In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
May 12, 1914: Mr. Matheson is in receipt of a letter on a late boat from the Forest Supervisor, Mr. Weigle at Ketchikan, in which he states that the Forestry Department was working for a $4,000 appropriation for the building of the Stikine trail that the local Chamber of Commerce has been working for during the past winter. Though the appropriation has not been made, it is almost an assured fact that it will be in the near future. The Wrangell Shingle Mill is getting steam up and their whistle can be heard every noon along with the rest of them. They expect to be cutting shingles before the week is over as they are only waiting for logs.
March 10, 1939: Hope that Wrangell may eventually secure an airplane landing field was held by F.S. Barnes, who told the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce at its luncheon meeting that although a bill introduced into the legislature providing Territorial aid for a field to be built here had failed of passage, the project was still a live one. If it is found there is a tract 5,600 feet long with less than three percent variation in grade, and 200 feet wide, the Forest Service will clear ground and draw up a plat to be submitted to the board of aeronautics for approval.
March 13, 1964: Money and cigarettes highlighted the regular meeting of the City Council Tuesday night. The money angle is still under advisement. Cigarettes lost out. The Council passed an ordinance, known as No. 183, prohibiting sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age. Under the ordinance, possession by those under 18 of cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products is a misdemeanor. Parents are held responsible.
March 9, 1989: How much would it cost to convert Church Street to a two-way roadway? City Engineer Jim Pung estimates the bill at $12,700. The estimate requested by the City Council is designed to tell elected officials how much it will cost to convert the newly paved one-way road back to a two-way thoroughfare. Controversy has erupted in the community since the one-way signs went up late last year. The council has agreed not to take any action to change the road's status until after July 1. However, they asked Pung to prepare some engineering estimates to determine what the cost would be to convert back to a two-way road. While Pung's estimate was $12,700, including a 20 percent contingency fund, he said “the total cost for Church Street to be modified to safely allow for two-way traffic, will in all probability cost from $10,000 to $15,000.” Pung in a Feb. 22 estimate said it would cost $8,790 to modify the intersection of Church Street and Case Avenue. This includes modifications to the driveway serving the Baptist Church. The estimate also includes construction of a concrete retaining wall at $2,000, demolition at $1,000, additional concrete pavement at $1,710 and modification of the signs at $1,250. The city previously required the contractor to install curb cuts to allow for property owners access to offstreet parking areas. Curb cuts were placed during construction on both sides of Church Street for all lots whether a driveway now exists on that lot, Pung said.
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