A copy of “Once Upon the Kenai: Stories from the People” rests against a desk inside the Peninsula Clarion’s offices on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

A copy of “Once Upon the Kenai: Stories from the People” rests against a desk inside the Peninsula Clarion’s offices on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Hidden history

‘Once Upon the Kenai’ tells the story behind the peninsula’s landmarks and people

People in the Lower 48 had a lot of things to say when I told them I was moving to Alaska. There were the par for the course jokes about it being cold, the dark winters and the bears. It’s no surprise that there is a bit of a learning curve: Buying studded tires, obtaining a P.O. box and shoveling snow were all new experiences for me.

Undoubtedly the steepest learning curve, however, was playing catch-up on the thousands of years of history that make the Kenai Peninsula so special. From the Kahtnut’ana Dena’ina, to settlers in the 20th century, to contemporary vagabonds, the peninsula is rich with history I always want to know more about.

I was therefore quite delighted to happen upon a copy of “Once Upon the Kenai,” which I snagged for $0.50 after finding it in a pile of other Alaskana for sale at Bishop’s Attic in Soldotna. Beyond getting hooked in by the old family and town photos and colorful narrative, I’ve come to view the tome as a valuable source of modern Kenai Peninsula history.

Of course, someone’s lived experience might not necessarily line up with another’s. However, as editor Mary Ford writes in the book’s introduction, that is part of the charm.

“Readers should keep in mind that one person’s recollection may differ from another’s and the value of this book lies in its individuality,” writes Project Director Jetret “Jettie” Petersen, in the preface.

“Once Upon the Kenai: Stories from the People” is a mosaic of voices from some of the peninsula’s most recognizable names. An index of surnames in the back makes it a great go-to guide when I want to know more about the person for whom a street or building is called.

As the government and education reporter at the Clarion, for example, I’ve spent a lot of time in the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers, which is located inside the George A. Navarre Admin Building, on Binkley Street, near the Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library.

As somebody with no familial ties to the central peninsula, it’s pretty neat to flip through the book and try to align old pictures with my understanding of the borough’s current layout. One of the book’s first pictures, for example, is a shot of the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church. The first thing that came to mind? Look at all that bluff!

It’s hard not to wonder what the peninsula will look like in another 50 years, but it’s cool to know we’re all part of the story not-yet-written.

“Once Upon the Kenai: Stories from the People” was compiled and published by the Kenai Historical Society and printed by Walsworth Publishing Company in Marceline, Missouri in 1984.

Ashlyn O’Hara can be reached at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

Off the Shelf is a bimonthly literature column written by the staff of The Peninsula Clarion that features reviews and recommendations of books and other texts through a contemporary lens.

More in Life

John Messick’s “Compass Lines” is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula College Bookstore in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Messick reflects on path forward in ‘Compass Lines’

“Compass Lines,” a new book by John Messick, a local writer and… Continue reading

Keanu Reeves portrays John Wick in "John Wick: Chapter 4." (Photo courtesy Lionsgate)
On the Screen: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ goes out on top

In the showstopping, approximately 40-minute long, third-act action sequence of “John Wick:… Continue reading

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Springing ahead

I’m not ready to spring ahead

Murder suspect William Dempsey is pictured shortly after he was captured on the outskirts of Seward in early September 1919. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 8

Dempsey spent more than a decade attempting to persuade a judge to recommend him for executive clemency

Promotional image via the Performing Arts Society
Saturday concert puts jazz, attitude on stage

Lohmeyer is a former local music teacher

The author holds a copy of Greta Thunberg’s, “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” inside the Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Off the Shelf: Thunberg speeches pack a punch

“No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference” is a compilation of 16 essays given by the climate activist

White chocolate cranberry cake is served with fresh cranberries. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Hard-to-ruin cranberry cake

This white chocolate cranberry cake is easy to make and hard to ruin — perfect for my students aged 3, 6, 7 and 7.

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Life in the Pedestrian Lane: It’s March

March is the trickster month, probably why we see so much raven activity these days

After Pres. Woodrow Wilson commuted his death sentence to life in prison, William Dempsey (inmate #3572) was delivered from Alaska to the federal penitentiary on McNeil Island, Wash. These were his intake photos. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 7

The opening line of Dempsey’s first letter to Bunnell — dated March 19, 1926 — got right to the point

Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in “The Last of Us.” (Photo courtesy HBO)
On the Screen: ‘The Last of Us’ perfectly adapts a masterpiece

HBO unquestionably knew they had a hit on their hands

Chocolate cake is topped with white chocolate cream cheese frosting. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
A cake topped with love (and white chocolate cream cheese)

He loved the frosting so much he said he never wants anything else on his cake

In 1914, Pres. Woodrow Wilson appointed Charles Bunnell to be the judge of the Federal District Court for the Third and Fourth divisions of the Alaska Territory. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 6

Prosecution lawyers were fortunate to have a fallback plan: witnesses to the crime.