Category Archives: Alaska History

The Parks-Archer Colony Barn

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1935 the U.S. Government transported 200 families from the Great Depression-stricken midwest to a valley of unparalleled beauty in Alaska, where they were given the chance to begin new lives as part of a federally-funded social experiment, the Matanuska … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska History, Albert Marquez, Barbara Hecker, barns, Bodenburg Loop Road, Bonita Parks Strong, Dave Rose, Eric Vercammen, Glen Archer, Jim Fox, Joanie Juster, Lynn Sandvik, Matanuska, Matanuska Colony Project, Matanuska Valley, Palmer, Parks-Archer, Pioneer Peak, Ron Day | Leave a comment

John “Iron Man” Johnson

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1910, a Scottish nobleman who lived in Nome, Fox Maule Ramsey, crossing the Bering Strait to Siberia and purchased 70 Siberian racing huskies. In that year’s All Alaska Sweepstakes race, a 408-mile run from Nome to Candle and return, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Sled Dog Races, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Jack London, John "Iron Man" Johnson, Kolyma, mushing, mushing history | 10 Comments

A Look Between the Covers

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The newest book from Northern Light Media, Alaskan Sled Dog Tales, is in the final proofing stage before indexing the book, and I thought a peek between the covers might be fun for readers looking forward to this book. Here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Alaskan Sled Dog Tales

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The history of Alaska was in large part written behind a team of sled dogs. “These trustworthy creatures could be relied upon to do the heavy work, while remaining—as Hegener eloquently reminds us—our most treasured friends.” David Fox, for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Nellie, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Anchorage Press, Book Reviews, David Fox, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | 1 Comment

A.A.”Scotty” Allan

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Helen Hegener

From the Wenatchee World, Wenatchee, Washington, June 29, 1909: “Scotty” Allan, Dog Trainer Winner of All-Alaskan Sweepstakes an old-time resident of Chelan County and well known here The Seattle Post-Intelligencer of Monday night contained an interesting story regarding “Scotty” Allan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Sled Dog Races, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Dubby, Helen Hegener, J. Berger, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, Sled Dog Tales, sled dogs | 2 Comments

Writing

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Helen Hegener

As a writer I work with words on a daily basis, and I’ve been asked if it ever gets old, this spending my time at a keyboard instead of pursuing other potentially more exciting ways to make a living. Okay, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, News & Information | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Magazine, Helen Hegener, Last Frontier Magazine, Mushing Magazine, Northern Light Media | Leave a comment

Icebound

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Helen Hegener

“On January 28, 1925, newspapers and radio stations broke a terrifying story — diphtheria had broken out in Nome, Alaska, separated from the rest of the world for seven months by a frozen ocean. With aviation still in its infancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, DVD & Video, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Balto, Daniel Anker, diphtheria, Gunnar Kaasen, Helen Hegener, Icebound, Leonhard Seppala, Megan Edge, mushing, Nome, Northern Light Media, Serum Run, sled dogs, Togo | Leave a comment

Iditarod Trail History

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Helen Hegener

I assembled the following photos relating to Iditarod Trail history for the BLM Alaska Idita-Chat on January 20. As it turned out, circumstances changed and I only posted a few of the descriptions, and none of the photos, so I … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History | Tagged Alaska, Balto, gee-pole, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Jujiro Wada, Knik, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Northern Lights 300, Samuel Hall Young | Leave a comment

Leonhard Seppala

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Helen Hegener

Leonhard Seppala, who would, like Scotty Allan, win three Sweepstakes championships, became a living legend in Alaska, and in his own autobiography, Seppala, Alaskan Dog Driver, written with Elizabeth Ricker, he described a harrowing event which took place during his first … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History | Tagged All Alaska Sweepstakes, Elizabeth Ricker, Leonhard Seppala, Scotty Allan, Seppala, Suggen | 2 Comments

Alaskan Roadhouses Review

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The Anchorage Press features a great review of my latest book, Alaskan Roadhouses, in the January 14 issue. I love what David Fox wrote about my book: “In Alaskan Roadhouses, Helen Hegener reconstructs the scant history of these establishments and … Continue reading →