William Alex Stolt
Encyclopedia
William Alex "Bill" Stolt (July 5, 1900 – February 28, 2001) served as Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
from 1941-1944.
, moving back to the United States
after the death of his father, and his mother's remarriage to a man in Seattle. In 1913, the family moved to Juneau, and then Anchorage
in 1917. He attended Anchorage High School, graduating in 1920. He studied electrical engineering
at Washington State College, and in 1929 married Lily, another student from Anchorage.
Stolt worked as an electrician
, operating Bill's Electric Shop & Supply in Anchorage. In 1938, he filed for a Homestead Act
claim on land near Otter Lake
that would later be incorporated into Fort Richardson. He built a cabin with his brother Paul, and lived there for a time, but abandoned the claim in 1942.
Stolt lobbied for the Municipality of Anchorage to purchase Anchorage Light and Power Company and their Eklutna power plant in order to provide the fledgling city with better electrification. He ran successfully for city council and then, in 1941, mayor. The population of Anchorage at the time was about 5,000 residents. http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives/documentb5a1.html
In December 1941, in response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and under the advice of Colonel Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr.
, Stolt ordered a partial blackout of Anchorage.
In 1943, with Stolt in office, a municipal bond measure passed authorizing the purchase of Anchorage Light and Power, and in 1944, operation of the plant passed to Anchorage Public Utilities.
Stolt founded Stolt's Home Center, which grew out of his electrical supply business and eventually became a retailer of consumer electronics
. Originally located at 1000 East Fourth Avenue, the business eventually moved two blocks to the south, to the corner of East Sixth Avenue and Juneau Street, to take advantage of the better location when the business became more of a mass market retailer. Stolt's also operated a store in the Dimond Center
before closing in 1993.
Stolt died in the Anchorage Pioneer Home on February 28, 2001.
or Inlet View neighborhood just outside of downtown Anchorage, was named for Stolt. It is also the street where his home of many years is located.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
from 1941-1944.
Biography
William Alex Stolt was born to Finnish parents in Boston, Massachusetts on July 5, 1900. He spent the first ten years of his life in FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, moving back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after the death of his father, and his mother's remarriage to a man in Seattle. In 1913, the family moved to Juneau, and then Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
in 1917. He attended Anchorage High School, graduating in 1920. He studied electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
at Washington State College, and in 1929 married Lily, another student from Anchorage.
Stolt worked as an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
, operating Bill's Electric Shop & Supply in Anchorage. In 1938, he filed for a Homestead Act
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
claim on land near Otter Lake
Otter Lake
Otter Lake may refer to:Canada*Otter Lake , a lake in Saskatchewan**Otter Lake Airport in Saskatchewan**Otter Lake Water Aerodrome in Saskatchewan*Otter Lake, Quebec, a municipality in Quebec*Otter Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia...
that would later be incorporated into Fort Richardson. He built a cabin with his brother Paul, and lived there for a time, but abandoned the claim in 1942.
Stolt lobbied for the Municipality of Anchorage to purchase Anchorage Light and Power Company and their Eklutna power plant in order to provide the fledgling city with better electrification. He ran successfully for city council and then, in 1941, mayor. The population of Anchorage at the time was about 5,000 residents. http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives/documentb5a1.html
In December 1941, in response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and under the advice of Colonel Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr.
Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr.
General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. was an American lieutenant general during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations and commanded the defenses of Alaska early in the war. After that assignment, he was promoted to command 10th Army, which conducted the amphibious assault on...
, Stolt ordered a partial blackout of Anchorage.
In 1943, with Stolt in office, a municipal bond measure passed authorizing the purchase of Anchorage Light and Power, and in 1944, operation of the plant passed to Anchorage Public Utilities.
Stolt founded Stolt's Home Center, which grew out of his electrical supply business and eventually became a retailer of consumer electronics
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver...
. Originally located at 1000 East Fourth Avenue, the business eventually moved two blocks to the south, to the corner of East Sixth Avenue and Juneau Street, to take advantage of the better location when the business became more of a mass market retailer. Stolt's also operated a store in the Dimond Center
Dimond Center
Dimond Center is a shopping mall in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. At 728,000 ft² , it is the largest mall in the state of Alaska...
before closing in 1993.
Stolt died in the Anchorage Pioneer Home on February 28, 2001.
Legacy
Stolt Lane in Anchorage, which runs from the western end of West Eighth Avenue to the northern end of S Street in the Bootleggers CoveBootleggers Cove
Bootleggers Cove is an area of Anchorage, Alaska, just west of Downtown Anchorage and north of the South Addition. Its exact boundaries are controversial. It is served by Inlet View Elementary School, Romig Junior High and West Anchorage High School...
or Inlet View neighborhood just outside of downtown Anchorage, was named for Stolt. It is also the street where his home of many years is located.