(3:09 min.) (01 of 09) 1. Early life Les's father went north with the gold rush; when he found that the claims had all been staked, he and his partners opened up a paint and wallpaper store. Les moved to Fairbanks with his wife and eldest...
(3:36 min) (02 of 19) Young adult #1 Got a job CB& Q railroad working on a coal chute. Next, had to wipe the locomotives down. Went to help Uncle thresh grain. Went home to shuck corn and went north.
(3:36 min.) (09 of 28) 9. WWII in North Africa
George worked his way across North Africa. He describes air raids in Cairo, how Rommel was pushed back, how war was declared while he was on the ship to Africa. Bombers ferried across the...
(4:03 min) (03 of 19) Young adult #2 Traveled north. Shucked corn and by the end he was averaging 95 bushels a day. Went back home and got a job with his brother-in-law on a dairy farm. Took a class to become a railroad fireman. Train...
(4:08 min) (16 of 27) Haul Road
Road built to get supplies to oil fields up north. Word from Juneau said to go ahead and build from Livengood to Yukon River.
(4:15 min) (19 of 27) Haul Road -- Bettles
Once they made it to Bettles they had to refit equipment. There was too much wind north of Bettles, canvas was okay for a while but had to build with more substantial metal and wood. Snow ramps to...