Adak Island - Salvaging Items Left Behind
Alaska Picker Picks Adak
Uncovering items left behind in one of America's most remote outposts, Adak.Story and photos by Kelley Turney
At Alaska Picker we are in the business of stories and junk. People share stories daily, some true, some exaggerations, and some just that, stories. In the past six years we have traveled all over Alaska, chasing junk—Delta Junction to Dutch Harbor, Cordova to Kenai, Northway to Nenana. One thing has always held true, the farther out we go, the better the stuff gets. About three years ago we had two gentlemen come into our store in the same week. They didn't know each other, had different occupations and told a similar story with the same conclusion, “You should go to Adak.” Hmm… Adak … old closed Navy base out in the middle of nowhere, I'm down. One of the gentlemen said, “You see this furniture over here,” pointing to a military style mahogany dresser, “I saw a warehouse full of this kind of furniture on Adak.” I asked him, “Did you take any pictures?” “No,” he replied. I continued my near interrogation of the poor guy and peppered him with questions. “Which warehouse? Where on the island? Who do I contact? Are you going back out there anytime soon?” All my questions were met with nonspecific responses and no clear answers. He had gone out to Adak to do some communications work for a company he no longer worked for, so it ended there … until a few days later. “Hey have you ever been to Adak?” “Why?”
McDonald's Drive Thru - Adak had a McDonald's back in the day. Probably one of their most remote locations ever.
“Oh there is some really cool stuff out there. They left everything. There is a movie theater, swimming pool, church, post office, bowling alley and gym, and warehouses of furniture. There is even and old McDonald’s on the island.”
This guy had a little familiarity with the island and its layout. He said some of the “good stuff” was two to three miles from the docks. He then became the recipient of my next blast of questions. Again, no photos, no plans of going back out there, and no idea of who to contact. So as with most stories we hear at the shop, we relegated it to the back burner.
Adak from Above - When we climbed the rocky hill we could see Adak on one side and the ocean on the other.
THE HISTORY:
At one time Adak was the 6th largest city in Alaska. It housed around 6,000 military personnel and dependents. It held an important strategical location in WW2 for the Army in the retaking of Kiska and Attu Islands from the Japanese. Adak flourished as a Cold War era Navy base. A lot of secret squirrel stuff happened there—nuclear weapons, nuclear submarines, spying on the Russians, etc...
The base was assigned for closure in the early 1990s and at the end of 1997 it was officially closed. There were still some personnel on the island till late 2000. In 2004, the Department of the Interior completed a land swap with the Aleut Corporation for over 47,000 acres of land on Adak. The Aleut Corporation now owns and controls most of the island, base buildings, and their contents.
Bering Chapel, located on Bering Hill, it is one of the oldest remaining structures on Adak.
THE MESSAGE:
In August 2016, I came into the shop early on a Tuesday morning. I looked up and saw a number 1 flashing on the answering machine. A lady’s voice on the message said in a nutshell, “You helped a friend a few years back with an estate in Anchorage. I am trying to help a friend who is attempting to empty warehouses and buildings on Adak.”
I called her back and she began to enthral me with a similar story about the mythical furniture warehouse on Adak, amongst other things. I mentioned to her how we had heard this story before and I had to say that if she didn't have any photos then it would be difficult to commit to anything.
“Send me your email address and I will send you one,” the lady replied.
THE PHOTO:
I am sure you all have heard the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, how about four thousand chairs. With one picture she had our complete and unfettered attention. I quickly called her back and asked, “Do you have anymore photos? I can't go to Adak for just chairs.”
She replied, “Give me a few days and I will send them with a contact person.”
Mythical Furniture Warehouse - This is over an acre of 1950's - 1980's furniture from the old Navy base.
THE WAITING GAME:
Will she actually send me more photos? Was it all a ruse? To good to be true? To keep my mind from obsessing, I started researching Adak. I watched every Adak video on YouTube I could find. Google Earth was no help. I tried to answer the questions: How do we get things off the island? Barge? Plane? How do I get to Adak?
Then the magical email arrived.
THE EMAIL:
Late in the day I heard a ding on my iPhone. I clicked on it with anticipation and boom… I had about a dozen photos of the interiors of two of the warehouses, the Public Works Building and the Furniture Warehouse. As I swiped through the photos my mind began racing. How?, What?, Who???
With that series of photos and a couple more phone calls, we were going to Adak.
THE AUGUST SCOUTING TRIP:
I was packed and ready with extra clothes, food, batteries, flashlights, headlamps. I had heard of people getting stuck in Adak and didn’t want to be caught unprepared. There are only two scheduled flights to Adak a week, Thursday and Sunday.
I met my contact, Ken, at the airport. An amazing, kind and soft spoken man, Ken had been to Adak several times. His job was to attempt to empty some the remaining buildings in good condition for further economic development on Adak. As Ken and I talked on the plane we found out we lived on the same street.
Bering Theater - Located in the Recreation Hall on Bering Hill.
We hit the ground and within 30 minutes were looking through buildings. I took hundreds of photos with my iPhone and hours of video with my GoPro over the next four days and three nights.
We must have looked in over 30 buildings and most had three floors and a basement. There was no power to any of the buildings so I could only see what my flashlight would allow.
The highlight was the Fleet Hospital Warehouse where all the furniture was stored. Over 40,000 square feet of furniture, stacked 8 to 12 feet high. Hundreds of thousands of dressers and chairs. Rows and rows of furniture dating from the 1950s to the 1980s. The sight reminded me of the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when they are putting the crated Ark of the Covenant into storage.
Swimming Pool - There are several swimming pools on the island. This one is just down the hall from the Bering Theater.
By the last day it was hard to remember what was where. We spent the last day revisiting the best locations, measuring furniture and other items, tagging them with pink flagging tape in the event we were able to come back.
THE PROPOSAL:
After getting home and decompressing for a day or so, I sat down with my fiancee, Becky, who is the other owner of Alaska Picker. We discussed the cost, not only of money but the time and energy that would be spent on this potential project. It was much larger than anything else we had done in the past. We then sat down and wrote the proposal to the Aleut Corporation Board of Directors. With the proposal submitted, we waited two weeks for word back. Then in mid-September we received notification that our proposal was accepted. Now the work would begin.
THE LOGISTICS:
Logistics took nearly six weeks to get lined out. Let's start with flights. Alaska Airlines flies to Adak two days a week, and the round-trip fare is around $1200. Next, lodging. The Aleut Corporation rents some of the old base housing units out by the night, around $200 a night for two people. Then there was the big one—shipping. The obvious answer was a barge. We went with Samson Tug and Barge. We had used them before on a pick in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor in 2012 and they were great.
I called up Samson’s Seattle office and the gentleman at the end of the phone said, “Where are you shipping from?” and I replied, “Adak.”
He laughed and said, “Oh, Adak, my favorite 4-letter word.” At that point I became a bit concerned. Was this really worth it, was it even feasible? Come to find out there is not a regular barge service to Adak anymore, but they had a barge due out there in October. The last barge of the season.
It was time to pop the question, “How much?” The ballpark figure was around $5000 per 40-ft container from Adak to Seward. Top that off with around $1000 per container to get it trucked from Seward to Wasilla. Lastly, we had to figure out transportation around the island and to move the big stuff. The Aleut Corporation rents vehicles on the island for around $65 a day.
This was a time when it matters who you know, not what you know. I needed pallets to put everything on for shipping. I was given the number of a gentleman named, Dustin. He owns Premier Harvest, a seafood shipping/processing business on Adak. I was able to locate pallets on the island and Dustin was able to finish out the logistics of a flatbed truck, fork lift and short term storage for the pallets till the barge arrived.
We brought all our own food and drinks (beer and wine included). Tools and lighting had to be rechargeable and packed in as well. We found some great LED 1500 Lumen shop lights that were worth their weight in gold on the trip. I even bought a drone to take on the trip with my GoPro. We shot nearly 20 hours of video. The video was converted to 11, 8-10 minute episodes by Nomad Cinematics and is available to watch on YouTube on our channel, TheAlaskaPicker.
THE CREW:
The crew that was going to pull this off, well, that was the best part. My future father-in-law, Bill, was in. He always wanted to go to Adak and figured this was his only shot. I also met Joe and Mike through a mutual friend and they were in as well. So in late October we made the reservations and planned to be there when the barge arrived to pack the pallets and load them into the container.
THE PICKING TRIP:
When we landed in Adak it was eerily calm. Like no wind at all. Adak is known as the “birthplace of the winds” for good reason. We immediately began scouting and playing tourist. We knew the next couple days would be long and hard.
The bad weather eventually came and we battled winds blowing 50 mph and sideways rain. Mold could be found in every form you can think of. Over the next six days we packed over 30 pallets of items from Adak. Furniture, work benches, signs, barrister bookcases, a post office mail sorting table, reclaimed doors and flooring, and whatever else we could find that fit in the parameters of our proposal.
"Adak Carpet" - Nature is slowing reclaiming everything. This is an office inside the Public Works Building on Adak.
People always ask what was my favorite thing we found on Adak. I am partial to our salvage of the center court eagle from the old Bob Reeve High School. The school building is like most on Adak, ravaged. Mother Nature is taking the island back. Wind, rain, sun, rain, snow, wind, rain, repeat for the past 20 years. Paint was literally peeling and dripping off the walls and ceilings. New and old furniture and office equipment was crammed into rooms, sometimes as high as the ceiling. Everything there is wet with 100 percent humidity, 100 percent of the time.
Sea of Chairs - This is the picture that made us go to Adak. We estimated there are 3000 chairs stored in this warehouse.
We explored nearly every floor of every building we had access to in that week. In the old Bering Theater, Joe and I found a catwalk above the theater allowing you to walk from the projection room to the stage without being seen from below.
The creepiest building by far was the abandoned hospital and dental clinic: operating rooms, an X-Ray laboratory, and the morgue. The most beautiful building was the Bering Chapel. Built in the late 1940s, it is one of the oldest remaining structures on Adak. Again, weather has taken a toll on this beauty and I am not sure it will last too many more years with the huge holes in the supporting sidewalls and roof.
THE HICCUPS:
There were really very few hiccups on the trip. We overcame the lack of light issue in the buildings by being able to open some larger bay doors.
We are all Alaskans so we just rolled with whatever the weather handed us for the day. We ran out of beer while we were there and paid $22 for a six pack of Dos Equis. I got addicted to sour gummy worms, thanks to Joe. The barge ended up being nearly three weeks late.
Luckily, some of Dustin's guys loaded the pallets in the containers for us. No Wifi or reliable phone service was a blessing and a curse. It was a week before the general election so not having to deal with all the political ads was a huge plus, but not being able to talk to my loved ones for a couple days when the phones were down was hard.
The best part was we didn't see any rats. We heard stories about huge rats running around the island. All we saw were a few small long-dead ones.
THE REARVIEW MIRROR:
Adak is a special place for many reasons: history, natural beauty and its people, just to name a few. Its remoteness is calming and mesmerizing at the same time.
No stop signs, sirens, traffic, or “noise.” When this adventure first started I didn’t imagine we would spend the better part of four months with just one pick. I hadn’t imagined phone calls, emails and messages on social media from all over the United States, even Brazil—from people who grew up on Adak, had family members serve in the military on Adak, got married, baptized, and had children on Adak.
Who would have thought this place 1200 miles southwest of Anchorage, in a different time zone and nearly at the end of the Aleutian Chain, would be so endearing to so many. It is truly the “birthplace of the winds.”
By Kelley Turney, Alaska Picker | Follow Alaska Picker on Facebook
March, 2017
https://www.thealaskalife.com/blog/adak-island-abandoned-alaska/
178 comments
I was there at that time also. Arrived Sept ‘78 and xferd Dec ’79. That was my second tour there (5/65-5/66). Can’t say I was overwhelmed either time, but every duty station has its merits and Adak sure left some great memories with me.
I went to junior high there from 1985-1987. I am very excited to watch your youtube series-just came across it today. Grieves my heart to see so many things I remember decaying. Thank you for showing us Adakians your adventures there!
Adak was such a great place to live. My wife and I were there from May ‘81 to May ’83, and our son was the biggest baby ever born there. Quite a day…and night…and day again. There was no internet, one TV station that ran from noon to around 11 p.m. Everyone could depend on everyone else. It was really like being on another planet almost. Everyone had a job that wanted one, and everybody had money but didn’t always have anything to spend it on. Burger King would fly whoppers in twice a year and sell them for $5, but it was the only name-brand fast food available. One of the things I remember most was Brad Raphel, who ran the schools there then, would dress as Dracula on Halloween; he was about 6-6 and lean, even had a wolf-howl box on his belt under the cape. Even when you knew it was him, it would still scare the beejabbers out of you. If anyone else was stationed there during that time and sees this, I hope your lives have been fulfilling. I would love to return to Adak someday and walk among the ghosts; I’m sure they’re having quite a party.
Looking at my old base makes me feel real old. I was stationed at NAVFAC Adak from 7/80 – 8/81.
We were stationed there from 1996-1999. My husband was at NAVFAC. What a great time. We ran the dining room at the FRA club. He cooked and I sang and played the piano.He fished and hunted his heart out.WE’d go to candlestick bridge and get our bait for the next dolly varden outing.Life was so simple. I used to watch the supply ship come in every two weeks. I could see it coming from my dining room window. Pack up the kids and go get our “fresh” milk.Sometimes we’d pack up breakfast and go to the beach to fish. Mitch would start a fire,(burning old tires) and we’d cook breakast for the kids and watch the salmon an d eagles. It was wonderful. One of the best times in my life. I don’t think my friends believe me sometimes when I try to tell them stories of Adak.
This story and the photos….brought back memories of some great times I had with some of my fellow Marines on the island. It is sad to see that the Island now appears to be essentially deserted.
I was stationed at Marine Barracks on Adak from Nov. 1972 thru Nov. 1973. It truly is the “birthplace of the winds.” During 72/73 we also had regular earthquakes because of a nearby active/smoking volcano. I remember some pretty nasty storms that would literally “blow you away” if you went outside. Fortunately we had a sheltered passage way to the theater complex and an underground tunnel to the mess-hall from the Barracks.
Dropped out of HS and just turned 18 when I got there so the 1st Lt. I reported to had me attend Bob Reeve High School where I got meet to some really great people who were long time residents and made me feel “like family.” Being raised in the Los Angeles area, Adak was really a different environment than I was used to. Great hunting and fishing….but what I enjoyed the most on the island was when the crab fishing boats came into dock. There is nothing better than a fresh King Crab right off the boat…with a side of Caribou from the pit barbecue we had in front of the Barracks.
I loved Adak – lived there 78-80 – Graduated BRHS class of 79. It looks so sad now, It was a magical place – had lots of fun, and made friendships that I still cherish today.
I was stationed at NSGA, Adak (a.k.a. Commstation) 1979 …
I was there about the same time.
I was stationed at NSGA, Adak (a.k.a. Commstation) 1979 …
I was there from 1987-1990!! Awesome place!! BEAUTIFUL!!
Thank you for posting this information. Adak was my first duty station. I arrived in February of 1981 as an 18 year old and spent the next 12 months guarding nukes or one of several other facilities. Most of my time their was spent outside getting a daily does of that wind and wet cold. The island remains etched in my mind and I keep thinking about taking a trip back there.
Hi..we have met before, believe it or not. My name is Howard “Howie” Altman. Jerome and I were friends as early as fall of ’82 up until both of our final days in the Navy. I spent 15 months on Adak myself; from Feb 84-Apr 85.
Cheers
Love viewing all the videos and pictures of Adak. I was station at the NSGA from Feb 84 – Apr 85. Worked part time for Reeves Aleutian Airlines for about 9 months as well.
Totally awesome time stationed there and great lifetime memories.
Adak was a happening duty station! Maybe because we all depended on one another. Sailors, Marines, Coastguards men and Women, Soldiers, Civilian employees, DOD teachers and the families all made up our community. Being up at the chapel we could see the harbor and would alert the island of the Christmas Tree Arrival, the weekly barge loaded with things for the exchange and commisary! Life on the island was like living in a small town, but then it was!
I was stationed at NavFac Adak in the early 90’s. I got married in the Bering Chapel. My soul misses this little island. I’d love to go back….
Wow, what an exciting story! I was the Catholic Chaplain on Adam from 1988 to 1990! I too bad the privilege of baptizing babies, renewing marriage vows, teach at the University of Alaska extension campus, celebrating the 4th of July on the warmest day recorded on Adak(72 degrees), being called at midnight to meet the folks with boats at the dock to pickup fresh king crab, halibut, salmon…
I remember the 4 U.S. Fish and Game officers who lost their lives in a tragic boating accident. We had the privilege of finding the remains of two U.S. Army weather watchers and returning their remains to their families with full military honors.
Then there were the five military balls. I don’t think in the next 10 years of active duty wearing mess dress. I was part of the Adam Historial Society that renovated that old chapel. With the U.S.M.C.’s help, all of us stationed in the island watch the lighting of the Adak National Forest( all 21 trees), the rededication of the National Cemetery, the port of call festivities for the Chilean Tall Ship Esmeralda!
I could go on and on! Adak was my first duty station the Navy and will always remain a place tied into my heart!!!
I wish I could add a couple of pictures!!!
Stationed there from May 1968 to May 1969. Worked in the Weapons Department at the AUW Compound and yes I remember all of the weird stories about the place.
I too was stationed in Adak 79-80. I worked in the Red shed, White shed and Blue shed.used to do cold storage about 2x a month when the stores came in. I hated it as a young recruit when I started. However, I cultivated many great friendships there and considered it on of my best duty stations.nolene
Hi Chris!! It’s Leslie Dyson. Your husband baptized our daughter Alynn while you were there. Greg and I have the best memories of Adak and your family! Hope all is well with you.
I was also stationed on Adak. 1978-1979 Marine Barracks. I still remember the fishing, the king crab and the eagles.
Also the wind, Birth Place of the Wind if I remember correctly, and some serious cold days. USS Monroe Coast Guard vessel would come in to port, mighty fine fights when they did. Semper Fi
I went to live on Adak in October of 1957. We left in 1959. I remember swimming in that pool and going to the movies in the theater. We attended the Bering Chapel also. What wonderful memories I have of Adak. I would have loved to visit there again. I was a 7th grader when we came back to the states. When I look at pictures it was like yesterday to me.
I served as a Marine at the barracks from 1979-1980—nothing but the fondest of memories there. Very classfied area we worked at back then and was proud of my tour there. Would love to return and tour the island more as I recalled alot of WWII bunkers and gun emplacements. Watching the P-3 Orions flying in and out during snow storms was legendary—those Navy pilots were awesome!
I was stationed on Mt.Moffett 1964-1965. As a Seabee doing maintenance on the towers and antennas. Operated the old Fairbanks Morse generators and boilers. Have 70 plus photos on my web site.
Linda,
My dad was stationed in Adak from 86-89. I was born there as well. Maybe your husband knew my dad. :)
Was stationed as part of a small Air Force detachment in Adak 1963-64 miss the Adak National Forest planted in 1945.