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A Look Back in History Former resident and CIRI shareholder James Lewis Simpson is among those urging state support and private fund-raising for funds to implement stabilization and renovation alternatives suggested in a recently completed state-funded $65,000 study. The 79-year-old said he arrived at the home in 1929 when he was four years old. He remained there until he graduated from high school at age 17. Simpson, who is Ahtna Athabascan, spent his earliest years in Chickaloon, his mother’s home. When his family ran into difficulties and was not able to care for him, he was put on the train in Anchorage and sent to the home in Seward. He doesn’t recall being frightened when he arrived late in the day, but rather very amazed and curious about his new surroundings. He said he amazed his caregivers to nearly the same degree when he told them he needed to say his prayers before getting into bed. Simpson declines to analyze the type of care he got at the home, but simply suggests that his service in World War II, followed by the attainment of a bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate and eventually master’s and doctorate degrees speak for themselves. After a successful teaching career in Alaska, he and his wife retired to Oregon. He has met with Seward community leaders, as well as others involved in the study of the site and encouraged them to proceed as soon as possible with saving the site. Like many others, Simpson feels that the site deserves its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, but its true significance is its statewide importance in Alaska, especially as the location of where the state’s flag was designed. Greg Frosberg, architect for ECI/Hyer Architects, Inc., the firm retained for the state-sponsored study, said the remaining structures have been neglected for years and that they already have deteriorated to a significant degree. He said it was impossible to predict when the buildings may decay to the point where it will be impossible to save them, but he said he hopes that funds can be found soon to at least stop water leaks and otherwise stabilize the structures. |
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