The Tripod, July 2022

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. From the past… Iditarod Pioneer July 10, 1915 IDITAROD’S CELBRATION Monday, July 5, the day dedicated to the celebration of Independence Day in Iditarod because of the glorious Fourth falling on Sunday, opened with threatening weather in every promise of impending storm.

The fact that there was also a celebration at Flat City on that day accounted for the attendance from the creeks being small and the morning hours gave little indication that a celebration was in progress. However, as the day wore on the holiday spirit made its appearance and a program was carried out that was enjoyable in every way and the day closed with a dance that was generally admitted to being more than compensated for prior disappointments. The trap shooting in the forenoon at the grounds of the Iditarod Gun Club was sparsely attended and the contests were a disappointment from the standpoint of numbers. Other contests were held during the early evening.

At 1:00 o'clock, the hour set for the patriotic exercise in the Arctic Brotherhood Hall, but a small audience gathered to listen to the speakers and Chairman Stanton after consulting with other members of the committee, announced that portion of the day’s program would be cancelled, as he thought it would be unjust to Judge Bunnell and Mr. Roth to expect them to make patriotic addresses to such a small audience. The latter gentleman took the apologies of the committee in good part. It is possible that the hour selected for exercises was an inconvenient one for many families, being so near the customary midday mealtime. The sports program was carried out as per the program, and resulted in much merriment, even though the contestants were few and no records were broken. The 100-yard dash was won by Ernest Beattie, with Ray Henderson second. E.

Golden undoubtedly would have won this event but for an unfortunate fall a few feet from the tape. The ladies’ race was won by Mrs. Landerking, with Mrs. Charles Larson second. The old men's race was won by Bill Leonard with a wonderful burst of speed, beating out Frank Larson, a much younger man, who was supposed to be acting as pacemaker. Tom Willett was second. The boys’ race was won by Raul Taylor with Donald McDonald second and Russell Lynden Graham third. The nail driving contest for ladies was one of the most interesting events of the series and was participated in by eight ladies. The first prize was won by Mrs. Landerking, with Mrs. Beattie a close second. The race for little girls was won by Beatrice Atwell, who was given a considerable start over her opponents.

Florence McGibney was second and Sigrid McDonald third. 1 The Tripod July 2022 The contests on First Avenue wound up with a mule race, in which there were three contestants. As usual, this event proved to be a mirth provoking one. The riders were Earl Byers, Ray Henderson and Bert Thorson. It took four heats to decide the event, each rider having won one heat when the final was called. In this heat Ray Henderson’s mount refused to go under the wire and Byers, by the exercise of great tact and gentle urging succeeded in inducing his racer to finish and win the money. The launch race had three entries. The course was from the city dock to the sawmill down the river to the cold storage barge and back to the dock. It was a walk a way for J. H. Rogers and his Jolly Roger, with Paul Keaton second.

The canoe race, participated in by Frank Larson and Ernest Beattie, Gene Norton and Paul La Plant, and Bert Thorson and Al Chaplin, developed a serious aspect when Beattie taking an extra-long sweep with his paddle, dived headlong into the river, upsetting the canoe and dumping Frank Larson also into the river. It was reported that Beattie could not swim, and numerous boats headed for the scene of the accident, but outside of Beattie swallowing more water than he was used to, no effects resulted. The race was won handily by Norton and La Plante. The water tournament proved to be an amusing feature. Canoes manned by two men were opposed to each other. One occupant of the canoe was armed with a canvas covered broom with which he endeavored to tilt his opponent into the river while his shipmate paddled.

After sparring around for several minutes, Byers took a header into the river, and Henderson and Norton were declared the winners. This ended the day’s sports. A swimming contest had been scheduled, but those were tested the temperature of the water in the canoe events discouraged the swimmers by the report. A greased pole climbing contest had also been planned, but this also was abandoned during to lack of entries. By great good luck, Professor Drapeau received on Saturday last a new supply of films and was able to carry out his portion of the program with an excellent moving picture show. The hall was comfortably filled, and the new pictures gained approval from the adults and screams of laughter from the kiddies. After the picture show the hall was cleared and dancing commenced around 10:30. The music was furnished by Messers.

Hudson and Lowrie and was pronounced most satisfactory by the dancers. The dance was well attended and lasted until 2 o'clock, when the tired participants left for home. Altogether the Fourth of July celebration in that Iditarod this year was an enjoyable occasion, in spite of its discouraging start. Trail survey The Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers is doing its annual trail use survey on the first mile of the Iditarod National Historic Trail. The survey will cover the last two weeks in June and the first two in July. As of July 11, the most people on the Trail in a half-hour, 141, was on July 3 from 3 to 3:30 pm,109 walking, 24 biking, 3 on scooters, 3 running. 1 on a skateboard and 1 in a wheelchair. It was a beautiful sunny day. The fewest on the Trail in a half hour was on July 7 from 3 to 3:30 pm, 16 walking. It was overcast with light rain.

Alaska Long Trail Alaska Long Trail had mixed results with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto pen. Seven of the 15 projects passed by the Alaska State Legislature survived being cut. All are in the Anchorage area. All the eight projects outside the Anchorage area were vetoed. The projects that survived the veto pen are: • Anchorage Park Foundation - Alaska Long Trail Anchorage to Mat-Su Reconnaissance Study $300,000 • Anchorage Park Foundation - Alaska Long Trail Urban Braid -Anchorage Moose Loop $800,000 • Anchorage - Glacier Creek Bridge - Replacement for Hand Tram - Alaska Long Trail $1,200,000 • Arctic to Indian Phase 1 Trail improvements - Alaska Long Trail $20,000 • Crow Pass Eagle River - Alaska Long Trail $1,500,000 • Peters Creek Upper Trail & Bridge - Alaska Long Trail $30,000 • Turnagain Arm Trail Maintenance and Extension - Alaska Long Trail $370,000. 2