It’s hard to believe July is nearly behind us! The summer stretched out past the horizon during time spent at the roadhouse in May and June. Yet suddenly we are a month past solstice and even though the midnight sun still lights up most the night, the season is shifting quickly. On Monday, Fairbanks experienced a few minutes of nautical twilight for the first time since May 16th – the stars are returning, and we are moving headlong towards fall colors and northern lights.
The work-trip earlier this summer was jam-packed with projects. We were there (mostly) ahead of the bugs and spent time assessing the roadhouse foundation, hitting maintenance projects, putting up firewood for next season, and continuing work clearing and straightening the last two miles of overland trail from the south – an ongoing project after the wildfires in 2022.
After a careful assessment of the roadhouse structure and ongoing consultation with various experts, we have finally mapped out a way forward.
Although initial plans were to work towards bank stabilization this spring, we have determined that with the astronomical cost of a viable second bank revetment project and very low likelihood of success, this is not the best use of limited resources and time. Instead we are focusing all efforts on moving the building back from the water. When we arrived in late May, we saw that the roadhouse had experienced an ice-jam flood for the first time in eighteen years and that shoreline erosion, usually stable in the spring, has continued to accelerate. We excavated around the building to evaluate structural integrity (and drain trapped flood-water) ahead of a move, and found that almost all of the sill logs will need to be replaced and significant work done to stabilize the floor before any further steps can be taken. Despite these discouraging developments, we now have a plan, a budget, and a timeline. The biggest challenge will be staying ahead of the rapidly encroaching water.
If you care about preserving this incredible piece of living history, now is the time! There are several ways you can help.
- Monetary donations are needed for material supplies and equipment. Lumber for stabilization, cribbing and floor rehab, logs, hardware, tools and so many jacks. Additional details (Sponsor a Bottle-Jack!) coming soon. A secure donation platform is available through the North Star Community Foundation.
[See footnote for an update on grants.]1
- A new Merch shop will be launching August 1st with gear featuring the elegant Tolovana Roadhouse logo designed by local artist Brianna Regan. (Go check out her work!) The image intricately weaves together elements of geography, history, and purpose, and we are so excited to share it. All profits go directly towards Roadhouse preservation expenses. Show your support by showing off your Roadhouse gear, and start conversations about this special place and the efforts to preserve it for future generations of Alaskans. You never know what connections you may help us make! We will start with hoodies and t-shirts, but plan to expand. Let us know what merch you’d like to see!
- Do you work for a local company or organization that has the resources to help through donation of materials or equipment? Does your employer have a volunteer program or community giving grants available for local projects? Personal connections are a huge help in gaining this level of support from the local business community. Please reach out and put us in touch!
This fall, we will focus on rehabilitation and stabilization of the building so that it can hold up to being moved. Next season, we will focus on the move itself. The first stage of this project will cost approximately $40K. Costs for the second stage (clearing a path, moving the building and ensuring a secure foundation) are still being evaluated. The bulk of the expense will be in rental fees for heavy equipment and purchasing the steel beams that will stabilize the structure for the move and help protect the roadhouse in the future. These estimates depend on doing most of the labor ourselves, and any in-kind donations will go a long way towards keeping costs low as the project moves forward.
For folks interested in volunteering for an aspect of this project, either in town or on-site, we will be distributing an online form to gather information about your interests, skills and availability soon.
This little haven on the river is special to so many people, and the significance of its history to the state and especially the local community cannot be understated. Please consider supporting this project, and pass this newsletter on to anyone who might have an interest in following the project and preserving this incredible piece of living history.
- Although there is some grant funding available to support historic buildings, the remote location and unique nature of the project disqualifies us from most of the grants we have tracked down. The increasing urgency of getting work started on the ground has put additional grant research on the back burner. If you know of specific grants or funding avenues that the project would qualify for, please reach out. If you come across something viable that I missed, I will treat you to a Hungry Robot Pizza of your choice!