(4:08 min.) (17 of 28) 17. Virginia comes to Alaska
Virginia was given the chance to come to Alaska as a flight instructor; if she didn't like it she was told she could fly home for free. She only instructed for one summer. She came up,...
(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...
(4:18 min.) (14 of 28) 14. Pacific Alaska Airways
Joe Barrows set up this airline; he wanted Pan Am to take it over for him. He wanted to fly clipper flying boats. His wife stayed in Alaska and was the first woman (Mary Barrows) to get...
(4:20 min.) (09 of 09) 9. After the convention. Les played a very valuable role in bringing people together. There was great camaraderie among the delegates. Les went home and showed his father a copy of the constitution. His father read...
(4:40 min.) (12 of 12) Occupation Shemya runway washed away--Took a few days to get back to Anchorage--wrote history of Alaska construction--lots of people wrote it Bush edited--Left over the Alaska Highway--short time in states--then to south...
(4:45 min.) (22 of 24) 22 Matanuska Colony project
Assisted in shipping the Matanuska Colony. Some stuck it out; others only lasted a few weeks. The company shipped everything: buildings, concrete, and people. Sewick worked for the Alaska...
(4:48 min.) (09 of 24) 09 Food and health on-board the ship Beef served frequently and caused complaints. Sometimes it was the waiter's fault, sometimes it was the traveler's fault, and sometimes it was the sea. The nurse had to help lots...
(5:17 min.) (21 of 28) 21. Licenses and ratings
Discussion of the difficulties getting commercial license; the easiest way is to become an instructor. George got his license, then his instructor rating; the instrument rating was more...
(5:18 min) (17 of 27) Haul Road II
Bids to build from Yukon River north were too high so Juneau said go ahead and finish it. The crew got more equipment and people and fuel. The temperature dropped to -70 degrees. Juneau kept asking --...
(5:20 min.) (05 of 09) 5. The convention It was a cold winter. Les drove some of the delegates to the University, where the convention was held. Sessions lasted most of the day and near the end there were evening sessions. Les briefly...
(5:24 min.) (05 of 24) 05 Move West Moved west at about age 19 or 20. Started with the Alaska Steamship Co. as a summer hire -- back then the company wanted you to start at the bottom and work your way up. Started as utility man doing...
(5:30 min.) (12 of 28) 12. Next assignment
George drove to Seattle in a car he'd built. In Colorado, the engine caught fire. He made temporary repairs. He had to follow trucks that cut through the snow before him. A woman ran him off the...
(5:38 min.) (04 of 27) Early work history
Left Cordova to go to school at Alaska School of Mines and Agriculture (UAF). Took civil engineering courses. By the time he had graduated, the railroads had shut down and there were only jobs in...
(6:00 min.) (25 of 28) 25. Licensed for DC-3; return to Alaska
George and Bill Conrad discusssed how he'd do the flight. He made it through the testing. George went back to New York and then flew to Fairbanks. The flying was bad on the...
(6:03 min) (15 of 27) Road building philosophy
Were the roads necessary? Roads were built to open up the country. Another philosophy pushed for more planning. Permanence of communities was always in question. People still needed...
(7:00 min.) (04 of 12) Weather at Amchitka and railroad to bering sea Apr '42 Engineers got word from Service and Supply (Roosevelt) find Railroad route from Fairbanks to sea.--Town meeting of the 3000 population of Fairbanks--Lots of...
(7:24 min) (01 of 19) Early years Born in small town in Illinois on a farm. Saw a tractor as a great improvement. His father said it was not going to be around too long. Couldn't agree with father on other things so took first opportunity...
(9:56 min.) (06 of 09)
River conditions
villages; Galena; Fairbanks; hauled horses; north slope; big wheels; Yukon River bridge; couldn't get passed rapids; pushed it over; Lyndon transport; rapids downstream; fast; Rampart; advertising; Bush...
(A) Woman's sewing kit made with a hollowed-out bone and bleached sealskin. At the end is a polar bear head made from mineralized walrus ivory. This secures the bleached sealskin, which is folded lengthwise and slides through the bone. A hole is...
(A) Woman's sewing kit made with a hollowed-out bone and bleached sealskin. At the end is a polar bear head made from mineralized walrus ivory. This secures the bleached sealskin, which is folded lengthwise and slides through the bone. A hole is...