The Way We Were

June 20, 1912: Under the direction of the City Council, the work of building a new firehouse on lower Front Street was started Wednesday morning. The new building is a part of the original plan of the Council at the time the second hose cart was purchased and will be used to make a part of the fire apparatus. The Alert Fire Company will make a division of forces as soon as the new awarders are finished and place a part of the members in charge of each house.

June 18, 1937: Permit having been granted from the War Department for a small boat harbor at Wrangell, contracts are now being drawn by the Territorial highway engineer's office for use in the near future. It is believed by Mayor Hanford that work will be under way in less than a month. Mr. Hanford went before the legislature at Juneau last February and upon his presentation of the need of a basin for the small boats of the trolling fleet at Wrangell, $6,000 was appropriated for the dredging of the inner harbor for such a purpose. The appropriation is payable out of road funds allotted to the First Division. The basin which will accommodate 200 boats will be dredged from a point off the south end of Shakes Island extending northerly to the Wrangell Shingle Mill, a distance of 60 feet. The width from the point of entrance averages 220 feet, the widest portion being 280 feet.

June 15, 1962: Roy Rickey, regional supervisor of commercial fisheries for the Alaska Department of Fish and Games, announced late yesterday that stream markers in the Stikine district would be moved out for the fishing week June 17 to June 22 to increase sanctuary area at the mouth of the Stikine river. The Stikine district reopens for commercial fishing at noon Monday until Thursday noon. The newly adjusted closure area follows a line from Point Highfield to Liesnoe Island, thence to the southern end of Grey's Island, thence to the nearest point on Mitkof Island, thence from the point on Mitkof near Coney Island to the north end of Coney Island, thence to a point approximately 500 yards north of Jap Creek on the mainland. This line encompasses the Stikine Flats and back channel and applies to all commercial salmon fishing.

June 18, 1987: Event chairmen were busy making plans, seeking donated prizes and getting ready this week for the annual Fourth of July celebration. Royalty contestants, meanwhile, sold lunches and dinners, auctioned off items and held raffles to raise money for the celebration. With a theme of “We the People,” the 1987 Fourth of July Celebration is geared to giving Wrangellites the opportunity to honor their heritages. Chamber of Commerce Fourth of July Committee Chairman John Vowell said anyone wanting to organize an event should contact him or other committee members soon to be included in the official schedule of events. Organizers, meanwhile, encouraged Wrangellites to fly during the celebration the flags from the families' countries or states of origins. Flags from various states in the union as well as those from countries around the world can be ordered from Stikine Business Connections, Vowell said. Vowell said a photographer with National Geographic will be in Wrangell for the festivities this year.