(3:06 min) (04 of 17) Flying business
June '47 bought an airplane and started work mostly near Aniak, Fairbanks, Circle, Fort Yukon wound up in Central. Went to Globe Arizona in the winters to take classes in air mechanic and everything...
(3:33 min.) (13 of 24) 13 Hiring and the unions
Unions started up in earnest in 1935 or 1936. Sometimes you had to work around the union to get who you wanted for your crew. The stewards' crew didn't have much time when they were in port,...
(3:36 min.) (23 of 28) 23. DC-3 aircraft
George and Merrill Wien got a Stinson ready for instrument flight. George loaded up the family and flew to New York. He started training with the DC-3.
(3:41 min.) (01 of 24) 01 Early life & family history Raised in Baltimore, MD. Life was tough so he went to sea. Traveled the world. Went to West coast because heard might make more money. In 1934, started with Alaska Steamship Co. ...
(3:46 min) (19 of 19) Travel agency Started the first tour agency with Chuck West; called it the Arctic Alaska Travel Agency located in the Co-Op. Paul rented the travel agency's space from Cap Lathrop. He also opened an office in...
(3:59 min.) (10 of 12) Clean-up and next day Remaining Japanese ran into a draw--Engineer company sent in to kill the 26 or so--next day same thing happened again with--same results--only 30-40 left after that--Capt. Siddens charge--Two men...
(5:01 min.) (22 of 28) 22. Flying in western Alaska
George still needed his multi-engine rating, couldn't borrow the company plane. So he quit Pan Am and started flying along the Kuskokwim for Northern Consolidated. Towns in the western...
(5:15 min.) (05 of 27) Alaska Road Commission
Alaska Road Commission -- access in Alaska authority of U. S. Army. Started with authority to create WAMCATS. Three Army officers were to maintain building roads and trails, almost no...
(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...
(5:52 min) (17 of 19) Business continues to grow Bought out Mr. Goes and Mr. Pearl. Bought out the bus service to the University. In 1931, took over Ravell Brothers and ran freight between Valdez and Fairbanks. Fall of 1931, bought a...
(5:56 min.) (01 of 12) Background and arrival in Alaska Auburn University--TVA heavy construction--B. B. Tally Construction quartermaster--Ladd Field construction Jan '41-- Four total projects Ladd Field, Ft. Richardson, Elmendorf and Yakutat &...
(6:52 min.) (17 of 24) 17 Purser's job vs. Steward's job. Union strikes
Purser dealt more with freight. The strikes happened, and the crew started making more money. "We didn't even know what overtime was." The price of everything went up...
May 9, 1903 THE FAIRBANKS MINER Fairbanks, Alaska 26 26.May 1903 Vol. 1. No. 1. James Wickersham Editor ORIGINAL of THE FAIRBANKS MINER Written by James Wickersham and typed by Geo. Jeffery at Fairbanks in May, 1903 & sold by Jeffery and Stevens...