Alaska history: For some, it’s a rite of passage in Alaska to learn about the 1974 Mount Edgecumbe prank. And it’s all true.
on local history by local historian David Reamer. Have a question about Anchorage history or an idea for a future article? Go to the form at the bottom of this story.
Mount Edgecumbe is a dormant volcano on Kruzof Island in Southeast Alaska, directly across Sitka Sound from the town of Sitka. It last erupted more than 4,000 years ago. But on April 1, 1974, smoke once more rose from the volcano’s peak, startling locals. The architect of this prank was Oliver “Porky” Bickar , a World War II veteran who survived the storming of Normandy Beach. Bickar, then 50 years old, had lived in Sitka for 15 years at this point and was known for his showmanship. He was in the logging equipment business, and his favorite stunt was to cut a tree so that it hit a target on the ground, usually a hard hat.
Bickar and a group of friends tied the tires into two, 150-feet long rope slings. The conspirators took off in a helicopter hired out of Petersburg loaded with one of the slings, smoke bombs, diesel oil, a gallon of sterno and rags. While the chopper returned for the second sling of tires, Bickar painted the April Fools' message in 50-foot letters. By the time they arrived back in Sitka, the smoke was already visible across the sound.
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