The History of Henry's
A Navy cook, a tidal wave, and a 251-foot ocean liner parked on dry land.
1948
Tops his Navy cooks and bakers class in Kodiak.
1957
Buys the Beachcombers, a log-cabin bar and grill.
1964
The earthquake and tidal wave take the building.
1964
Beaches an ocean liner where his house stood.
1992
Opens the state’s first sports bar.
1940s–1950s
Navy Years
Henry “Legs” LeGrue
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.
Top Of His Class
He was the top of his class from cooks and bakers school in the USN.
Leg’s first Thanksgiving dinner served in Kodiak at the US Naval Base.
1950s–1963
The Beachcombers
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.
27 March 1964
The Earthquake
“Between the first and second wave Legs and two band members returned to the building and placed 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!!”
The earthquake and tidal wave destroyed Henrys “Legs” and Edie LeGrue’s home and business. Both buildings 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 placed 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.
1993 – 1997
The Restaurant That Was A Ship
251 ft
Length of the liner
3 decks
Restaurant, staterooms, bar
~56
Staterooms aboard
1964–76
Years in operation
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.
The S.S. Princess Norah
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.
1965–1967
Life Aboard
The Beachcombers was the first business that was totally destroyed by the earthquake to reopen with a permanent structure, opening in December 1964.
Bartender John Murphy.
Legs cooking in Beachcomber kitchen on the ship.
Raymond LeGrue age 14, carrying the rope that was wrapped around the post in the center of the ship’s dance floor. Many dancers collided with this post.
Rusty Whittier in the bar on the ship.
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.
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.
1977-1989
The New Beachcombers
Henry and Edie open the “new” Beachcombers with a stainless-steel dance floor. The ships’ railings, mast and booms were all used in the making of this building. It was converted into the Kodiak Salvation Army’s church building in 1992.
The 1980s
Many National Acts performed in Kodiak at the Beachcombers including Dr. Hook, Johnny Rivers, John Hammond, Savoy Brown and many others.
1992
Henry's Sports Cafe
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.
Featured below: Paul Schweibinz, John Butler, Paul Chervenak, Tom Strifeld, Tom Knoke, Garry Langille, Antoinette Walker, Bear Becker, Raymond LeGrue, Carmen Lunde, Mike Friccero, Keone
1993 – 1997
Notable Guests
Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson plays at Henry’s
Ted Nugent visits Kodiak and eats at Henry’s Great Alaskan restaurant and sign the local newspaper.
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.
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.
1926–1999
Henry “Legs” LeGrue
“Beachcomber” poem by Lena Dodd.
Henry “Legs” James LeGrue’s obituary by Garry Langille
Legs cooking in Beachcomber kitchen on the ship.