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SECOND SECTION Franklin, N. C., Thursday, August 14- 1958
LIFE IS DESCRIBED -
Highlands Couple Preparing
To Return To Alaskan Jobs
Bj MRS. LILLIAN H1RT
(W.C.C. Publicist)
CULLOWHEE ? Even with
summer still upon us, many
people are making plans for the
return to school.
John and Wllma Gordon, of
Highlands, are making plans,
too, but with a significant dif
ference. The end of August will
find them with their two chil
dren on the way back to Hooper
Bay, Alaska, right on the Ber
ing Sea, where they have
taught for the past two years.
Both are graduates of West
ern College ? John in the class
era Carolina College ? John in
the class of 1954 and his wife
in the class of 1953. They are
back at home in Highlands now,
while John works toward the
master's degree at Western Car
olina, with emphasis in edu
cation administration.
Only Cauoasiams
The Gordons are the only ]
Caucasians in a village of 435 ]
population, the others being 100 1
per cent Eskimo. The language |
barrier has been a difficulty,
because the natives speak large
ly Eskimo language, and the
Gordons teach In English. The
government specified that the
children be taught in English
to help them understand that
as citizens of the United States
they are entitled to the rights
of citizenship. This program
was in effect even while Alaska
was a territory.
Adventure Story
An account of a normal week's
activity at their school is like
a dramatic adventure story.
Mrs. Gordon teaches the pri
mary grades, and her husband
teaches the fourth through
eighth grades, with 135 pupils
enrolled in the eight grades.
This is one of the largest of
the government schools exclu
sively for the natives in Alaska.
When Mr. Gordon began his
college career, he had no Idea
that one day he would be a
teacher, doctor, engineer, Jani
tor, ham operator, and a dozen
other things? but he's all of
these in Alaska.
Operates Clinic
The government provides
medical supplies and instruc
tions for using them; and with
that equipment and some basic
knowledge, Mr. Gordon operates
a medical clinic in his school.
When he comes up against
something he can't handle, he
has a doctor near at hand by
way of the short wave radio,
and gets instructions from him.
If a case is really serious, the
next plane will take a patient
out to a hospital, or perhaps
an unscheduled plane will be
sent immediately.
Delivers Babies
In addition to giving shots,
setting broken bones, treating
wounds, Mr. Gordon has aided
in the delivery of 25 babies dur
ing the past two years. But
when his own wife gave birth
last February, he sent her out
to a government hospital on the
last plane available before the
"freeze-up".
Beauty Of Ice
An air view of the village of
Hooper Bay shows plents of ice
sheets and lakes and the Ber
ing Sea, but not any roads or
railroads at all. The nearest rail
or highway is 700 miles distant ?
which to most people seem an
eternity away. The Gordons,
while facing the reality of their
situation, do not feel any ex
treme sense of isolation. First
off, they hoth like to read and
have plenty of good reading
materials on hand. Both enjoy
good music, and that's where
their investment in a hi-fi set
pays dividends. And probably
most Important, both are dedi
cated to the work they are do
ing, and derive much satisfac
tion from it.
Ships And Planes
But how do you exist, partic
ularly with children, In a vil
lage where not even a tree
grows, and where there is no
livestock other than the ever
necessary dog teams? Well, once
a year the steamship. The
North Star, arrives from Seat
tle, loaded with fuel and the
basic commodities to supply a
year's needs. Also, there are the
bush pilots who fly in some
times as often as once a week
with mail and other things that
have been ordered from the
cities.
Imagine ordering groceries in
January, having them delivered
in June, and making-do for an
entire year! Of course, several
bushels of apples and oranges
can be stored easily, which will
help take care of some dietary
needs. Fresh vegetables, can be
obtained almost any time, but
it Is dreadfully expensive to
have them brought in by plane,
so the Gordons use canned
foods mostly. One luxury they
do Indulge, though, Is fresh
eggs, which, of course, are
flown In.
Little every-day comforts such
as we take entirely for grant
ed become large In the eyes of
this courageous couple. Heating
is entirely adequate, they ex
plained, because oil can be
stored in large supply for heat
ing the home and the school.
No Running Water
Sanitation, however, is very
poor by our standards. There
is no running water or plumb
ing of any kind, and ice Is stor
ed In huge drums during the
winter for summer use. Electric
ity is supplied by a generator
furnished by the government,
with Mr. Gordon himself acting
as maintenance man. In 1956
there was a break-down in the
system, and no professional
engineer could get to the vil
lage because of the weather; so
the village was without electric
ity for two months!
Use Catalog
Clothing problems are hand
led easily. Sears-Roebuck cat
alog keeps the family supplied
with the latest fashions, and
Mrs. Gordon is adept with a
needle. She has a sewing ma
chine for her own use, and also
used it to teach the native girls
jto ?ew.
i A.-i j ear long, the family looks j
forward to Christmas, which is I
' observed there in much the
| same way as in the States. Less
i elaborately, of course. Mr. Gor- ;
I don says that packages mailed
! in early October will reach j
j them in time tor Christmas, j
and again the mail order cata- i
log is handy. They order their .
family gifts in August, to be
sure of receiving them in time j
for the holiday.
Christmas Party
The school always has a
Christmas party and a religious
program, because Christianity
was brought to the village many
years ago. There is not much
exchanging of gifts, simply be- '
cause there Is nothing to ex
change. The American Red |
Cross sends in a package for
each school child, but no one
has anything different to give
to anyone else.
In telling the ways of the vil
lage, Mr. Gordon said the peo
ple exist on fish, seal meat,
ducks, and salmon berries,
which they can pick on the
tundas during the summer. The
natives also eat whale meat and
some blubber, but blubber is
used mostly as a preservative
for the fish, duck, and berries.
They engage in hunting and
trapping and sell the skins of
seal, fox, and mink at the trad
ing post In the cities.
Most Get Out
Unless a young person is able
to get out to Mount Edgecumbe
for more training, according to
Mr. Gordon, he has no future
other than to hunt and trap as
his father does. At present, the
best educated person In the
village finishes only the eighth
grade of the local school. How
ever, several of the girls have
gone on to school at Mount
Edgecumbe to study practical
nursing, and one young man
has even graduated from high
school In that same town. Mr.
Gordon describes him as a fine
young man, and he hopes to
take further training and come
back to the native village and
teach his own people.
The Gordon's children are
Nancy, four, and Sabrlna, six
months. While their parents
teach they are In the care of
a native girl, who considers It
an honor to be chosen for the
work.
Mr. Gordon Is the son of Mr.
ELECTED TO OFFICES BY MACON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION *
These are the officers elected by Macon Baptists during their annual meeting here last Thursday and
Friday. They are (L to R) the Rev. Robert R. Stand ley, chairman of the executive promotions committee,
Mrs. John Campbell, reelected clerk, Mrs. Arvel Parker, reelected treasurer, and Fred Corbin, reelected
historian. A picture of the new moderator and vice- moderator, the Rev. Clyde Rhinehart and J. C. Jacobs,
may be seen on Page 1. (Staff Photo)
SEASON EXTENDED ?
Mountain Trout Fishermen
To Get Extra Month's Fun
Tar Heel mountain trout fisher
men will get an extra month of
fishing this year ? with restric
tions.
The Wildlife Resources Commis
sion has extended the season on
certain designated streams in 20
counties to September 30. instead
of August 31. The creel limit dur
ing September will be reduced
from 10 to five daily.
Following- are the counties,
streams and sections of streams
and sections of streams affected
by the amended regulation:
Alleghany County ? Little
River, from Whitehead Bridge
downstream; Brush Creek from
Route 21 bridge downstream;
Glade Creek from Route 21 bridge
and Mrs. W. O. Gordon, of Zeb
ulon. Mrs. Gordon is the daugh
ter of Mrs. Lawton James, of
Highlands, and the late Mr.
James.
Looking forward to another
year beyond nowhere? Of course
they are. It's the kind of life
that demands a very special
kind of person to enjoy it ? and
these young people meet all the
requirements.
downstream.
Ashe County ? New River,
north fork, from Maxwell to
Sharp's mill dam.
Surry County ? Fisher River
and Ramey Creek from Low Gap
Dam to Blevin's Store.
Watauga County ? Watauga
River from Fuscoe to Tennessee
line; Middle Fork from Lake
Chetola to Boone Dam.
Avery County ? Linville River
from Linville Co property to
Refuge line.
Burke County ? Linville River
from first bridge to second bridge
below Lake James.
Caldwell County ? Yadkin River
from Finley P. O. to Buffalo
Creek.
McDowell County ? Armstrong
Creek from Roses Creek toCataw
ba River.
Mitchell County ? Cane Creek
from Clarrissa to Toe River.
Rutherford. Henderson Counties
? Rocky Broad River from Bun
combe County line to Lake Lure.
Yancey County ? Cane River
from Upper Falls to Bowlens
Creek.
Buncombe County ? Ivy River
from Barnardsville Dam to Hwy.
19 & 23.
Cherokee County ? Valley j
River from Andrews to Hiwassee
Lake.
Graham County ? Big San
teetlah Creek from Refuge line to
Santeetlah Lake; Big Snowbird
Creek from Little Snowbird Creek
to Santeetlah Lake.
Haywood County ? Jonathan j
Creek from Maggie P. O. to j
Pigeon River ; W. Fork Pigeon
River from Lake Logan Dam to
Woodrow.
Henderson County ? Green
River from Polk County Une to |
Lake Summit; South Mills River
from Refuge line to N. Mills River:
North Mills River from Refuge
line to S. Mills River.
Jackson County ? Scott Creek
from Dark Ridge Creek to Tucka
seigee River; Chatooga River from
Boundary at Govt, land to South
Carolina line.
Macon County ? Cullasaja
RiveV from Culasaja Falls to
Little Tennessee River.
Swain, Macon. Clay Counties ?
Nantahala River from Refuge line
to Fontana Lake.
Translvania County ? David
son River from Refuge line to
Ecusta Water Intake; French
Broad River from the Forks to
Brevard; Horsepasture River from
Sapphire lake to S. C. line: North
Fork. Flench Broad River from :
Will Sponsor
Junior Garden
Club Locally
At Its monthly meeting Mon
day of last week, the Franklin
Garden club voted to sponsor a
Junior Qarden Club, of which
Mrs. B. L. McGlamery will be
chairman.
Mrs. McGlamery plans to hold
an organizational meeting 'soon
and will announce meeting dates
and requirements for member
ship.
On the program for the meet
ing Mrs. Gilmer Jones served as
moderator for a discussion of the
flower show. The panel was made
up of Miss Adelaide Brewer, Mrs.
John Bulgin, and Mrs. W. E. Purr,
clerks who served the judges at
the flower show.
Mrs. S. Winkleblack discussed
improvements In the horticulture
section for the coming year.
The meeting was held at the
home of Mrs. B. B. Scott, with
Mrs. A. R. Higdon. Miss Gladys
Sellars, and Mrs. Zeb Conley as
co-hostesses.
Balsam Grove to French Broad
River: Toxaway River from Route
64 to S. C. line: Whitewater River
from Route 107 to S. C. line.
FOR . . .
BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING TRADE IN
Children's Bicycles To Be Given Away
ABSOLUTELY FREE
? * >
Square Saturday, August 30 - *?!?.
Start Registering Thursday, August 21st, With Your Favorite Merchants
SHOP FRANKLIN FIRST
? - _
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