Richard Dowson - North-West Nelson

By Richard Dowson

There are still a few old Central Collegiate students living in Moose Jaw who remember History Teacher ‘North-West’ Nelson.

Mister Nelson lived and breathed History. I’ve always enjoyed stories about him told by Jim, Joan and others.

I had breakfast with ‘North-West’ Nelson’s son, Dave at Carol’s last Saturday.

We got talking about his Dad’s passion.

Credit: Visitnortheastbc

This is the Kiskatinaw Bridge under construction in 1942-43, south of Fort St. John. The wooden deck was terrifying when wet.

Dave told me about the 1964 family trip up the Alaska Highway to Dawson City; then over to Alaska, down to the connection to the Alaska Highway and back to Moose Jaw.

They travelled in a ‘new-to-them’, black, 1963 four-door Mercury Monterey; the model with the slant back window.

North-West bought it from his brother-in-law in Ontario. They set out from Moose Jaw in early July for the 3265 Kilometer trip to Dawson City, Yukon.

The Alaska Highway Mile Zero – the beginning, is 1327 Kilometers from Moose Jaw. The total distance for the round trip was 6530 Kilometers or 4057 miles.

This is Dawson Creek, B.C. and the Mile Zero Mile Post. I was in the hotel on the right (green/blue) when I heard about the shooting of President Kennedy.

You have to love history if you are willing to drag your wife and two kids on a 6530 Kilometer trip into the rugged Yukon in 1964.

I drove the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek to Whitehorse in 1963.

The Canadian Army still policed the rugged Highway, built in 1943-43.

By 1963-64 little had been done to upgrade the gravel or straighten the bends beyond Fort St. John. If a road sign said 15 MPH, you slowed to 15. Any faster and you’d be in the ditch or over a cliff. 

Credit: Anchorage memories

This Internet photo was is memorable. The Canadian Army policed and maintained the Alaska Highway until 1963-64. There was a large military presence at Muskwa Garrison by Fort Nelson.

When I asked Dave what he remembered the most about the trip he said, “The sedan came with 2-ply tires, common in Ontario but not on the Prairies. When we went on the Alaska Highway two tires couldn’t handle the load and gravel and burst. Dad had to replace all 4 tires with good 4 ply nylon tires which were always installed on cars sold in the West. Not a happy situation on a long trip but no more troubles with tires when better tires on car.”

I love the backroads of B.C. and the Yukon.

Credit: AlaskaStories.com

This 1948 Internet photo shows the condition of the Alaska Highway as it was in the Sixties, travelled by the Nelson family.

I drove the Alaska Highway again in 2002 and made it to Dawson City. It was paved all the way. Nothing like the horror of the Sixties.

I loved travelling in the Yukon. If you haven’t been there, it is time to see more of Canada!