The Way We Were

May 16, 1912: Mr. O.A. Brown, manager of the Alaska Sanitary Packing Company, has a problem before the community that demands immediate attention. The cannery has been built in town with the intention of securing home labor. In short, Mr. Brown must know within a week if he will be able to secure home labor or must import a Chinese crew, which is not the manager's desire. There will be work for men, women, boys and girls. About 12 fish washers will be needed. The pay will be as high and the work as steady as at the nearby canneries and for Wrangell people it will be at home.

May 14, 1937: Last Wednesday, evening after the regular lodge meeting, about seventy Elks and their ladies attended a birthday party in the lodge rooms. The occasion was the second anniversary of the local Elks lodge. For several years Wrangell has had a Bills Club, with Ketchikan as the Home Lodge, but it was only two years ago that Wrangell was granted a charter to have a lodge of its own through special dispensation. Starting with 50 members the lodge now has a roster of 120. In the early part of the evening most of those present indulged in “Bingo” a popular variation of Lotto. Later in the evening those present were furnished a bit of musical and vocal entertainment, which included piano-accordion selections by Mrs. Nels Stensland; vocal selections by Mr. James Noland and Miss Lois Wheeler and a mixed chorus of several voices.

May 18, 1962: The 1962 graduation exercises were held in the high school auditorium Wednesday night. Twenty-four seniors, the largest class in the history of Wrangell Public Schools received diplomas. The Wrangell School band provided the music for the processional and recessional, as well as presenting one number on the program, “Carnival of Roses.” The invocation and benediction were pronounced by the Rev. Wilfred Files and the Rev. Donald Schwab respectively. Warren Tiffany superintendent of Wrangell Institute presented a vocal solo “The Wayfaring Stranger.” Sen. James Nolan gave the commencement address, pointing out the need for skilled workers, technicians and professional people.

May 14, 1987: Wrangellite Lanny Hamley took a $200 cash prize as first place winner in the first-ever Little League Halibut Derby. Little League President Bill Privett said Hamley's fish, caught the second day of the derby, weighed in at 76.5 pounds. His $200 prize was donated by Wrangell Insurance Center. Taking second place was Steve Lowery with a 26-pound halibut also caught the second day of the derby. He won a halibut rod and reel donated by Buness Brothers. No third prize was awarded in the derby Privett said. He said he hoped that the halibut harpoon donated by Angerman's store could be held as a seed prize for the 1988 derby. Privett said it appeared the many Wrangellites out fishing last weekend in the derby just didn't haul in the halibut. “I fished for six hours and I couldn't catch a halibut,” Privett said. “I caught a skate, a king, everything but a halibut.” In addition Privett said he had heard a few people caught 40-pound halibut during the event but didn't bring the fish in for weighing because they thought they were too small. “I bet today they wish they'd weighed them in,” Privett said. Privett said the event raised $850 for the Little League program and was very successful. The league plans to make the halibut derby a yearly event. “I think we're going to get a lot more fish next year,” he said.