The Way We Were

August, 8, 1912: A number of Wrangell people and guests made a trip to the LeConte Glacier Saturday on the Duckland returning Sunday afternoon. The party consisted of Mesdames MoDohal, Naylor and daughter, Gardner, Fleishman and Schott, daughter and guest, Miss Bushman, and the Messrs. Suindseth, Johansen, Barbee, McCormack, Tardo and Dr. Dawes.

August 6, 1937: Reports from the four patients who were admitted to Bishop Rowe Hospital on Wednesday of last week for injuries sustained in the gas explosion and fire at the Standard Oil station state that all are making good recoveries. X-ray examination last Friday of Mrs. Bradford showed some displacement of bone which necessitates traction for another month after which the injured leg will be put in splints of some sort. The explosion lifted the Bradford home from its foundation and sent it crashing down on the hillside, pinning Mrs. Bradford, who was already suffering from a leg injury, helpless beneath her overturned bed. Mr. Bradford, who had entered the house shortly before the accident succeeded in breaking into the blazing room and extricating his wife, and her friend, Mrs. Davis who was also trapped in the wreckage. Mrs. Bradford's cast was broken in two places and she suffered superficial burns on the back when the alcohol Mrs. Davis had applied moments before the explosion caught fire.

Aug. 3, 1962: The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce at its luncheon meeting yesterday endorsed an action of the Petersburg Chamber requesting the Department of Public Works to build a float and ferry landing approach near the south end of Mitkof Highway in the vicinity of Blind Slough to facilitate water-road traffic between the two towns. Wrangell boats now use the area but it is necessary to make beach landings, it was brought out.

August 6, 1987: Forty-two fishermen showed up at the Wrangell swimming pool last week for a chance to test their survival suits. The unadvertised two-day program was offered by the pool after fishermen, concerned about the recent death in a boating accident involving the Wrangell-based Binki, requested an opportunity to test their flotation gear. Pool Manager Ron Koch, said 30 fishermen turned out July 30 and 12 more on July 31, bringing with them an assortment of flotation devices - some still in the plastic wrappings from the factory. Koch said some of the devices didn't work - with sticking zippers, rips and tears observed by the owners. Some with inflatable parts found they didn't function properly, he said. Koch said it was unfortunate that a boating accident prompted the request for the class but he said the result was positive as fishermen got a chance to learn more about their flotation equipment. He said he hoped next year before the fishing season opened to work out a program with local fishermen. A program could serve as a model for other communities by offering regularly scheduled practices, he said