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

[Karen Weiss]

On Amazon the book has the title, "Good-Bye, Boise...Hello, Alaska."

Karen Weiss

On Aug 25, 2006, at 3:24 PM, Jorgenson, Barbara K. wrote:

> 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-----
> .
>
>
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