The Way We Were

February 20, 1913: With the familiar signals from the whistles this morning, the saws of the Wrangell Mills started the season's cut of lumber, boxes and timber. Henry Hull and C.H. Bond, the new sawyer and filer, and ten laborers came north from Seattle on the Curacao Tuesday to work in the mill, which although all the box contracts are not in, promises to have another successful run. Last season, over 6 million feet of lumber was cut at the Wrangell Mill. At the present there is at the mill 1 1/2 million feet of logs to commence on besides booms in the Narrows, Duncan Canal and other points ready for towing in.

February 18, 1938: George T. Barrett, newly appointed director of Wrangell Institute arrived on the Baranof yesterday accompanied by Mrs. Barrett and their three children; Tim, 5, Mary Ann, 4 and Denny 18 months. The trip was Mr. Barrett's seventh up the coast of Alaska. His mother died when he was a baby at Katalla and he was taken when one year old to the Indian Training School at Chemawas, Ore., by a sister who was a student in that institution. Later he was entered in a private school at Minneapolis and then returned to Chemawas where he finished grade school. He studied music as a special student at Willamette University at Salem and also at Washington State College, earning his way chiefly through working at the printing trade. Finishing his high school and college work at Mt. Angel College, conducted by the Benedictine Fathers at Mt. Angel, Ore., he went back to Minneapolis. Meanwhile, he had made several trips to Alaska and during the war worked in the Craig lumber mill, which was engaged in getting out airplane spruce on government orders. Mr. Barrett stated today that the mild weather and snowfall at Wrangell is in great contrast to the severity of the Minnesota winter from which they came, that he Mrs. Barrett are happy to be here and they anticipate a very pleasant residence at the Institute.

February 15, 1963: The men of St. Philip's church, with Ted Winslow, chairman, have made plans to put on a public dinner in the Redmen Hall on Sunday, March 3, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those attending will have a choice of turkey or sweet and sour spareribs and the meal will be served California style. The men hope to raise funds to renovate the Parish Hall basement and make it into attractive church schoolrooms. Tickets will be available from the men of St. Philip's and at the door. Adults: $2.50, children $1.50; family ticket, $7.50.

February 18, 1988: Alaska pioneers Mack and Mattie Dunn may soon have an island named after them if a recent proposal is passed by the Alaska State Legislature. For almost 40 years, the couple lived near a small island 20 miles south of Wrangell in Zimovia Strait. Known locally as “Dunn's Island,” a piece of legislation introduced this week by Rep. Robin Taylor, R-Wrangell, seeks to make that name official. Originally form Anacortes, Wash. the Dunn's sailed to Alaska in 1938 on their 30-foot fishing vessel. They lived off the land, building a small cabin on Dunn's Island to store their furs and homegrown produce. Mr. Dunn died in 1976. His wife died in October 1987.