The Frontiersman

Above pictured are Bill Roberts Paul James and Clinton DeWitt seated in a 1917 Overland chain-drive truck, owned by DeWitt.

The men were in town last week, making purchases for Alpine Inn and exploited the virtues of the truck to all who would listen.

"Only 40 minutes, from here to Alpine," they boasted.

When asked what type of business the "Alpine Excavating Company" is, the men said they had been digging things up for some time but that this was the best thing they'd found for a long time. "We have an express business, also," they said. "We do hauling . . . our loads consists of items as light bulbs, puffed wheat -popped corn . . . anything like that."

The truck actually has an interesting history. Built in Seattle in 1917, it was shipped to Alaska and landed at Goose Bay where the reported original owner, one Fred Nelson took delivery. Sometime later Horning's Trading Post acquired the truck and later Teeland's Shopping Center became owners. DeWitt obtained it from them and says he would not part with it now for anything. "I've been offered a lot of money but I'm getting too much enjoyment out of it to sell it," DeWitt said.

The truck is in surprisingly good condition and in spite of the hard rubber tires, rides quite comfortably he reported. "We're going to take a trip to Anchorage as soon as the weather warms up," and added the trip will probably take four hours each way.