The Homer, Alaska Story
How a con-man named a town.
Alaska has long been a magnet for colorful characters
In its early days, Anchorage, Alaska had Joe Spenard and Russian Jack. During the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway, Alaska had “Soapy” Smith.
Many years before all that, the Inuit Eskimo and Tanaina Indians, settled on the Kenai Peninsula about 125 miles southeast of what would become the town of Anchorage.
Gold
Then, in the late 1800s, a con man came to the area where a spit of land goes out into Kachemak Bay.
He passed himself off as a gold prospector, even though gold mining had never been profitable in the area.
The con man built living quarters for a crew that would mine for gold.
Men, who were working in near-by fish canneries, were lured into the scam because of the living quarters that were being offered. Miners soon crowded into the area.
But the gold mining venture failed. By 1902, the area was all but abandoned.
About a year after the con man had arrived, he was gone.
Coal
In the 1890s, coal was discovered in the area. The Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town, dock, railroad, and a coal mine.
Coal mining continued in the area, until World War II. There are still about 400 million tons of coal in the area.
The Beginning of a Town
From 1910 to 1920, homesteaders settled in the area, where the coal mine town had begun.
The New Town Needed a Name
For some unknown reason, it was decided that the new town would bear the name of the con man who had claimed to be a gold prospector. His name was Homer Pennock and that’s his picture at the top of this edition.
And so, Homer, Alaska was born.
Yes, You Can Share This Edition
Your friends and family will enjoy this edition of Alaska Stories.
And when you share this, they will be so happy, they will give you a lifetime supply of your favorite cookies… well, it could happen.
Did You Know?
Homer, Alaska, is the Halibut fishing capital of the entire world.
Homer has a population of about 5,500 people.
In the photo above is the old Salty Dog saloon in Homer
BONUS
Would you like to know more about Homer?
Take a look at Homer, Alaska and discover.
From Our North Stars (that’s you)
From our look at How Portage, Alaska Became a Ghost Town
Jeanne has this memory:
“The picture of Mary, of Alaska Stories, standing in front of Portage Glacier, reminds me of how it looked when I was a kid. My brother and I would throw rocks onto the ice. As a kid, I remember my parents always stopped for gas and food at Portage while going back and forth to Kenai or Seward. And I remember when the town of Portage was destroyed in the earthquake.”
Michael had this comment:
“Great story. Thanks for sharing.”
Charlene added this:
“Arlen and Charlene Arneson, past owners of Portage, are still alive and living in Wasilla, Alaska. Arlen will soon be 90. Lots of stories”.
Connect with Mike and Mary
Hello,
Yes, Mary and I have been to Homer, Alaska. It’s an unusual and beautiful place.
Do you have a comment?
You can also reply to this email, or you can email us to say, “I caught a Halibut in Homer” by Contacting Us right here.
Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Alaska Stories
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