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Sy Neeley, Part 1 |
Sy Neeley was interviewed by Bill Schneider and David Krupa on June 13, 1993 at his home in Glennallen, Alaska. His wife, Carol, operates Carol's Bed and Breakfast in their home. The weekend's lodgers were on their way out the door when Sy took a few hours off to do this recording. This break was a rare occurrence for the Neeleys, who not only run several businesses -- the B & B, a sanitation service, tax preparation -- but also provide volunteer services to the Glennallen community. The previous day, the Neeleys had attended the funeral of a fourteen year old boy who, like the Neeleys' own daughter in 1971, had died tragically in an accident during the bright days of June. The coincidence of timing saddened them all the more and gave them pause to reflect on the many accidents that had claimed the lives of too many youngsters in this tiny, close knit community. Sy is a natural storyteller and his eyes light up as he recounts the exploits of fondly recalled old timers. In this first part of a two part interview, he describes growing up the Chistochina and Nabesna area, construction of the highway, and early methods of transportation. He talks about the ingenuity of the early pioneers, including an early bootlegger who used the seat tank to hold bottled contraband, which was delivered en-route to legitimate booked deliveries. He talks about friendships with old timers, like Bill Cameron, a worker at the Nabesna Mine. He describes the elaborate, world-class, big game hunts executed by the esteemed guide, Harry Boyden, who later sold his land to the Ellises (see tape Oral History 95-71-02 for further accounts of Boyden). Sy's interview contains a lot of gems like this, colorful and humorous anecdotes from a life spent listening, laughing, and living amidst the great community that is the Copper River Valley.
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95-71-03-01 |
Wrangell-St.Elias National Park |
Jun 13, 1993 |
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Sy Neeley, Part 2 |
This is a continuation of an interview with Sy Neeley by Bill Schneider and David Krupa on June 13, 1993 at his home in Glennallen, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Sy talks about old timers,Big Carl Carlson, Henra Sundt, and Thad Conkle, and changes that have occurred in the Copper River Valley. Perhaps his most humorous story revolves around Big Carl Carlson (see tape Oral History 85-87 for more on Carlson), a man famous in his younger days for being able to lift two 250 pound counterbalances during the July 4th celebrations. In his old age, Carl enjoyed his drink and cared little for appearances. Sy suggests that Carl may have launched the tourism industry in Alaska one afternoon as he stood on a street corner outside his favorite watering hole in Copper Center. A bus pulled to a stop in front of Big Carl and as a woman exited she was shocked by the unexpected sight of Big Carl, stooped with age, hulking, drunk, flashing not only his big gray eyebrows but also the "better part of a man's business." It seems he had relieved himself and neglected to button his trousers. Sy's interview contains a lot of gems like this, colorful and humorous anecdotes from a life spent listening, laughing, and living amidst the great community that is the Copper River Valley.
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95-71-03-02 |
Wrangell-St.Elias National Park |
Jun 13, 1993 |
