Category Archives: Books

Dog Team Doctor

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1896 Dr. Joseph H. Romig traveled to Bethel, Alaska, and opened the first doctor’s office and hospital west of Sitka, at a time when there were very few non-native people living in remote southwest Alaska. Four decades later a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Railroad, Anchorage, Bethel, Dog Team Doctor, dogteam, Eva Greenslit Anderson, Helen Hegener, mushing, Nenana, Northern Light Media, Romig, sled dogs | Leave a comment

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

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

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 →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information | Tagged Alaska, Alaskan Roadhouses, Book Reviews, books, David Fox, Fairbanks, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Roadhouses, S. Hall Young, Samuel Hall Young, sled dogs, The Mushing Parson, Yukon River | Leave a comment

The Yukon Quest Trail

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Helen Hegener

Update: A good commentary on the 2016 field of 25 mushers from two-time Yukon Quest Champion John Schandelmeier. The 2016 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race will start February 6, 2016, in Fairbanks, Alaska, when 25 mushers and their dog … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Sled Dog Races | Tagged Alaska, Dawson City, Fairbanks, Helen Hegener, John Schandelmeier, mushing, Northern Light Media, Scott Chesney, sled dogs, Talespin Media, Whitehorse, Yukon, Yukon Quest, Yukon River | Leave a comment

Along Alaskan Trails

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Helen Hegener

Along Alaskan Trails, Adventures in Sled Dog History, by Helen Hegener, is a collection of true stories about Alaskan sled dogs and the role they played in the development of the north, with dozens of historic photos from the archives … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books | Tagged Alaska, Alaskan Roadhouses, All Alaska Sweepstakes, “Iron Man” Johnson, Baldy, Balto, Chester Noongwook, Chinook, Emiu, Ernest de Koven Leffingwell, Fritz, Helen Hegener, Hudson Stuck, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Joe Redington, Jujiro Wada, Leonhard Seppala, Mary Joyce, military sled dogs, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Rembrandt, Richardson Trail, Scotty Allan, sled dog mail, sled dog racing, sled dogs, Slim Williams, Split the Wind, Togo, Valdez to Eagle Trail, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail, Wolf | Leave a comment

The All Alaska Sweepstakes

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Helen Hegener

The colorful history and the enduring legacy of the All Alaska Sweepstakes, the oldest organized distance sled dog race in the world, includes records kept by the Nome Kennel Club dating back to the first race in 1908. The race route … Continue reading →