The Way We Were

Sept. 12, 1912: The problem of giving Alaska a military police system may be solved in the near future, not by the stationing of a regiment or more of soldiers there, scattering the troops through the territory by companies, but by establishing a constabulary system modeled along the lines of the Northwest mounted police which has accomplished wonderful results in Canada. Major George H. McManus of the Inspector General's Department who has just returned from an inspection tour of Alaska army posts acknowledged that such a constabulary is being contemplated. “Personally,” said he, “I believe such a system of this kind would work out well. Certainly if a corp. as efficient as the Northwest mounted police could be developed it would do much to preserve law and order in Alaska.”

Sept. 10, 1937: C.P. Kirtland, president of the school board, appeared before the council at its meeting on Thursday night of last week and presented several matters for consideration. He stated that on the first of July the school board received a letter from the Territorial Commissioner of Education, Anthony E. Karnes, who informed them that members of the last legislature demanded of the Territorial Board of Education that it make a regulation to the effect that the Commissioner should not approve budgets of city schools in any amount in excess of funds appropriated for this purpose. The board accordingly made such a regulation. Kirtland also called attention to the school zone created by ordinance last year on Reid and Church streets, which he says is absolutely ignored by many truck and auto drivers, who by their thoughtless driving during school hours imperil the lives of the children. He requested council to replace the school zone signs, which disappeared last year and to thoroughly enforce the ordinance. “Otherwise,” he said, “We are bound to have a tragic death of some child.”

Sept. 7, 1962: For the second year, the Wrangell community has met its quota in the Cancer Crusade fund drive, it is announced by the committee in charge. It reported that funds credited to the Wrangell Chapter by the state office amounted to $715.96. Of this amount, $274.90 was collected by the women of the Order of Eastern Star; business houses contributed $197; lodges and other organizations donated $85; school children, $23.16; coin cans, $3.23 and the benefit movie, $16 for a total of $699.29. The local chapter was also given credit by the national organization in the amount of $16.67 for a grand total of $716.96. The committee extended thanks to all that contributed to this worthy cause in any way. Only with this type of support, it said, was it able to meet its quota.

Sept. 10, 1987: Barney Iversen donned his work clothes Monday to help haul boxes, letters and catalogs at the Wrangell Post Office. It was Labor Day - a federal holiday - but the 26-year postmaster said he worked anyway because the staff was swamped with mail. For Iversen, working on a holiday was nothing special, nothing to talk about. It was just part of the job he's been performing in Wrangell since he joined the Postal Service in 1961. But, for the staff at the Wrangell Post Office, this week has special significance. It's Barney Iversen's last week on the job. As of 5 p.m. Friday, Iversen will be retired. Over the years, Iversen has seen mail volume in Wrangell more than double. When he began work as a part-time clerk, the Wrangell Post Office had 600 boxes for patrons in the community. Now there are more than 1,200 boxes - as well as twice the amount of mail going into and out of the community.