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Floyd “Pappy” Keeler, standing in 1951 in front of his cabin on the homestead of his son Jack, is holding a girl who is likely Barbara Sandstrom, while her sister Rhoda, standing by a truck, looks on. Ray Sandstrom photo courtesy of the KPC historical photo archive.

Life

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 7

Speculation was rife after the younger brother of Floyd Nelson Keeler went missing

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Perspective

To prefer one thing over another does not make the unpreferred bad, or unhealthy, or criminal, it just…

Virgil Dahler photo courtesy of the KPC historical photo archive This aerial view from about 1950 shows Jack Keeler’s home on his homestead east of Soldotna. The stream to the left is Soldotna Creek, and the bridge across the stream probably allowed early access to the Mackey Lakes area. The road to the right edge of the photo leads to the Sterling Highway.

Life

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 6

“Most of those homesteaders won’t last”

Photo courtesy of Al Hershberger Don and Verona pose inside their first Soldotna grocery store in 1952, the year they opened for business.

Life

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 5

By 1952, the Wilsons constructed a simple, rectangular, wood-frame building and started the town’s first grocery

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Life

Minister’s Message: Finding freedom to restrain ourselves

We are free to speak at a higher level of intelligence

Nick Varney

Life

Unhinged Alaska: Hey Boreas. Knock it off. You’re flash freezing my karma

For the last few weeks, we have been hosting Boreas, the Greek god of winter

Members of the Keeler family and some Anchor Point church members get a ride on Jimmy Elliot’s “mud sled” on the way to services at the Elliot home, circa 1956. Lorna Keeler is sitting on the far-left side of the sled. April Keeler is the middle girl of the trio sitting in back, and Larry Keeler is standing behind those girls. (Photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum)

Life

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 4

Lawrence and Lorna Keeler and their family moved from Oregon to Alaska in June 1948 and began building…

File

Life

Minister’s Message: Redrawing the boundary lines

Dark forces have made their way into the world ever since the time of Adam and Eve and…

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Finally! It’s February

True to form, January was only double the length of the other months

Brothers James (left) and Lawrence Keeler with their Kissel car, circa 1910s. Both brothers enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in World War I. James was killed in battle. Photo courtesy of the Keeler Family Collection.

Life

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 3

Lorna Keeler had a well-deserved reputation for being the bachelor’s friend in time of need

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Life

Minister’s Message: Feel the warmth of the sun and Christ in your heart

It is good to have more daylight and feel the warmth of the sun now

Louvie “Vi” Chapman photo courtesy of the Pratt Museum This cottonwood-log structure was Anchor Point’s first-ever school, located on the south side of the Anchor River. It was replaced with a better school on the north side, on property donated by Sherman and Louvie Chapman. Seen here are the first teacher, Helen Smith, and some of her students, including Larry Keeler standing next to Smith.

Life

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 2

On Aug. 3, 1948, Lawrence and Lorna made their official move from Kenai to Anchor Point aboard a…

File

Life

Minister’s Message: You talking to me?

After a long human discourse on “where is God?” God ardently responds in chapters 38-41 to the dialogue…

Some of the Keelers assembled with family matriarch Samantha (second from left) in this 1952 photograph taken in Oregon. Others, L-R: George, Lawrence with wife Lorna, daughter April and son Larry, and Floyd, also known as “Uncle Shorty.” Photo courtesy of the Keeler Family Collection.

Life

Keeler Clan of the Kenai — Part 1

This is the story of the Keelers who came to the Kenai

File

Life

Minister’s Message: Getting involved with your church

We need to intervene with the hope of Christ to turn around the downhill slide

Rex Edwards experimented with many activities, including fencing, for the students at the school in Seldovia. In the 1973-74 school year, he even attempted to coach football, even though the only “field” available was the beach. Here are the “Seldovia Retreaters” as they appeared in the school’s 1974 yearbook.

Life

First in the Pool — Part 2

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part story about former teachers Rex and Beverly Edwards…

Nick Varney

Life

Unhinged Alaska: Sorry about that column

Each year our massive staff normally sets aside a few columns to reply to inquiries and comments about…

Pastor Meredith Harber

Life

Minister’s message: Shining inner glow of love and life in depths of winter

“It’s very simple. As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed at twenty-two, you’d always be as…

The village of Seldovia had to push hard to make sure that a pool was included when plans for the Susan B. English School were being finalized. Here, participants in the summer swim program pose in 1998. (Image courtesy of Rex and Beverly Edwards)

Life

First in the Pool — Part 1

AUTHOR’S NOTE: A slightly modified version of this two-part story about former teachers Rex and Beverly Edwards and…

In about 1948, after he and brother Alex had proven up on his homestead and were in the process of proving up on Alex’s, Marcus Bodnar poses here with his cabin along the Kenai River near the site of the bridge, which was just being built at this time. (Photo courtesy of the Bodnar Family Collection)

Life

The Bodnar Brothers: Early to Arrive, Early to Depart — Part 2

Although their time on the peninsula was brief, they made an impact