The Rest of The Fannie Kerns Story

The Rest of the Fannie Kerns Story
By Millie Sorenson
Seward Phoenix Log
2004

The Fourth of July is over, as is the anniversary of Alaska’s flag-raising at the Jesse Lee Home on July 9, 1927, and the dedication of the Emblem Club memorial for Benny Benson at the Seward Lagoon. Iron Mountain by Forest Acres was renamed Benny Benson Mountain by the Seward City Council in the 190s when Council man Bernie Hulm made the motion and it passed the commission in Juneau approved it.

With all the hoopla about the flag over with, I honestly believe is it high time to finish the rest of the story about the neat lady who actually sewed up the flag using materials from her sewing at Jesse Lee Home. She worked at the home and sewed for the children who lived there She mended torn sheets, patched pants, made clothing of all descriptions. She was a very crafty-type lady and made things out of scraps of material and buttons, some lace or bias tape. She made cute things out of nothing of value. This lady was Frances (Fannie) Kibsgaard Kerns.

Fannie has repeated this story to my mother and me about sewing up the flag after seeing Benny’s crayon drawing at Jesse Lee. I think it’s time to tell who took the time to actually sew the flag and never got a word of thanks from Alaska’s citizens. Her name should be included in the book, “The Story of Alaska’s Flag,” recently published, but it wasn’t in there.

Fannie had two sons – Raymond and Billy Kibsgaard, raised in Seward. The tidal wave and earthquake of 1964 washing their home across the bay. Their home was located on the corner where Bayview Apartments on Third Avenue have their parking lot now. The little home road the waves and they lost everything except the Holy Bible, which rode safe and sound on the floor. Fannie and Raymond then moved to a little house near Western Auto. Th house is now torn down.

Benny Benson, Raymond and Fannie have passed on now but her words are fresh in my mind She loved to sew and made many lovely things she gave away to friends and at times she’d get a generous gift of money fore her work.

Let’s not forget this awesome lady. Its’ a beautiful flag and long may it wave.

Editor’s Note: Fannie Kerns was born March 19, 1905 at Hope, Alaska. Shelved at the Jesse Lee Home in Seward from age 17. She died November 18, 1983.

Letter to the Editor
Seward Phoenix Log
September 3, 1977

Thank you all so much for thinking of me while I was in the hospital in Anchorage for cataract surgery.

Your visits, letters, cards and flowers meant a great deal to me. It’s nice to know I have so many good friends.

I am doing just fine now, though still under a doctor’s treatment.

It is great to be home and feeling fine.

Thanks again,

Frances Kerns

Fannie Kerns Grand Marshal of 4th Parade
By Larry Straley
Seward Phoenix Log

In 1928 the Jesse Lee Home was moved to Seward from Unalaska-building, personnel and children.

Among those children was a young boy who became well known as the designer of the Alaska Flag. Many stories have been published about Benny Benson. Other cities have claimed him. But one of the lesser known orphans, but dear to Seward, was Benny’s classmate Frances Kern.

Born of native Alaskan and Hawaiian stock, result of the whalers and Capt. Cook’s ventures, Fanny has been a true representative of Alaska and Seward. She has been concerned about projects to raise money to help other unfortunate children. She has worked for these projects for many years.

A classmate and friend of Benny Benson, Frannie has been selected to take part in the Benny Benson Memorial dedication on the 4th of July. She will also serve as Grand Marshal of the 4th of July parade this year.

LOG NOTES
Seward Phoenix Log
January 15, 1976

Frances Kern stopped in the LOG Offices to remind us that Mrs. Swetman was a charter member of the Seward Post No. 5, American Legion and was a past president of the Auxiliary. “She also helped us to rebuild after the fire and earthquake”, said Frances.

(Ed. Note—As we commented in the issue last week, man of the causes that Mrs. Swetman supported were unknown to the community at large. We are sure there are many organizations and projects she has supported that most of us will never know about.)

Frances Kerns, better known to her many friends as Fanny, was once a student at Jesse Lee Home. She was asked to do the Jesse Lee square on the Seward historical quilt being done for Bicentennial. Though not many people know it, Fanny was at Jesse Lee Home when Bennie Benson designed the Alaska Flag, and Fanny herself created a design that received sixth place in the statewide contest sponsored by the American Legion which resulted in the official Alaska Flag.


LOG NOTES
By Norma Weaver
Seward Phoenix Log
February 1970

Fanny Kerns has returned from a trip to Seattle. While outside she visited with son Bill and family-Bill wishes everyone in the old home town well and says Hi. Fanny also visited with George and Paul Wolcoff and their families. Paul & Rosie took her to see Mary Hughes who especially want s to be remembered to her oldtime Seward friends. Fanny also visited with former Sewardite Ann Kitchman in Tacoman. Good to have you back Fanny!

Fanny Ill
Seward Petticoat Gazette
March 1967

Fannie Kearns has gone to Seattle for treatment.

Fannie and Jesse Lee Featured

Fannie and Jesse Lee Featured
Seward Phoenix Log
January 21, 1982

Frances Kerns of Seward was featured in and August 22 “Weekender” article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. The article tells about Kerns and Jesse Lee Home, the orphanage that brought her to Seward.

Kerns, better known as “Fannie” locally, came to Seward in 1926 along with 18 other girls who had previously lived in Unalaska, the first home of Jesse Lee. Fannie had come to Unalaska from Point Hope in 1922 after the death of her mother.
The article tells a lot of the history of Jesse Lee Home, and tells of Fannie’s early days here.

Fannie was born and raised at Point Hope. Her mother was Eskimo, but her father Polynesian-from Tahiti she believes. At any rate, he was kidnapped by sailors on a whaling ship and when they traveled from the South Seas to Alaska to ply the trade of whaling, they brough her father along. He ad only been 12 years old when he was shanghaied.

At Point Hope he was known as Thomas George and Fannies says she cannot pronounce his Polynesian name, no matter how hard she tries.

Her father died in a harpooning accident and was taken 27 miles into open water and buried at sea as he had requested.
Fannie lived with her mother until she was 17 after her three sisters – Elizabeth, Nellie and Betty – all died in flu or diptheria epidemics.

When Fannie’s mother because ill, she wrote to one of her husband’s whaling companions, who saw to it Fannie was sent to school. That is how she came to Jesse Lee – first in Unalaska, then in Seward.

As the News-Miner article relates, all the children at Jesse Lee were taught a trade. Fannie was taught to cook and sew, which is what most girls were taught to do in those days. She is still good at both, although she doesn’t see as well as she did when she was younger, and this slows her down her sewing some.

Fannie has lots of memories of Jesse Lee Home and wishes it could be restored-perhaps by one of the Native Associations since it was primarily native children that lived there.

Fannie remains active in local organizations. She belongs to the American Legion Auxiliary, and Rebekahs and is active in both. Right now she is just completing a vest that will be raffled off by the Rebekah Lodge.

The dark green corduroy vest lined with flowered beige cotton is decorated with a white sailboat on blue waves: all the handiwork of Frances Kerns, reknown for a deft hand with a needle and thread. “It’s the kind of sailboat my father had in Point Hope. We girls helped make the sale. We’d travel as far as Kotzebue and Nome in the summer,” she recalled. Kerns has donated this vcst to the Rebekah’s to be raffled off February 14, with proceeds to the Ambulance Corps. She recently made a similar vest, in blue with a polar bear on the back, for Chugach Natives president Edgar Blatchford. “He said, ‘Fannie, It’s so pretty I don’t want to take it off,” smiled Kerns.

LOG NOTE

Bob Richey Sr won the Alaska Vest that was made by Fannie Kerns and araffled off Feb 14. By the Seward Rebekah Lodge.
Lodge members would like t that Fannie Kerns for donating the vest, AVTEC for tickets as their donation to the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps, McMullen’s for displaying the vest and selling tickets, and to all who purchased tickets helping make the project a success.

$241 was netted from the raffle, and the Rebekah’s added $9 to this to donate $250 to the ambulance corps in memory of Rebekah Jean Trotter.