Alaskans came—and stayed. Most people came and then left.
Legendary Alaskan, Mary Hanson
Furs then gold then oil brought waves of people from the outside. Most left as soon as they could to enjoy memories of Alaska’s remote, breathtaking beauty in the comfort of somewhere else. Only a very few Alaskans stayed to make their lives there.
In remote, empty, difficult Alaska one can be exactly who one wants to be, can live exactly as one wants to live. And Alaskans need that freedom as much as they need air to breathe or food to eat. Alaskans have an utterly unique culture and attitude.
Richard C. Rothenburg wrote in the Fairbanks News-Miner on Aug 15, 1942 about one Alaskan.
In December, 1910, when the thermometer dropped to 58 below, a trapper named Monte froze his feet while running his line… Word of his misfortune reached Fairbanks, and Doc Mathewson drove his dogs to Monte’s cabin and brought him back to the hospital… 150 miles in 18 hours.
Both of Monte’s legs were amputated. To get him to Seattle where he could obtain artificial limbs, $3,800 was raised… He was sent out by sleigh to Valdez and from there by steamboat…
Eight months after the accident Monte was back in Fairbanks. From Valdez, after disembarking from a northbound ship, he had trudged on his new legs the 400 miles to this city.
I, of course, don’t know Mr. Rothenburg. But the Daily News Miner clearly found him credible. And Alaskans are incredibly tough.
Alaska has animals as unique as its people. On May 25, 1942 the Indiana Palladium-Item published an Alaska story from Fairbanks via a news service. In winter Fairbanks gets cold, and nights last much longer than days. Reporter William Worden suspects that the rest of us haven’t put much thought into what that means for dairy farmers and their cows.
Farmer Charlie Craemer, Worden tells us, puts his 60 cows into the barn in October every year, and keeps them there until May. They walk very little through those months, so they forget how to do it. Come spring they must learn how to walk all over again when turned out to graze.
Finally, from The Arizona Republic, a story that could only come from Alaska. This notice appeared on a public bulletin board in Valdez.
Man who jacked up my automobile and stripped it of its tires was seen. If the tires are returned within 24 hours no questions will be asked.
The following day this notice appeared beneath it.
The guy who saw me take those tires can have same by calling at my house for them. I won’t ask no questions either.
No name appeared on the second note.
Historically, was a very interesting article to read. I am sure my pop could have related to and would have loved this article to the max, Great, and thanks for sharing