Picturing Fairbanks

99
2 Picturing

description

 

Transcript of Picturing Fairbanks

Page 1: Picturing Fairbanks

2

Picturing

Page 2: Picturing Fairbanks
Page 3: Picturing Fairbanks

Picturing

© 2015 Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Page 4: Picturing Fairbanks

AcknowledgmentsMany thanks to...Michelle Daml

Allyson Nicholson

Kathleen Neumaier

Peggy Carlson

Rebecca Hurbi

Johanna Carson

Scott McCrea

Willy and Francie (Ford) Cork

Buzby Family

Fairbanks Visitor and Conventions Bureau

Morris Thompson Cultural Center

University of Alaska Historical Archives Department

University of Alaska Fairbanks Rasmuson Library

Alaska History Museum

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Print Shop

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Curriculum Department

Original authors of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District publication Goldmines and Pipelines

Page 5: Picturing Fairbanks

Table of Contents

Welcome! 1

About Alaska 3

Introducing Fairbanks 5

Athabascans in the Tanana Valley 12

The Discovery of Gold 15

A Town is Born 20

The Growing Years 26

Life in Fairbanks Today 37

Neighboring Communities 45

Notable Fairbanksans 67

Glossary 75

Page 6: Picturing Fairbanks

1

Welcome!

Welcome to the story of Fairbanks, the Golden Heart City of Alaska. We will also learn about the communities of Ester, Fox, Moose Creek, North Pole, Salcha, and Two Rivers, as well as our two military bases, Fort Wainwright Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base. When we look at these communities and military bases as a whole group, they form the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Can you find them on the map below?

Page 7: Picturing Fairbanks

2

Page 8: Picturing Fairbanks

3

About Alaska

The state of Alaska is in the country of the United States of America, which is on the continent of North America. Alaska is the largest state and has the most coastline of any state. Look at the map below to see how many states equal the same area as the state of Alaska.

Page 9: Picturing Fairbanks

4

Juneau is the state capital of Alaska and is the only state capital in the country not accessible by road. The only way to get there is by boat or plane.

Fairbanks is in the interior or middle of the state.

The name “Alaska” is derived from the Aleut word Alyeska, meaning great land.

Of the 20 highest peaks in the United States, 17 are in Alaska. Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, is 20,237 ft. above sea level. Denali, the Alaska Native name for the peak, means “The Great One.”

The Yukon River, almost 2,000 miles long, is the third longest river in the U.S. There are more than 3,000 rivers in Alaska and over three million lakes. The largest, Lake Iliamna, covers over 1,000 square miles.

State Nickname: “The Last Frontier”

State Motto: “North to the Future”

Did you know?•

Page 10: Picturing Fairbanks

5

Introducing Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city, is known as the “Golden Heart City.” Why is that? Fairbanks is located in the center of the state, just as your heart is located in the center of your chest. The Fairbanks North Star Borough consists of 7,361 square miles and almost 100,000 residents.

Whether you are an indigenous resident, a “sourdough” who has weathered many seasons, or a “cheechako” newly arrived in the Far North, Fairbanks provides a warm welcome to all. The motto of the Golden Heart City of Alaska describes both the central location and the community’s generosity.

© Brittany Karns

Page 11: Picturing Fairbanks

6

Did you know?First published in 1903, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner remains the only daily newspaper in Fairbanks.

By 1905, Fairbanks had a power plant, electricity and sewer services, a school, police and fire protection, a hospital, and a three-story building.

Falcon Joslin papers, UAF-1979-41-445, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 12: Picturing Fairbanks

7

Fairbanks is a place of contrasts: light and dark, snow and sun, cold and warm. With the summer sun shining nearly 24 hours a day, the city is simply bursting with energy. Strike it rich panning for gold, float the Chena River, see reindeer and musk oxen, cool off in an ice museum, take a refreshing hike, or be inspired by art galleries, museums, and historical sites.

Fairbanks has all four seasons and people enjoy various activities all year long.

UAF photo by Todd Paris

Page 13: Picturing Fairbanks

8

Winter is the longest season. Snow can fall as early as September and not melt until May. That’s almost nine months of wearing your winter gear! Breakup is when the snow and ice begin to melt. There are puddles to jump in and big chunks of ice flow down the river. The summer brings sunny days with the sun in view for almost 24 hours. Alaska is known for being the land of the midnight sun.

There are interesting facts about Fairbanks that you may not know. Did you know that we live in a desert? Did you know our city has the largest range of temperature extremes in the United States? The summers are usually warm, with temperatures sometimes reaching 90°, while the winters are very cold and dry, with temperatures sometimes dipping down to -60°. If you live in Fairbanks, it is important that you are properly prepared for the weather.

January -8°F

4:02 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

February -1°F

6:56 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

March 11°F

10:06 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

April 33°F

13:36 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

May 49°F

17:01 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

June 60°F

20:33 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

July 63°F

21:25 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

August 56°F

18:11 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

September 45°F

14:39 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

October 24°F

11:19 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

November 3°F

7:51 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

December -4°F

4:43 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT

The thermometer shows average temperatures for that month!

Page 14: Picturing Fairbanks

9

The lowest recorded temperature was -66°F in 1961.

The highest recorded temperature was 94°F in 1991.

July is the average wettest month.

July is the average warmest month.

January is the average coolest month.

Did you know?•

Let us learn more about our community and its history. History shows how communities change over time. It also shows how the choices people made in the past shape the present and it helps people make choices in the future.

Our Natural HistoryFairbanks is in the Tanana Valley. Thousands of years ago the Tanana River, Chena River and glaciers helped form the Tanana Valley. Tanana is the Athabascan word for river trail. It is a river with many twists and turns.

Page 15: Picturing Fairbanks

10

Chena means land of timber. The Chena River is where the first community of Fairbanks started.

Everything around us makes up the environment. The rivers, lakes, mountains, and

plants are all part of the environment. They are called natural resources. These resources help make Fairbanks a better place to live.

People have built schools, stores, roads and other structures in Fairbanks. These are man-made resources.

CC photo courtesy of Travis (flic.kr/p/brLA9F)

UAF photo by Todd Paris

Page 16: Picturing Fairbanks

11

How would Fairbanks look if we did not have any of these resources? What is man-made in your community?

Duct tape is used to repair things by many Alaskans. You can use it to repair a ripped parka or broken fishing rod, repair a hole in your canoe or kayak, or remove dog hair from your good clothes.

In the summer, people even build boats using duct tape and race them down the Chena River! What could you use duct tape for?

Did you know?

CC photo courtesy of FairbanksMine (flic.kr/p/6Jhbpc)

Page 17: Picturing Fairbanks

12

Athabascans in the Tanana Valley

In the early years, the Chena and Tanana Rivers were lined with willows and spruce forests. Birds sang. Moose and their calves browsed peacefully. No airplanes or boats disturbed the silence.

The early Athabascans who lived in the area lived off the animals that also lived here. Early day Athabascans led a nomadic lifestyle. They traveled in small family groups of clans, following the seasons in search of food. In the late fall and early winter they hunted the migrating caribou. The caribou were most important for their meat and hides, which provided food, clothing, and shelter.

CC photo courtesy of Steese NCA (https://flic.kr/p/fksjF8)

Page 18: Picturing Fairbanks

13

Athabascans were highly mobile people, following the animals that they needed for food and shelter. They lived in tents much of the year, perhaps settling into shelters that were more substantial during the winter. As the hunting and fishing changed from year to year, the small groups split up and established new territories. By the time the first settlers came to the area, the Athabascans had a history in the area that was thousands of years old.

Did the Athabascans camp and fish on the site that was to become Fairbanks? Archaeologists think that

Albert Johnson Photograph Collection, UAF-1989-166-390-Print, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 19: Picturing Fairbanks

14

they did. They have found evidence of fish camps on the Chena River. They have also found a more permanent settlement on the University of Alaska campus, on a bluff overlooking the Tanana Valley.

The Athabascan people are known for their beautiful beadwork.

CC photo courtesy of mcav0y (flic.kr/p/4MAN6n)

Page 20: Picturing Fairbanks

15

The Discovery of Gold

In 1900, there were miners in the valley looking for gold. They searched the creeks and hills by the Chena River. Felix Pedro and Tom Gilmore were two of the gold miners. They worked hard the summer of 1900, then they ran out of food and decided to leave. The nearest place to get supplies was a trading post at Circle City, 100 miles away. How do you think they got there?

They started the long, hard walk to Circle City. Felix Pedro picked up his field glasses and looked around.

Ernie Carter Photographs, UAF-2004-68-90, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Historical Photograph Collection, UAF-65-20, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 21: Picturing Fairbanks

16

He saw smoke from a sternwheeler. The two miners were excited! They were full of hope and began to hike toward the boat.

On board the sternwheeler Lavelle Young, store owner E.T. Barnette had $20,000 worth of goods. He hoped to start a trading post on the Tanana

River.

Barnette tried to reach his destination by going up the Chena River, but was not able to get there due to shallow waters. The captain of the Lavelle Young refused to go any further, so Barnette had to unload all of his supplies on the banks of the Chena River.

The spot was just downstream from the site of what is now the Golden Heart Plaza in downtown Fairbanks. The day was August 26, 1901, and would go down in history as the founding of Fairbanks.

Barnette’s crew unloaded crates and barrels

Historical Photograph Collection, UAF-1989-12-101, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 22: Picturing Fairbanks

17

containing everything he thought he would need to get into business. Weighing 130 tons, the cargo included general supplies, one horse, a team of dogs, windows and doors, a sled, a steam launch, tools, prospecting equipment, hardware, and basic food.

P277-011-003 Alaska State Library Wickersham State Historic Sites Photograph Collection

Page 23: Picturing Fairbanks

18

Three days later, Barnette’s men and ship’s crew had built a cabin plus walls for a warehouse. The trading post was on a one-acre site on the riverbank between what today is Cushman Street and Barnette Street. Before the day ended, Barnette had his first customers, the miners Felix Pedro and Tom Gilmore.

In July of 1902, Pedro discovered gold in the hills, and Barnette’s trading post was on its way to becoming a gold rush town!

E.T. Barnette spread the news of Felix Pedro’s gold strike and the story made the front page of the New York Times.

Page 24: Picturing Fairbanks

19

What can you tell from the information on these charts?

Page 25: Picturing Fairbanks

20

A Town is Born

Historians think that by spring 1903, between 700 and 1,000 men arrived in the Tanana Valley, looking for gold. The surge of people put an enormous strain on Barnette’s stock of food, and prices rose rapidly with the demand. Miners objected to Barnette charging $12 per bag of flour and requiring them to buy canned food by the case. They gathered outside his store and demanded he lower his prices or they would burn it down.

Shortly afterward, Barnette headed south with his wife on a dog team, intending to gather investors to purchase more supplies. Before Barnette traveled, he met Judge James Wickersham. Wickersham was the judge for the Third Judicial District. He was impressed with Barnette and Barnette’s plan to establish a trading post. Wickersham suggested the settlement be named after Charles W. Fairbanks, a senator from Indiana. Barnette liked the idea and said, “If we should ever want anything from the national government in Washington, D.C., we would have his friendship.”

Page 26: Picturing Fairbanks

21

In April, Judge Wickersham arrived on a trip looking for a location for the courthouse, jail, and government offices for the Third Judicial District. He later described his first view of Fairbanks: “A half-dozen new short log structures, a few tents ... a small clearing in the primitive forest—that was Fairbanks as I first saw it on April 9, 1903.”

Judge and Mrs. Wickersham in their house. Their house was the first in Fairbanks to have electricity. Do you recognize this house? Do you know where it is located today?

Albert Johnson Photograph Collection, UAF-1989-166-463-neg glass, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 27: Picturing Fairbanks

22

At the mouth of the Chena River, another settlement, named Chena, sprang up when two traders moved their store to the junction of the Chena and Tanana rivers. This settlement at one point was larger than the settlement of Fairbanks.

Wickersham thought about using the town of Chena as the place for his government offices, but he settled on Fairbanks, because Barnette’s partner and brother-in-law, Frank Cleary, gave Wickersham a piece of land. Wickersham asked Cleary to name the two main streets in town Cushman and Lacey, after U.S. Representatives Francis W. Cushman of Washington and John F. Lacey of Iowa. Have you traveled on these streets?

Wickersham estimated there were 1,000 people in town with 387 houses under construction, six saloons, one school, and no churches. Before spring arrived, Wickersham published the first newspaper in the settlement—the Fairbanks Miner—on a typewriter.

Page 28: Picturing Fairbanks

23

However, even as the walls of Wickersham’s courthouse were going up, many miners were leaving the area when other gold strikes were made north of Fairbanks. At Cleary Creek, miner Jesse Noble discovered what became the richest vein of gold in Alaska. Getting the gold was slow because no heavy machinery was available to remove the overburden above the layers of gold.

P45-1042 Alaska State Library Clarence Leroy Andrews Photograph Collection

Page 29: Picturing Fairbanks

24

Fairbanks was a boom and bust city back then. In just a few months after the population dropped to about 100 people, there were more gold strikes. This produced a second stampede of miners to the area, and this time, they stayed longer.

To manage the growing population, the settlement held a vote on November 10, 1903 to decide whether to recognize Fairbanks as a town or not. The vote passed, and Barnette was sworn in as the city’s first mayor the next day.

By Christmas 1903, there were between 1,500 and 1,800 miners in the valley, and more buildings were constructed. Barnette sold two-thirds of his store to the Northern Commercial Company. It then built a store to replace Barnette’s trading post.

The first school opened in 1903 with only 13 students. A new school, with 50 students, opened up in 1904. There was such a scarce supply of books that sometimes three students had to share one book. Today, there are more than 14,000 students in 34

Page 30: Picturing Fairbanks

25

different schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District!

How do you think it would have been to attend school back then? What would some of the differences be between then and now?

Reed Family Papers, UAF-1968-21-195, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 31: Picturing Fairbanks

26

By 1915 Judge Wickersham was determined that Fairbanks needed a college. The population was declining again, and he felt a college would encourage more people to come to Fairbanks. He got his wish when the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines opened in September 1922.

The college was built on a hill that was known by the Athabascans as Troth Yeddha’ or “Wild Potato Hill.” The original cornerstone that Wickersham put into

The Growing Years

UAF photo by JR Ancheta

Page 32: Picturing Fairbanks

27

place to celebrate the founding of the college is still there today. On the first day of college, there were six students.

The college would later become the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Students from around Alaska, the United States, and the rest of the world attend the university today.

Did you know?The official mascot of UAF is Nanook, which is named after the Inupiaq word for “polar bear.”

Have you visited the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus? Do you know people who have attended?

UAF photos by Todd Paris

Page 33: Picturing Fairbanks

28

Here Come the Planes! In the early years, getting to and from Fairbanks was no easy task! As travel by air grew in popularity in the United States, people in Fairbanks were eager for its arrival here.

The first local airplane flight took place on July 4, 1913. It was for show only, and the pilot had to first bring his plane to Fairbanks from Seattle by steamship, train, and sternwheeler. Many people in Fairbanks did not believe it was possible for a machine to fly in the air. The plane took off from a baseball park and flew over the town, much to the amazement of people who were seeing an airplane in the sky for the very first time.

The first airmail flight in Alaska took place on February 21, 1924, between Fairbanks and McGrath. The pilot was Carl Ben Eielson, who was a Fairbanks science teacher. His plane had an open cockpit so he had to wear many layers of clothes to protect him from the freezing temperatures.

Page 34: Picturing Fairbanks

29

After the first airmail flight, aviation in Fairbanks grew rapidly. Within 15 years, there were almost 50 planes flying out of Weeks Field, the first airport in Fairbanks. Denali Elementary School is located where Weeks Field used to be. Because of its location on the globe, Fairbanks became a popular stopping point for pilots who were making around the world flights.

In 1940, Fairbanks Mayor Les Nerland said that Fairbanks was the most important aviation center in the world.

Wien Family Papers, UAF-2010-50-400, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 35: Picturing Fairbanks

30

World War II Fairbanks played an important role in World War II because of its strategic location. The military started Alaska’s first army post called Ladd Field in 1938, which is now Fort Wainwright. It was used to conduct cold weather testing on planes and equipment that might be used during the war.

The war affected everyone in Fairbanks. Many young men in town fought in the war, and the population grew with the arrival of soldiers. Just like in the early gold rush days, there were food shortages at times.

One significant change was the construction of the 1,500-mile Alaska Highway, built in 1942, which connected Fairbanks to Canada and gave the community a new link to the outside world. It took 11,000 Army engineers to build the highway, which they completed in nine months. The engineers had to battle freezing temperatures, ice and snow, and mountains to build it.

Page 36: Picturing Fairbanks

31

Alaska Becomes a State Until 1959, Alaska was considered a territory of the United States. Many people wanted Alaska to become a state. 55 people from around Alaska held a convention in Fairbanks at the University of Alaska to write the Alaska Constitution. In 1955, they wanted to prove to Congress that Alaska was ready to become an official state. The 14,400-word constitution they wrote would be used to provide the governing rules for the state.

Alaska officially became the 49th state on January 3, 1959. A headline in the local newspaper stated: “SATURDAY WAS THE GREATEST DAY IN THE HISTORY OF ALASKA.”

Page 37: Picturing Fairbanks

32

Did you know?Alaska’s flag was created by a 13-year-old student, John Ben “Benny” Benson, who entered a contest to create a flag for the Territory of Alaska in 1927. Benson looked to the night stars, choosing the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and the North Star for his symbols. He chose blue for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. Benson won a gold watch with his design engraved on the back and $1,000. The original flag was first flown July 9, 1927.

William A. Egan papers, UAF-1985-120-7, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 38: Picturing Fairbanks

33

The 1967 Flood On August 14, 1967, after a record rainfall upstream, the Chena River began to rise over its banks, flooding almost the entire town of Fairbanks overnight. Fairbanks suffered the worst flood of its history, causing seven deaths and millions of dollars of damage. Downtown streets became canals. Almost 95 percent of Fairbanks was underwater.

This disaster led to the building of the Chena River

Fairbanks 1967 flood photographs, UAF-1977-180-CO, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 39: Picturing Fairbanks

34

Lakes Flood Control Project. It includes the 50-foot-high Moose Creek Dam in the Chena River and an eight-mile-long spillway. The project was designed to prevent a repeat of the 1967 flood by diverting water in the Chena River upstream from Fairbanks into the Tanana River, bypassing the city.

The flood project also provided an opportunity to construct a man-made recreational area, Chena Lakes.

The Oil Pipeline Years In 1968, oil was discovered at Prudhoe Bay. After the discovery, a new road was built from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. The road was constructed to help bring in supplies and materials to build a pipeline to transport crude oil from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, where it could be loaded aboard tankers for the journey to U.S. refineries.

The Trans Alaska Pipeline System is a man-made wonder of the Last Frontier. It is over 800 miles long and covers frozen tundra, boreal forest, 800 rivers

Page 40: Picturing Fairbanks

35

and streams, three major earthquake faults and three rugged mountain ranges. The area includes more than 550 wildlife crossings for moose, caribou and other wildlife.

The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company completed the pipeline in 1977 at a cost of $8 billion for the three-year project, the largest construction project at that time. During the peak of construction Alyeska Pipeline employed 28,000 workers.

The construction of the pipeline created a large increase in population for the Fairbanks area. By 1974, over 20,000 workers had arrived in Fairbanks. Schools were overcrowded and some had to double-

P2-5-26 Alaska State Library Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. Photograph Collection

Page 41: Picturing Fairbanks

36

shift! This meant that some students went to school in the morning and some went in the afternoon.

How would you like to do that?

CC photo courtesy of Timothy Wildey (flic.kr/p/8xQ3gD)

Page 42: Picturing Fairbanks

37

Life in Fairbanks Today

Diversity in Fairbanks Approximately 100,000 people live in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Many generations of families have grown up here. Some families have lived here since the gold rush days and others have lived here for thousands of years!

Many families came from other places in Alaska, the rest of the United States, and even from other countries. This makes for a diverse community. In

UAF photo by Todd Paris

Page 43: Picturing Fairbanks

38

your class and school, you probably have friends or teachers who have different backgrounds than you. There are close to 50 different languages spoken in the Fairbanks School District!

Fairbanks is home to many Alaska Native people. There are many events in Fairbanks that celebrate

UAF photo by JR Ancheta

Page 44: Picturing Fairbanks

39

their culture and heritage, including the Festival of Native Arts and the World Eskimo Indian Olympics.

Having a diverse community allows us to learn about different cultures. This helps us understand more about the world we live in today.

Working in Fairbanks There are many different types of jobs in Fairbanks. Jobs are an important part of the Fairbanks economy. An economy is how money is made in a community. People make money at their job, and they use that money to buy food, homes, clothes, cars, and many other things. When there are more jobs in Fairbanks, there are more people earning money which can be spent at local businesses.

Many of our jobs in Fairbanks are service jobs. A service jobs helps and serves people in the community. Teachers serve the community by teaching. Doctors and nurses serve the community by taking care of people who are sick. Police officers serve the community by protecting and keeping us

Page 45: Picturing Fairbanks

40

safe. What other service jobs can you name?

Many people in Fairbanks work in businesses that make and sell goods for us to use. Goods are items you use every day. Some goods are manufactured, such as clothes, computers, and cars. Other goods are grown, such as vegetables, fruit, and flowers. What other goods can you name? Where do you buy them?

Learning in Fairbanks Your school is part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. The school district is made up of 34 different schools with more than 14,000 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Good schools are an important part of a community.

Page 46: Picturing Fairbanks

41

After grade 12, students graduate from high school. The learning continues after high school. Many students go to college or other training after high school. People continue to learn in many different ways. They read books, take classes, watch educational programs, learn languages, or how to play instruments. Continuing to learn and grow is one way we keep our community strong.

Government in Fairbanks A government sets laws and runs a community. The local government of the Fairbanks North Star Borough consists of a mayor and a borough assembly. The people who live in the Fairbanks North Star Borough elect the mayor and the assembly members. Citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to vote and can also run for office.

The mayor and assembly members work together to serve the needs of the community. They decide how to spend money on parks, streets, libraries, and other things. They listen to citizens and have the authority to vote on what should be done to make Fairbanks a

Page 47: Picturing Fairbanks

42

When the Fairbanks North Star Borough was incorporated in 1964, local students came up with the name “North Star.” Other popular suggestions were Midnight Sun, Fireweed, Heartland, and Golden Nugget.

The city of Fairbanks and North Pole have their own mayor and a city council. They work on issues that are specific to their city.

What would you do if you were the mayor of Fairbanks?

Did you know?

North Pole became a city in 1953, 50 years after Fairbanks was formed.

Page 48: Picturing Fairbanks

43

better place to live.

Activities In Fairbanks Fairbanks and its neighboring communities have many activities happening throughout the year. Tourists from around the world visit Fairbanks to participate in them. Some of the popular attractions and events include:

• Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum• Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center• University of Alaska Museum of the North• Chena Hot Springs Resort• Golden Days Celebration• Creamer’s Field Migratory Refuge• World Ice Art Championships• Chena Lakes Recreation Area• Pioneer Park• Riverboat Discovery• World Eskimo Indian Olympics• Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival• Festival of Native Arts

Page 49: Picturing Fairbanks

44

How many of those have you been to? What are some of your favorite activities to do with your family and friends?

CC photo courtesy of Kevin Duffy (flic.kr/p/bnXdB1)

UAF photo by Todd Paris UAF photo by Todd Paris

© Rebecca Hurbi

CC photo courtesy of Public Affairs Office Fort Wainwright (flic.kr/p/okCdJm)CC photo courtesy of David Casteel (flic.kr/p/3hPdwf)

CC photo courtesy of Jason Ahrns (flic.kr/p/bEru22) © Todd Paris CC photo courtesy of Amy Meredith (flic.kr/p/fjSvhK)

UAF photo by Todd ParisCC photo courtesy of Rick Webb (flic.kr/p/8gbmkY)

Photo courtesy of Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center

Photo courtesy of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival

Page 50: Picturing Fairbanks

45

Neighboring Communities

Eielson Air Force Base In 1943, Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands and the Russians asked for American aircraft to help defend the United States. Eielson Air Force Base was built for these aircraft. The base opened in September 1946. Today there are 5,400 people who live on the base.

There are three schools on base, all named after people with connections to the military.

• Ben Eielson Junior Senior High School is named after pilot Carl Ben Eielson, a teacher who was nicknamed the “Flying Professor” and was the first pilot to fly over the North Pole to Europe.

• Crawford Elementary is named after Robert

CC photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz (flic.kr/p/6Znm72)

Page 51: Picturing Fairbanks

46

McArthur Crawford, who lived much of his life in Fairbanks. He was known as “The Flying Baritone” because of his singing voice and his love of flying. He composed the official U.S. Air Force song, “The U.S. Air Force”, better known by the first line of lyrics, “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder.”

• Anderson Elementary is named after Major Rudolph Anderson Jr., an Air Force pilot who was the only American killed during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Ester Ester was originally a gold mining camp on Ester Creek, with the first claim staked in February 1903 by Latham A. Jones. Jones worked with the Eagle Mining Company. John “Jack” Mihalcik, a Czechoslovakian immigrant, born in 1866, was the first person to discover gold on Ester Creek. By 1907,

CC photo courtesy of Jason Ahrns (flic.kr/p/9c7oF8)

Page 52: Picturing Fairbanks

47

Ester City had a population of 200 people and a thriving mining industry. A social hall was completed in 1907. The hall was used for religious services as well as dances, movies, card games, parties, and other entertainment. The town had five saloons and two hotels. By 1909, Ester City also had a baseball field, a doctor, and a teacher.

In 1958 The F.E. Company sold their Ester camp, and it reopened as a historic resort. The Cripple Creek Resort, which later became the Ester Gold Camp, featured a musical variety show in the Malemute Saloon until the resort closed in 2007.

In 1986, the Ester Community Association, working with the Fairbanks North Star Borough, built the Ester Community Park, which became a local center of social activity. In August 1999 the John Trigg Ester Library opened, a membership library named after a local resident that had started a book exchange.

Today the town features two saloons, five publishers, a library, a fire station, a post office, a

Page 53: Picturing Fairbanks

48

silversmith, many art studios, and three active gold mines.

Fort Wainwright Army Post From a cold weather test station to one of the best U.S. Army training areas, Fort Wainwright has changed a lot over the years. The post was originally named Ladd Field, in honor of Major Arthur Ladd, an Air Corps pilot killed in a crash in 1935.

The first soldiers assigned to Alaska arrived in Fairbanks in April 1940. During that time, the soldiers lived in temporary shelters until permanent barracks were constructed. The men tested clothing and equipment during the bitter cold winters. Ladd Field then took on a bigger role, in which the U. S. delivered nearly 8,000 aircraft to Russia.

CC photo courtesy of Public Affairs Office Fort Wainwright (flic.kr/p/nE6yLW)

Page 54: Picturing Fairbanks

Family Profile: The Buzby Family Harry Buzby was born in 1863 in New Jersey. He gradually moved westward, first to Illinois and later to Nebraska. He spent a short amount of time in the Nome area during the gold rush and later moved on to Skagway around 1901. At that time he sent for his wife Louisa and four children. The family then moved to Fairbanks.

In 1905, the Buzby family claimed a homestead half a mile upstream of Fairbanks on a bend of the Chena River. There they grew many vegetables and also hay. The family also operated a greenhouse and kept horses. In the early years, they had a fur farm as well, with mink, marten and foxes.

On the property, there was a log house, many farm buildings, and CC photo courtesy of David Casteel (flic.kr/p/3hPdwf)

Page 55: Picturing Fairbanks

fenced, cleared fields. The house was a three-room cabin and was close to the river, which was important for transportation.

In 1926, they decided to operate a dairy business. The family stayed on this homestead until the military purchased part of it for the original Ladd Field in 1939. From 1926 until the early 1930s, they ran the Buzby Dairy, one of several family dairies operating at that time. “My dad and I were the dairymen,” youngest son Bob recalled. “My mother of course took care of the milk once it got in the house. I did the delivering. We sold cream by

the pint, butter, and eggs.”

Bob remembers delivering milk to customers in town with Buzby and Metcalf Photograph Album, UAF-1963-71-63, Archives,

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 56: Picturing Fairbanks

a horse and wagon in summer and a sled in winter. Winter deliveries were tricky, as Fairbanks temperatures sometimes dropped to thirty and forty degrees below zero. To keep the milk from freezing, Bob put hay in the sled, loaded the bottles, and then covered them with blankets and carried heaters with the load.

As the Buzby children grew up they moved out on their own. One of the daughters, Bessie Claire, married Chester Spencer in 1911. The Spencer’s homesteaded a previously unclaimed parcel between the original Buzby homestead and the Joy homestead where Harry, Louisa, and Bob were operating the dairy. On the other side, just to the northwest, Harry’s son Elton claimed a homestead from 1928 - 1934. Thus, the Buzby family in one way or another left a homesteading legacy on not one but four adjoining properties over the course of three decades.

Page 57: Picturing Fairbanks

52

In January 1961 the post was renamed Fort Jonathan M. Wainwright honoring a general who led troops in World War II. The post grew and today has more than 7,700 soldiers.

Fox Fox was settled in the early 1900’s and was a stop along the old Tanana Valley Railroad. The railroad ran from the town of Chena up the Goldstream Valley to Gilmore and Chatanika. By 1907, Fox had a population of 500 people. It also had two hotels, two restaurants, two general stores, a bakery, and telephone service. A school opened in 1912. By 1917, the school had fourteen students. The students went to school in the summer and took their break in the winter because of the three miles some of the students had to walk. The school closed in 1930 due to a lack of students.

Today in Fox there are two restaurants, a gold dredge, a fire station, a vehicle weigh station, and the University of Alaska’s permafrost tunnel.

Page 58: Picturing Fairbanks

53

The Steese Highway runs through the center of Fox and continues to the city of Circle. There you can see the Yukon River and the Arctic Circle. Fox is also the beginning of the Elliot Highway, which leads to the Dalton Highway. This highway takes you all the way to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean, where the Trans Alaska Pipeline starts. This gravel highway has been on the reality TV show, Ice Road Truckers.

Moose Creek Moose Creek is located southeast of Fairbanks and five miles from Eielson Air Force Base. The community has a population of 542 people. The

CC photo courtesy of Public Affairs Office Fort Wainwright (flic.kr/p/k69jLV)

Page 59: Picturing Fairbanks

54

small community began to grow when Eielson Air Force Base was opened in the 1946. People and businesses moved there to be close to the base.

In 1966, Adler Elementary School opened with 88 students. In 1979 the school closed and students went to the schools on Eielson Air Force Base. Today Moose Creek has a gas station, store, and many churches. The old school building is being used as an American Legion Post.

North Pole Bon and Bernice Davis arrived in Fairbanks on April 7, 1944. They rented a car and drove down the Richardson Highway. After 15 miles, they parked the car on the road and walked along a trail. They walked for several hundred yards, stopping and looking. Finally, they stopped, looked and both spoke the

CC photo courtesy of Thomas Kluge (flic.kr/p/6Dzn5R)

Page 60: Picturing Fairbanks

55

same words at the same time – “This is it!”

They had been told that grayling and beaver were plentiful in both streams where a variety of waterfowl made their summer homes. Moose, deer, wolves, fox, snowshoe rabbits, squirrels, and spruce hens lived where their future homestead would be constructed.

Little did the Davis family dream that their 160 acres would ever be more than just a homestead, much less that it would be called a city. Later on, James Ford bought the Davis homestead and subdivided it.

The first residents thought that if the growing settlement were named North Pole it would attract businesses. North Pole became a city in January of 1953. It had a three-room school that taught students in first through eighth grades. High school students had to ride the bus into Fairbanks. North Pole had its own school district during this time. Now all schools in North Pole are part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

Page 61: Picturing Fairbanks

56

Another one of the first settlers of North Pole was Conrad B. Miller. Miller, who came to Fairbanks in 1949, opened a trading post along the highway in 1952. The business became known as the Santa Claus House. The business was also home to North Pole’s first post office, serving in that capacity for almost 20 years. There was another trading post in the community that was operated by Lute

1. Badger Road Elementary

2. North Pole Middle School

3. North Pole High School

4. North Pole Elementary School

5. Ticasuk Brown Elementary School

A. Huskies

B. Patriots

C. Knights

D. Brown Bears

E. Ptarmigans

Match the North Pole school with its mascot:

Page 62: Picturing Fairbanks

57

Cunningham and his family. The town was centered around these two businesses until the 1970’s, when the current four-lane Richardson Highway was built, bypassing Davis Subdivision, which was the city center of North Pole.

There are now many stores, restaurants, schools and churches in North Pole.

There continues to be interest in developing North Pole as a theme city, “Where the spirit of Christmas lives year round”. Today, many streets have holiday names: Santa Claus Lane, Snowman Lane, Kris Kringle, Mistletoe, Blitzen, and Donnor. Streetlights are decorated as candy canes and many buildings are painted with Christmas colors and designs. The Santa Claus House greets all visitors who pass through the city on the Richardson Highway.

Each year during

CC photo courtesy of Amy Meredith (flic.kr/p/fjTdSi)

Page 63: Picturing Fairbanks

the first weekend in December the North Pole community starts the holiday season with a Winter Festival including fireworks, a candle lighting ceremony, Christmas in Ice, and a community tree lighting event.

Did you know?The ABC reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition built a new house for a local family in only one week in July 2006. The episode of the show was used as a premiere for the show’s season, and as a kickoff point for the show’s plans to rebuild a home in each state.

Citizen Profile: Francie Ford Cork The oldest house in North Pole was never supposed to be a permanent home. The 20-by-20 black spruce cabin is what homesteaders often called a “prove up” cabin. In order to claim the land, homesteaders had to prove they were going to live

Page 64: Picturing Fairbanks

What could you buy today with $17.00?

Photo courtesy of Francie Ford Cork

there by building a residence, clearing the land and planting a crop within six months. Francie Cork, who now lives in the cabin with her husband Willy, remembers hearing her father James Ford tell her mother Grace that the cabin was a temporary — “just until we prove up.” Her parents were among the first wave of homesteaders to settle what would become North Pole.

Currently, the 1949 cabin is still standing with a few modifications. North Pole neighborhoods have grown up on what was the 160-acre homestead. The “temporary” cabin, in fact, outlived James Ford.

Their homestead was purchased for a total of $17.00. The property’s deed says it is authorized under the original Homestead Act of 1862 signed by President Abraham Lincoln. James Ford eventually started the Ford Refrigeration business, and for a few months served as the first mayor of North Pole. Grace worked at the North Pole post office. The family also grew potatoes, hay, cabbage, and

Page 65: Picturing Fairbanks

sugar beets. Sometimes the harvest was a priority over school for Francie and her classmates. “We used to come pick potatoes during the school day,” she remembered. “That would never be allowed today.”

As the years went by, improvements were made to the rustic cabin including electricity, a propane stove, and additional rooms. The police sometimes came by the cabin to use one of the only telephones in the area. The home was originally heated with a coal stoker in the basement. Francie grew up and moved to

Page 66: Picturing Fairbanks

Anchorage but eventually returned to North Pole, to run Cork’s Pitstop with her husband.

The original 20-by-20 cabin that once housed a wood stove, her parents’ bed and Francie’s crib is now the living room and kitchen of the home. A set of steps in the back of the cabin lead to new rooms including an indoor bathroom, an office, and a bedroom.

Page 67: Picturing Fairbanks

62

Salcha Salcha is located on the Richardson Highway, 40 miles south of Fairbanks. The community was first named in 1898 as “Salchaket”, a word meaning “the mouth of Salcha.” It is next to the Salcha River, a popular fishing destination. Salcha is also next to the Tanana River. The Salcha River, the second-largest tributary of the Tanana River, is a salmon spawning stream and the Salchaket main village was located at its confluence with the Tanana River. It was in this spot in 1898 that A.H. Brooks made the first recorded contact with the Salchaket people.

In 1902, the U.S. Army constructed a telegraph station several miles upriver from the Salchaket main village, and in 1904 William F. Munson established Munson’s Roadhouse near the village. In 1907, a winter trail between Valdez and Fairbanks was built that passed near the Salcha telegraph station.

By 1911, an Episcopal mission was started and 40 Salchaket Indians lived in the area. Before the Episcopal mission closed, a Native cemetery was

Page 68: Picturing Fairbanks

63

established. There are only seven graves in the cemetery with picket fences around them. The most recent grave is that of Bessie Barnabus, one of the last Salchakets familiar with the traditional way of life, who was buried there in 1988. Her family estimated that she was over 100 years old when she died.

Salcha has no elected officials, but the citizens meet to discuss activities and to make community decisions. There is a community fair, stores, an

Albert Johnson Photograph Collection, UAF-1989-166-1203-Postcard, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Page 69: Picturing Fairbanks

64

elementary school, a gas station, post office, a fire station, and several other businesses, as well as homes located along the twenty-mile stretch of the Richardson Highway that make up the community.

Two Rivers Two Rivers is a community between mile 13 (the Little Chena River) and mile 25 (the Chena River) along the Chena Hot Springs Road, northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska.

The community borders the large Chena River State Recreation Area. Most Two Rivers residents work in either Fairbanks or North Pole. Businesses in Two Rivers include one general store, restaurants, a post office, and a laundromat.

The majority of people who move to Two Rivers enjoy the rural location and the extensive trails in the area. The trail system is popular with dog sled mushers, horseback riders, snow machine and ATV riders, hunters, hikers, and others.

Page 70: Picturing Fairbanks

65

Two Rivers is popular with both recreational and professional dog sled mushers. Sled dogs outnumber humans in Two Rivers by about four to one. Famous Two Rivers mushers include five-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion Rick Swenson, the first Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race champion Sonny Lindner, and Aliy Zirkle, the only woman to win that race. Two Rivers hosts a checkpoint at Pleasant Valley Store for the Yukon Quest.

Chena Hot Springs Resort is at the end of the Chena Hot Springs road. The resort was founded more than 100 years ago. Miners used to visit the springs to ease their aches and pains. It took them three days to make the trip from Fairbanks, now people can drive there in a little more than an hour! It has

CC photo courtesy of Chris Waigl (flic.kr/p/7Bj1Nn)

Page 71: Picturing Fairbanks

66

become the most developed hot springs in Alaska. It is world famous for it’s healing mineral waters, beautiful Aurora Borealis displays in the winter, and renewable energy projects as well as a hotel made out of ice!

CC photo courtesy of rbbaird (flic.kr/p/N48rA)

Page 72: Picturing Fairbanks

Notable Fairbanksans

Dixie Alexander (1957 - ) Dixie is Gwich’in Athabascan, one of 12 children, and was raised in Ft. Yukon in a traditional lifestyle. She is a successful businesswoman, artist, and teacher. She spent more than 20 summers sharing her Athabascan culture with tourists at the Riverboat Discovery’s Native Village. Her traditional artwork can be found in collections worldwide, including the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Susan Butcher (1954-2006) Susan Butcher was a famous dog musher who won the Iditarod sled dog race in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990. In doing so, she became the second four-time winner and the first to win four out of five sequential years. Butcher dominated the sport for over a decade, placing in the top five 12 times during her career. She won several honors, including the National Women’s Sports Foundation Amateur Athlete of The Year Award, and the U.S. Victor Award for Female Athlete of the Year award.

Daryn Colledge (1982 - ) Daryn Colledge is a football professional offensive

Photo courtesy of the Morris Thompson Cultural Center

Photo courtesy of Trail Breaker Kennel

Page 73: Picturing Fairbanks

68

guard with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played his first five seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He was born in Fairbanks but grew up in nearby North Pole. He graduated from North Pole High School and was a first team all state defensive linemen. Colledge was selected by the Packers in the second round (47th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft, the highest-ever selection from the state of Alaska. During his fifth and final season in Green Bay in 2010, the Packers won Super Bowl XLV.

Janay Deloach (1985 - ) Janay Deloach is a United States track and field athlete who won a bronze medal, ranking who second in the world. She was ESPN’s #3 Top Sports Story of 2011 about her road to the 2012 Olympics. She graduated from Ben Eielson High School in 2003. Deloach grew up in the military, living in many different places but Eielson Air Force Base and the Ravens became her home. She played basketball and participated in track for the Ravens throughout high school and was even on the cheerleading team during her freshman year. She was also the top scorer for the Lady Raven’s basketball team.

© Mark Hoffman

© Alexander Hassenstein

Page 74: Picturing Fairbanks

Carl Ben Eielson (1897-1929) Carl Ben Eielson is known as the Father of Alaska Aviation. He came to Alaska as a pilot and to be a teacher. Ben Eielson Junior Senior High School is named after him. Among his accomplishments were his exploration of the North Pole and the first successful flight over the North Pole. In 1924, he flew the first airmail in Alaska from Fairbanks to McGrath in four hours, a distance dog sleds took 20 days to cover. He is perhaps best known for flying the first airplane across the Arctic Ocean in April of 1928.

Vivica Genaux (1969 - ) Vivica Genaux grew up in Fairbanks and graduated from West Valley High School. She is a famous opera singer who performs all around the world and her recordings have been nominated for Grammy Awards several times. She is a member of the Alaska Hall of Fame.

Ben Grossman (1977- ) Ben Grossman creates visual effects for movies in Hollywood. He grew up in Delta Junction and went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He has worked on more than 25 movies including

Carl Ben Eielson-1 Alaska State Library Photograph Collection

© Eigenes Werk

Page 75: Picturing Fairbanks

70

Spiderman, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Alice in Wonderland. He won an Oscar award for his work on the movie Hugo. While living in Fairbanks, he worked as a photographer for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and as a weatherman for the local television news.

Glenn Hackney (1924 - ) Glenn Hackney is a Fairbanks retiree, volunteer and local poet. He was born in New York in 1924 and moved to Anchorage with his wife in 1948 to work for Alaska Concrete Products. He then moved to Fairbanks in 1962 with the company. Glenn served in the Alaska State House (1972-76) and Alaska State Senate (1976-1980). He worked for Donnybrook Building Supply until retirement and remains very active in local affairs. Glenn has been instrumental in coordinating the annual Fairbanks Clean Up Day and supporting the Fairbanks Food Bank.

Representative Scott Kawasaki (1975 -) Scott Kawasaki is a member of the Alaska House of Representatives. He grew up and went to school in Fairbanks. He became the youngest person ever to serve on the Fairbanks City Council at age 24. He

Photo courtesy of IMDB

Photo courtesy of Equinox Interviews

Photo courtesy of Scott Kawasaki

Page 76: Picturing Fairbanks

71

was elected as a state representative in 2006.

Austin “Captain” Lathrop (1865 – 1950) Austin Lathrop was a famous businessman in the early years of Fairbanks. At one time he was the richest man in Alaska. He started the first movie theater in Fairbanks and owned the very first radio station, KFAR, which is still on the air today. Lathrop High School as well as Lathrop Street are both named after him.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (1957 - ) Senator Lisa Murkowski is the first Alaskan-born Senator and only the sixth United States Senator to serve the state. The state’s senior senator, Lisa Murkowski is a third-generation Alaskan. She was born in Ketchikan and graduated from Monroe High School in Fairbanks. Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has been a strong advocate for Alaska on the important issues facing the state, including energy, health care, and education.

Lomen Family Papers, UAF-1972-71-1529, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Photo courtesy of Lisa Murkowski

Page 77: Picturing Fairbanks

72

Brad Oleson (1983 - ) Brad Oleson grew up in North Pole and played basketball for North Pole High School. He went on to play for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, becoming one of the greatest players in the school’s history, winning many awards. He now plays professional basketball in Spain. He is one of the players featured in the NBA 2K14 video game.

Aelin Peterson (1974 - ) Aelin started her cross-country skiing experiences in rural Alaska. She graduated from West Valley High School in 1992. During high school she became an avid ski competitor. She was the Alaska High School Cross-Country Skimeister in both 1991 and 1992. After high school, Aelin continued to participate in skiing. She competed in the Junior Nationals between 1992-1998 earning five gold and four silver medals. In 1993 and 1994, the U.S. Ski Association ranked her as the number one Jr. Female Skier in the Nation. By the end of the National Championships she was the fourth-ranked US woman and made the Olympic team. She retired from skiing in 2005. She has been involved in working with the Healthy Futures program promoting healthy lifestyles for Alaskan children.

© Rodolfo Molina

Photo courtesy of Aelin Peterson

Page 78: Picturing Fairbanks

Morris Thompson (1939-2000) Morris Thompson, a Koyukon Athabascan, was born and raised in Tanana, in Interior Alaska. He dedicated his life to Alaska issues and its peoples. Morris was one of Alaska ‘s prominent business leaders. He was the youngest commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1985, he took over Doyon, Limited, leading that corporation to become one of the most profitable and stable Alaska Native Corporations. He always referred to himself as “just another boy from Tanana.” He used his wit, values, and wisdom to heal, unite, and lead. His legacy inspired the plan for the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. The center values a philosophy Morris held true, work together on commonalities and celebrate our diversity.

William Ransom Wood (1907 – 2001) Dr. Wood was an influential figure in the history of Fairbanks and the University of Alaska. Dr. Wood was president of the University of Alaska from 1960-1973. During his presidency, the University campus gained a new dormitory, gymnasium, classroom buildings, a heating and power plant, a library-fine arts complex, and a campus activity center, which was named the Wood Center, in his

Photo courtesy of the Morris Thompson Cultural Center

Page 79: Picturing Fairbanks

74

honor. Under Dr. Wood, the campus’ West Ridge was selected for further expansion, primarily for research facilities. He served as mayor of Fairbanks from 1978-1980. He helped create the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and continued in his strong commitment to the beautification of Fairbanks through the Festival Fairbanks Foundation. His efforts to enhance Fairbanks included the Golden Heart Plaza and the Cushman Street Bridge of Flags.

Page 80: Picturing Fairbanks

75

Glossary

Helpful HintsNoun: a person, place, or thing Verb: an action word

Adjective: a describing wordProper noun: a specific name for a person or place

Abraham Lincoln (proper noun) Abraham Lincoln was the president of the United States in 1862 when the Homestead Act was written which allowed many pioneers to buy land in the Alaskan territory.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States.

advocate (noun) An advocate is a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause.

She was a very good advocate for getting new books in the library.

archaeologists (noun) Archaeologists conduct the scientific study of material remains (such as fossil relics, artifacts, and

Page 81: Picturing Fairbanks

76

monuments) of past human life and activities.

The archaeologists were able to find many fossils from dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago.

Athabascan (proper noun, adjective) Athabascans are a large group of indigenous peoples of North America, located in Alaska.

The Athabascan family is the second largest native family in North America in terms of number of languages and number of speakers.

Aurora Borealis (proper noun) The Aurora Borealis is a natural light display in the sky in the Arctic region. It is caused by the collision of charged particles with atoms in the atmosphere and is sometimes referred to as the Northern Lights.

The Aurora Borealis put on a beautiful show in the sky last night with all its bright colors and dancing lights.

baritone (noun, adjective) A baritone is a type of male singing voice. It is the

Page 82: Picturing Fairbanks

77

most common male voice.

My dad sings baritone in the community choir.

barrack (noun) A barrack is a building or set of buildings used especially for soldiers to live in.

The barracks on Ft. Wainwright had many soldiers living in them.

break-up (noun, adjective) Break-up is a period of time when the weather becomes warmer in the spring and all the snow and ice melt, producing mud and puddles.

My friends and I can jump in puddles when it is break-up in Alaska!

Chena Hot Springs (proper noun) Chena Hot Springs are hot springs that are at the center of a 40-square-mile geothermal area and produce a steady stream of water at a temperature of 165 degrees. Gold miners discovered the springs in 1905 and by 1912 Chena Hot Springs was the

Page 83: Picturing Fairbanks

78

premier place to soak for residents in the booming town of Fairbanks.

It is fun to go to Chena Hot Springs in the winter and swim in the warm water.

cheechako (noun) A Cheechako is an Alaskan word to describe a newcomer to a community or the state.

You are a Cheechako if you have lived in Alaska less than a year.

Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project (proper noun) The Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project is the northernmost flood control project in the United States. Moose Creek Dam protects Fairbanks from flooding, as well as providing local residents and visitors many recreational opportunities.

My family goes to the Chena Lakes Flood Control Project every summer to swim and every winter to go ice–fishing.

Page 84: Picturing Fairbanks

79

claim (noun, verb) A claim is ownership of mineral rights above or below the ground on a property.

The old miner had a mining claim on the Chena River for almost 50 years, but he never found any gold.

cockpit (noun) A cockpit is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft.

The pilot had to pay attention to all the controls in the cockpit of the plane.

community (noun) A community is a place where people live and work together; a collection of neighborhoods.

My community has many trails and parks.

confluence (noun) A confluence is the meeting of two rivers or streams to become one.

The confluence of the Chena and Tanana Rivers is interesting to see.

Page 85: Picturing Fairbanks

80

crude oil (noun) Crude oil is a naturally occurring substance found in the ground that is refined into diesel, gasoline, heating oil, jet fuel, kerosene, and thousands of other products called petrochemicals.

Crude oil flows through the Alaska pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

demand (noun, verb) Demand is how much (quantity) of a product or service is wanted or needed by buyers.

The community’s demand for gas was very high.

desert (noun) A desert is a landscape or region of land that is very dry because of low rainfall amounts (precipitation), often has little coverage by plants, and in which streams dry up unless they are supplied by water from outside areas.

The interior of Alaska is considered a desert because it is so dry in the winter.

Page 86: Picturing Fairbanks

81

dredge (noun) A dredge is a machine for removing earth, usually by buckets, to find gold.

There are several old dredges around Fairbanks.

Episcopal (proper noun) The Episcopal religion was founded in the United States. The church was formed after the American Revolution in 1776.

The Episcopal Church is on 2nd Ave. in Fairbanks.

extensive (adjective) Extensive is a large, widespread area or something that includes everyone and everything.

An extensive search was made for the lost dog.

Fairbanks North Star Borough (proper noun) The Fairbanks North Star Borough is a local government unit similar to a county that covers 7,361 square miles and has approximately 100,000 residents.

Within the Fairbanks North Star Borough there are

Page 87: Picturing Fairbanks

82

two cities, Fairbanks and North Pole, and several communities.

fault (noun) A fault is a fracture in rock beneath the earth’s surface and is the cause of most earthquakes.

The fault in the earth moved and caused an earthquake.

Golden Heart City (proper noun) Golden Heart City is the nickname for the city of Fairbanks, Alaska.

We live in the Golden Heart City.

history (noun) History is what happened in the past.

When we looked at our family history, we found that many of our relatives were farmers.

homestead (noun) A homestead was 160 acres of land claimed by a settler. Buildings were required to be constructed to

Page 88: Picturing Fairbanks

83

prove a settler lived there.

The family had a homestead in North Pole since 1950.

Homestead Act of 1862 (proper noun) The Homestead Act of 1862 was a law that gave ownership of land, typically called a “homestead”, at little or no cost.

The Homestead Act gave the family 160 acres on which to plant barley.

Iditarod (proper noun) The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is a 1,000 mile race from Anchorage to Nome. It is run in March each year and follows the same trail as the Diptheria (an illness) Serum (medicine) Run of 1925.

The book, Balto, tells the story of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race.

immigrant (noun) An immigrant is a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.

Page 89: Picturing Fairbanks

84

My grandmother was an immigrant from Germany.

indigenous (adjective) Something indigenous happens naturally or originates in a specific environment.

The fireweed plant is indigenous to the interior of Alaska.

interior (noun, adjective) The interior is the inside of a shape or the area between two parts.

Fairbanks is in the interior of Alaska.

investor (noun) An investor is a person who is willing to loan their money to another person to help with their business.

She offered to be an investor and loan him money to help start his hardware store.

Juneau (proper noun) Juneau is the capital city of Alaska.

Juneau is the only state capital that cannot be

Page 90: Picturing Fairbanks

85

reached by road.

landforms (noun) Landforms are natural physical features of the earth’s surface, such as valleys, plateaus, mountains, plains, and hills.

Glaciers shaped the landforms of the Tanana Valley.

mascot (noun) A mascot is any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck to a group such as a school or sports team.

The Nanook is the mascot of the University of Alaska.

man-made resources (noun) A man-made resource is anything made by a human being.

The bridges in our community are man-made resources.

miner (noun) A miner is a person who extracts ore, coal, or other

Page 91: Picturing Fairbanks

86

minerals from the earth.

Thousands of miners came to Alaska hoping to make it rich.

midnight sun (noun) The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at places north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at midnight.

Around the solstice on June 21 the midnight sun can be seen for 24 hours.

natural resources (noun) Natural resources are materials and components (something that can be used) that can be found in a natural state within the environment.

Oil and gold are some of Alaska’s natural resources.

North America (proper noun) North America is one of the seven continents.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are the three largest countries in North America.

Page 92: Picturing Fairbanks

87

overburden (noun) Overburden is the earth material that lies above the gold deposits.

In mining, overburden most commonly consists of rock and soil.

permafrost (noun) Permafrost is the permanently frozen layer of earth.

Have you ever been to the Permafrost Tunnel?

publisher (noun) A publisher is a person who leads a publishing company or a person who owns a magazine or newspaper.

The first publisher of the Daily News-Miner was William Thompson.

prove-up (verb) To prove-up, homesteaders have to show that they have met the requirements to claim land as theirs.

The family worked hard to prove-up their land so they could own it.

Page 93: Picturing Fairbanks

88

religion (noun) Religion is a collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and views that relate to a person’s spirituality.

In America you have the freedom to be part of any religion you choose.

renewable (adjective) A renewable resource is a natural resource, which can restore itself over time.

Water is a renewable resource.

resident (noun) A resident is a person who lives in a given place.

She was a resident of Ester.

Richardson Highway (proper noun) The Richardson Highway is a 368 mile highway connecting Valdez to Fairbanks.

The Richardson Highway was the first major road built in Alaska.

Page 94: Picturing Fairbanks

89

rural (adjective) A rural area is an area of land that is located outside cities and towns.

Fox and Salcha are rural areas of the borough.

Salcha River (proper noun) The Salcha River is a river located southeast of Fairbanks. It is 125 miles long.

The Salcha River is the second largest tributary (a stream that flows into a river) of the Tanana River.

season (noun) A season is a part of the year, marked by changes in weather, plant growth, and hours of daylight.

There are four seasons; spring, summer, fall, and winter.

sourdough (noun, adjective) A sourdough is a long time resident and especially an old-time prospector of Alaska or a yeast-like dough used to make bread.

The old sourdough miner liked to make sourdough

Page 95: Picturing Fairbanks

90

bread.

stampede (noun, verb) A stampede of people is when a large group rushes to a location for an event such as the Alaska Gold Rush.

The stampede of people to the gold rush filled all the ships.

Steese Highway (proper noun) The Steese Highway is a 151 mile highway that connects Fairbanks, Alaska to Circle, Alaska.

The Steese Highway was named after James Steese who was the president of the Alaska Road Commission in 1923.

sternwheeler (noun) A sternwheeler is a steamship or riverboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the boat through the water.

The Riverboat Discovery is an example of a sternwheeler.

Page 96: Picturing Fairbanks

91

Tanana Valley (proper noun) The Tanana Valley was formed by the Tanana River and glaciers near Fairbanks, Alaska.

The Tanana Valley is in the interior, or center, of Alaska.

territory (noun) A territory is an area that is governed by the United States but is not a state.

Alaska was a territory until 1959 when it became a state.

theme (noun) A theme is a subject or topic for a project, report, party or celebration.

North Pole has a theme of Christmas all year.

trading post (noun) A trading post was a place where the trading of goods and materials took place.

E.T. Barnette set up a trading post on the Chena River.

Page 97: Picturing Fairbanks

92

typewriter (noun) A typewriter is an electric or manual machine with keys for producing print- like characters one at a time on paper inserted around a roller.

She used a typewriter to write her letter.

United States of America (proper noun) The United States is the country in which we live. It consists of 50 states and several territories.

Alaska is the 49th state to become a part of the United States of America and is the largest of the 50 states.

Yukon Quest (proper noun) The Yukon Quest is a 1,000 mile sled dog race held in February.

The Yukon Quest trail runs between Whitehorse, Canada, and Fairbanks, Alaska.

Page 98: Picturing Fairbanks
Page 99: Picturing Fairbanks

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District is an equal employment and educational opportunity institution, as well as a tobacco and nicotine-free learning and work environment.