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Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance, PO Box 2323, Seward AK 99664 http://www.Iditarod100.org IditarodHTA@gmail.com The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance promotes awareness of the Iditarod Trail and its gold rush and Alaska Native Heritage by encouraging education programs and historical research, assisting in the protection, improvement, maintenance and marking of the Trail and developing partnerships that foster stewardship, commitments and support. Time to renew membership Thanks to the members who have renewed. Renewal forms have been sent to all members. If you misplaced your copy, check our website for the dues categories and send your dues to the address above. This is a good time to upgrade your membership level and to recruit new members for the Alliance.
Every member is an important part of our mission to preserve, protect and promote the Iditarod National Historic Trail. Annual meeting Watch your mail for ballots for the election of board members and proxy forms for the annual meeting. It is very important that proxy forms be filled out and returned since we need 25% of the membership present in person or by proxy for the annual meeting, which will be a virtual meeting on December 3 from 11:30 am to 1 pm. If you want to participate send a request to IditarodHTA@gmail.com, with your phone number and mailing address for the zoom link information. American National Historic Trails by Karen Berger This new book celebrates America’s 19 National Historic Trails. The entire national experience comes to life on these trails, from American Indian history to the settlement of the colonies, westward expansion and civil rights.
They are beautifully depicted in this large format volume with photography by Bart Smith. It was published this year by Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. and sells for $51.37 As Karen Berger writes in your introduction, “All of the trails offer opportunities to experience the varied environments that have played a role in the American narrative. But even more these trails place us at the intersection of story and landscape. The National Historic trails give us a way to connect ourselves to those who came before through our common humanity and experience of the land.” A portion of proceeds from book sales will help support the work of the Partnership for the National Trails Systems.
Alliance receives an award The Alaska Association for Historic Preservation, Inc. has selected the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance and its Iditarod Trail to Every Classroom (iTREC!) program to receive its 2020 Historic Preservation Award for Stewardship. The Association felt the Alliance and its iTREC! Program especially deserve the Award for its broad appeal to Alaskans of all ages and its development of public knowledge of the history of the Iditarod Trail. 1 The Tripod November 2020 From the past… “Iditarod Pioneer” September 18, 1915 WILLIAM ANSLEY APPOINTED AS POSTMASTER The news despatches of Wednesday last contained the announcement that William Ansley, the well- known businessman of this city, had been appointed postmaster of Iditarod, to replace Albert Wiley, recently resigned. While not unexpected, be appointment will cause a certain surprise in some quarters as Mr.
Ashley was not believed to be the candidate of the Democratic partisans, and there were quite a number of applicants for the position. Mr. Ashley was a candidate for the position two years ago, and at that time received the signatures of 700 persons to a petition asking his appointment. By a particular piece of political work the appointment went to Albert Wiley, who lay claim to a great friendship for the governor of the Territory. Mr. Ansley has been a resident of Iditarod since 1910 and has been in business here ever since. While not a strict partisan in local and territorial affairs, he has always been a Democrat, and it was understood that the plum was to be given out in accordance with the usage that “to the victors belong the spoils.” That he will make an excellent official goes without saying as he is known to be a careful and methodical man of business.
“Bill,” as he is generally known, promises to conduct the office in a manner calculated to suit the convenience of the public, and if you don't get a letter he will brighten your disappointment by telling you a funny story. Bill was formerly a resident of Dawson, and from a sketch in the Dawson News the following is taken: William Ansley, better known as “Alabama Bill,” was a locomotive engineer on the Louisville and Nashville Railway at Birmingham, Alabama, when the Klondike gold strike startled the world. Bill got the Klondike fever, resigned his position on the road and accepted the management of the “Bessie Cox Gold Mining and Prospecting Company” composed of his fellow employees of the railway. Bill left for Dawson February 6, 1898, with a grubstake of $800.
Packing his output outfit of 1,500 pounds over the terrible Chilkoot Pass, Bill sledded it to Little Windy Arm, where he built a boat and embarked for Dawson on May 26. Bill was accompanied by other men working under the same agreement and together they prospected in the Stewart river country, but without success, as none of the party knew the first thing about prospecting. Arriving at the mouth of the Stewart late in August, they split up the outfit and Bill proceeded to the Klondike, where he staked several good claims, but owing to conditions he was unable to get them recorded. He got the name of “Alabama Bill” from the sign he hung in front of his cabin at the mouth of Bonanza during the winter of 1898-90. The sign read, “Alabama Point,” which was two miles from Dawson and known to every sourdough.
He engaged in numerous ventures, among them running a roadhouse, and later it was his custom when he got a little stake to go up the White river and start a wood camp, and hunt and buy and sell furs. Travelers on the Yukon will remember him, says the News account, because of the fact that in the fall and spring he generally had a bear or two hanging in front of his cabin. He killed eleven bears in the spring of 1906 and was very successful in hunting. He engaged in the express, transfer, and wood business in Dawson. Carin Farley new BLM Trails Lead Carin Farley began her new position as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Scenic and Historic trail Program Lead on August 30, 2020. Carin recently served as the Monument Manager for Kasha-Katuwe National Monument and El Malpais National Conservation Area out of the Rio Puerco Field Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Before coming to work for the BLM, Carin served as a Visitor and Resource Protection Ranger with the National Park Service for more than 2 years. Duty stations included Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Carin has a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management with a minor in Native American studies from Humbolt State University, Arcata, California. 2