Anchorage's Winter Carnival

by Michael and Mary Dougherty
(California)

It All Started Back in 1935

By Mary J. Dougherty
The first Anchorage Fur Rendezvous was from February 15th through the 17th.

Vern Johnson and friends chose those dates because that was when the trappers and miners would come to Anchorage. For the very first Fur Rendezvous they had a children's sled dog race, skiing events, boxing, basketball and hockey. The evening brought a bonfire and a torchlight parade.

When I was growing up in Anchorage, my family and I loved Fur Rondy time and all the festivities. For me, the carnival was wonderful. I loved the rides, the corn dogs and cotton candy. But the main event was watching the sled dog races, and the Parade.



My Mom Got Put in Jail


By Michael R Dougherty


My first memory of the Fur Rendezvous was a little scary -

I was about 5 years old when I experienced my first Fur Rondy. Dad was working, so mom took me, my younger sister and brother to downtown Anchorage to have some fun at the Rondy.

As we walked along 4th Avenue, some men dressed up like Keystone Cops came up to my mom and asked “where is your Fur Rendezvous button?” Well, my mom told them she didn't have one, so the Keystone Cops went into a silly bit and said, “You're under arrest, and you've got to go to jail.”


My sister, brother, and I were upset. Was our mom going to jail?

Mom looked at us and said, “it's alright, it's all for fun.” Then the Keystone Cops took her across 4Th Avenue and put her into a “jail” they had set up right in the street. Our mom was there for the rest of the world to see, looking at us through bars and smiling like she'd won a prize. Moments later, she agreed to purchase that year's Rondy Button and was let out of jail.

Over the years, mom collected lots and lots of Rondy buttons.

Years later, I had the fun experience of marching in the Fur Rondy parade in the East High School band.

Great memories of growing up in Anchorage, Alaska.

Yours Free

Anchorage and Alaska Facts, History, and Pioneers

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