Death marks end of an era for Talkeetna

TALKEETNA — The Alaska Railroad was the only way to get to Talkeetna when Francis Lynn Twigg arrived in 1950. It would be another 21 years before the Parks Highway would be completed, providing road access to this treasure of the Mat-Su Valley.

During his 60 years building Alaska and Talkeetna, Twigg also became known as a local treasure. He died at his home Oct. 28, 2011. He was 89.

His name is mentioned among such Talkeetna icons as pilots Don Sheldon and Cliff Hudson, and miners and trappers Rocky Cummings and Jim Beaver.

“Talkeetna has lost many of its most colorful characters in the past five years — Cliff Hudson (Alzheimer’s) and his son Jay (cancer), drama community leader and philanthropist Emmela Denny (train/car wreck in Willow), Mad Dog the museum curator and bike guru/philanthropist/writer and many other things, Mike Fisher (colon cancer) to name just a few. Twigg’s passing truly represents the end of an era,” John Moses writes in an email to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman noting Twigg’s passing.

Francis was born Sept. 12, 1922, in Fife Lake, Mich., to Claude and Fannie (Doherty) Twigg.

He served in World War II in locations such as northern Africa and Italy. He was a scout who led mule trains across the Italian mountains and fought in the battles of North Appennines Po Valley Rome, Italy. His family said he also witnessed the public hanging of Mussolini and his girlfriend.

“He was among the last still alive to have had a front seat to the opening of Denali to air excursions and, thus, the beginning of Talkeetna’s tourism industry,” Moses says in his email.

As Sheldon’s mechanic, Twigg had some of the best seats in town to watch this chapter of Alaska history unfold.

Twigg also is featured in history videos produced about Sheldon and Hudson, two longtime competitors in the Talkeetna aviation industry. As many Alaskans do, Twigg also had an interesting story about how he got to Alaska, Moses says. He was a former police officer who drove his personal patrol car to Alaska about 60 years ago and sold it to the Seward Police Department before heading north to Talkeenta for more adventures.

In addition to his skills as a mechanic, Ham radio operator and airplane pilot, Twigg was also a noted local musician known for his love of piano playing and dancing.

Locals likely recall hearing Twigg fire up the keys of the pianos at the Roadhouse or Fairview Inn. Moses writes that Twigg also opened for gypsy jazz great John Jorgenson, who played a Denali Arts Hangar concert a couple years ago.

“He played his complex ragtime-esque music by ear,” Moses says. “Up until last year, he and his wife would still cut a rug at the Fairview with the right band playing.”

Twigg built a life and raised a family in Talkeetna. Surviving are his wife, Constance Marie Twigg of Talkeetna; daughters, Connie Richardson of Texas and Duronda Twigg of Trapper Creek; and son, Vye Feeley of Talkeetna.

A celebration of life in honor of Twigg is from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, at Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, 22249 S. D Street, Talkeetna.

Contact Heather A. Resz at heather.resz@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.