Tagged: Valdez Fairbanks Trail

The first Paxson's Roadhouse

Marge Gull painting of Paxson’s Roadhouse

This is a painting of the first Paxson’s Roadhouse, 172 miles from Fairbanks (188 miles from Valdez). In the winter of 1905-06, Alvin Paxson operated a tent-based roadhouse near Isabel Pass, along the section...

Wilbur Brothers sheet metal shop in Fairbanks on Noble Street in Fairbanks. The biusiness has been at this site since 1954. Pen & ink on watercolor paper, 7" x 10"

Wilbur and sons played a big role in Fairbanks history

Wilbur Brothers Sheet Metal, in one form or another, has been a family-owned Fairbanks business since 1914. During the winter of 1913-14, Alden Wilbur Sr., who was living in Seattle with his wife and...

Yost's (McCallum"s) Roadhouse at Mile 203 of Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. Nothing is left of the roadhouse.

Marge Gull painting of Yost’s (McCallum’s) Roadhouse, Mile 203 of Valdez-Fairbanks Trail

The painting is of McCallum’s or Yost’s Roadhouse, at Mile 203 of the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. In 1905 a Mrs. McCallum began operating a roadhouse out of a small single-story log cabin on the east...

Marge Gull Painting of Miller's Roadhouse. Roadhouse used to stand at Mile 214 of Valdez-Fairbanks Highway

Marge Gull Painting of Miller’s Roadhouse, at Mile 214 of Valdez-Fairbanks Trail

The painting is of Miller’s Roadhouse at mile 214 of the trail (144 miles from Fairbanks). It was sometimes called McDevitt’s in its early years, but incomplete records from that period mean that who...

Casey's Roadhouse at mile 212.5 of the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. The Roadhouse lasted less than 10 years.

Marge Gull painting of Casey’s Roadhouse (McKinley’s Roadhouse)

James Casey  set up a primitive roadhouse (just a few tents and tarps) along the Delta River,  possibly as early as 1901. It was located at what would become Mile  212.5 of the Valdez-Fairbanks...

Summit Lake cabin was a vital emergency shelter along Valdez-Fairbanks Trail

The portion of the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail crossing the Alaska Range at Isabel Pass was one of the most dangerous sections of the trail. The distance between Paxson’s Roadhouse, on the south side of Isabel...

Richardson Highway’s McCallum Creek was once home to a busy settlement

McCallum Creek is a tributary of Phelan Creek, which in turn flows into the Delta River. (Several early guidebooks confused Phelan Creek with the Delta River.) Located about 160 miles southeast of Fairbanks along...

Marge Gull painting of Black Rapids Roadhouse

This painting shows Black Rapids Roadhouse, which was one of the most important and longest-operating roadhouses along the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. The remains of the roadhouse are still visible at Mile 227.5 of the Richardson...

Marge Gull painting of Donnelly’s Roadhouse

This painting shows Donnelly’s Roadhouse, which was one of the key roadhouses along the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. It was located at the junction of the Delta cut-off winter trail and the summer trail (which eventually...

Marge Gull painting of Beal’s Cache roadhouse

This is a painting by Marge Gull depicting Beal’s Cache, at approximately 257 miles on the old Valdez-Fairbanks Trail (about 108 miles from Fairbanks). It was located south of Big Delta near Donnelly Dome....