First Avenue at Cowles, looking down the waterfront, former site of pioneer commerce on the Chena River.
Your Fairbanks Historical Society Since 1959
September 1998 Newsletter
Vol. 3, No. 7
Index
Each year hundreds of visitors enjoy the scenic landscape of the Tanana-Valley, hike the trails and observe the varied wildlife that populates our valley. But undiscovered even by many of our local residents is a wealth of other natural, cultural and historical resources which collectively paint a broader, more varied picture of the Fairbanks environs.
These sites tell fascinating stories about our diverse cultural traditions and architecture and contribute to local, state and national history. Unfortunately, few of them have had resources dedicated to preserving historic sites, to interpreting them authentically and to making them accessible to the public. First Avenue between Barnette and the power plant comes to mind. We may often drive or walk along the Chena riverfront but seldom notice this streetscape that played such an important role in the growth of Fairbanks. During the summer months steamers jostled to dock along this stretch of river and here some of our earliest cabins and frame houses still remain. The style of these homes is of architectural interest and also tells the story of the economy of the times and that of the lives of the people they sheltered.
First Avenue at Cowles, looking down the waterfront, former site
of pioneer commerce on the Chena River.
Another property in need of interpretation is Creamer's Dairy Historic Site, the recent recipient of a small grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Friends of Creamer's Dairy will use these funds to prepare a needs assessment study. It is their wish to rehabilitate the barns and eventually open them to the public. Creamer's Historic Site and Creamer's Field is a wonderful destination for visitors. It is worthy of our support because it is a place that tells a story of settlers who wrested a different kind of value from the ground, who came to farm in the far north. This too is well worth the telling, an integral part of our heritage.
The needs of this community are many for it to meet its potential for success. It would be appropriate in the waning hours of this century to have an initiative by local and state government focusing on the interrelationship of economic development, the revitalization of the community and the interpretation of the cultural character of our town. After all, it's our town, our home; it's where we make a living and derive a meaningful quality of life on the "Last Frontier".
Other properties on this year's list include:
We might well consider how the "honor" of these selections by the AAHP reflects on our own community's regard for these historic sites. It is hoped the designations will induce further effort towards preservation along with expanding appreciation for the unique aspects of these facets of our community.
Because of the press of other activities, our editor is resigning his position as editor, effective after the publication of the January 1999 newsletter. Local graphic artist, Karen Farrell, has volunteered to assume the position and with this issue marks her first contribution with the addition of a new masthead and incorporating photos into the newsletter layout. The editor gratefully acknowledges Karen's work and wants the readers to know that the professional and polished look of this Newsletter is entirely due to her efforts.
An apology -- Last April your editor let a typo slip through in the fourth paragraph of the first page when he wrote that the FE manager's house was built by Mr. Victor Johns. That was an error. It was built by Mr. Victor Johnson whose son, Mr. Frank Johnson, lies in Sacramento. Thank you, Jim Moody, for calling the error to our attention.
Make a note of our e-mail address: tyhs@polarnet.com
Voice Mail: 455-TYHS (455-8947)
Check out our home page at http://www2.\/polarnet.com/~tyhs
Help! TYHS is desperately looking for someone who can help with the TYHS homepage!
1998 membership renewals are due now. Check your mailing label. Has your membership expired?
Welcome to New Members
Paul & Donna Rossi
945 Fitz Court
Fairbanks, AK 99712
A Special Thank You to Elizabeth Cook and Janet Matheson for the lovely flowers they purchased, planted and maintain at Wickersham House, and thanks again to Janet for the new signs she made for the Wickersham House.
By Special Request
by Jill Holmgren
Nature printing is defined as the making of illustrations by inking the actual object. Early explorers, particularly physicians, often inked leaves, pressing them into the margins of their journals to leave a record of size, shape, etc.Examples of plant printing have been located worldwide, some dating back over 500 years. The widespread use of nature printing and the recent discovery of a nature-printed medicinal plant guide written by the surgeon for a Spanish ship that eplored the Pacific Coast of North America in 1700 indicate that additional examples of early nature printing in America likely exist.
If, in the course of research, anyone should observe the inked impression of a plant, a rubbing taken from a stone or wooden object, or perhaps even an illustration made by inking a feather, insect, fish or other object, natural or man-made, we would be most grateful for any leads on where these documents might be archived.
Jill Holmgren
International Nature Printing Society
1150 Molly Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-6301
E-mail: jholmgren@mosquitonet.com
Did you know that the Tanana-Valley Historical Society is selling Alaskana books at Wickersham House in Alaskaland? Please support the museum with your purchases. The following is a short selection of titles:
Children's Books
| Arctic Animal Babies by Susan Dell Holen, illustrated by Betsy Arehart |
5.95 |
| If You Give a Moose a Muffin, by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond |
4.95 |
| Baby Beluga, by Ashley Wolff |
5.99 |
| The Alaska Mother Goose, by Shelly Gill, illustrated by Shannon Cartwright |
8.95 |
| Castaway Cat, by JoAnn Roe |
6.95 |
| Muscles the Moose Calf, by Douglas DeVries, illustrated by Patricia Parker |
10.00 |
Craft Books
| Birch Bark Basket Making, by M. Gray, T. Pupu, A. Newlin |
6.50 |
General Interest
| Barren Willoughby: Alaska's Forgotten Lady, by Nancy Warren Ferrell |
14.95 |
| Cold Starry Night: An Alaskan Memoir, by Claire Fejes |
19.95 |
| Coming Into the Country, by John McPhee |
15.00 |
| Girl in the Gold Camp, by Peggy Rouch Dodson |
14.95 |
| Gold at Forty Mile Creek, by Michael Gate |
19.95 |
| Gold Rush Runaway, by Douglas DeVries |
10.00 |
| Gold Rush Women, by Clair Rudolph Murphy and Jane Haigh |
16.95 |
| Good Time Girls (autographed) by Lael Morgan |
24.95 |
| Growing Up Stubborn at Gold Creek, by Melody Erickson |
9.95 |
| I Married the Klondike, by Laura Beatrice Berton |
14.99 |
| Klondike Centennial Scrapbook, by Stan Cohen (featuring paraphernalia from the Candy Waugaman Colelction) |
19.95 |
| Klondike: The Last Great Gold Rush, 1896-99, by Pierre Berton |
14.95 |
| Nellie Cashman: Prospector & Trailblazer, by Susan Ledbetter |
12.50 |
| One Woman's Gold Rush, by Cynthia Brackett Driscoll, Molli Brackett |
12.00 |
| Two Old Women, by Velma Wallis |
10.00 |
| Baby Girl and the Man Who Followed the Sun, by Velma Wallis |
12.00 |
The Tanana-Yukon Historical Society is published monthly September - May and occasionally during the summer. Subscriptions are $10.00 (includes annual membership). Mail to TYHS, P.O.; Box 71336, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707-1336. Submissions for possible publication to Backlund, P.O. Box 82349, Fairbanks, AK 99708-2349 or email to kestrels@alaska.net.
