An Alaska woman has helped a family reunite with a “priceless” scrapbook that was missing for 10 years after she picked it up at a thrift store last year for a few dollars.
Christine Otutoa bought what she thought was a blank photo album at a nonprofit thrift store in Anchorage for $4 in 2023, but instead, the book's pages contained pictures of a 1960s wedding. There were countless family photos and memories posted, including photos from the ceremony.
After making the discovery, Otutoa set out to find the family who had made the memory, eventually reaching out to a local television station last week for help.
“I don't know if I threw it away by mistake, but I would rather give it back and have someone share this memory with me so I can get it back,” Otua said. told Alaska News Sourcewhich helped us track down the book's owner.
“You never know. It could mean a lot to them.”
The station said the reporter discovered the book belonged to Allen Latuska after combing through its pages and using one of the names in the photo's caption to solve the mystery.
Latuska, who lives in Eagle River, said the last time she saw her scrapbook was about 10 years ago, before her mother's storage room was broken into and raided.
There are also photos of his childhood and of loved ones who have passed away.
“They are priceless. I would gladly give her back the $4,” an emotional Latuska told the station.
“I sometimes go to the same thrift store with my wife, and I can only imagine the shock she would have been in if she had picked it up and opened it and seen me, or if I had seen it.”
He and Otua have been in touch recently, and Latuska expressed surprise and gratitude.
“I thought it was someone's memory,” Otua said, according to an Alaska news source. “And these photos can never be recovered. I really wanted to make sure it was returned to its rightful owner.”
