What About the Real Eyesores?

What about the Real Eyesores?
The Seward Phoenix Log
Editorial Comment
December 12, 1968

Monday night the City Council reaffirmed their stand to burn down the Jesse Lee Home. Okay your writer can take this gracefully since for two years now the building has been deteriorating—an because although a room full of people were present at the public hearing none spoke in defense of the structures.

Now that the problem of Jesse Lee is settled at least to the satisfaction of a few – how about the many structures in town that are far worse eye-sores – some of which are even located right down on 4th Avenue where visitors and potential investors are sure to see them?

What about the old Seward Bakery Building and the Surf Bar? I realize they are on the tax rolls but if Ihad a business on 4th Avenue I would be voicing my objections long and loud to allowing the owner to let the buildings get into such disrepair. They make Seward a laughing stock – indeed a couple of tourists this summer stood and remarked on how lively they make main street look! I know because I stood smoldering a few feet away and listened.

As they stand the buildings certainly must be a fire hazard – and I’ll bet I kids took the notion they could get in to them – oh, the City wouldn’t be liable you say – they owner would! But in speaking of Jesse Lee concern was shown for the “attractive nuisance” – and the children who could be injured in it – does it really make that much difference where someone burns to death? You say the police would be sure to see any such activity on Main Street – or a passer by would spread the alarm – really” They didn’t two weeks ago when a Seward boy was struck down by a hit-and-run driver!

What about another well-known structure that stands despite condemnation by the city? It is again because the building is on the tax rolls?

Much, much was said about how ugly Jesse lee has become in the past few years – how the windows are broken, how it is a blight on the landscape – that it is a mess! Well folks – at least it is out of the immediate sight on someone who comes to twon to visit. Take a close look at one side of the street on 4th Avenue next time you are town twon – look at those buildings!

An empty building in itself is not particularly offensive but when it is completely derelict then it is offensive. The old Seward Bakery and the Surf Bar look offensive. Action that the City Council takes in the future will indicate if genuine interest is being shown concerning the welfare of our youth and the beauty of our town – how Seward citizens shoose to instruct (or whether they chose to instruct at all) the Councilmen as to their feelings on the subject will also be revealing.

Are you ashamed of 4th Avenue too? Enough to let your Council known the taxes derived from the aforementioned building is not worth the blight they present to our visitors?


New Roof on Jesse Lee
Peggy Dolliver
July, 1962

Jesse Lee Home, Seward Alaska. Notice the newly painted red roof. For years, the roof of the famous children’s home has been painted in camouflage. The people of Seward think the roof symbolizes a new day in Alaska.