The Looking Back Blog
Loomis' start by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 17, 2010 | 0 
| 10 
| 
Today's Looking Back can be found here . Today, Loomis Armored is one of the world's largest armored car companies. But what you might not know is that company got its start here in the far north. The following article from the May 14, 2000 edition of the Heartland magazine explains: Leg... | 10 |
New Coke by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 15, 2010 | 0 | 9 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . From the May 9, 1985 News-Miner: Coke pops open new formula ATLANTA (AP)—Coca-Cola Co. officials returned Wednesday to the area where the first Coke was sold exactly 99 years ago for a home-town introduction of the new formula they hope will k... | 9 |
Graduation season by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 13, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
For today's Looking Back, click here . Even in 1935, this time of year was one for the grads. From the May 9, 1935 News-Miner: SIXTEEN WILL GET DEGREES THIS SPRING MORE WOMEN THAN MEN IN GRADUATING CLASS WHICH WILL RECEIVE DEGREES ON MAY 20. (Farthest North Collegian) Takin... | 7 |
Soviet Union shoots down American aircraft by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 10, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
For today's Looking Back, click here . 50 years ago, the world was abuzz with the revelation that an American spy plane — the U-2 — had been shot down over the Soviet Union. The pilot, Francis Gary Powers, was put on trial by the Soviet Union and later exchanged for a Soviet spy. The shootdow... | 7 |
Olnes post office abandoned by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 09, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . In the days of pioneer Alaska, a town knew it had made it if it had a post office. Post offices were (and still are in towns and villages) a place where folks could meet and discuss the latest news, sell or trade furs and goods, and let folks Outside k... | 7 |
Polar bear hunting licenses by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 08, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
For today's Looking Back, click here . From the March 5, 1960 News-Miner: THE POLAR BEAR — Here are a batch of interesting statistics given by Bob Rausch, game management biologist for the state, at a recent meeting of the Alaska Conservation Society: The animals are circumpolar; are h... | 7 |
Wolf control by air by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 06, 2010 | 0 | 6 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . From the May 5, 1985 News-Miner: Pilot-trapper tracks the challenges of the wolf hunt By DAVID FOSTER Associated Press Writer McGRATH—The lone wolf must have chased the moose up and down the frozen river for days, never daring to clo... | 6 |
Dog wears skirt by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 04, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . Sometimes it's just a slow news day. From the April 20, 1910 News-Miner: SKIRT SUITED HIM PERFECTLY Malamute Chose a Beautiful Silk Skirt at Simson Brothers. MATCHES HIS COMPLEXION Was Reposing on One of the Latest Importations From Outside... | 7 |
Wrecked ships by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 02, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . When you think about the hazards involved in traveling to and across Alaska in the early days of the 20th century, you typically think of overland travel — dog sleds, stages, and things like that. You don't typically think about the ships bringing pass... | 7 |
Trappers who use poison by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 02, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
In spring 1910, one of the big stories was the poor fur harvest that winter. Though the cause was unknown, most folks pointed to one big factor: the use of poison by some trappers. This article from the April 28, 1910 News-Miner explains: RECKLESS POISONING OF FUR-BEARING ANIMALS Promiscu... | 7 |
Zombie Togo by James_Brooks_FDNM
May 01, 2010 | 0 | 5 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . In a lot of the Looking Backs I run across, taxidermy is much more commonplace than it is today. This story from the April 21, 1960 News-Miner is one example: REUNION WITH HIS MASTER — Togo, the world famous sled dog who helped carry serum a... | 5 |
Frank Dorbandt, pioneer Alaska aviator by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 29, 2010 | 0 | 7 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . If you follow Fairbanks history, you've probably heard quite a bit about Noel Wien and Joe Crosson. You might not know as much about Frank Dorbandt, who died May 4, 1935. His obituary, published in the News-Miner on that date, follows: Death caused ... | 7 |
Anchorage erased by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 26, 2010 | 0 | 5 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . I imagine there's a few people out there who might want to see Anchorage erased from the map of Alaska. Unfortunately for them, Time Magazine already beat them to the punch, as this May 21, 1935 story illustrates: ANCHORAGEITES INDIGNANT AT MAP OMI... | 5 |
1908 Fairbanks News by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 25, 2010 | 0 | 6 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . Back in the early days of Fairbanks, the city had quite a few newspapers in addition to the News-Miner. On April 1, 1960, the News-Miner ran a column recalling the April 1, 1908 edition of the Fairbanks News, which had just been found during a spring c... | 6 |
Joe DiMaggio visits Fairbanks by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 25, 2010 | 0 | 5 |
For today's Looking Back, click here . From the April 25, 1960, News-Miner: Joe DiMaggio in Fairbanks "Jolting" Joe DiMaggio, former famed Yankee baseball slugger, blew into town this morning. His trip is purely for business reasons, but appearances at Ladd and Eielson are being sc... | 5 |
Handing over the pipeline by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 24, 2010 | 0 | 5 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . Not too many folks know that the trans-Alaska Pipeline is actually the second major petroleum pipeline system to go across the state. The following article, from the April 15, 1960 News-Miner, explains: HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER — The last 570 miles... | 5 |
Fairbanks bids for Olympics by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 22, 2010 | 0 | 6 |
From the April 19, 1985 News-Miner: Fairbanks, Anchorage bid for '92 or '96 Games By MARGARET NELSON Staff Writer Fairbanks officially joined Anchorage THursday in seeking to host the 1992 or 1996 Winter Olympic Games. Fairbanks would host the luge and bobsled races under the p... | 6 |
The greatest threat to polar bears: Atomic submarines by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 18, 2010 | 0 | 4 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . One of my favorite sources for material for this blog is the "On the Inside" column that appeared from the 1950s until it was replaced by Dermot Cole's community column. It always included lots of community news items and quirkly little things that cou... | 4 |
Pilot recalls his death by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 16, 2010 | 0 | 6 |
Today's Looking Back can be found here . Here's a piece from Dermot Cole's Alaskana column, featured in the old Heartland Magazine on February 24, 1985. If you're interested in Alaska history, it's definitely something to look for if you're trawling through the archives. Pilot had a Frien... | 6 |
No playing at the post office by James_Brooks_FDNM
Apr 15, 2010 | 0 | 6 |
For all of you who spent your time gallivanting around the post office yesterday while waiting to file your taxes, here's a friendly rebuke from the March 27, 1935 News-Miner's editorial column: FEDERAL BUILDING IS NOT A PUBLIC PLAYGROUND Numerous complaints have been received recentl... | 6 |