ALASKA PIONEER PATHFINDER

INTRODUCING THE NEW GRAND PRESIDENT

I was born in Midland, Texas, in the oil patch as they call it. My father worked for Gulf Oil. He then moved us to Austin, Texas and finished his degree at the University of Texas at Austin. We then moved to Anchorage in 1965 where my mother lived while my father took a pipeline job in Whittier. We later moved to Delta Junction where my father worked on the Haines Pipeline at Timber Station about 15 miles north of Delta. My parents bought land from the State on Jack War-ren Road where we lived without power and water for ten years until GVEA extended power to Clearwa-ter. I graduated from Delta Junction High School and went to Anchorage where I attended UAA until I was drafted into the U.S. Army. I was discharged with honors and returned to Alaska where I worked on the pipeline first as an oiler and later as a heavy equipment operator. After the pipeline I worked for the Division of Lands in Delta, finishing my degree, then worked for the Division of Forestry in Delta. In 1978 I bought the Napa Store in Delta Junction and ran it for 26 years. My greatest accomplishment was never allowing anyone to be injured in the 26 years of operation. I bought the original Nehi bot-tling building owned by Milt Odom and converted it into the current Napa operation. I served on the Delta Land Planning Commission, the Delta Junction City Council, was the Director of Pub-lic Safety in Delta Junction, and served as an EMT I and II on the Delta Rescue Squad. I also served as the President of the Deltana Community Corpora-tion, building two fire stations, President of the Delta Chamber of Commerce and I was the first Delta alumnus to serve on the Delta Junction School

Board. I am now serving on the Alaska Interior Hos-pital Board. I have been active in the Pioneers of Alaska and served as President for the past eight years and now have the privilege of serving as Grand President of the Pioneers of Alaska. Of all my accomplishments I cherish my relationship with the Pioneers and all the wonderful Pioneers I have met. Sincerely, Troxell Hebert, Grand President Pioneers of Alaska.

IGLOO HAPPENINGS

Anchorage Igloos 15 and 4 will hold their King and Queen Regent Coronation and Tea from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on February 16, 2014 at the Anchorage Pioneer Hall. David and Diane Barnett will be crowned as King and Queen Regents for 2014. Then its on to gearing up for their annual Pancake Feed to be held at the Pioneer Hall, 612 F Street on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday February 23 dur-ing the annual Fur Rendezvous Festival. Fairbanks Igloos #4 and #8 will hold their King and Queen Regent Coronation and Reception on Sunday, March 9. Past Grand President Bob Hufman and his wife, Betty, are the 2014 King and Queen Regent. March 8, 2014 Juneau Igloos #6 will hold the Sweet-heart Dinner where the Men pamper the ladies with a catered dinner. The 2014 King and Queen are an-nounced at this time and will be installed on May 4, 2014 at the Pioneer Home Tea.

ALASKA PIONEER PATHFINDER Troxell Hebert January 2014

Grand President Volume 19, Issue # 1

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Fairbanks Men’s Igloo # 4 has a Club 90 and has over 40 members belonging to this distinguished group of members over 90 years of age.

KENAI PENINSULA INSTALLATION TOUR

After the Anchorage and Palmer Installations were completed, several Anchorage and Palmer Pioneers joined Grand President Troxell on the annual instal-lation tour to Homer, Kenai and Seward with a fun stop at the Clayton cabin on Kenai Lake. Once on the Peninsula the traveling troupe becomes larger as members from the Peninsula Igloos join the group. Every Igloo makes a special effort to make each in-stallation special and to make visitors feel welcome. Grand President Troxell Hebert is shown enjoying one of the Kenai Peninsula’s many attractions while on the tour thanks to his tour guide Past Grand President Al Clayton, Jr.

Photo courtesy of Al Clayton, Jr.

Homer had the distinction of having not only Grand President Troxell Hebert but five other grand officers in attendance: Vision Money, Grand Secretary; Deb-bie Dauphinais, Grand Treasurer; Ken Pysz, Grand Historian; Lee Pederson, Grand Chaplain; and Marie Walker, Grand 1-Yr Trustee. Also attending were four past Grand Presidents: John “Ozzie” Osborne; Jim Herrick; Bill Church; and Al Clayton, Jr. Also present were Pat Fleming and Amber Kloep, widows of Past Grand Presidents.

GRAND IGLOO COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Archives & Generations: Ruth Knapman, Co-Chair Fairbanks 457-6380 Judy Weimer, Co-Chair Anchorage 351-8466 Karen Bonnett-Peterson Juneau 789-7244 Bill Chace Fairbanks 488-3805 Joyce Chace Fairbanks 488-3805 Debra Chesnut Fairbanks 988-2246 Archives and Historical: George Lounsbury, Chair Fairbanks 479-3058 Donna Krier Fairbanks 457-5889 Erica Miller Fairbanks 488-2315 Jim Rhodes Ketchikan 225-5389 Sam Richards Anchorage 245-1942 Audit: Virginia Callloway, Chair Juneau 789-0614 Sharon Benson Palmer 745-4913 Robin McDougal Fairbanks 474-0501 Fred Thorsteinson Juneau 790-4728 Pete Weimer Anchorage 562-5647 Communications: Shawneen Conover, Chair Anch/Fbks 345-4875 Sharon Benson Palmer 745-4913 Don Benson Palmer (c)355-6019 Ruth Benson Delta 488-5541 James Casement Cordova 424-7363



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(Communications Continued) Judy Sarber Wrangell/Anch743-9894 (c)830-2225 Linda Trierschield Sitka 747-5466 Joan Skilbred Fairbanks 488-4447 Constitution and By-Laws: Marilyn Wheeless, Chair Kenai 283-5377 John Aho Anchorage 248-3876 Ruth Benson Delta 488-5541 Steve Cooper Fairbanks 479-2326 Cathy harris Petersburg 772-3183 Credentials: Linda Conley, Chair Fairbanks 488-4781 Norma Alderfer Anchorage 563-7351 Gene Hansen Fairbanks 457-1492 Jean Lee Anchorage 279-4310 James Rhodes Ketchikan 225-5389 Carol Whelan Juneau 723-5433 Evelyn Wince Anchorage 243-6013 Legislative and Government: Don Smith, Chair Anchorage 276-4325 Lee Pederson Anchorage 227-6172 Mike Race Juneau 321-1661 Judy Sarber Wrangell/Anch743-9894 (c)830-2225 Medallions: Don Burt, Chair Homer 235-4298 Therese Veker Anchorage 278-8645 Judy Grahek Fairbanks 456-5787 Judy Weimer Anchorage 351-8466 Pete Weimer Anchorage 351-8466 Membership: Fred Thorsteinson, Chair Juneau 790-4728 Ruth Benson Delta 488-5541 Virginia Calloway Juneau 789-0614 Jim Casement Cordova 424-7363 Leigh Kainulainen Ketchikan 738-4703 Ken Pysz Palmer 746-5288 Judy Sarber Wrangell/Anch743-9894 (c)830-2225

Nominations: Betsy Sharp, Chair Fairbanks 452-2427 Don Buford Juneau 209-8744 Don Burt Homer 235-4298 Ruby Church Palmer 376-5763 Shawneen Conover Anchorage 345-4875 Pathfinder: Diane Pederson, Chair Anchorage 272-7188 Lee Pederson Anchorage 272-7188 Resolutions: Ruth Knapman, Chair Fairbanks 457-6380 Pat Barber Anchorage 272-2044 Bobbie Lounsbury Fairbanks 479-3058 Snider Park: Ken Pysz, Chair Palmer 746-5288 David Barnett Anchorage 276-5739 Ralph Buzard Palmer 892-1924 Bill Church Palmer 376-5763 David Church Palmer 745-0130 Ruby Church, Secretary Palmer 376-5763 Chuck Dixon Anchorage 248-0203 Darwin Fisher Palmer 354-4423 Ed Johnson Anchorage 279-4292 Pete Weimer Anchorage 562-5647 Standing Patents and Emblems: Donna Gifford, Chair Valdez 835-2254 Lorraine Haas Homer 235-5693 Vila Johnson Anchorage 279-4292 Donna Morgan Nome 443-2556 Travel (EZ-BIZ): DA McGilvary, Chair Fairbanks 452-6929 Vision Money Homer 235-4298

ALASKA PICNIC IN YUMA

It’s time for the annual Alaska Picnic held in Yuma each year. It will be on February 14 at the Joe Henry Park on 1st Street. There is a $5.00 Registration Fee.



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The park committee furnishes fried chicken, beer, soft drinks, coffee and water. People attending need to bring a potluck dish to share. There is also live music to add to the fun. Hats, cups and pins are available. If you plan to attend it would be a good idea to bring table and chairs for your group. If any-one is interested or needs more information please contact Ruby Church at 907-355-5763.

NOTE TO THOSE WHO ARE “DOWNSIZING”

If you are ‘downsizing’ and considering donating your photos, documents, or other memorabilia of Pre-1970 Interior Alaska, please keep in mind the Fairbanks Pioneer Museum, which specializes in the settlement and mining history of the Interior. Although it may take some time until we catch up with our backlog, we will digitize the photos and provide CD or DVD copies, free of charge, to you and/or any other museum(s) you might wish to pre-sent them to. Our museum is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization with tax-free status and a small budget, created al-most 50 years ago by the Fairbanks Igloos of the Pio-neers of Alaska. Our experience has been that if you donate your col-lection to large museums, they will share “for free” only if you specify that intention in your original do-nation contract. And they usually have such a back-log that they can’t digitize entire collections, choos-ing only those bits they want to publish; so we would not get complete copies of your collection from them. They, however, would get complete copies from us, if you donate to us directly. To offer a collection, please contact:

Pioneer Museum PO Box 70176

Fairbanks, AK 99707-0176

(Submitted by Joanne Oehring, President)

BE A GRAND IGLOO FOUNDATION DONOR

The Grand Igloo Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit cor-poration with 501(C)(3) status established by Past Grand Presidents Walter Kopp and Ed Johnson and Past Grand Treasurer Don Leeburg in 2004 as a means for individuals to make tax-deductible contri-butions to the Pioneers of Alaska. The original incorporators of the Foundation gave some thought to how they wanted representation from all across the State in the Foundation. Conse-quently the by-laws provide that the board will be comprised of two directors from the Northern area, two directors from Anchorage, Mat Valley and Prince William Sound area, two directors from Southeast Area and one director from the Kenai Peninsula Kodiak Area. How it works is very simple. All tax-deductible con-tributions are made to the Grand Igloo Foundation. These contributions support programs and activities of the Pioneers of Alaska and may be designated for a specific purpose or unrestricted, general operating use. For instance, a donor may donate money to the Grand Igloo Foundation and designate a particular Igloo to receive the money. It could be donated to be used for convention expenses, scholarship, etc. The Igloo must agree to use it as the donor in-tended. Other examples are to make a contribution without designating how it is to be used. The Direc-tors of the Foundation would decide where it would



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do the most good. Better storage of records and preserving the history of Alaska are two very impor-tant causes. As reported in the report to the Convention at Jun-eau in September 2013, there are five historic pro-jects the Foundation is currently assisting. “Cordova Project. The preservation and Rehabilita-tion of the historic Cordova Igloo #19 located in downtown Cordova, Alaska. Foundation assistance includes: fund raising for the project start up, ($50,000); State of Alaska Historic Preservation Fund Grant, ($10,000); State of Alaska Capital Budget Funding Request ($200,000); nomination and inclu-sion of the building on the national Register of His-toric Places (Placed in 2012); State of Alaska Certi-fied Local Government Grant, Federal Funds, for structural engineering work($10,000); Placement of the building on the list of ten most endangered his-toric properties in Alaska, 2012 and 2013; and the Rasmuson Foundation Grant ($200,000 with a $50,000 Match amount.) Total assistance from the Foundation is approaching one-half million dollars. Recognition by the Rasmuson Foundation places the GIF into a category of Historic Preservation Associa-tions. This is a big step.” “Re-publication of the Historic book about the Pio-neers of Alaska by Dr. William Chase, Pioneers of Alaska: “Trail Blazers of Bygone Days” last published in 1951. This project is in the Process of being sent to a publisher for a printing bid. The Foundation is looking for Grant sources for funding.” “Re-publishing old issues of the Pathfinder, a historic magazine first published in Valdez as a Pioneers Publication and is still being published today by Diane Pederson. Issues from 1919 thru 1937 contain a treasure of historical information and stories about

the people who came North to Alaska in the early days. Copies of the issues are being located from sources around the State and arrangements being developed for digital scanning. Grant funding is be-ing explored for this project.” “McCarthy Project. A report that documents the history of the McCarthy area and Igloo #25 as well as the people who settled there is complete in a rough draft form. One additional photo remains to be ac-quired. Another part of this project is the restora-tion of the McCarthy graveyard which is an ongoing graveyard party hosted by Past Grand President Al Clayton and for the past three years, progress has been made in spite of the frivolous behavior of the participants. One must note that no participant has been left at the bone yard, all have been able to get up and return to their homes.” “History of the Pioneers of Alaska Igloos. This is a project that will document the history of all the Pio-neers of Alaska Igloos from the organizations found-ing at Nome in 1907. The McCarthy project created interest for this project and as to date McCarthy, Cordova, Chitina reports are complete in rough draft form. The Foundation is awaiting information from Valdez on their Igloo history and when that is re-ceived the report for Valdez will be complete also in a rough draft form. This project has a start. We have talked with several Pioneers especially Fred Thorsteinson from Juneau and there is interest for the project. Many names of folks who may want to help have come up so they will be contacted to see if they want to participate. Big project but a real cool one to do.” “Pioneer Up T-Shirts. This was intended to expose the Pioneer name out to everybody. A public rela-tions project lets folks know the Pioneers exist.



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Many have been sold so if you don’t have one yet get yours today. We need to publicize ourselves and this is a start to do just that. They are selling almost at cost so getting the name recognition is what this is all about. If you have any ideas just let the Foundation know. The Pioneers need to do this.” “The Grand Igloo Foundation is encouraging all Pio-neers of Alaska to get historic projects going in your community and Igloos and be an active part in sav-ing our State history. If we don’t make the effort to save and preserve Alaska and Pioneer History, then who else will do it. This Foundation is set up to help you in your efforts so please utilize this asset. It can and will provide the tools you need to begin funding for projects.” PIONEERS OF ALASKA ISSUE PUBLICATION

INTERESTING HISTORY

The following is an edited transcription from The Dawson Daily News, December 23, 1919.

KETCHIKAN.-Alaska has a new monthly magazine, The Pathfinder, which, commencing with the November issue, just out, is to be devoted to the interests of the Pioneers of Alaska. “The purpose of this magazine,” states an editorial in the first issue, “is to collect material for a history of Alaska. The history of any country is a compilation of the incidents of the lives of the men who have lived in and, to some extent, developed that coun-try. So, the trials, travels , tribulations and triumphs of the early settlers in Alaska, tell the tale or, in other words, write the history, of Alaska.” One of the future numbers of the Pathfinder will be pub-lished in Ketchikan. “It will be the policy of the publisher, we are told, “to have each igloo assist in the publication of its own special number and the secre-

taries and historians of the several igloos should be-gin now to gather data concerning their town and its early settlers. Your number of the Pathfinder will be published in your home town, the same as this num-ber is of Anchorage.” As indicated in the foregoing, each number of the publication is to be a special number devoted to the town in which it is published. The greater part of the first number is devoted to a series of sketches of the lives of members of Anchorage Igloo, No. 15, Pioneers of Alaska. The following brief history of the organization of the Pioneers of Alaska is given on the first page: “The order was organized on the 20th day of Febru-ary, 1907. A number of men who came to the coun-try prior to 1901 asked for admission into the Yukon Order of Pioneers, but they were refused for the reason that the order required a residence in the North prior to 1899 or there-about. This question was being discussed one evening in Joe Jourdan’s saloon in Nome when someone suggested that a new organization be established, fixing the date of eligibility at January 1, 1901. It was no sooner said than done. A night was fixed for the organization and 200 men affixed their names to the constitution. In a short time there were over 500 members.” A second igloo was organized at Candle in the fol-lowing June and on May 10, 1908, the third igloo was established at St. Michael. Fourteen others have sprung into being since then as follows: No. 4 Fairbanks; No. 5 Ruby; No. 6 Juneau; No. 7 Valdez; No. 8 Wiseman; No. 9 Seward; No. 10 Iditarod; No. 11 Ophir; No. 12 Skagway; No. 13 Tanana; No. 14 Takotna; No. 15 Anchorage; No. 16 Ketchikan; and No. 17 Nenana.



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Something over 5,000 men who came to the North prior to 1901 have joined the organization. Individ-ual igloos have permitted women who could qualify to join the Pioneers. More than 500 other women, who are wives, mothers and daughters of Pioneers, have enrolled in four auxiliaries which have been organized at Nome, Valdez, Fairbanks and Anchor-age. Eligibility for membership in the Pioneers we are told, includes not only residence in the North prior to 1901, but the applicant must also “have been dominantly identified with Alaska since that time.” “To unite the old timers of Alaska and by a perma-nent organization preserve the names of all early settlers on its rolls; to collect and preserve the inci-dents of Alaska’s literature and history, and to pro-mote the best interests of the territory.” And the old timers of Alaska, who for reasons of their own failed to make good are now in the home at Sitka, are given their place in the new publication. On page 20 appears the following paragraph: “Igloo No. 15, in response to the plea of Governor Riggs to the different igloos to try and send the old boys at Sitka Home a little “change” with which they can attend the movies, buy a little tobacco and other small necessities to while the time away, have in-stalled a “free offering box” in the club rooms at the Pioneer hall, where they can all give their fite for this laudable purpose. Inasmuch as fully half the old-timers in the home are eligible to belong to the Pio-neers, the public generally is invited to share in the pleasure of giving to this worthy fund. Each igloo in the territory will undoubtedly do its part, as Christ-mas will soon be here.”

This is not the only charitable work undertaken by the Anchorage Pioneers, for on another page we are told that they are helping to care for a little French girl in France. “Who would not share the last mouthful of bread with the little tot?” is asked. Some twenty pages of the magazine are devoted to brief sketches of the lives of members of Anchorage Pioneers. Many of these life stories, whole told in very brief form, contain thrills which exceed those of many of the “Best sellers” written about northern heroes. But through them all runs the old of the “call of Alaska.” Almost every character mentioned went South on one or more occasions, firmly deter-mined never to return to the gold fields, but they all came back. Not only is the first issue well written and edited, but is well gotten up typographically. It is published by John W. Frame, grand historian of the Pioneers of Alaska, and he is to be complimented on the excel-lence of his work. The magazine, containing 32 pages and cover, was printed by the Anchorage Times Press. (Article submitted by Joan Skilbred, Fairbanks Women’s Igloo No. 8)

A NUGGET

Lying on his deathbed, the rich, miserly old man calls to his long-suffering wife, “I want to take all of my money with me so promise me you’ll put it in the casket.” After the man dies, his widow attends the memorial ser-vice with her best friend. Just before the undertaker closes the coffin, she places a small metal box inside. Her friend looks at her in horror. “Surely,” she says, “you

didn’t put the money in there.”‘I did promise him I would,” the widow answered, “so I got it all to-gether, deposited every penny in my account, and wrote him a check. If he can cash it, he can spend it.”



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First Class

Please Forward

Address Service Requested

Alaska Pioneer Pathfinder

C/O Diane Pederson

925 R Street

Anchorage, AK 99501

From the Editors:

We want to thank all those who sent articles to us for publication in The Pathfinder.

If anyone wants something published in the Pathfinder whether it is a current event, historical information, or a

personal interest story, please take a moment and send it to us via mail or e-mail. Ideas and suggestions are welcome.

After all it’s a Statewide publication for all Pioneers.

If you would like to order a Pioneer Up T-Shirt contact Jim Casement at 907-424-7363.

The Pathfinder is printed four times a year. Subscriptions may be ordered by sending $1.00 per issue. The

subscription expiration dates are listed by your name on the label.

Pathfinder C/O Diane Pederson [email protected] 925 R. Street

Anchorage, AK 99501

ALASKA PIONEER PATHFINDER

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