Daniel Beck Guion
Cedric Duryee Guion
Hotel Hopkins
July 13, 1940
Dear “Outsiders”,
This is the first letter I have written to youse since leaving, and, although I have not yet become permanently settled, I can catch you up to me, at least.
I have noted a distinct interest in the two letters we have received from Dad about how far we traveled each day. I shall give you our itinerary, but first will qualify it by admitting that Ced might have told you already. I have left everything to him when it came to writing home while I (blush) have written only to Barbara (Barbara Plumb, his girlfriend).
(This is a list of all the places they slept on the trip west)
Thursday, June 13, Kane, Pa.
June 14, Draz’s barn, Chagrin Falls, Wisc.
June 15, Grain Field, Walworth, Wisc.
June 16, Peabody Farm, Wisc.
June 17, Frank Peabody’s, St. Paul, Minn.
June 18, Badlands, S. Dak.
June 19, Wildcat, Wyo.
June 20, Gillespie’s, Missoula, Mont.
June 21, Blewett’s Pass, Washington
June 22, Seattle, about noon. Slept on beach first night.
June 23 – 25, YMCA Hotel, Seattle
June 26 – 28, Inland Passage, arrived Ketchikan
June 29, arrived at Juneau 4:30 A.M.
June 30, arrived Cordova
July 1, arrived the Valdez
July 2, arrived Seward, took train to Anchorage.
July 2 – present, Anchorage (2 – 7 at Anchorage Hotel; 7 – present at Hopkins Hotel).
Our first afternoon in Anchorage we found Mr. Stohl who was tersely polite upon learning that we were friends of Rusty, but he said there was nothing for us at the mine but he was sure we could find work in Anchorage. We went to a few of the offices, and learned that new arrivals from the “outside” (Cheechakos) were not being accepted on the Government’s Air Base project, since there was an ample supply of Alaskans who were looking for work, but it should not be hard to find other employment. We registered at the Employment Office, and were told that the Rail Road was advertising for men, their employees having left to get better wages with the Air Base. So Ced and I went down to the RR office next AM, underwent a physical examination, and were told that we could go to work after the Fourth. In the meantime, we discovered that any man who worked on the RR could not quit for a job on the Air Base, and no man who had quit the RR could return later! It seemed best, then, to post – pone the RR job until we had exhausted the other possibilities.
Tomorrow, I will post the rest of this letter with more job information and other pieces of news.
Judy Guion
"Greatest Generation" Life Lessons 
Love the itinerary! It’s good they found out about the pitfalls of the railroad before getting started.
Mrs. P – Fortunately, they were not green 18-year-olds at the time. Dan was 24 and Ced was 23. By now, you know more of the story.
I’m surprised I am still learning new tidbits about the family…so glad you continue to post!
What very interesting letters. Such a glimpse. I’ve never been to Alaska but have a friend who absolutely loves it up there and know several people who grew up in Alaska and loved it!
The Chronicles of History – I find there is quite a bit of information about World War II but it’s main focus is the actual war, battles on land and sea, opinions and theories about the wisdom of leaders and stories of individual soldiers. There is very little information about the life of an ordinary family trying to live an ordinary life in an extraordinary time. I believe my family letters fill that void, in a very entertaining way. I am glad you are enjoying my posts. Why not share my Blog with friends or family, old or young, who might also enjoy these stories from the past.
Yes, I love history of every day people who experienced things has they happened.
The Chronicles of History – In the Introduction to “Reminiscences of Alfred Duryee Guion”, my Grandpa wrote: “… I realized that happenings of fifty years ago now fed to the young folks in history books, might take on an added interest if recorded by one who had actually been a part of them.”
This Blog is my attempt to spread that timely information for the world to read.
That’s is quite lovely and I am so glad you are telling your story. I look forward to your post!
The Chronicles of History – Thank you for your encouragement.