Benoit - Walking Tour Pamphlet
1111Second Avenue
Stucco Johnson Historic Home Site, 1916
(Sign: Clues To Seward's Past)
Site of master craftsman Stucco Johnson's unique
Spanish Mission Style cottage before it was moved by
horses to 327 Fifth Avenue around 1920. The house
slipped through the ropes guiding it down the cliff on
moving day and slid down the hill on its side without
developing a crack, cementing Stucco's reputation as a
master craftsman.
125 Third Avenue
The Mary Lowell Homestead, The Line, and Alaska Transfer
Company
Originally the site ofthe Mary Lowell homestead, Frank
Ballaine built a house for her here. Later known as the
Peel House, where AI Peel, manager of the Alaska
Transfer Company (located where the parking lot is now),
lived. His wife was associated with Seward's notorious
recNight district (The Line), where a line of cottonwoods
now stands. Behind them were once 21 small houses
operated by local businesswomen.
235 Third Avenue
The Tides Inn, 1941
(Sign: Perfect Timing)
These apartments were built when Seward was going
through hard times during Word War 11. A fire destroyed
many buildings on the east side of Fourth Ave. leaving
housing in short supply.
319 Third Avenue
Wayne Blue House, 1920
Wayne Blue purchased this lot in 1916. He was a
manager at the Alaska Transfer Company, an agent for
the Seward Water and Power Company, and a business
manager for the Seward Gateway paper.
417 Third Avenue
Holland House, 1905
(Sign: Mil lionai re's Row)
Millionaire's Row, built between 1904 and 1906,
represented a modem life and progress to a frontiertown
that still had stump -strewn, muddy streets and board
sidewalks. These homes represented a genteel society
when Seward started to find its identity.
420 Third Avenue
Norway Maple, 1943
Beautiful old Norway Maple (Acerplatanoides). Mrs.
Amend bought this beautiful tree through the Sears
catalog in the late 1930s and planted it as a sapling. It
may be the largest Norway Maple tree in Alaska.
429 Third Avenue
The Hale House, 1905
(Sign_ Millionaire's Row)
The Hale family was a prominent feature of Seward's
business, art scene, and social life.
Third Avenue & Dairy Hill Lane
Benny Benson Memorial Park
Memorial to 13-year-old Benny Benson, whose design
won the American Legion's Alaska State Flag contest.
209Fourth Avenue
Brown 8 Hawkins, 1904
(Sign: A 100 Year Family Affair)
The oldest continuously operated business in Seward
which provided provisions to pioneers and became the
first bank and telegraph office in Seward. It is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places.
218Fourth Avenue
UrbaC Clothiers, 1942
Urbach's has been in business since 1915.While a fire
destroyed the original building in 1941, Leon wasted
no time and rebuilt it in 194. Leon was one of Alaska's
unofficial leaders. He passed the business on to son,
Larry, and his wife Dorothy. Dorothy continues the family
tradition of leadership and in 2020 received an award
from the mayor for her 30 years of leading the Friends of
the Library and her many years of service to the Seward
community.
219Fourth Avenue
Orlander Building, 1916
(Sign: The Classiest Structure On The Street)
It began as Ellsworths, a millinery shop that sold women's
clothing and accessories, providing a necessary service
in a pioneer country. Later it was Orlander's jewelry store
for women and men..
222Fourth Avenue
McMullen Building, 1930
(Sign: Built To Last)
Built by locally renowned craftsman Gerhard "Stucco"
Johnson, his building has survived time, fire, and
earthquake. The 1941 fire that destroyed many other
businesses stopped here.
225Fourth Avenue
Seward Commercial Company, 1908
(Sign: Get Well -Fed and Well -Read)
William M. Sauers built the new Seward Commercial
Company which operated as a general merchandising
store and lending library, with a meeting hall and dance
hall upstairs.
227Fourth Avenue
Generations -The Sexton House, 1911
(Sign_ An Adventurous, Creative Photographer)
"Generations" pays tribute to how the Sextons and
the Sexton House, have withstood the test of time
and reflects the spirit of Seward's adventurous
photographer, Sylvia Sexton, and her family.
237 Fourth Avenue - Kawabe Park
Fourth Avenue Business District
(Sign: The Beating Heart Of Seward)
From Seward's founding in 1903, Fourth Avenue
has been the beating heart of Seward's commerce
and celebrations, as it is today. Early risk -takers and
entrepreneurs invested their energy, creativity, and
finances to make Seward the center of commerce in
southcentral Alaska.
1200Fourth Avenue
Seward Mariners' Memorial
A lighthouse that houses the names of mariners lost
at sea or who have passed on after a lifetime of love
for the ocean.
212 Fifth Avenue
Heritage Sitka Spruce
Note the huge, beautiful open -grown Sitka Spruce
tree. Likely over 70 years old, it is the most
outstanding tree in Seward for its history, exemplary
shape, beauty, and size.
217 and 221 Fifth Avenue
Hotel Seward, originally 1905
William McNeiley built the Hotel Seward around 1905.
The hotel burned down in 1941 and then was rebuilt
in 1944. Come in and walk through our history.
232 Fifth Avenue
Mt. Marathon Apartments, circa 1906
(Sign: Warm and Welcoming)
We think this building has been offering a warm and
welcoming place to live for over 100 years. It likely
was a boarding house for early railway workers.
327 Fifth Avenue
Swetmann House, 1916
(Sign: Slid Down A Hill and Survived In One Piece)
Considered a jewel of Seward architecture, it was
built in 1916 by locally renowned craftsman Gerhard
"Stucco" Johnson as his residence and moved here
after being purchased by Elwyn Swetmann around
1921. During the move it slid down a steep hill and
tipped over, then was set upright and moved on skids
by horses.
338 Fifth Avenue
1930
This 405 square -foot cabin was a typical size for
many homes in the 1930s.
219 Sixth Avenue
The Government Cable House, 1905
(Sign: Connecting Alaska To The Word)
The Government Cable Office is a historic building
that once served as the telegraph office for the entire
Kenai Peninsula, connecting Seward to the rest of the
world.
239 Sixth Avenue.
Seward Community Library & Museum, 2011
(Sign: Connecting Our Community, Sharing Our Stories)
The combined Seward Community Library & Museum
opened in January 2013, collecting our stories and
connecting our community. Pick up a map here at the
honorary start ofthe Seward Historic Walking Tour.
308 Sixth Avenue
Dryden House, 1920
(Sign: Mobile Home Living)
In the 19th and eady 20th centuries, moving whole
houses to new locations with horses was a common
practice. This house was moved from Mile 7 in 1930
and may have been a barn once.
313 Sixth Avenue
Malloy House, 1928
(Sign: If Walls Could Talk)
This house was built before 1928 on a hill above
Second Avenue and moved here around 1928. Learn
how the Anderson family had to run for their lives as
the Standard Oil tanks a block away exploded and the
earth shook during the 1964 earthquake.
400 and 408 Sixth Avenue
Circa 1941
(Sign: What'sA Quonset?)
Quonset huts were lightweight, portable, barracks
used by the military during Word War II. The 420th
Coast Artillery Corps, an anti-aircraft unit, was located
in this area. These Quonset huts may have housed
visiting entertainers for the military including Lauren
Bacall.
308 Adams Street
208 Brownell Street
Van Gilder Hotel, 1916
Home Brew Alley, 1932
(Sign: Games, Ghosts, and History)
(Sign: Moonshiners and Hangers -On)
This beautiful historic hotel has played host to a
This house is one ofthe only remaining houses of"Home
legendary pinochle game, ghosts, and famous pilots. It is
Brew Alley". Also called Alley A, it contained a "whole
said to be haunted and is listed on the National Register
bunch of moonshiners and hangers-on," including famous
of Historic Places.
bootleggers and the marshals who guarded their booze.
410 Adams Street (City Hall)
1867 Alaska Purchase Centennial Year Sitka Spruce
In 1867 the US purchased the Russian Empire's Alaska
colony. This tree was planted to celebrate the purchase.
500 Adams Street
The L.V. Ray Building, 1916
Built by the Harriman Bank of New York, it served as a
bank until 1922, then as the local high school from 1925-
28. L.V. Ray, a prominent pioneer attorney, bought the
building and had offices there until his death in 1946. His
wife, Hazel, converted it into apartments.
504 Adams Street
International Order of Odd Fellows Hall, 1918
The IOOF hall was completed and opened to the public
with a dance and basket social in 1918. It was one of
the favorite dancing and grand ball locations in Seward
through the 1940's, and served as a community center
for many years.
611 Adams Street
Standard Oil Manager's House, 1928
(Sign: Beach Front Property)
In the 1920s, the Standard Oil Company of California
came to Seward and built this home for the company's
manager. The earthquake destroyed the oil tanks and
structures, giving it beachfront property today.
302 Church Street
Resurrect Art Coffee House, 1917
(Sign: Dreaming and Connecting)
From the time this building was constructed as the
Methodist Church, this building has connected our
community. This old church demonstrates that historic
buildings are often best preserved when occupied by a
thriving business with owners who love them. Note the
Heritage 12'tall Lilac tree.
Corner of Jefferson & Ballaine Streets
Lowell Creek Diversion Dam and Flume, 1940
(Sign: Taming Mother Nature For Now)
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. That didn't work and a diversion tunnel
was driven through the adjacent mountain to carry the
stream. This feat of engineering is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
401 Railway Avenue
Hoben Park, 1923
Built in time for the visit by President Warren G. Harding
on July 13, 1923, when completion ofthe Alaska Railroad
was celebrated. The park is named for Hadley V. "Harry"
Hoben, who created it. The park has been generally
restored to its 1920s appearance by the Seward Historic
Preservation Commission. Note the Heritage Balsam
Cottonwood in the center of the park that has been here
at least since the 1950s. Hoben Park is on the National
Register of Historic Places.
501 Railway Avenue.
Seward Railroad Depot, 1917
(Sign: Saved From The Flood)
The Seward Railroad Depot was moved to its current
location following the devastating flooding of Lowell
Creek in 1928. It is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
613 Railway Avenue
Founders Site and The Fourth Avenue Wharf, 1903
(Sign: A Bustling Terminal)
In 1903, the founders landed here, and it was not long
before the Fourth Avenue wharf was built and buzzing
with activity. The Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964
destroyed it, but you can see remnants of what used to
be.
411 Washington Street
Old Solly's, 1916
(Sign: A Seward Original)
Built by Alaska pioneer Cal. M. Brosius, Old Solly's
was named after owner Sol Ure. The building was
a community hub and Sol was named Mr. Seward
by the City Council for his wide involvement in civic
activities.
Mount Marathon Race
1915
(Sign: Call Of The Mountain)
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.
Woodlawn Cemetery
Salmon Creek Road and Moat Way, 1916
In the eary days, the dead were buried in numerous
places around Seward as there was no official
cemetery. In 1916, the city purchased this land for
the Woodlawn Cemetery. For $30 each, remains
were dug up, transported, and reburied here. When
Salmon Creek changed course in the 1920s, the
water table rose too high to continue using the land
as a cemetery. It was abandoned around 1926.
Many ofthe remains were exhumed and relocated
to the current cemetery. Some of Seward's earliest
residents, including Mary Lowell, are buried here.
Seward Cemeteries
Aspen Lane and Coolidge Drive, 1927
In 1933 the City acquired a 40acre Cemetery
Reserve and deeded land to the organizations that
had initiated the idea of creating this cemetery. Many
graves were relocated from Woodlawn Cemetery.
To this day, the American Legion, Masons, and
Pioneers of Alaska maintain their cemeteries. The
City also maintains the Oddfellow and Jesse Lee
Home Cemeteries located in the NW comer of the
city parcel. View the Memorial Garden created by the
Seward Rotary Club near the Aspen Lane entrance,
and the Jesse Lee Home Cemetery interpretive sign
nearby.
VERSION AUGUST 2021