My time in the state was in the 1960's, arriving in Fairbanks exactly 4 years after it achieved statehood in January 1959.
The population of the city in 1963 was just 22,645, before the oil pipeline created the boom. I lived there for 21 months before getting base housing on Eielson AFB (30 miles south), where my husband was stationed - shopped in town at Ft. Wainwright (Army base) for groceries, etc.
Shopping was very limited - Northern Commercial Department Store (small) - Woolworth's Dime Store - and Sears Mail Order, using our Seattle APO address the major choices.
One of the very first things you learned was never ask anyone their name, where they had lived prior to Alaska, or what they had done/did now....the reason for that was when it became a state, blanket amnesty was granted to its citizens for whatever in their past was illegal!
Many had flown prosecution in the Lower 48; and many still carried on illegal activities there. There was a silent mafia element.
Illustration: with few grocery stores, one enterprising fellow opened a large, very nice new one - - 'tragically,' it shortly after (was) burned down to the ground.
[Arson case never solved]
Growth and competition were actively discouraged, lest the undesirable elements should lose control.
The law enforcement and judicial systems were strange indeed.
I cite two real life examples of that:
One was a highly publicized in the newspaper case where in a downtown bar quarrel, one man went out to his car, got his handgun, and coldly (perhaps I should have said heatedly!) shot another in front of several witnesses.
The presiding judge ruled he had to be freed. Why, you ask?
Forgetting their real first names, I will phrase it as' Bob' and 'Charley' were arguing over which was better - the door lock on a Ford vs. a Chevy!! Bob shot Charley.
The judge added as his reason for his verdict,
"Charley knew Bob had a bad temper, and he shouldn't have gotten him riled!!"
Another one:
In the early summer of 1964 a teenage couple went walking in woods outside of town, and came across an isolated cabin. Not getting an answer to a knock, they went in the unlocked door and found a dead man lying on the floor.
Law officers responded, and subsequently ruled "the death was caused by part of the roof caving in under the winter snow load."
Nothing wrong with that except for the fact he had a bullet hole in his head..:)) Nonetheless, Case Closed!!
(Saved the state a heap of money and time investigating!)
There were not many big robberies, since there was only one road out of Fairbanks. Were a robber to try to flee, the law merely contacted troopers farther south to head upward and close off the Richardson Highway, checking out every car in their path.
While you digest that much, I'll gather some more things to relate about Alaska Before The Pipeline - - will scatter them today and tomorrow on the thread.
Yikes!
Thanks again for your wonderful stories! What a life you have lived.
Awww......thank you. :-)
I have been so looking forward to your posts today, then, right before you got here, I had to leave for awhile.
Sounds like Alaska was (and probably still is) truly the wild, wild, west. It's statehood beginnings remind me a bit of what I have read of Australia's, both being made up partially by a criminal element. Very interesting.
I'll gather some more things to relate about Alaska Before The Pipeline - - will scatter them today and tomorrow on the thread.
Thank you so much, Maggie. I appreciate your interesting Alaska stories. I know others do also. :-)