The Way We Were

April 4, 1912: The results of the municipal elections Tuesday placed the business of the town of Wrangell into almost entirely new hands. The list of the seven highest who will constitute the Common Council of the town for the 1912-13 term is as follows: C.H. Horch, Chas. Benjamin, D. Lewis, L.M. Churchill, C.A. Emery, A.T. Spader, I.M. Wheeler. C.M. Coulter received 69 of the 78 votes cast for school director. The old saying, “Of those that hath, much is expected,” can be applied in this case, for some very material improvement will be expected from the members of the new council who may have some work to keep up to schedule.

April 2, 1937: George Fabricus, a member of the teaching staff of Wrangell High School for the past 10 years, was named superintendent of Wrangell Schools for the 1937-38 school year, at the regular meeting of the School Board held early this week. The retiring Superintendent, Axel Rasmussen, has been head of the system for the past ten years. Regarding the superintendency, the school Board announced that Mr. Rasmussen was elected last spring for a term of one year. Mr. Fabricus, who voluntarily withdrew at that time, was elected this year to serve as Superintendent beginning in September. Announcement has been made also for the re-election of the following: Mr. Wesley, science and typing; Miss Mary Alice Shields, home economic and languages; Miss Sue Harding, music and English; Miss Mary McLaughlin, grade teacher; Miss Harriet Caldwell, grade teacher; Miss Virginia Shedd, upgraded room teacher; Mrs. Neva Coulter, grade teacher.

April 6, 1962: Frank H. Murkowski, who succeeds Steve Collins as manager of the Wrangell Branch, National Bank of Alaska arrived here today from Ketchikan where he and his family have been visiting with relatives. Mrs. Murkowski and family are expected up next week. They will live in the George Gunderson house at Shustak Point. Mr. Murkowski comes to Wrangell after three years as Assistant Cashier and manager of the Government Hill Branch of the National Bank of Alaska in Anchorage. Previously, he was with the Pacific National Bank of Seattle. Raised in Ketchikan, Murkowski comes from a banking family. His father was long identified with the First National of Ketchikan. He is a graduate of Seattle University and a former student at Santa Clara University in California. Mrs. Murkowski (Nancy) was born in Nome and the five children, oldest approaching school age, are Carol, Lisa, Michael, Eileen and Mary Catherine.

April 2, 1987: Tickets for the first Wrangell Little League Halibut Derby are on sale. Tickets are $5 each and only a limited quantity is available, league President Bill Privett said. Ticket can be bought at Angerman’s, Buness Bros., Ottesen’s, and The Bay Co. Funds from the ticket sales will go toward the costs of the Little League program, which costs about $2,500 to $3,000 a year. The derby will run from 8 a.m. May 1 until 6 p.m. May 10. Rules are similar to the King Salmon Derby’s. Top prize in the derby will be $200 cash donated by Wrangell Insurance Center. Second prize will be a halibut rod and reel from Buness Bros.; third place, a halibut harpoon from Angerman’s.