Alaskan thrifter reunites household with ‘priceless’ scrapbook that disappeared 10 years in the past after storage unit break-in

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Alaskan thrifter reunites household with ‘priceless’ scrapbook that disappeared 10 years in the past after storage unit break-in


An Alaskan girl helped a household reunite with their “priceless” scrapbook that was misplaced for 10 years after she picked it up at a thrift store for a couple of dollars final yr.

Christine Otutoa bought what she thought was an empty photograph album for $4 at a non-profit thrift retailer in Anchorage in 2023, however as an alternative, the ebook held numerous household images and reminiscences amongst its pages, together with wedding ceremony images from the Sixties.

The ebook of reminiscences belonged to Allen Latuska. KTUU

When Otutoa made the invention, she then labored to search out the household who made these reminiscences, ultimately enlisting the assistance of an area tv station for assist final week.

“I don’t know if it was unintentionally thrown away, however I’d somewhat return it and have any individual share these reminiscences, get them again,” Otutoa informed Alaska’s Information Supply, which assisted in monitoring down the house owners of the ebook.

“You by no means know. It would imply quite a bit to them.”

The station mentioned a reporter found the ebook belonged to Allen Latuska after combing via the pages and utilizing one of many names in a photograph caption to unravel the thriller.

Christine Otutoa purchased the ebook for $4 final yr. KTUU

Latuska, who lives in Eagle River, reportedly mentioned final time he noticed the scrapbook was a couple of decade in the past in his mom’s storage unit earlier than it was damaged into and raided.

There are images of his childhood and of family members who’ve died.

The ebook was purchased in 2023. KTUU

“They’re priceless, and I’d gladly pay her again the $4,” an emotional Latuska informed the station.

“I am going to that very same thrift retailer with my spouse generally, and I can solely think about if she would have picked it up and opened it and noticed me, or if I might have seen it, it might have been stunning.”

The scrapbook held numerous reminiscences. KTUU

He and Otutoa linked lately the place Latuska expressed his shock and gratitude.

“I figured, you realize, it’s any individual’s reminiscences,” Otutoa mentioned, based on Alaska’s Information Supply. “And you realize, you possibly can by no means get these footage again, and I actually wished to ensure it will get again to the correct proprietor.”


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