In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
June 3, 1915: A public meeting was held last Monday afternoon for the purpose of deciding whether Wrangell should have a Fourth of July celebration or not. A good crowd attended. Mayor Grant called the meeting to order and on motion Mr. P.C. McCormack was elected chairman of the meeting and Paul Stanhope secretary. Mr. McCormack stated that the first thing was to decide if they wanted a celebration or not, and Mr. Wm Thomas made a motion to the effect that Wrangell shall celebrate this year, the motion was seconded and carried. Another motion was made that the chairman of the meeting appoint a committee of three for ways and means for the celebration and Chairman McCormack appointed as the committee J.G. Grant, chairman, J.H. Wheeler and Harry Gartly, and as Mr. Gartly withdrew, Paul Stanhope was appointed in his place.
June 7, 1940: Before an audience that packed the ANB Hall to the rafters, Kudanake became Chief Shakes VII, tribal ruler of the Tlingit people, at impressive ancient ceremonies Monday afternoon, bringing to an end a regency of 24 years since the death of the last Chief Shakes. Stately and dignified, Chief Shakes accepted the honor conferred upon him by his people, speaking his appreciation in his native tongue while a hundred of his fellow tribesmen in bright colored blankets and other native dress went through the ceremonies just as they had been done centuries ago before the coming of the white man. The Chief pledged himself to carry on as fair and impartial leader of his people, stressing to his people that they should be happy to be living under the Stars and Stripes, mindful of the troubles which are besetting the world elsewhere.
June 4, 1965: Four candidates for the 1965 4th of July Queen contest were introduced Saturday night by Basil Dorey, 4th Committee Chairman, at the official kick-off dance for the contest. The candidates, pictured above with Dorey and Mayor Doris M. Barnes, who presented the first tickets, are Maxlyn Wickman, Louanna Young, Ginny Kuntz and Lilli Pat Lewis. They are sponsored by the Emblem Club and Elks, ANB-ANS, 49th Star Theater and Harbor Seafoods Inc., respectively. The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce announced this week that it is sponsoring a contest to find appropriate names for two sites which attract a large number of tourists each year. Names are sought for the Wrangell Camper and Picnic Park located 17 miles south of Wrangell along Zimovia Straits. The park features a beautiful view of the renowned Elephant's Nose and other scenic areas. It is equipped with 25 camper pull-ins, four picnic shelters with water, wood, electricity and a wading pool. The second site for which names are being solicited is an area along the cliffs at 11 mile that has a series of cascading falls.
June 7, 1990: The annual Fourth of July kickoff celebration drew a good crowd despite rainy weather and other competing activities, according to Barb Maenhout, chairwoman for this year's festivities. Last Sunday's kickoff included a salmon bake and the introduction of three candidates for Fourth of July queen. A crowd of about 300-bolstered mainly by tourists from the ferry boat Columbia-feasted on salmon and halibut, while the candidates for queen began their fund-raising activities by selling tickets to picnickers and passers-by. Commercial fishing openings and the activities surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Last Great Potlatch competed with the Fourth of July kickoff for attendance. Maenhout said that despite this year's lower attendance, she was still encouraged by the turnout and was optimistic for another successful Fourth of July celebration this year. She said the month between the kickoff and the Fourth of July is traditionally the most exciting time all year in Wrangell. “The community really comes together and gets into the Fourth of July spirit,” Maenhout said. “People on the streets who don't talk to each other all year will stop to ask, ‘Gee, where are you going to eat today.’
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