World War II arrived, her services as a greeter with an intricate knowledge of available rooms in Fairbanks became vital, and the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce put her on the payroll for $75 per month to help military wives, construction workers, and others find a place to stay. She later became a city employee for $110 per month. "It was said that Eva carried an inventory in her head of all the spare bedrooms in Fairbanks", wrote Stanton Patty. "She also arranged for beds to be set up in church basements and auditoriums — sometimes even at the city jail." McGown's work was accomplished from a desk in the corner of the Nordale Hotel lobby. From 1940 to 1951, McGown helped an estimated 50,000 new arrivals, construction workers, students, and visitors find a place to stay. National exposure McGown's fame spread far beyond Fairbanks. In 1951, she was the subject of an article in Reader's Digest and on April 22, 1953, she was featured on a broadcast of the biographical television show This Is Your Life with host Ralph Edwards. Her TV appearance was included as part of the first broadcast of Fairbanks television station KFAR-TV in early 1955. In her 1958 novel about Alaska, Ice Palace, Edna Ferber based the character of Bridie Ballantyne, official greeter of the fictional town of Baranof, on McGown;, the part was played by Carolyn Jones in the 1960 film adaptation of the novel. Personal life McGown belonged to the Women Pioneers, Eastern Star, Salvation Army, Soroptimists, Fort Wainwright and Eielson Officers' Women's Clubs. She was a member of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, where she played the organ and led the choir. She continued to play the organ until she developed arthritis in her hands, but afterward still sang with her soprano voice. Death In one of Alaska's deadlier hotel fires, the Nordale Hotel caught fire on February 22, 1972, killing four people and destroying the hotel. Among the four who died in the blaze was McGown, then 88. 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. An Alaska Supreme Court decision later ruled that the City of Fairbanks had a duty to protect hotel occupants through fire inspections. Recognitions and honors McGown was the first woman to win the Fairbanks Chamber