by Michael R Dougherty
(California)
What follows is the true story of how the now world famous Double Musky Inn, a Girdwood, Alaska landmark - got it's start.
Julian "Moe" Maule was a huge, ex-lumber jack that my father Ray Dougherty met in Alaska back in the late 1950's and they quickly became best friends.
While Moe was a great big fellow with a booming voice and a robust laugh, my dad was short and stocky. Together, the two made an interesting pair.
One day, Moe bought some land in Girdwood, Alaska, just across the creek from what is now the Mt. Alyeska Resort. But back in the day when Moe purchased his land, there wasn't much there except the tiny town and some cabins.
Moe and my dad both liked to drink and laugh and the two had many adventures while doing both -
After Moe bought his property, he decided that because he was once a lumberjack, he could clear the land himself and build a small cabin. My father had worked in his families lumber mill in Northern California, so he had lots of experience cutting down trees as well.
A case or two of beer, some chain saws, and Moe and dad began their adventure.
Then, after the trees were cleared, they needed to remove the tree stumps. My dad thought they were going to wrap a chain around each stump and pull them out with a pick up. But Moe had made other plans.
Moe had purchased a case of dynamite and thought it would be more fun for them if they placed a stick of dynamite under each stump and blew them up, one at a time. So, a drunk Moe, and Ray put a stick of dynamite under a stump, lit the fuse and headed for cover where they could watch the stump get launched into the air.
Somehow, the two drunks managed to survive their adventure, clear the Girdwood property and then build a small cabin.
At one point, our family lived in the completed cabin for several weeks. And each weekend, Moe and his wife and babies would visit.
Later on, when our family moved into our home in Anchorage. Moe and his clan, and my mom and dad, me, sister Anna and brother Tom would all meet up for a Saturday or Sunday at the cabin.
One day we arrived at the homestead and noticed a new building sitting on the property, It was about the size of two outhouses.
To learn what the small building was, check out the short, funny video below where I tell the story. You'll be very glad you did. The story continues following the video.
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