News from the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation

2024 Christmas Card

Christmas card front card message images of some inductees

2024 Photos

  • 1)  Placer miner Carl Parker, circa 1938. Inducted into the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame (AMHF) in March, 2024.
  • 2)  Joe Usibelli and Peggy Shumaker at their fly-in retreat in the Brooks Range, undated.
  • 3)  Uranium prospector and placer gold miner Kelly Adams, circa 1946. Inducted into the AMHF in November, 2024.
  • 4)  Rosalie and Joe Usibelli picking blueberries near their Healy home, circa early 1940s.
  • 5)  Chromium miner and developer Karl Bachner, circa 1955. Inducted into the AMHF in November, 2024.
  • 6)  ‘Blue Babe’, a steppe bison on display at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Museum of the North.
  • 7) Left to right, Jared Fithian, Shannon Michael, and Bob Fithian at the induction of Wendell Dawson in Anchorage, November, 2024.
  • 8)  The Joseph E. Usibelli Engineering, Learning, and Innovation Center, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, circa 2022.
             Photo by Todd Paris, UAF.
  • 9)  Iconic coal miner and philanthropist Joseph E. Usibelli, circa 1970. Inducted into the AMHF in March, 2024.
  • 10)  The aircraft used by Kelly Adams in the discovery of the Ross-Adams uranium-REE deposit, 1955.
  • 11)  AMHF volunteers Joyce Outten and Barbara Sevier from Santas Seniors (North Pole)
             at the AMHF booth at the Alaska Miners Association Convention in Anchorage in November, 2024.
  • 12)  Hardrock gold miner and prospector Wendell Dawson, circa 1917. Inducted into the AMHF in November, 2024.

  • Unless otherwise credited, all photos are Alaska Mining Hall of Fame file copies.


    Summary of Activities Held of the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation Museum

    The Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation continues to operate a museum at 406 Cushman in Downtown Fairbanks, Alaska. A few tourists come through our door in late fall and winter, but activities were quiet during the 14-day, Late January-Early February cold spell which saw temperatures dropping down to -54oF. Attendance improved beginning in May and stayed up until the end of September. From late November 2023 to Late October 2024, thirty (30) events were held, including fourteen (14) Wednesday Evening lectures, a AMHF induction ceremony, two book signings, and a film review. On March 27th, 2024, the biggest crowd of the year (108) showed up during a standing-room-only induction ceremony honoring iconic coal miner and philanthropist Joseph Usibelli Sr. and veteran placer gold miners Carl Parker and Walter Roman.

    The Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, the Fairbanks Branch of the Alaska Miners Association, the Alaska Trappers Association, the Fairbanks Genealogical Society and the Fairbanks Coin Club all used the facility for meetings during the reporting period. The AMHF Foundation encourages these and other organizations to use the facility. Visitors continue to purchase mining history books, coffee cups, and other paraphernalia that are for sale at the museum. Those who visited the museum came from 32 U.S. States and 17 foreign countries.

    Our team of volunteers from Santas Seniors, North Pole, Alaska, continue to insure that the museum is open to the general public. They Include Barbara Sevier (team leader), Goldie Southwood, Jo Small, John Halbert, Frank and Ida Rhines, and Joyce Outten.

    The Museum’s normal operating hours are 10:00AM-4:00PM Monday through Saturday during summer months, which are reduced to 12:30PM to 3:00 PM during fall and winter months. We are open year-round; due to reduced hours, visitors are encouraged to call Tom Bundtzen at 907-388-6607 for access when our volunteer staff is not present.


    Estimated Count and Guest Book Totals During Normal Operating Hours, Evening Lectures, and other activities, Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Museum, November, 2023-October, 2024

    MonthDaily Guest
    Book Sign-Ins
    Additional
    Estimated Attendance
    Evening Lectures
    and Scheduled Events
    Total
    November, 20235174466
    December, 2023723108138
    January, 2024143171116
    February, 20246207399
    March, 20241528125168
    April, 20241731126174
    May, 20244449104197
    June, 2024584751156
    July, 202411354115282
    August, 20241177215204
    September, 202410941123257
    October, 2024711117135
    TOTAL5154241,0722,011



    Scheduled events at AMHF museum, including Wednesday evening lectures and other get-togethers during the reporting time period November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024

    Count Date Lecture title and presenter Attendance
    1 11/22/2023 Mining the News for Local Nuggets, by Virginia Farmier 16
    2 11/29/2023 Pillars of Smoke: Energizing Alaska 1904-2024, by Phil Wight UAF 18
    3 11/30/2023 Fairbanks Genealogical Society 10
    4 12/01/2023 The Price of Paradise, By Mark Schlenker—book signing sponsored by Alaska Trappers Association 25
    5 12/06/2023 Pistons to Pipelines—Relationship Between Aviation and Oil Development in Alaska by Dan Berriochoa UAF 18
    6 12/15/2023 AMHF Christmas Party 65
    7 01/16/2024 Fairbanks—Then and Now—A Photographic Time Travel Journey by Joan Skilbred and Mark Cosson 71
    8 02/14/2024 Goldrush Blacks in Fairbanks, Alaska by Joan Skilbred 41
    9 02/23/2024 Alaska Miners Association/Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Review by Jeremy Johnson 32
    10 03/26/2024 Fairbanks Genealogical Society Amy Stratman 17
    11 03/27/2024 AMHF Induction Ceremony (Carl Parker, Walter Roman, Joe Usibelli) 108
    12 04/03/2024 Historic ‘Old Time Hunting Films’ by Randy Zarnke and A J Schmidt 47
    13 04/17/2024 Felix Pedro’s 166th Birthday Party; by Joan Skilbred 37
    14 04/23/2024 Life and Times of Irene Sherman by Fairbanks Genealogical Society 42
    15 05/07/2024 Organization and Goals of Alaska Mining Hall of Fame by Tom Bundtzen for Fairbanks Coin Club 27
    16 05/08/2024 A Tale of Two Cats—Early History of the Caterpillar Brand by Joan Skilbred and Jim Gibertoni 21
    17 05/22/2024 ‘The Girl Alaska’ (1919 silent film) Presented by Angela Schmidt (UAF Archives) 56
    18 06/19/2024 The Caravaya Region of Peru—a gold region worked by north country pioneers by Paolo Greer 51
    19 07/10/2024 The Moose Creek Pictograph Site by Martin Gutoski 59
    20 07/24/2024 Richardson, Steese and Dalton Highways—Who are They Named For? by Rose Rybachek 43
    21 07/27/2024 Tour of Hi-Yu Mine for Swedish-Norwegian Tour Group, organized by Tom Bundtzen 13
    22 08/06/2024 Fairbanks Coin Club (unknown topic) 6
    23 08/09/2024 Osher Life-Long Learning Group: What is the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame? by Tom Bundtzen 9
    24 09/03/2024 Fairbanks Coin Club 16
    25 09/11/2024 Alaska in the Progressive Age 1896-1916 by Thomas Alton 33
    26 09/19/2024 Subarctic Sounds and Echos—A History of Performing Arts in Early Fairbanks by Paul Krejci 67
    27 09/24/2024 Fairbanks Genealogical Society Amy Stratman 7
    28 10/01/2024 Grading of Uncirculated US half cents, by Enlow Walker 14
    29 10/04/2024 Alaska Miners Association Economic and Candidate Forum 44
    30 10/30/2024 Missing Plane N1812H An Obvious and Logical New Theory by Jim Gilbertoni and Joan Skilbred 59
    Totals 1,072


    2024 Events at the Museum

    Celebrating Felix Pedro’s 166th Birthday during April 17th, 2024 lecture


    2024 Events at the Museum

    Display of 66 pound copper ‘nugget’ from White Pine Mine, Michigan donated to the AMHF by Ken Pohle and Tom Bundtzen; now on display at the Museum


    2024 Events at the Museum

    Sally Anne Carlson sings with musician/presenter Paul Krejci at his September 19th 2024 lecture Subarctic Sounds and Echos—A History of Performing Arts in Early Fairbanks


    2024 Events at the Museum

    Chamber of Commerce CEO Jeremy Johnson addresses an early morning crowd at the museum on February 23, 2024


    2024 Events at the Museum

    Visitor viewing the mineralogical collection of AMHF inductee Stephen R. Capps at the museum


    2024 Events at the Museum

    Newly erected poster celebrating AMHF inductee and Irish Immigrant Bridget Aylward




    Scandinavians Investigating their Mining Heritage—A Field Trip to the Hy-Yu Gold Mine in the Fairbanks district

    In Late July, 2024, a group of eight (8) from Scandinavia visited Fairbanks on a mission—to view the Hy-Yu gold mine, a past producer of lode gold during Territorial times. The following narrative was provided by Asle Eikeland, son of Jorgen (George) Eikeland (1906-1990), who grew up on the family farm in Bjerkreim Municipality in Norway as one of eleven (11) children. In 1929, at the age of 23, Jorgen (George) emigrated to the United States to seek opportunities during the worldwide ‘Great Depression’. He first worked as a forester in Montana and later in a sawmill. He later became a sheep herder, protecting sheep from predators such as coyotes, pumas, bears and human poachers.

    In 1932, Jorgen (George) heard the ‘Call of the North’ and left Montana for the Fairbanks Mining District in Interior Alaska, where he obtained a job as an underground miner at the Hy-Yu Gold mine in the upper Fairbanks Creek drainage. His talents were quickly recognized and by 1936, he became the Foreman of the mine. The Hi-Yu mine was one of the larger underground gold mines in the Fairbanks Mining district that were active during Territorial times before Alaska Statehood. In 1938, George went back to Norway to pick up his wife and small son with plans to return to Fairbanks the following summer. But he did not return. His wife was reluctant to leave Norway and Jorgen began to experience significant respiratory issues. However, after a period, he completely recovered from this illness.

    1938 Eikeland

    Photos from left to right showing Jorge (George) Eikeland at far left; center—1938 Article about George Ikeland in Fairbanks Daily News Miner; and right—the Hy-Yu Mine as it appeared in 1938.


    Fast forward to July, 2024, when eight people from Norway and Sweden traveled to Fairbanks to get a glimpse of the Hy-Yu gold mine. Asle Eikeland and Geir Asheim had contacted Tom Bundtzen, President of the AMHF in the spring of 2024, and asked if he could assist in organizing a trip to the Hy-Yu Mine. The field trip occurred on July 27th, and after two attempts through dense deciduous forest, bogs, and beaver ponds, the group finally encountered the mine. It was partially fenced off to restrict access from the general public, but otherwise, the mill building was easily recognizable. It was a wonderful experience for Asle Eikeland to walk directly in the footsteps of his father, George Eikeland. The next day, the group got a complete tour of the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Museum in downtown Fairbanks. Later, Asle Eikeland became the newest AMHF 98er.

    2024 Eikeland

    Left—Joren Eikeland showing photo of his grandfather George Eikeland, a truly remarkable resemblance between the two. Center —the field trip with the Hy-Yu mill in the background. Featured in the photo besides those listed below are Geir Asheim, Geir Stangeland, Gry Vorset, Irene Willumsen, and Lola Petterson. Right--part of the group at the AMHF museum featuring Asle Eikeland, son of George Eikeland, Cecile Stangeland, granddaughter of George Eikeland, Tom Bundtzen, President of the AMHF, and Joren Eikeland, grandson of George Eikeland. All photos provided by Asle Eikeland.



    2017 AMHF participates in the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Alaska Purchase

    Mineral Resource Developement Prior to the 1867 Alaska Purchase - Thomas K. Bundzten

    In November, 2017, using AMHF archived information and his own research, AMHF President Tom Bundtzen presented: Mineral Resource Development Prior to the 1867 Alaska Purchase during History Night at the 2017 Annual Convention of the Alaska Miners Association in Anchorage. The presentation coincides with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire by the United States. Research for the lecture included 2017 visits to the Russian Geographic Society and the Russian Museum of Ethnology and History, both in St. Petersburg, Russia, to acquire information.

    A version of that lecture entitled 'Mineral Resource Development Prior to the 1867 Alaska Purchase' has been published in: 150 Years—Proceedings of the 2017 Kenai Peninsula History Conference. The editor and convener of the Kenai conference was Shanna Loshbaugh of Fairbanks. The 313 page volume is available from Loshbaugh.


    cover of Kenai Penninsula Historical Society Conference

    For information concerning acquisition of this volume, please email Shanna Loushbaugh at sloshbaugh@gmail.com. A version of the mineral resource paper will be imported onto the AMHF website.




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