Randall J Montbriand. Many an evening in the 1970s (during the housing crunch) I set with friends around their heavy metal stoves heated by the coal they collected along the tracks which ran from the mines north of Palmer. Their shared living spaces (in quonset huts), serving, as best could, as their homes, work spaces, etc. Everyone scrambling to find a place to live and a place to keep warm. I miss those friends and their solid, heart-felt efforts to establish a life in Alaska not necessarily linked to the oil business. Several of those individuals remained in Alaska even after the crash of mid-80s, determined to make Alaska their home. These subjects put very much needed personal story lines to Alaska in the heavy shake-up of the oil industry
Very interesting article about the coal fields. The Mention of Cap Lathrup as one of the original investors reminded me that the 4th Ave. Theater was heated with a coal fired furnace.
The maintenance man for the Hill Bldg. where I worked also maintained the theater and would have to fire it up early enough to get the temperature up before the evening shows.
This was in the 60's & 70's don't know if and when it might have been converted.
Bronwyn and Evan are Welsh names, were they originally from there?
Randall J Montbriand. Many an evening in the 1970s (during the housing crunch) I set with friends around their heavy metal stoves heated by the coal they collected along the tracks which ran from the mines north of Palmer. Their shared living spaces (in quonset huts), serving, as best could, as their homes, work spaces, etc. Everyone scrambling to find a place to live and a place to keep warm. I miss those friends and their solid, heart-felt efforts to establish a life in Alaska not necessarily linked to the oil business. Several of those individuals remained in Alaska even after the crash of mid-80s, determined to make Alaska their home. These subjects put very much needed personal story lines to Alaska in the heavy shake-up of the oil industry
Very interesting article about the coal fields. The Mention of Cap Lathrup as one of the original investors reminded me that the 4th Ave. Theater was heated with a coal fired furnace.
The maintenance man for the Hill Bldg. where I worked also maintained the theater and would have to fire it up early enough to get the temperature up before the evening shows.
This was in the 60's & 70's don't know if and when it might have been converted.