n athlete who captured the hearts of local baseball fans during Anchorage’s early years, John Victor “Vic” Nelson was born in Ridgeway, Pennsylvania in 1896. He arrived in Anchorage in 1920 to be a mine inspector for the United States Bureau of Mines at the Eska Mine on Moose Creek. Hulda Campbell, who was born in East St. Louis, Illinois in 1897, had come to Anchorage to meet a friend. She stayed many years longer than anticipated after she met Vic in Anchorage in 1921. They were married in Seward the following year.

After the Eska Mine closed down, the Nelsons moved to Anchorage, where Vic was employed by the Alaska Railroad as chief timekeeper until his retirement in 1951. During the years in Anchorage Vic was well known as a baseball player. His specialty was pitching, and many in Anchorage considered him one of Alaska’s greats of baseball. He was honored at the Alaska Centennial All Sports Banquet in 1967 and received an award for his past activities on behalf of baseball. Hulda, an avid gardener, also enjoyed watercolor painting.

Vic and Hulda had three children; John Victor, born in 1923; James R., born in 1926 and Joan, born in 1927. After Vic’s retirement, he and Hulda moved to Homer and remained there until Vic passed away in 1968. Hulda died in 1994. Vic is buried in the Pioneer Tract of Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery. Hulda’s ashes were scattered over Kachemak Bay.

Son John Victor did not marry, nor did James R., who died in 1981. Joan Nelson married Gordon Wahto and they had three children, David, Cody and Susan T. Rivers.