History: Henry's Great Alaskan Restaurant

1999 Henry “Legs” James LeGrue’s obituary by Garry Langille

1999 The Alaska state legislature honors Henry “Legs” LeGrue’s life

The early years 1940’s and 1950’s. Henry “Legs” LeGrue joined the US Navy during WWII and remained in the service until he retired.

1948 He was the top of his class from cooks and bakers school in the USN.

1948 Leg’s first Thanksgiving dinner served in Kodiak at the US Naval Base.

1957 Legs and his wife Edie bought the Beachcombers a bar and grill. The bar would open on Friday night and stay open around the clock till Monday when the customers returned to their jobs. It was common to nap at the bar as you can see in these photos. The building was a log cabin built in 1933 and had “modern” siding on the exterior.

1963 Beachcomber staff Christmas party Raymond, Jeanette and Antoinette LeGrue, Norma Brunner, Karen.

1963 Legs cooking in old Beachcombers kitchen in the log building.

1963 Legs holding Kodiak King Crab in the Beachcomber’s parking lot.

1964 The earthquake and tidal wave destroyed Henrys “ Legs” and Edie LeGrues’ home and business. Both building were washed about a quarter mile into Potato Patch Lake. Their house is in the center of the photo a mobile home is smashed into the far side of the house. The business was in the building on the far right. Between the first and second wave Legs and two band members returned to the building and place the musical instruments on chairs on the elevated stage. The idea was to keep them dry, the next day the building and instruments were gone!! Only the front portion of the building is in the photo the back half was never found. They were burned in place. At the far right is where the Beachcomber was beached 9 months later.

1964 SS Princess Norah arrives in Kodiak with her new name Beachcombers. She sailed under the name Queen of the North as well as Canadian Prince. Her sailing career was the Alaskan Route from Vancouver BC Canada to the Southeastern towns in Alaska as well as Prince George BC. Many Alaskans arrived in Alaska on one of her many voyages. A model of the ship is on exhibit in the Canadian National museum.

1964 Dec. Henry “Legs” LeGrue brings a 251 foot long princess liner to Kodiak and parks her where his house sat before the earthquake. The feat was almost impossible but Legs was very lucky. The ship hit a sand bar and was almost lost. She was parked on the highest tide of the year so there was no hope of refloating her if she ran aground. These photos were given to me 25 years later by Mrs. Horn. Notice the telephone poles the power lines were lowered to allow the ship to cross Mission Road. The ship operation closed in 1976 unable to fund a sprinkler system required by the fire Marshall.

1964 After the earthquake, when Potato Patch Lake was still open to the sea, the Beachcomber was put in place. Dirt was bull dozed around her perimeter and at the same time the opening to the sea enclosed the lake once again. It was to become a bar and restaurant and a place to go dancing. She was formally the S.S. Princess Norah, owned by Canadian Pacific Railway Coast Co. In 1964 she was taken out of service and towed to Kodiak by “Hecate Prince” and renamed the Beachcomber. In the mid-1970s her super structure was cut up and used for a breakwater. Tank bottoms and keel were buried where she was beached, brass fittings, port holes, steering wheel and other parts were sold to individuals.

1965 The Beachcombers was the first business that was totally destroyed by the earthquake to reopen with a permanent structure, opening in December 1964. Wait staff at the Beachcombers restaurant. Edie LeGrue is on the far right. Lidia Mae is the third from the right.

1965 bartenders Frank Toath and John Murphy.

1965 Legs cooking in Beachcomber kitchen on the ship.

1965 Raymond LeGrue age 14, carrying the rope that was wrapped around the post in the center of the ship’s dance floor. Many a dancer collided with this post.

1965 Bob Blair, Jo Haydu, Red Mackey in the dining room on the ship. American Legion Robert G Blair Post 17 held their first meetings in the dining room on the ship. They met there so with “Legs” they had their quorum. After roll call “Legs” would return to the kitchen to check on the food cooking and would reappear as needed to vote on any issues.

1966 “Beachcomber” poem by Lena Dodd.

1967 Raymond LeGrue age 16 is cleaning the dining room stairs on the ship. The restaurant was on the bottom deck, the next deck had about 50 staterooms the bar was on the top deck with another 6 staterooms.

1977 Henry and Edie open the “new” Beachcombers with a stainless steel dance floor. The ships railings, mast and booms where all use in the making of this building. It was converted into the Kodiak Salvation Army’s church building in 1992.

1980’s Many national acts performed in Kodiak at the Beachcombers.

1992 Solly’s Office is remodeled into Henry’s Sports Café the first sports bar in the state with 13 TV’s. Also the first to serve beer by the pint in the state. Henry’s had a band stand and a coffee bar serving espressos’. Both were removed in favor of more tables and chairs for food customers. Paul Schweibinz, John Butler, Paul Chervenak, Tom Strifeld, Tom Knoke, Garry Langille, Antoinette Walker, Bear Becker, Raymond LeGrue, Carmen Lunde, Mike Friccero, Keone

1995 Ted Nugent visits Kodiak and eats at Henry’s Great Alaskan restaurant and sign the local newspaper.

1993 Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson plays at Henry’s

1997 Alvin Amason three-dimensional bear is added to the Henry’s art collection. Alvin was raised in Kodiak and still has family here. His work is on display throughout Alaska and elsewhere.

Henry's History

Where is Henry's Great Alaskan Restaurant?

Alaska

Kodiak Island

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