WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS JULY & AUGUST 2011 PAGE 1 ww.wsen.n w et Wrangell St. Elias News “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” Volume Twenty Issue Four July & August 2011 $2.50 Copper Spike driven 100 years ago— celebrating this monumental feat! Cordova Now in Close Touch With Famous Bonanza Mine at Kennicott, a Big Producer of Photo courtesy courtesy Ron Simpson Photo Fabulously Rich Ore he goal has been reached. 3:30 p.m., TWednesday, March 29, Wednesday afternoon will copper spike, that marked the 1911. ever remain a memorable occa- completion of track laying on At a cost of over twenty mil- sion in Alaska. It records an the new railway that runs from lion dollars. event that will have important the sea port terminus of Cordova The Copper River & North- significance throughout the to Kennicott, the end of the line western Railway, from Cordova United States. as at present projected. to Kennecott, 196 miles. At the time recorded the last At the interior terminus is rail was driven into place by a located the renowned Bonanza (continued on page 13) Editor’s note: It has been 100 years since the Copper Spike was driven, signifying the completion of the CR&NW Railway from Cordova to Kennicott. On April 1, 1911, Will A. Steel, editor of The Chitina Leader, wrote and published this cover story. The headlines read: RAILROAD COMPLETED TO THE COPPER BELT and COP- PER SPIKE IS DRIVEN AT MINE. WSEN first printed this story in two installments in the March/April and May/June issues in 2003. This July/August 2011 printing has been edited to include the most important news but fit in one issue. PAGE 2 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS JULY & AUGUST 2011 A note from the publisher nicott. The Park Service ick graciously filled in and our own McCarthy- for me last issue be- Kennicott Historical Mu- Rcause I was busy pack- seum are partnering to- ing for a trip to Daytona Beach gether to provide a grand to visit my mom, Neta Schafer. occasion. Mom was recuperating from a Lee Ann Kreig outdid serious bout with low sodium. I herself on her article was pleased to be able to fly (page 19), “100th Anniver- down and spend two wonderful sary of the Mother Lode weeks with her. Mom is a Road.” Another event Carl Kenyon, Bonnie Kenyon, Neta Schafer “young” 90 years old—in spite of worth remembering and and Rick Kenyon, Jr. the setback. I am happy to re- celebrating. Thanks, Lee Celebrating Mothers Day, Sunday, May 8th in port she is doing much better Ann! now. front of Port Orange Baptist Church. Wrangell St. Elias Thanks, Pastor Mark (Malcolm) for taking our On the night prior to Moth- News welcomes aboard picture on that special day! ers Day, mom’s phone rang and the following subscribers: it was Rick Jr. He informed me Donnie & Toby Northrup, Laura Brooks, AK; Dave and Gay that he had driven down from AZ; Troy Garrett, ID; Colleen Wellman, AK. Donalsonville, GA to spend Reeves, PA; Kathie Josephs, AZ; Mothers Day with me (and Lance and Tammy Wells, AK; mom). What a surprise! He out- fitted mom and I with corsages Table of Contents (I can’t recall the last time I had Copper Spike driven 100 years ago—celebrating this monumental feat!.........................................1 one of those). Along with Carl Cordova Now in Close Touch With Famous Bonanza Mine at Kennicott, a Big Producer of Fabulous- Kenyon, my father-in-law, we ly Rich Ore................................................................................................................................................1 four went to church together A note from the publisher................................................................................................................2 and enjoyed a wonderful family Items of Interest..............................................................................................................................3 time. This picture was taken in The Languid Lady............................................................................................................................6 front of mom (and Dad’s) church Alaska grown part 3—...................................................................................................................9 on Mothers Day—a beautiful McCarthy 4th of July festivities......................................................................................................10 memory, Rick Jr. Thank you, National Park Service tries to make amends for events, arrests in Eagle.......................................11 son! Be sure to read Rick’s part McCarthy phone system upgrade in progress ...............................................................................12 3 of “Alaska grown” on page 9. Cordova Now in Close Touch With Famous Bonanza Mine at Kennicott, a Big Producer of Fabulously Rick and I want to thank Ron Rich Ore.................................................................................................................................................13 Simpson of Copper Rail Depot in 100th Anniversary of the Mother Lode Road..................................................................................19 Copper Center for his contribu- Alaska’s delegation says “No More Wilderness!”...........................................................................23 tion to the cover of this special Kennecott Operations Plan in draft mode.......................................................................................24 historical issue. Thanks, Ron, for Gilahina Fire..................................................................................................................................25 permission to use the outstand- Fire is a natural part of the boreal forest ecosystem......................................................................26 Review: Fourth John Denver Tribute...............................................................................................27 ing photo of the Copper Spike Letter from WRST Superintendent Meg Jensen...............................................................................28 driven 100 years ago. A perfect Cross Road Medical Center comes calling.....................................................................................30 picture for this issue of WSEN as Copper Valley Telephone Annual Customer Appreciation Picnics....................................................30 we join in on the CR&NW Cen- Twin Lakes Campground to close for improvements .....................................................................31 tennial Celebration. Be sure to Cooking with Peggy.......................................................................................................................37 read the list of events occurring A LOOK AT THE WEATHER..............................................................................................................38 July 8-10 in McCarthy and Ken- WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS JULY & AUGUST 2011 PAGE 3 Items of Interest Welcome back, John, Barba- Mary Kaye as bookkeeper and John, Barbara and Clark ra, and Clark, and great to see Tom is helping out at the grocery Rice and Marcheta Long: The you again, Marcheta! store. Rices and their long-time friend, Larry, Lindee and Kobuk Tom answered their phone Marcheta, arrived on May 9th and Satterfield: Speaking (or writing) when I called for an “item” and soon settled in for the summer about dog boxes, made me think he said he had just finished up his season. John and Barbara picked of the original “dog gone box” generator shed and he and Mary up Marcheta at her home in Bat- that the Satterfields built for dog Kaye were enjoying their first sal- tle Creek, Nebraska. Dog Clark Kobuk. It sits on the back of ad from their new greenhouse. wasn’t sure if he wanted to share Lindee’s 4-wheeler. (That’s what Sixteen tomato plants are sure to the back seat with Marcheta, but gave John Rice the idea to build bring them a bountiful harvest in he soon got used to the idea. one for Clark.) Kobuk thoroughly the near future. John and Barbara are volun- enjoys his traveling “quarters” Another warm welcome to the teering at the Museum. In his and often rides along with Lindee Goldens! spare time (whatever that is!), when she comes to mail. Jim and Peggy Guntis: The John and Clark put their heads Rick and I stopped by the oth- Guntis’ arrived at their McCarthy together and came up with a er day to say hello and to sit for a area summer home the end of great idea—a dog box for Clark spell under their outdoor canopy. May. After Jim hooked up their that fits on the back of John’s It certainly is nice to get a show- water line and fine-tuned things, 4-wheeler. “It’s time he became and-tell tour of Larry and they welcomed their first guests an official Alaskan dog,” says Lindee’s summer projects in the of the season—daughter Kim, John. “After all, he’s 11 years works. husband Richard and their two old.” The Satterfields are enjoying children. Clark is really taking to the the summer season. Several Five days of family relaxation idea, too. He and Master John friends from town have already and fun followed which included showed up at mail call today. paid them a visit with more ex- two trips to mail and an excursion Clark looked like he was thor- pected. to the store for ice cream. The oughly enjoying all the attention Welcome home, Larry, Lindee kids especially enjoyed watching from the young ladies and their and Kobuk! the mail plane come and go. dogs. He even made his grand Tom and Mary Kaye Golden: Throwing rocks into the town entry into the mail shack while The Goldens are