0 Valdez or Bust, 100 Years Later: Part 2

 by Willy Vinton
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

A continuation from Part 1 of the commemoration of Robert Sheldon's pioneering drive from Fairbanks to Valdez in 1913.

As our travels continued, the nice weather stayed with us as we made our way south to the Sourdough Roadhouse. There is not much left of the original buildings due to several fires, but we stopped long enough for a photo in front of the rebuilt lodge. Sourdough was a popular stop for travelers on the old Valdez-Fairbanks Trail, thanks to its clean rooms and excellent food. 

We had no trouble crossing the rivers and creeks (unlike Sheldon), so we made good time. We also had no car troubles until we reached Tonsina Lodge, where we had our second flat tire. Don, having the good sense to think ahead, had procured some "Green Slime" in Fairbanks while we were dealing with the first flat tire. Here was our chance to see if it would work on a tube type tire. Lo and behold, it worked great and is still holding today. We will order and install new tubes prior to the next adventure with the old Dodge.

After leaving Tonsina, the old Dodge ran like a fine Swiss watch, ticking off the miles with little effort. This photo was taken as we neared the top of Thompson Pass. Steve said, "I bet people seeing this old car coming out the fog are thinking it must be a ghost from the past." Once we reached the summit, the heavy fog and truck traffic convinced us to load the Dodge in the trailer and haul it down the pass. Safety first!


I am not sure that this was the correct turn, as we made the trip without a GPS. We did however, come thru with no damage, didn't even scrape the fenders! Wait, didn't we have an outside mirror on the car when we entered the tunnel?

This actually wasn't part of the old Trail, but was a tunnel in Keystone Canyon hand cut for a railroad that was to run between Valdez and Copper Center. Much controversy and a feud--culminating in a shootout--led to its demise. You can read about it here.







After the tunnel we decided to do some minor brake adjustments. My job was to make sure Steve didn't get run over while he crawled under the Dodge.  We agreed that we may make a few changes to the brake system before the next big trip in 2016, when the Dodge turns 100 years old.




Here's Don in front of Horsetail Falls in Keystone Canyon, on a sunny warm day just outside of Valdez. We couldn't have asked for better weather. This was a great trip with good friends, in a great old car that once again has made memories for a lot of people.


Here's the Dodge at the end of its road trip in Valdez. The town made us feel welcome, as did the great folks at the museums. This trip took a lot of work and time to make it come together, and I wish to extend a big thank you to all who made it possible, and for the opportunity to be involved with this project.

I'm really looking forward to the Dodge's next big trip in 2016. Don and Ray will be in charge of the food again, Dave can handle the weather, Steve can make sure the Dodge is ready, and I will just enjoy the trip....


Top left photo of the Sourdough Roadhouse and Robert Sheldon courtesy of Frances Erickson, Sheldon's daughter.

All other photos were taken by Bobbie Hasselbring, a travel writer for Motor Home Magazine.

Detail: Valdez or Bust, 100 Years Later: Part 2

0 A Gasoline Pump from the Past

by Nancy DeWitt

The first automobiles arrived in Fairbanks in 1908, but it would be another eight years before the first gasoline pump was installed in the town. Until that point, motorists had to buy their gasoline at a hardware store, or, as this ad from a June 1910 issue of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner shows, the local gun store. One could buy gasoline by the case--the Northern Commercial (N.C.) Company charged $5.25 to $6.50/case in 1915, which was about the price of a case of Carnation canned milk. One also had the option of bringing their own bucket to the store and having gasoline ladled into it from a barrel.

On July 10, 1916, the Alaska Citizen described the wonder of the new "gasoline pumping device" that had just been installed at the N.C. Company. "And from the tank from which the gasoline is taken quantities of the fluid ranging from one pint to one gallon can be secured. The pump brings the gasoline from the tank and puts it directly in the gasoline tank of the automobile by the hose. The tank holds 300 gallons. Therefore, all an automobilist needs to do when he wants to secure some gasoline is to drive his machine up, make his wants known and pay his money, turn a crank and watch the machine do the work of filling up the tank of his automobile." The device was likely what is called a curb pump.

In the 1920s, "visible" gas pumps became popular. Gas was hand pumped into a transparent, graduated glass cylinder at the top of the unit, allowing the customer to see the quality and the color of the fuel (dirty gas was a problem then). The desired amount of fuel was then transferred to the customer's tank by gravity. The visible gas pump on display in our Alaska gallery is a Tokheim 620 model from the late 1920s. John J. Tokheim patented a number of gasoline pump devices and is credited with inventing the first known gasoline curb service for automobiles.


This pump came from the historic Miller House at mile 114 of the Steese Highway. Miller House operated as a combination roadhouse, general store and post office from 1896 until 1970. Known for its wonderful food, the roadhouse catered to miners, freighters and stage drivers operating between Fairbanks and Circle on the Yukon River. The trail was upgraded for automobiles in 1927, and that September a Studebaker Big Six touring car driven by Archie Broxon of the Midnight Sun Transportation Company became the first large auto to reach Miller House over the new "Yukon Highway."


Do you remember seeing this pump at the Miller House? We'd love to find a photo of it when it stood there. 


Postscript from Willy: We would also like to thank the volunteers that helped with the restoration project of this historic gas pump. We would have a  hard time getting done the things we do without the help of a group of our "Pit Crew" that comes in every Tuesday to help with projects, so when you see them, give them a big thanks, they deserve it. Ron Allen, Rod Benson, Paul Tekin, Mike Lecorchick, Ed McLaughlin, Terry Whitledge, Johny Newman, and Jerry and Donna Krier for the fuel pump, thanks to them this piece of history stands tall in the museum for all to enjoy.

Detail: A Gasoline Pump from the Past