“Haven on the Trail”
24H x 36L
oil on linen
Not for sale at this time
The first mail delivery by dog team was in 1778 near Lake Superior and the last was in 1963. Dog teams not only delivered mail, but remained the most common form of transportation in the snowbound north well into the 1930’s. Roadhouses and Shelter Cabins such as this one were built “a days travel apart” or about every 20 miles along the mail routes. These humble cabins were welcome havens for the mail carriers as well as other travelers. The only requirement for use was to leave enough firewood for the next traveler. The dogs were picketed and fed a hot meal, then dig a hole in the snow and curl up for a well earned rest.
