Nestled in the heart of Alaska, the Fairbanks North Star Borough has a rich and colorful history in the 49th state. The Alaskaland podcast peers into the Borough’s past, while keeping a keen eye on the future. Join host Mayor Bryce Ward for candid conversations with some of Fairbanks’ most interesting characters as they discuss where we’ve been––and where we’re going.
In this episode of the Alaskaland Podcast, Mayor Ward sits down with Julie Anderson, chief of Operations Branch for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers-Alaska District, to talk about the Moose Creek Dam and what the Corps does every day to prevent flooding in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Julie is a lifelong Alaskan with a civil engineering degree, many years of experience, valuable historical knowledge, and a good sense of humor. Enjoy this conversation and make time to visit the Chena Flood Control Project visitors center.
24 May 2023
Feeding People and Affirming Lives
In this episode of the Alaskaland Podcast, Mayor Ward sits down with Hannah Hill, Executive Director of the Bread Line, to talk about their work in Fairbanks “feeding people and affirming lives.” The Bread Line is a locally grown, anti-hunger organization and non-profit. In 2016, while attending UAF, Hannah became a parttime administrative assistant at the Bread Line and has been there ever since. Hannah admits that “the Bread Line fills their cup like no other work ever has.” Tune into this heartwarming episode to hear stories about the brave individuals with backpacks full of sandwiches, who started what is now known as the Bread Line, to the work the Bread Line is doing today to help community members flourish by providing year-round culinary classes to folks who are working hard to better their lives. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.
18 May 2023
The Rewards and Challenges of being an Architect in Alaska
Mayor Ward sits down with Tracy Vanairsdale to talk about the rewards and challenges of being an architect in Alaska. Having spent most of her life in Alaska, Tracy brings a unique perspective on what it’s like to be in her career field in the Interior and the state. Along with her education and years of experience, Tracy harnesses the lessons she learned from her dad, a general contractor, and her mom, a public health nurse, to provide innovative design solutions that meet the needs of each client. She also highlights the team aspect of architecture and talks about how each person she collaborates with is important in the process of designing structures that are “of the place.”
15 May 2023
History of the First Five Years of the Fairbanks North Star Borough
A history of the first five years of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, including pertinent pre-1964 information. Researched and compiled by members of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. June 1979. Read by Rachel Ward.
22 Mar 2022
SS Nenana: The Last Lady of the River
Mayor Ward chats with Patricia Schmidt about the history of the SS Nenana, also known as the Last Lady of the River. The Sternwheeler Nenana ran Alaska's rivers from 1933 to 1952 bringing supplies, news, employment and transportation to each of its stops. At one period in Alaskan history, there were over 300 flat-bottomed sternwheelers navigating on the Yukon River and its tributaries. These sternwheelers were essential in the development of the history of Alaska. Of all these lifelines of the rivers, only one remains: the SS Nenana, located in Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, Alaska. Patricia is a longtime Alaskan and is a member of the Friends of the SS Nenana, a local group who is working to see the sternwheeler restored.
23 Feb 2022
Hockey Town: Rise of the Gold Kings, and more!
Mayor Ward sits down with hockey aficionado Randy Zarnke to talk about the phenomenon of this popular winter sport and how it took root in Fairbanks decades ago. Randy is the author of the book Fairbanks Hockey Pioneers, which highlights the players, coaches, referees, and Zamboni drivers who made the local hockey scene what it is today. And Randy reflects on the exciting heydey of the Alaska Gold Kings from 1975-1997.
7 Feb 2022
Trash Talk: The History of Garbage in Fairbanks
Mayor Ward chats with local historian Joan Skilbred about the history of garbage in Fairbanks, including a shocking story about a city-wide infestation of rats and how they were finally exterminated. Did You Know: the original trash pile was downtown near where the FNSB School District admin office building is located?
Joan is a board member with the Pioneer Museum and has a fascination with the history of Fairbanks.
30 Nov 2021
The Cure for Boredom: Fairbanks' First Library
Mayor Ward sits down with FNSB Library Director Melissa Harter to talk about how boredom led to the founding of the Fairbanks’ first library (hint: it was a reading/smoking room!). Also discussed on the podcast is the beloved Bookmobile, which brings library materials to the farthest reaches of the Borough. Did you know that Fairbanks is the only community in Alaska with a Bookmobile? Finally, Melissa talks about the future plans for the Noel Wien Library and what residents might expect to see soon.
16 Nov 2021
The Great Wood Famine
Mayor Ward sits down with local historian Joan Skilbred to discuss the "wood famine" of the early 20th century in Fairbanks, Alaska. Did you know that before 1914, the trees between Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs Road had been clear-cut, a mile in each direction from the road? The NC power plant alone, which only partially supplied steam power to downtown Fairbanks, burned roughly 14,000 cords of wood each winter! The lifting of President Roosevelt's moratorium on coal production would lift Fairbanks out of this wood famine.
2 Nov 2021
Raising the Next Generation of Leaders in Fairbanks
Mayor Ward sits down with Geoff Welch to talk about lessons he's learned throughout his career as a Fairbanks business owner and leadership coach. Geoff facilitates Leadership Fairbanks, a Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce that helps emerging and established leaders expand their existing leadership skills through exposure to challenging ideas, insights from community leaders, lively discussion, and personal reflection.
19 Oct 2021
The 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic Outbreak in Fairbanks
Mayor Ward sits down with local historian Joan Skilbred to discuss the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic and its impact on Fairbanks, as well as its devastation of a nearby town's population. Nearly 100 years later, many striking comparisons can be made to the COVID-19 pandemic that came onto the world scene in late 2019. Among other things, Joan is a board member with the Pioneer Museum and has a fascination with the history of Fairbanks.
4 Oct 2021
Behavioral Health & Bridging the Gap for Fairbanksans in Crisis
Mayor Ward sits down with Linda Setterberg about helping community members dealing with addiction, mental & behavioral health crises, and life after incarceration. Linda is the Operations Director for The Bridge, a non-profit organization based in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Bridge serves Interior Alaska by providing peer support, reentry case management, supported employment services and outreach to encampments in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
20 Sept 2021
Tales of a Carver, Actor, and... Jouster
Local artist Justin Karella joins Mayor Ward to talk about how he became a master carver (he began with a nail file and a stick), and now has an art gallery at Pioneer Park where he creates one-of-a-kind Fairbanks-inspired artwork for visitors to enjoy. Justin also tells the story of how he taught himself to read, how he auditioned for college by performing Shakespeare, and how he even toured the country with a professional jousting team.
7 Sept 2021
Judge James Wickersham: The Man Who Named Fairbanks
Filmed from the historic Wickersham House at Pioneer Park, Steve Mitchell joins Mayor Ward to discuss the legendary Judge James Wickersham: federal district judge his life and work in Interior Alaska.
23 Aug 2021
Engine No. 1 and the Tanana Valley Railroad
Mayor Bryce Ward chats with train conductor Brian Forrest about how the Tanana Valley Railroad influenced travel to and from Fairbanks, and its influence on the gold rush of the early 20th century. Brian is treasurer of the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad and volunteers his time at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum in Pioneer Park.
26 Jul 2021
The Story of Pioneer Park
In the first episode of the Alaskaland Podcast, Mayor Bryce Ward sits down with Pioneer Park Manager Donnie Hayes to talk about the origins of one of Fairbanks' most beloved parks. What started as a "mid-century barnraising" for the centennial celebration of Alaska's purchase from Russia became a historical landmark, popular tourist destination, and community point of pride. Mayor Ward and Donnie also talk about the future of the park and the Master Plan and process currently ongoing at the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
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