In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.
June 17, 1915: If there ever was a time in the history of our country when we should be proud and properly celebrate the happenings that occurred in Philadelphia July 4th, 1776, that made our country a free and independent nation, this is certainly the time. It is true we have had and still have some internal disturbances, but the Spirit of '76 has always prevailed and today, when almost the whole civilized world is engaged in cruel bloody war, our nation stands yet more firmly by and for the declaration of '76 with uplifted hand of warning to all nations that we insist on the strict observance of liberty, justice and humanity to our citizens on land or on sea. That the day should be properly observed and a good old fashioned Fourth of July celebration should be held here, the committees have been appointed to see to it that we have the biggest and best celebration ever held in Southeastern Alaska.
June 21, 1940: The Alaska Clipper on its first flight between Seattle and Juneau last Friday evening gave Wrangell and Petersburg a dip on the way north. Hopping from Seattle last Friday morning 9:30, the clipper put in for a stop at Ketchikan and then winged on north, passing over Wrangell at low altitude at 6 p.m. It also gave Petersburg a salute on the way north. Idea for the bow to the two towns may be credited to Pilot Tony Schwamm of Petersburg Air Service. Schwamm was talking by radiophone to them in Ketchikan and suggested they give Wrangell and Petersburg a look-see on the way up the channel. Capt. S.E. Robbins and Manager Joe Crosson, both veteran Alaska pilots, responded neatly as a great many residents noted.
June 18, 1965: Nestled in a huge basin near the head waters of Galore Creek is the exploratory drilling site of Stikine Copper Ltd. A hundred men operating fourteen drilling rigs around the clock are continuing exploratory work on a suspected large copper find. The camp is reached by helicopter from a base camp at Anuk River, on the Stikine, or by helicopter from a small airstrip at the Scud River, where it meets the Stikine. Dave Barr, project manager, says that exploratory work will probably take at least another year. Construction work is being done this summer so that some work can be continued on the site through next winter, if the weather doesn't get too severe.
June 21, 1990: Wrangell's annual First of the Fourth Variety Show is in danger of becoming a no-show, if difficulties in staging the event are not soon worked out, organizers of the event said. “We can't find the right place to have it,” said Lorraine Buness, variety show chairwoman for this year's sponsors, the Shady Ladies. “Everything's up in the air right now.” The variety show has been held in the elementary school auditorium in the past, but that is not a viable option this year because of heavy equipment stored there this summer, Buness said. The only other alternative is the community center, but it lacks sufficient lighting and an appropriate sound system on its stage, she said. One possibility is to borrow a sound system from the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the Fourth of July activities, but the committee would still be in the dark about the lights. “I'm going crazy,” Buness said about the difficulties securing the necessary facilites. “I have acts lining up, but I don't have an auditorium.”
Reader Comments(0)