dward Carlson was born in Annenburg, Sweden in 1881. After immigrating to the United States, he spent some time in Colorado prior to coming to Valdez in 1907. After spending three years in the Valdez area, he returned to Colorado, where he married Jenny Vike. She was born in Molde, Norway in 1892 and came to the United States with her parents.

Ed returned to Alaska in 1915 with Jenny and their children, Ruth, born in 1912 and Robert, born in 1914. They landed at the tent city on Ship Creek and immediately bought two lots at auction, Lot 10 in Block 37 for $280 and Lot 6, Block 36, $210. They built a log cabin home on Lot 6, Block 36, which was located on L Street between 4th and 5th Avenues. Their third child, Thelma, was born in 1916.

Ed worked for the Alaska Railroad until 1927, when he and Jenny bought the Inlet Hotel, located at 4th Avenue and K Street. He and Jenny operated the hotel until 1937, when they sold it and went into semi-retirement.

The Carlsons’ son, Robert, was killed in a plane crash in 1936. Daughter Thelma married Earl Bell, and they had three children, Jesse, Jenny Earl, and Rodney, who died in 1980. Daughter Ruth Carlson married Harold Libbey, and they had two children, son Carl and daughter Helen, who is deceased.

Edward Carlson died in 1969 and Jenny Vike Carlson died in 1970. They are both buried in Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, as are son Robert E. Carlson, daughter Ruth Carlson Libbey, and grandson Rodney Robert Bell.