Almost 50 Years and Counting
The State of Alaska to promote the distribution
of public lands into the hands of tax paying citizens, offered a program
whereby a resident could stake from 5 to 40 acres of land and lease it
for very little until the lessor had the land surveyed and then they could
buy it for a very 
low price.
About
the time Denvy and Gail got married, he staked 5 acres just off the Deska
River, a prime king salmon fishing river, accessible only by plane and
riverboat. About the time they moved to Trapper Creek, Denvy flew in to
the site in the winter to survey the land. To help finance the low income
family in Trapper Creek, they sold the land to a salesman at the building
supply business.
In the early '80's the state made a similar
offer and Gail staked some thirty-five arces, on a small creek about a mile
in from the road. The view of Mt Denali was awesome and the location was
secluded with a swamp on the northwest corner offering that view, the creek
on the east and about 30 high and dry arces in between. A pond in the
swamp was great for skinny dipping.
The Nielsens with their two infant sons
also staked land, as well as hundreds of other Alaskans. Nielsens chose
to build and live on their land which involved carrying all the building
supplies and homehold items in on foot. Although through the winter, a
snow mobile and sled did most of the work.
On
the trips in Gail and Denvy enjoyed naps and gathering (and eating) blueberries
with a view of Mt Denali.
On inspiration that came out of the trip
to Europe, especially the Bristish Isles, was to start a Bed and Breakfast
to continue to supplement the cash flow. Denvy and Darron had built a
small A-frame out back behind the house as a way of creating a little "get
away" from the toy customers and as a learning experience for Darron.
This was perfect, with some slight upgrades, site for guests in a rustic
setting. The old "outhouse" was moved in and a new toilet seat
was made.
A second construction for Darron and Denvy
was to build a rental house on some property near the Methodist church.
When Denvy and Gail returned from Europe, a tenant was asking when they
could move in and so a priority was put on the construction and the rental
was in use.
While Saxowskys were traveling around the
states in '81, some of their friends started Denali Drama, a group whose
purpose was to present amateur theater in the area. Denvy took a role
in several but the final was as Garcon in "No Exit." It was
one man's impression of hell: essentially living forever in a room with
no outside connection with two incompatible roommates.
Denvy
did better as a toymaker and firewood splitter than an actor.