The Way We Were

Feb. 15, 1912: After much delay caused by the late arrival of some of the Sentinel players, the indoor baseball game was finally started last Friday evening and was a surprise to spectators and players as well. The first few innings were much as expected, the ball being unmercifully pounded about by both teams who ran the score up to 38-38. But the farther the game progressed the better the quality of baseball turned out and during the last two innings, finally the one score, which gave the victory to the Sentinel was made. Anyone who watched the game could not help but observe that with a little practice (not one of either team having ever played the game before), the game can be brought to a point where it can be appreciated by the most experienced fan. E. B. Barbee umpired the game to the satisfaction of everyone concerned.

Feb. 19, 1937: Mayor F. S. Barnes returned yesterday from a two-months' trip to Seattle and Portland. While the trip was made primarily in the interests of the Wrangell Packing Company in which he is a partner, the mayor devoted so much time to municipal affairs that he returned home with a new schedule of electric light rates to submit to the city council for approval. The rates were worked out with the co-operation of W.J. McIntosh, municipal division manager in the Northwest Pacific for Fairbanks, Morse & Company, who two years ago put through the deal whereby his company financed Wrangell's new city light plant at a cost of $42,00 for a new generating unit of 350 h.p. and a reinforced concrete building. Payment was provided by 69 revenue certificates the last falling due on December 15, 1940.

Feb. 16, 1962: Chamber of Commerce at its meeting Wednesday set a deadline of noon March 1 for receiving bids for painting the town's totem poles. R. W. McKibben, chairman of the totem committee, reported that since an invitation was sent out for bids on the job he had received, but one reply and as the time was getting short before the tourist season, action should be taken. The project is being undertaken by the chamber in cooperation with the State Department of Tourism.

Feb. 12, 1987: Wrangellites will be dancing the night away Saturday as part of an effort to make Wrangell a better place for the elderly and the frail to live. Money raised at the Beta Sigma Phi and Wrangell Lions Club Annual Valentine's Charity Ball will be used to help buy a lifeline system. What's lifeline? The word is used to describe Wrangell General Hospital's proposed emergency response system. According to John Vowell, hospital administrator, Lifeline actually is a trade name for just one of the communication systems that hospital is considering. An emergency response system links individuals in the community directly with the hospital. It is unusually popular with the frail and elderly, but can also be used on a temporary basis for a child who is ill or perhaps a person recovering from surgery. All the systems, regardless of the company, work the same way. If all goes well, Vowell hopes to have the system established in April. He said both Ketchikan and Anchorage have emergency response systems, and Sitka is considering one.