Eva McGown

Eva McGown (née Montgomery) (1883–1972), the "hostess of Fairbanks," was best known for her three decades helping newcomers, military wives, construction workers, students, and visitors to find shelter in Fairbanks, Alaska during periods of time — particularly World War II — when the demand for housing far outstripped supply.

Her travel from Belfast to Fairbanks included a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on what she later described as "a filthy boat"[2] and a cross-country journey by train to Seattle, Washington, where she boarded a steamer bound for Valdez, Alaska, followed by over a month's winter travel by horse-drawn sleigh and dogsled to Fairbanks, staying at roadhouses along the way.

[2] She supported herself by selling magazines and taking odd jobs,[2] and occupied herself as a hospital visitor and by visiting lonely women newly arrived in Alaska, doing what she could to make them feel welcome.

[4] From 1940 to 1951, McGown helped an estimated 50,000 new arrivals, construction workers, students, and visitors find a place to stay.

In 1951, she was the subject of an article in Reader's Digest[5] and on April 22, 1953, she was featured on a broadcast of the biographical television show This Is Your Life with host Ralph Edwards.

[7] In her 1958 novel about Alaska, Ice Palace,[8] Edna Ferber based the character of Bridie Ballantyne, official greeter of the fictional town of Baranof, on McGown;,[9] the part was played by Carolyn Jones in the 1960 film adaptation of the novel.

One of the items recovered from the hotel safe after the fire was a small box belonging to her, in which was contained a piece of dried sod from Ireland.

[3] An Alaska Supreme Court decision later ruled that the City of Fairbanks had a duty to protect hotel occupants through fire inspections.