National Register Listing

David, Leopold, House

605 W. Second Ave., Anchorage, AK

The Leopold David House is significant as an outstanding example of the bungalow style of architecture in early Anchorage and as the home of one of Anchorage's earliest leading citizens and its first mayor--Leopold David.

There are less than a handful of unaltered bungalows left in Anchorage. This house is considered the finest of those still in existence. The house was not modest by original Anchorage standards. The town developed with the construction of the Alaska Railroad. As a consequence, Anchorage's earliest housing was mostly of utilitarian frame or log construction. Only the management of the Alaska Engineering Commission, the federal agency that built the railroad, had houses that rivaled the size, comfort, and design features of Leopold David's residence. Along with a few other bungalows in the Second Avenue and "p" Street area, the Leopold David House stands as a foremost example of the lifestyle and architectural choices of the town's early leaders."

Leopold David, Anchorage's first elected mayor, had a long, productive career in governmental service. His life was a success story revolving around the theme of the young immigrant who finds good fortune in the new world. Born in Nordhausen, Germany in 1881, Leopold David was one of five children. His Jewish parents, looking for the prosperity that America might offer, immigrated to New York when Leopold was a boy. Settling in Brooklyn, the five children were ultimately split apart in the mid-1890s by the death of their parents.

Leopold David joined the U. S. Army and served in the Philippines during the rebellious aftermath of the Spanish-American War. The Army then sent him to Alaska where he was assigned to Fort Egbert, Alaska. Arriving there in 1904, Sergeant First Class David served as a pharmacist's assistant in the Hospital Corps. Upon his discharge in 1905, he settled in Seward where he became manager of the Seward Drug Company. Like many pharmacists of that time, his basic knowledge of medicinal substances brought him the title "Dr. David." Newspaper advertisements listed him as a "physician and Surgeon." While working in Seward, he met Anna Karasek. They married in 1909.

In 1909, David moved to Susitna Station and served as the U. S. Marshal. A year later, he settled in Knik where he continued to practice pharmacy.

While living in Knik, he was appointed to the position of U. S. Commissioner, in which he recorded legal documents, such as deeds and mining claims, and served as ex-officio probate judge. It is believed that he studied law while living in Knik as he became a member of the Bar of the State of Washington during that time period.

In May of 1915, David moved to Anchorage just in time to see the bustling tent city at Ship Creek dissolve and the new townsite develop. As the U. S. Commissioner and District Recorder, his signature was affixed to virtually every land transaction in the new community of Anchorage. In 1917, he had the house on Second and "P" Streets built for himself and his family. As a resident of Anchorage, he held memberships in various fraternal organizations, including the Elks, the Moose Lodge, the Shriners, and the Masons. David served as a trustee in the Anchorage Daily Times operation and became a director of the Bank of Anchorage. He was well-liked and admired by those around him, and he was active in community affairs. Friends often asked him to run for public office, but for a number of years, he turned them down. After Anchorage became incorporated as a town, David ran for mayor. In November of 1920, he was elected to the first of three terms as Mayor of Anchorage. His tenure as mayor was especially important in that his three terms marked the transition of decision-making in Anchorage from federal management to local government. In 1921, David went into private law practice with L. V. Ray. Newspaper advertisements listed his occupation as "Attorney at Law," and his career as an attorney paralleled his service as mayor. On November 22, 1924, he died of heart disease at the age of only 43 years. David and his wife are buried in the Masonic section of Anchorage's Cemetery.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1986.