We took a tour of "old" Chicken in the afternoon and climbed down a dirt path to get there. This town was at its heyday at the turn of the century during the gold rush. The last gold dredging operations closed in the 1960's and it has depended on tourism since then. The cabins and stores have mostly fallen down, but a few buildings remain. They have sunk due to the permafrost, but give a clue as to how people lived. Our guide showed us the living quarters behind the general store. It has a sod roof that has been covered with a tin roof. Another building had the dining room set for dinner. Must have been the hotel. The last two photos are special to me as I read a book about them. The building housed the school and living quarters for the teacher. A book called "Tisha" tells the story of this gal and how she came to Chicken. She encountered bad weather, bigotry and some nasty people, but she brought an education to the children and found happiness. Seeing the schoolhouse and her room brought it to life for me.
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