During our difficult times, it is helpful to see a recent documentary on The New Deal farmers who migrated to Alaska in the 1930s during the Great Depression. The title is "Alaska Far Away: the New Deal Pioneers of the Matanuska Colony," and it has been running on a growing number public television stations. The film is also available on Amazon.com and from other vendors.
Co-Producer Joan Juster said many interviews were done between 1994 and 2002 with over 200 members of the participating farm families from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Many of those interviewed said the families who signed up were given loans to obtain 40 acres in the Matanuska Valley. It was not a giveaway program. The loans had to be repaid.
Family members said it was kind of scary to relocate in Alaska, but there was no other choice during the Depression. And some had a twinkle in their eyes when they talked about going to the Last Frontier and starting over.
The farmers involved had limited time to make a decision and pack some clothes, pots and pans and basic household needs. Transportation was provided via train to Seattle and then on some older Army transports up to Seward. Lots of seasickness but also wonder as they saw more and more of coastal Alaska.
Some of the women talked about washing baby diapers and then drying them on lines in the cramped quarters and halls.
Upon arrival in Anchorage and then out to the Matanuska Valley, they discovered that many of the proposed tents were not yet up, so it was double-up for the families. And the 40-acre plots often required extensive logging to clear land for farming.
Some families left fairly soon after the seeing the reality of this frontier. But many stayed and toughed it out. I remember one lady interviewed whose husband quickly said he was going back to the Midwest. But she said she remained, and seemed happy with her decision.
Eventually the housing was up, along with a school, small medical facility, store, church and other structures. Some said 40 acres was not enough for a farm, but it all seemed to work out. In the end, those interviewed, almost always said they were happy to be part of the New Deal program, and the opportunity to settle in Alaska. Watching the documentary, it seems like there have been periodic reunions of those settlers, where people who now live in other parts of Alaska or the Lower 48 states come back to share stories and memories with those who are still there.
This is a film worth seeing, whether you live in the Midwest or in the Far North!
Earl Finkler is a former resident of Barrow and host of the Morning Show on KBRW Barrow -- serving the North Slope. He now lives in Medford, Wis., with his wife Chris and former Barrow Husky "Avu."
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