The Way We Were

April 25, 1912: Our annual spring influx of big game hunters seems to have begun in earnest. The latest arrival is J.C. Augsburg of San Francisco, who with Charlie Olson, a guide, will endeavor to secure some grizzly trophies in the Iskut River country. Mr. Augsburg spent the greater part of last season in the Dease Lake and upper Stikine country. Baron Von Hagen and Capt. Seyd of Germany, whose arrival was reported last week, got away early Monday morning, their Sunday afternoon start being unsuccessful from an accident to the boat. Charlie Roos, guide and Roy Elliot of Wrangell were in the party.

April 23, 1937: The week of April 26 has been designated by the Town Council as “Clean Up” and “Paint Up” week and all citizens are urged to do all they can to improve the appearance of their property. The city trucks will be available all during the week to haul debris to the city dump. Persons having debris need only pile it near the street and call the city clerk for the truck to get it. In anticipation of the clean-up, Mayor Hanford says, “it has been customary in the past years to designate a week as clean up week. I earnestly request the citizens of Wrangell to cooperate this year and make this week just what the name implies “Clean Up Week.” Many distinguished visitors will be in Wrangell this year and tourists from all parts of the country. Let us be conscious of the appearance of our streets and town. There are old buildings on Front Street which are fire hazards and unsightly. The citizens who owns property with buildings that are not habitable I feel could greatly increase the value of their property by destroying these unsightly structures,” said Fred Cunningham, chairman of the council Fire committee in support of the effort.

April 27, 1962: A street system is part of the program outlined by the city for development of the fill area seaward from Front Street with the construction of a new bulkhead to replace the present temporary seawall. The proposed street system is designed for one-way traffic with angle parking on the one side of the 40-foot and 50-foot streets and on both sides of the 60-foot street. The initial construction would be the 50-foot street between the Redmen buildings to the seawall and then along the seawall in a northerly direction to Front Street. It is proposed to install underground power and telephone lines, eliminating the use of poles except for street lighting. Upon completion of the bulkhead it is planned to construct a ramp and a float for the accommodation of boats and planes previously served by a float attached to the Wrangell Wharf Company dock.

April 23, 1987: The curtain is going up this summer on a new packaged expedition tour of the Stikine River. Len Laurance, owner of Alaska Bound travel out of Ketchikan, said travel writers have been invited to take flights up the Stikine, then float down the river from Telegraph Creek, B.C., on two trips scheduled early this season as a “curtain raiser” for the Stikine river trips. In late May on the inaugural expedition, he said, travel writers from such local Alaska publications as Alaska Airlines magazine will go on the four-day Stikine river trip. Again on June 20, travel writers from publications across the country will take the expedition, Laurance said. Included among the travel writers to go on the trip in June will be reporter for the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and Sunset Magazine.