Homesteads on Fort Richardson, Alaska - The USARAK Home Page ...

Alvin Meier was a mechanic for the Alaska Railroad. He was “one of thetop ones,” according to Doris. He worked there for twenty-three years andretired on disability due to severe allergies. Alvin was hard of hearingfrom a childhood accident in Montana. His lack of hearing was not a handicapwhile working for the railroad, as it was always so noisy anyway.Being hard of hearing didn’t stop Alvin from playing several instruments.He played the tuba in a band with his brother, Edwin, and could play pianoand trombone.Figure 17. Alvin “Lovey” Meier.From collection of John Bagoy.Doris and Alvin filed for homestead entry in 1938. They built a 32' x 24' tworoom log cabin and cultivated a garden with many vegetables (see pp. 50,51). They dug a well next to the cabin. Prior to the well, they had to packwater in cans. Alvin built all the furniture for the cabin with wood from theland. They found an abandoned Essex in the forest and Alvin, being a mechanic,was able to fix it up in fine condition. Later, they also had a model AFord truck. Before a stove was hooked up, Doris and Alvin heated theirdaughter’s bottle on the engine of the car.The Meier family got all the meat they needed by hunting, trapping and fishing. Theyate salmon, moose, bear, waterfowl, rabbit, ptarmigan and spruce hens. Doris canneda lot of the meat, as there was no indoor refrigeration. The only way to keep freshmeat cold was by putting it outside, usually in holes dug during winter. They alsokept a barrel in the trees to hold meat, so the bears couldn’t get to it.Doris recalls having a large bell outside on the back of the cabin, next to a window.If a bear came near the house, it usually hit the bell and warned the family they hada visitor. Often bears would be right at the window looking into the cabin. Dorissaid though, “That’s one thing we never feared. We never worried aboutanimals….They never seemed to bother anybody.”The Meiers relinquished their homestead claim in 1941, for $750. They were veryclose to receiving patent. Doris believes the house was occupied by the military formany years after they left. Indeed one year she and Alvin were invited to theirformer home for Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner by the military people whowere occupying the land. Doris said, “They cooked a big moose in the ground forus – and it was real nice!”After the government acquired the homestead, the Meiers moved into town. Theylived in a tent while a new house was built for them on F Street. Edwin and BerthaMeier had a house nearby, across the Park Strip. Alvin Meier passed away in 1972.Doris is still living in Anchorage today. She remembers the homestead years asbeing a wonderful time. 95Edwin and Bertha MeierEdwin and Bertha Meier filed for homestead entry in 1938. In 1941, they relinquishedthe claim to the government for $850. They were very close to receivingpatent. Edwin was born in 1910 in Montana and had five brothers. The Meier familymoved to Alaska in 1923. Edwin’s brother, Alvin, had a homestead borderingthe northern boundary of his claim. Edwin worked as a printer and was also an95Doris Meier, personal interview, 12 July 2000.38<strong>Homesteads</strong> on Fort RichardsonAlaska