On July 21, 1917, the Placer Herald reported that Esther Birdsall Darling had received the Croix de Guerre from the French government on behalf of her dogs and their heroic service in World War I.
Esther Birdsall Darling, daughter of Frederick Birdsall and sister of California state Senator E.S. Birdsall, spent her summers in Auburn where her father owned the Bear River Ditch Company and Aeolia Olive Oil Company.
In August 1907, Esther married Charles Edward "Ned" Darling, an Alaskan merchant, and the couple settled in Nome, Alaska. It was there that Esther became enthralled with sled dog teams and partnered with Scotty Allan to form the Allan and Darling Kennel.
The dogs from their kennel won the All Alaska Sweepstakes, a 408-mile race, in 1911 and 1912.In 1913, Esther wrote “Baldy of Nome,” the story of Baldy, a racing dog of the Allan and Darling Kennels who leads his sled team to victory and saves the life of his driver, Scotty Allan. It was an instant hit.
When the United States entered World War I, Esther and Scotty Allan were commissioned to provide dogs from their kennel for the war effort.
In total, 430 dogs were sent to France to assist in various tasks, including carrying ammunition and aiding in the rescue of the wounded.
The Allan and Darling dogs proved to be invaluable in these dangerous and challenging circumstances, and in 1917 were awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government for their courageous efforts in transporting 90 tons of shells to an isolated post under relentless fire during a four-day blizzard.
After the war Esther continued writing and found herself in demand as a speaker.
Esther returned to Auburn to live with family in 1954 and passed away in 1965 at the age of 96.
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Roseville’s Downtown Tuesday Night Concerts
Lincoln: Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest
Newcastle: The Farmacy
Auburn: Juntos Afuera! - An Open Preserve Day, The Exchange Artisan Market
North Lake Tahoe: Music on the Beach, Concerts at Commons Beach, Blues Day in the Village, Tahoe City Lakeside Movie Series, Free Street Yoga
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
Find current state COVID-19 guidance, along with local data and resources, here.
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