Category Archives: Books

A Dog-Puncher on the Yukon

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Helen Hegener

People sometimes ask me which musher in history is my favorite, and it’s a tough choice, as there have been some truly amazing mushers (and I write about many of them in my book Alaskan Sled Dog Tales), but one … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Sled Dog History | Tagged A Dog-Puncher on the Yukon, Arthur Treadwell Walden, Chinook, Helen Hegener, mushing, Northern Light Media, sled dogs | 1 Comment

“A Mighty Nice Place”

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Helen Hegener

“The valley looks great. It looks fine, fine. You got a mighty nice place here.” ~American humorist and commentator Will Rogers, Palmer, Alaska, August, 1935 The newest book from Northern Light Media combines the history of the Matanuska Valley with … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, News & Information | 3 Comments

Gakona Roadhouse

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Helen Hegener

This article is an excerpt from the book by Helen Hegener, Alaskan Roadhouses, Shelter, Food, and Lodging Along Alaska’s Roads and Trails, published in 2015 by Northern Light Media. Ordering information below. The Gakona roadhouse at milepost 205 on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Roadhouses, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Arne Sundt, Doyle's Ranch, Gakona Roadhouse, Glenn Highway, Helen Hegener, Henra Sundt, James Wickersham, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, roadhouse, Valdez to Eagle Trail, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail | Leave a comment

Joe Redington’s Iditarod Booklet

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Helen Hegener

A slim little booklet came to my attention at the Palmer library recently; if memory serves me it was tucked into their collection which cannot be checked out of the library but must remain in the building. Titled Iditarod Trail, … Continue reading →

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

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 →