The Last American Homestead: Living Life In The Last Frontier

by David Maranville

With dreams of visiting Alaska, teenager David Maranville graduated from high school in 1964, rebuilt a car, and headed north with a friend. That first trip to America’s last frontier convinced him he would one day call the state home.

With heartfelt honesty and inspirational enthusiasm, Maranville here tells the story of his transition from living within the contiguous forty-eight states to homesteading north of the Arctic Circle.

After serving in the US Army in Vietnam as an aircraft mechanic, he decided to file for the grant of a homesite in the Alaskan wilds. Once he’d staked the land, he faced the challenge of fulfilling the five-year land-improvement requirements prescribed by the Homestead Act.

While earning his homestead, he encountered new opportunities, amazing adventures—and frightening hazards. Working as a helicopter mechanic, he soon partnered with a helicopter pilot and they began the farthest North helicopter company, Sunshine Helicopters, out of Circle City, Alaska along the Yukon River. He built his family a log cabin in the wilderness along the picturesque banks of the Ambler River, where they confronted bears, extreme cold, dangerous working conditions, and rugged landscape—and survived a devastating flood.

Yet the difficulties were worth it. At last, Maranville received one of the final patents granted under the Homestead Act before the act was discontinued.

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2018

Reviews

[Dan Smith]

With dreams of visiting Alaska, teenager David Maranville graduated from high school in 1964, rebuilt a car, and headed north with a friend. That first trip to America’s last frontier convinced him he would one day call the state home.
With heartfelt honesty and inspirational enthusiasm, Maranville here tells the story of his transition from living within the contiguous forty-eight states to homesteading north of the Arctic Circle.
After serving in the US Army in Vietnam as an aircraft mechanic, he decided to file for the grant of a homesite in the Alaskan wilds. Once he’d staked the land, he faced the challenge of fulfilling the five-year land-improvement requirements prescribed by the Homestead Act.
While earning his homestead, he encountered new opportunities, amazing adventures—and frightening hazards. Working as a helicopter mechanic, he soon partnered with a helicopter pilot and they began the farthest North helicopter company, Sunshine Helicopters, out of Circle City, Alaska along the Yukon River. He built his family a log cabin in the wilderness along the picturesque banks of the Ambler River, where they confronted bears, extreme cold, dangerous working conditions, and rugged landscape—and survived devastating flood.
Yet the difficulties were worth it. At last, Maranville received one of the final patents granted under the Homestead Act before the act was discontinued.

[Erica Holcomb]

There were some very interesting parts but there was some animal cruelty that bothered me. I understand that some of it is just life in Alaska in the 70s but it can still be upsetting to some people. And some was just stupidity. The owner deliberately overfeeding his dog on a bet until it was in discomfort and farting constantly wasn't actually funny to me. That aside I would have liked to hear more about what kept him from returning permanently.

[Ed]

A pleasant read and glimpse of an Alaska long gone...

This is a pleasant, easy read of a much simpler time. It’s well worth your time. Enjoyable and moving at times.

[Jerry Smart]

This was a good book about time spent in the wilderness of Alaska, but not much details about the real danger of spending time on the barren land

[Pat]

3.5 stars. A lot of details, but felt there wasn't a lot told. Anyway, unique story of living for a time in the Alaska.

[wendy richmond]

Nice quick read

I liked the story, but there was more that could of been included. I would still recommend it for a short story.