Great Northern Guns

[Louis]

Sure was. I had a ham license and was helicoptered to the Civil Defense building where I set up a 2 meter station for communications. Then I was relieved and started wading back to the University. Was picked up by a couple of GIs in a johnboat who gave me a ride. Good thing, as the water was getting towards my waist. It's a wonder I didn't drown myself!
Once it had dried out they were hauling things out of the Samson Hardware warehouses. They had stuff going back to when they were the Ford dealer in the early 1930s. We were inundated with folks from the lower 48 looking for new, old stock model A & T parts.

Great eyewitness account of Fairbanks history there. Thanks for sharing! Good thing you got rescued before you literally got in over your head. I was only about 7yo and living in Girdwood when that happened. Our family moved to AK a few months after the 64 quake. Fairbanks must have been quite different then. No pipeline and a few gold dredges still in operation.

 

[4merguide]

Sure was. I had a ham license...

QSL? Does that mean you are no longer a HAM?

I "was" as well but a few years back I managed to let my license expire by accident.....thought I had more time to renew. I still have my TS950SDX station, but don't know if I'll ever get around to testing again and getting it up and running.

 

[gunbugs]

We got Sportsman's Warehouse and Walmart. There was a Sports Authority who also sold guns (gone now) Frontier Outfitters is still in business. I was surprised that Down Under couldn't stay in business. Iron & Wood seems to be doing okay. Great Northern Guns in Anchorage filled a similar niche in Anchorage and survived a much greater onslaught of big box stores. Of course the Anchorage area has a much larger customer base. Just speculation on my part. I know nothing of their actual finances.

As a 20 year employee who was there till the last day of business, I can say that the box stores didn't have anything to do with Down Under closing.

 

[gunbugs]

GNG is up and running.

Niels of Gunrunners bought out Great Northern.He's put an incredible amount of stuff in there. It's a little tight to move around, but lots of interesting guns and ammo.

 

[WinterHawk]

QSL? Does that mean you are no longer a HAM?

I "was" as well but a few years back I managed to let my license expire by accident.....thought I had more time to renew. I still have my TS950SDX station, but don't know if I'll ever get around to testing again and getting it up and running.

Affirmative. No longer a HAM. I had a Technician class license which limited me to 6 meters and higher. I went to work on the White Alice System and ended up on Shemya, and there weren't very many places I could reach on VHF so I let my license expire. I did have fun with it while living in Nerland Hall at the UA (pre-F). I had a beam antenna on the roof, aimed at Denali. I could bounce the signal off the mountain into Anchorage if conditions were right. But that was a long, long time ago....

 

[4merguide]

Affirmative. No longer a HAM. I had a Technician class license which limited me to 6 meters and higher. I went to work on the White Alice System and ended up on Shemya, and there weren't very many places I could reach on VHF so I let my license expire. I did have fun with it while living in Nerland Hall at the UA (pre-F). I had a beam antenna on the roof, aimed at Denali. I could bounce the signal off the mountain into Anchorage if conditions were right. But that was a long, long time ago....

Yeah, I had a beam and used to work 2meters as well. Even did the 2m/10 sat. link freehand a couple times that was pretty cool. But imo, until I had HF privileges and started to work the world it really wasn't that much fun. Still can't believe I let my license lapse though. 73s