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Atlanta to Fairbanks: Delivery of a CJ-3B

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: A story in the July 07, 1954, issue of the Fairbanks Daily New-Miner shares the story of church group’s successful 6,000-mile delivery of a CJ-3B to a Fairbanks pastor named William J. Gordon.

The article also notes the jeep sports an experimental fiberglass hard top is interesting. The roof of the top reminds me of the CJ-5/DJ-3A Koenig manufactured tops, but the doors appear unique.
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Original Post November of 2017: The three teens–Peter Calhoun, Richard Perry, and Geno Bogan–delivered a CJ-3B to a bishop in Alaska.

“1954 Press Photo Rev George Murphy & Teens Pray Atlanta to Alaska Jeep Trip. You are bidding on an original press photo of Rev George Murphy & Teens Pray Atlanta to Alaska Jeep Trip. Photo has waving due to too much glue being used to attach the information sheet onto the back of the photo. Photo measures 7.25 x 8.25 inches and is dated 6/24/1954.”

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Published March 03, 2016: This photo sold on eBay

“1954 Press Photo Alaskan Mission. Atlanta-Alaska Donated Jeep. Prayer 8×10 inch.”

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An article and a different photo appeared in the July 7, 1954, issue of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. You can see a blurry version below.

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Here’s some text from the article, but I’m not sure it is all the text:

Jeep Arrives From South! A jeep for Alaska’s Episcopal Bishop William J. Goidon was driven into town yesterday at the end of a 6,000 mile trip by three youngsters from the Young Peoples’ Service league of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Ca. The young people’s group bought the Jeep” for Bishop Gordon with money derived Irom a furniture repair program supported by the members of the community and several other money-making sources. The purchase of the Jeep was the idea of 18-year-old Geno Bocan h who worked last summer at St. Mark’s mission ip Nenana. The Jeep will be put to use at that mission. Bishop Gordan said yesterday. The Jeep is the latest civilian model with an experimental fiberglass cab for cold climates. Only Two’ Flat Tires Three of the young penple’s group drove the Jeep 6,000 miles across the United States and HWY 1 Canada to Fairbanks from Atlanta. They were Began, Pete Calhoun and Harold Martin. Only two flat tires Were encountered on the whole trip, one in Ft. St. Johns in Canada and the other while ‘still in the state of Georgia

The June 24, 1954, issue of the Daily Sitka Sentinel from Sitka, Alaska, also had some info about the trip. 

The jeep is just what Bishop Gordon ordered. Constructed of fiberglass and insulated with foam rubber, it has a large- size heater, four- wheel drive, snow tires, a winch on the front and a power takeoff on the rear. The three boys driving it to Alaska are Geno Began, 12, Pete Calhoun, 18, and Richard Perry, 17. Stop over entertainment and accom modations has been promised them by the Kaiser-Willys Co., which also will service the jeep along the route.

 

3 Comments on “Atlanta to Fairbanks: Delivery of a CJ-3B

  1. Illinois Larry

    That would have been a great trip. I drove a 67 Wagoneer to Alaska in 1978 and 1981. I hope to go up again soon.

  2. Cody R. Maverick

    12, 17 and 18 years old? Wow! A simpler more innocent period in our time. I can’t see that happening in this day and age! How old was the youngest on the Alaska or Rust trip?

  3. David Eilers Post author

    Cody,

    The youngest was Luis, Andreas’ son. I think he’s about 15? The other father and son team had the oldest member (Hugo turned 84). We had a couple grandfather/grandson teams that were interested, but they eventually pulled out.

    – Dave

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