“The Golden Heart of Alaska” D.J. Wilson
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airbanks, Alaska was founded in an interesting manner in August of 1901, by Captain E.T. Barnette who was traveling aboard a steamboat headed to nearby Tanacross to set a trading post. Instead of arriving at their destination, the steamboat ran aground while in shallow water. Barnette and his party found themselves left along the banks of the Chena River with their supplies. Prospectors working in the north hills noticed smoke from the steamer’s engines and came down. They convinced Barnette of the potential of the area and he set up a trading post at the site. In 1902, an Italian immigrant by the name of Felix Pedro made the discovery of gold and the town became incorporated one year later by a 75% majority vote. As early as 1905 the city had a power plant, electricity and sewer services. There was also a school, police and fire headquarters, one hospital and one three-story building. The settlement was named after a Republican Senator from Indiana, Charles W. Fairbanks, who later served as Vice President of the United States under Theodore Roosevelt during his second term. This was at the urging of E.T. Barnette, who
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became the first Mayor of the City of Fairbanks. Fairbanks had its share of floods from ice jams and heavy rainfall. The original bridge across the Chena River stood on wooden pilings and was often washed out before a permanent bridge was built at Cushman Street in 1917. Fairbanks is described as “The Golden Heart of Alaska” due to the discovery of gold and the great nature of its people. Fairbanks, located 188 miles south of the Arctic Circle, began as a major producer of agricultural goods. Paul J. Rickert owned and operated a large farm until his death in 1938. Early roads were established and many were named after prominent local farmers. Despite food production efforts, agriculture in the area was not able to sustain the population, though it came close at times. The building of Ladd Army Airfield began in 1939, under the direction of the federal government during the New Deal and World War II, which helped to boost economic and population growth. The presence of the U.S. Military has remained steady in Fairbanks. In the 1960s, Ladd Air Force Base became Fort Wainwright. In 1967, a record rainfall caused the Chena to surge over its banks