The Way We Were

In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.

February 6, 1913: Mme. Sarah Bernhardt, the famous actress, has recently expressed her wish to tour Alaska and has the Portland manager of the Orpheum circuit to make inquiries for her regarding the trip. Mme. Bernhardt has played in every other part of the globe and wishes to appear here. The probable appearances in Southeast Alaska will be in Ketchikan and Juneau and many local people have expressed an interest on making a trip to one of those towns for an opportunity to hear the famous actress.

February 4, 1938: Despite the season's fur market conditions R. Urata has had a successful year. Mr. Urata, who has developed a fine mink strain at his fur farm just outside of Wrangell, shipped 300 pelts to New York, most of which were sold in the December auction sales, when the fur market had suffered a sharp slump. Pelts of even better grade than those for which he received an average price of $30 last year, sold this year in four lots priced at $17, $15, $12, and $10. He has a few skins to be sold in this month's auction, which will bring somewhat better prices he believes. Mr. Urata in the past year sold 50 breeding mink at $50 each and had retained approximately 200 of his choicest animals for his own breeding stock. Local men who have obtained breeders from Mr. Urata and are starting to raise mink include Dick Johnson, Carl Bradley and George Matthews. Each of these men live on Wrangell Highway in locations well adapted to the development of mink farms.

February 1, 1963: Motor vessel Malaspina, first ferry on the Southeast Alaska Marine Highway, here Wednesday morning had her first experience with “stowaways.” Some 18 high school boys and some grades were among local residents invited aboard to view the new ship. As the vessel cleared about two hours later, the pranksters had disappeared into various parts of the ferry. Reporting some time later, Capt. Jacobsen pushed the big ship back to the landing and deposited the boys ashore, his first experience with stowaways on the new ferry for the veteran captain who has been sailing Alaska waters for more than 30 years. “They just wanted to make the ferry turn around,” said J. Dar Smith, local agent, who said he counted 18 boys getting off on the second landing. School Supt. Ray Nims said there were 23. He said no disciplinary action was taken against the “stowaways.” “We just gave them a little talking to for being late getting back to the school,” he said. A plaque and key to the city was presented to Capt. Jacobsen and his vessel by the City of Wrangell and the chamber of Commerce and it will be hung with like mementos from other ports aboard the big 352 ft. ocean going ferry.

February 4, 1988: Tent City revelers prepared for their annual winter festival this week as the events got underway. While the typical Tent City events were planned during the four-day weekend of activities, other programs had been scheduled to coincide with the winter festival. Dedication of the new Wrangell Ranger District office of the U.S. Forest Service was set to begin at 2 p.m. Friday in the new building on Airport Road. Visiting Wrangell for the event will be Regional Forester Mike Barton, state Rep. John Sund and Sen. Lloyd Jones as well as Acting Forest Supervisor Douglas K. Barber. Also planned during the weekend were special events by the local Lions Club and American Legion Auxiliary. The Lions were scheduled to host 30 club members from across the state beginning Friday for their annual cabinet session. The Legion Auxiliary, meanwhile, was set to welcome Department President Evelyn Oliver for a no-host dinner on Sunday.