[PW] Re: ? documentary film about father and sons in Alaska

[Jorgenson, Barbara K.]

Could the documentary be about the family described below? The mother
wrote a book about her experiences called "Goodbye Idaho - Hello Alaska"
(0-89821-128-X)



Life On A Sheep Ranch In The Aleutians
... an Idaho mother becomes an isolated sheep rancher in Alaska 

by Len Dalton 

Copies of "COUNTRY" magazine arrive at my home in Melrose every two
months. They are filled with country values and articles on wholesome
perspectives of folks spending their lives as farmers of one kind and
another. 

Publishers of Country magazine, Reiman Publications, scour the American
and Canadian areas of the hemisphere for things they think would be of
interest and would profit the readership. 

One such effort sent a reporter to Unalaska Island in the Aleutians.
Unalaska is one of the first of those Islands. It is quite large; about
100 miles from one end to the other. Unalaska village is in the somewhat
sheltered north of the Island and not far from Dutch Harbor. One would
expect the same climate would extend over the entire Island but, as it
turns out, the southern half of the Island enjoys a maritime climate
while the northern areas get a lot more snow and severe weather. 

The reporter was seeking the glass floats used for many years by
Japanese fishermen which occasionally are lost and can be found along
beaches in the Aleutians. Those floats are rare but still can be found
and are prized. Today, plastic floats are more commonly used by the
Japanese and they have little, if any, value. 

While seeking glass floats, the reporter met and stayed with Milt and
Cora Holmes who operated a sheep ranch of 200 square miles. The
isolation of the place piqued her curiosity and the first result was a
series of letters from Cora to Country Magazine describing life on a
remote sheep ranch. 

The letters drew a lot of interest and readers wrote to Cora to ask
about her life so far away from the rest of the world. Cora, a
registered nurse, had lived in the State of Idaho. She had two young
sons when she read an ad from her future husband and sheep rancher,
Milt, asking for a housekeeper. He was honest about the isolation and so
Cora responded and eventually took the two boys with her to the
Chernofsky Ranch. They married a year later. 

The contrast between Idaho and the conveniences there and Chernofsky was
extreme. At Chernofsky food was ordered from Seattle once every two
years and delivered by boat; often fishing boats that stopped at the
ranch to buy mutton or beef. Mail came four times a year; also by random
fishing vessels. 

The boys accomplished their schooling via correspondence courses and
mother's discipline! Income came largely from tons of wool, beef, and
occasional fox hides the boys trapped. Also, Milt used a large warehouse
left behind by the Army during World War II to store crab traps for
wandering fishermen. 

With large distances and virtually no roads, transport was accomplished
via horseback. Milt had caught wild horses and broken them for use with
the saddle. Eventually a small tracked vehicle called "The Ferret" was
purchased and that was a very big help in towing logs off the beaches
and trailoring cargoes of wool or butchered animals. As the boys grew,
they became increasingly knowledgeable and useful around the ranch,
helping Milt herd sheep or cattle with the horses. Keeping them from
injury was a constant concern. There were storms. earthquakes. steep
cliffs, aggressive animals and, of course, the energy of youth. 

Another rule at the Chernofsky ranch was that, in case of an earthquake,
get away from the beaches as fast as possible as tidal waves were not
uncommon and could cast huge logs and sea detritus a quarter mile
inland! 

Heat was supplied from a resource left by the U.S. Army. It was a large
coal dump. The Holmes made trips across the bay with sacks to fill with
coal for the stove and to heat the house. There were always such chores
to do and the climate was not always obliging. Winter did not bring a
lot of snow and when snow arrived, usually it was followed by rain which
melted most of it. Still, the chores had to be done. Rain slickers were
an everyday item as were good boots. Much of their protective clothing
was purchased by mail from L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine. 

Over the years, Milt Holmes had a total of four complete hip
replacements! Needless to say, that experience slowed him down and long
hours in the saddle were not comfortable at all. Still, he was
resourceful and could repair most anything. A new roof was acquired from
shakes cut from a flawless cedar log that floated up one year. Milt cut
and cut until he had enough shakes for a good roof, a gift from the sea!


One year, a lump grew on Cora's right hand. Because they were so busy
and in spite of the fact that she was a nurse, the lump went neglected
for five months. At the hospital the look on the doctor's face told
Cora, "I am dead!" Surgery was scheduled and they had to remove all of
Cora's right hand. After a lot of chemotherapy and radiation, Cora was
fitted with a prosthesis to use as a new hand. She persevered at the
ranch with a loving husband and with lots of encouragement. She wrote
the book "Goodbye Idaho--Hello Alaska". This was published by the Reiman
Publications L. P. of 5400 S. 60th Street, Greendale, Wisconsin, 53129,
publishers of Country Magazine. The book is International Standard Book
number: 0-89821-128-X. Library of Congress catalog card number:
94-67825. For super reading experience the book can be ordered at:
Country books, P.O. Box 990, Greendale, Wi 53129. For credit card orders
call toll free: 1-800-558-1013. 

Cora's two boys grew to manhood on the Ranch. The oldest, Chuck, took to
the sea as a fisherman. Randall got married to a visiting minister's
daughter and works in Unalaska as a longshoreman. Both return to the
ranch often with gifts, and supplies which they know from experience are
needed. Cora has worked wonders with her word processor and, if you wish
to write to her, just send it to Cora Holmes, Chernofsky Ranch, Unalaska
Island, Alaska. Don't forget, it will take months for her to receive
your letter but she will reply. 

It is my hope you will read Cora's book. There is a second book she
wrote in answer to all the fan letters she received. It has loads of
photographs and serves to get the reader up to date on her life. That
book is called, "Dear Cora" and is available if you call the phone
number above. It is a real treat for me to tell you of Cora Holmes and
the unique life she has enjoyed as a sheep rancher with a wonderful
husband. 

Thanks for lis'nin. 

July 2, 1999  

Barbara Jorgenson
Anchorage Municipal Libraries
3600 Denali Street
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907)343-2853
(907)343-2820 FAX
-----Original Message-----
.