I would like to honor the Alaskans of the past by learning how they lived back in the "old days". Knowledge of those days is fading with the passage of time. That's to be expected. But perhaps on this thread we can save and preserve some of what the old-timers knew and what they did.
I've somewhat arbitrarily chosen 1975 as the end of the "old days". It's the year the Trans Alaska Pipeline construction began. Much in the state has changed since then, but the years up to 1975 are still recent enough that there are many Alaskans who remember them.
1) Let's keep the posts on these topics: bush or village living in the "old days" up until 1975.
2) First hand stories, recollections, reminiscences are best usually beginning with: "I remember when..."
3) Second hand stories can be good too: "My tough-as-nails grandpa used to tell me about how..."
Here are some sample topics:
How often people left the bush to visit civilization.
If hunting and fishing were easier or harder then and why.
What proportion of people failed to make it through a season or a year, and returned to civilization.
If village life was much more common than living alone or in small groups.
How many families there were.
When chainsaw use became common.
Whether growing food was practical.
How people defended food in gardens from wildlife.
If anybody even grew food in gardens.
If people often bartered instead of using cash.
Whether cabins were smaller.
How most cabins were built: to last or to be abandoned.
What happened to those who fell through river ice.
What people did to treat themselves for injuries or sickness.
If bush dwellers were tougher then or not and why.
Of course, there are endless topics from the "old days". Don't be limited by these. Let's keep the three points listed above in mind though, so that this thread can be successful.
I've somewhat arbitrarily chosen 1975 as the end of the "old days". It's the year the Trans Alaska Pipeline construction began. Much in the state has changed since then, but the years up to 1975 are still recent enough that there are many Alaskans who remember them.
1) Let's keep the posts on these topics: bush or village living in the "old days" up until 1975.
2) First hand stories, recollections, reminiscences are best usually beginning with: "I remember when..."
3) Second hand stories can be good too: "My tough-as-nails grandpa used to tell me about how..."
Here are some sample topics:
How often people left the bush to visit civilization.
If hunting and fishing were easier or harder then and why.
What proportion of people failed to make it through a season or a year, and returned to civilization.
If village life was much more common than living alone or in small groups.
How many families there were.
When chainsaw use became common.
Whether growing food was practical.
How people defended food in gardens from wildlife.
If anybody even grew food in gardens.
If people often bartered instead of using cash.
Whether cabins were smaller.
How most cabins were built: to last or to be abandoned.
What happened to those who fell through river ice.
What people did to treat themselves for injuries or sickness.
If bush dwellers were tougher then or not and why.
Of course, there are endless topics from the "old days". Don't be limited by these. Let's keep the three points listed above in mind though, so that this thread can be successful.
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