Pike's Landing in College in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Edward M. Keyes

Chatanika's Dynamite Hogs

— Cabin 18 —

Edward M. Keyes Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2024

1. Edward M. Keyes Marker

Inscription.
The following story comes from the old mining camp of Chatanika which had a large population of miners, but no animal control, police or fire departments to call upon when things got out of hand with neighboring livestock.
Fairbanks Daily Times- August 25, 1915

HOGS EAT DYNAMITE; FRIGHTEN OPERATOR E. M. Keys, of the mining firm of Keys & Rettig, is bemoaning the loss of a quantity of dynamite; at the same time, he is congratulating himself that he was not blown up in an attempt to prevent the theft of the explosive. It seems that stray hogs have been frequent visitors at the Keys chicken house of late, causing the operator much annoyance. In desperation, Mr. Keys finally decided to teach the prowlers a lesson and went to the chicken house, while the hogs were on the inside, intending to lambast the porkers with a large club with which he had armed himself.

His plans were upset, however, when he discovered that the hogs had eaten a quantity of dynamite which had been stored in the chicken house. Instead of using the club, as he had intended, he evacuated his position, leaving the enemy in undisputed possession. The

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operator is now trying to figure out how long it will be before it will be safe to resume the attack.

[Photo caption reads] Mr. & Mrs. Edward. M. Keyes

Story provided by the Fairbanks Igloos of the Pioneers of Alaska.

Erected by Pike's Waterfront Lodge. (Marker Number 18.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is August 25, 1915.

Location. 64° 49.938′ N, 147° 50.81′ W. Marker is in College, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is in Pike's Landing. It can be reached from Hoselton Road. Marker is on Cabin 18 in the Pike's Waterfront Lodge complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1850 Hoselton Road, Fairbanks AK 99709, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor,

in the Athabascan Region,

and in Interior Alaska.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Edward M. Keyes Marker on Cabin 18 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2024

2. Edward M. Keyes Marker on Cabin 18

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Salmon & August Conradt (a few steps from this marker); Alphonso L'Kievicz (a few steps from this marker); Whiskers (a few steps from this marker); Carnation Evaporated Milk (a few steps from this marker); Nellie Parsons (a few steps from this marker); Felix, Joy, & Dandy Pedro (a few steps from this marker); "Mushon" Jansa & "Waterfront" Brown (a few steps from this marker); "Two Step" Louis Schmidt (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.