Back in the mid-’80s, The Cordova Times had an editor named John Moulder. Where Moulder came from, and how long he lasted at the helm of the local paper is difficult to discern, but he wrote with a flair and style reminiscent of an earlier era.
He also didn’t seem to sleep much, for very little escaped his purview. I vaguely recall he had somewhat of a reputation as a “rounder,” including various local night spots as one of his rich sources for small-town news.
On July 5, 1984, he penned a feature titled “Cordova is Special.” It was written on the 75th Anniversary of Cordova’s incorporation as a city. The piece was so well-liked that Alaska Magazine, which back in those days was a much more of down-home Alaska publication, in contrast to the glitz of its more modern format, reprinted it in the May 1985 edition.
At the end of the reprint, there was this note from the editor of the magazine: “Every once in a while, we come across something in another publication that reminds us all why we like living in Alaska. John Moulder’s editorial in The Cordova Times on July 5, 1984, is just such an article. John gave us permission to share it with others besides those lucky folks in Cordova.”
As another New Year ushers in, here are some of Moulder’s insights. Judge for yourself how many are still true. (I’ve added comments to clarify a few of them.)
- “A dog named Cosmos stretches on the pavement to soak up the rays of the sun, and looks up annoyed at the honking horns of the vehicles detouring around her.”
- “There are no pawnshops on Main Street, but rummage sales are weekly institutions.”
- “At weddings, funerals and Sunday sermons those in blue jeans and T-shirts are as properly dressed as men in suits and ties.”
- “Ball games are not called because of rain, but go into extra innings.”
- “A pilgrim will find that no two clocks in Cordova seem to have the same time, but nobody cares.”
- “People don’t lock their cars, but they’re not stolen. Many don’t lock their doors, but their stereos are still there when they go back home.”
- “People read the Monday paper on Tuesday, and the Tuesday paper on Wednesday, but that’s all right.” (Back then Anchorage newspapers were flown down.)
- “People find out what stores their friends are shopping in by the dogs patiently waiting outside.”
- “Nonconformists display their individuality by wearing their hair short.”
- “A policeman answers a complaint about a barking dog and finds the dog asleep when he gets there.”
- “People walks the streets alone and in pairs, in the shadows of the night and the small hours of the morning, but there is no street crime.”
- “Like all cities, it has problems from alcoholism and excessive drinking, but here there are no panhandlers nor winos sleeping on sidewalks and in doorways.”
- “School kids long to see a farm with cows and hogs, or a skyscraper.”
- “Somebody reports fresh bear tracks, but nobody gets excited.”
- “There were no murders last year. No rapes. No robberies.”
- “The Police Officers Association honors the town’s senior citizens and one of the door prizes is a $10 gift certificate from Laura’s Liquor Store.” (In 1984, coffee was not Laura’s main attraction.)
- “A woman who has never seen the LA freeway complains about a traffic problem.”
- “If a pilgrim goes to church and gets restless, he can step outside and look up, above the timberline, at the gossamer clouds gently hugging the majestic peaks, and ponder life’s values.”
From reading these, it is apparent Moulder’s background included time in big cities such as Los Angeles. And it is evident that not all of his observations are still completely true.
But Cordova is still pretty dang special. Isn’t that why we live here?
Happy New Year.
