New old C.R.A.P.

Sorry I haven't been back online for a little while—been busy cleaning out the basement of the airport canteen. Seems like a lot of lost and found was lost, misplaced in a place nobody in their right mind would look for lost items.

I, of course, can't upload all the lost goods 'cause it would take me from now till retirement just to photograph the CRAP(Currently Rendered Airport Property.)

So what I'll do is post some of the gloves which have been CRAP for a long time.

Whoa, I was surprised to see some of the cartons dated back to the 1930s.

Here are some of the gloves that go back to that general timeframe.



Seems this glove goes back to 1935. That's just about the time there was much excitement up here. There was a guy by the name of Wiley Post who crashed not far from here. That's not too out of the ordinary, 'cept for his passenger who also died in the crash... Will Rogers.

This glove had a handwritten note saying, "Do not garbage." Okay, I guess it'll go into the "Save until sunlight" drawer. We don't get much light up here most the year.




This glove, marked 1962, looks a lot like the ones our airport maintenance man, Ralph, uses. I'll check with Ralph to see if he's lost a glove lately.








This glove, I'm kinda sorry about. It was dated October 12, 1981. That was round the time we had a polar bear break into the canteen. Oh we had a helluva time chasing him out. He kind of made the place his home for about a week before we discovered him. The box this glove was in must've contained something that smelled good to the bear cause he took a big bite out of the box. We apologize to the owner, if you are out there. Airport management says we will replace the glove at no cost to you.

I'll be sorting through the next dozen boxes in the next week or so. Till then, watch your gloves!

If you think a posted glove is yours, send an email to: makiniwik.airport@gmail.com

Where Is Makiniwik?

For those of yous who've been asking about where the Makiniwik Regional Airport is located, you can stop asking right now.

We are located about 40 miles east of Point Barrow(not far from the Arctic Ocean.) So that explains why people who visit here in summer often wear gloves. They aren't used to the chill that blows off the ice. Me on the other hand, rarely wear gloves on either hand. People say I have hands of caribou.

I am attaching a map of Alaska that shows Barrow(the most northern point of the U.S. of A.) but unfortunately doesn't show Makiniwik. We are 'bout a quarter inch east of Barrow. That's the problem with southern mapmakers. They think the big places are what's important. But I know it's the small places that really are significant for people. Who needs 747s when all everyone needs is a single prop two seater?

Oh ya, about the map...We have it on the wall in the control tower. I took it down for a couple hours so I could copy it for your information. Bobby our airtraffic controller was a hopping mad when I returned it. He said, "What if I had to radio a pilot to tell him where Juneau is located? That map is vital for air traffic safety, you know!"

So I tacked it back on the wall and said, "If you need that map, why don't you phone the U.S. Geological Survey and ask for another?

He said he just might.

Greetings from the North

Have You Lost A Glove?

Greetings.

My name is Jorg E. I am the janitor at the Makiniwik Regional Airport in Makiniwik, Alaska. We are located at 71 degrees North and have a population of 62 fulltime residents and 63 polar bears.

Our population swells to about 300 in summertime when scientists, the occasional tourist and their families come here (mostly) to map, study, or observe things related to the natural environment.

The problem I have is that once in a while, people drop their mittens or gloves before departing for home. As I have no way to trace the owners, I have begun to accumulate a small collection of gloves. Often, the gloves do not have any identifying name attached. It's a shame really, because I know how important gloves are to people.

I have determined to do something about it. My boss said it would be alright if I started a website to show the lost gloves. I asked him if I could have some money to start one up, be he said the airport was unable to help. I can't believe that, but no point trying to pull a fish outta ice.

So I have started this blog in an effort to connect gloves and gloveless. Please be patient with me as I learn the ins and outs of posting messages and photos. For now I will post 4 gloves that have been held since around the end of February, early March. Just about the time we start getting 6 hours of daylight.

We hold gloves for 6 months before being legally entitled to sell or dispose of them. But I hate putting them in the woodstove, even though it helps keep my little home warm. So...

Okay, if any of these gloves look familiar, please contact me through this blog. Thank a you.
Sincerely yours,
Jorg E.




Found: Wed., 7 Mar., 2007







Found: Tues., 27 Feb., 2007







Found: Wed., 7 Feb., 2007







Found: Mon., 19 Feb., 2007