The Way We Were

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

January 13, 1916: Alaska seems to be in the grip of one of the fiercest blizzards that has ever swept the coast. All last night and today the Stikine has howled her defiance and since daybreak the thermometer has steadily fallen. The government register at the Customs House at seven this morning was three degrees, at twelve noon it was five below and at six tonight it read ten below. Several other thermometers at different places in the city register differently but the majority are close to that reading. Not only is the storm taking effect at Wrangell, but several other Alaskan cities report the same.

January 10, 1941: On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the local Order of Redmen will hold installation of officers and a smoker at the lodge rooms in Redmen Hall. New officers to be introduced into office are Fred Hanford, Sachem, succeeding John Severson, Prophet; George Gunderson, Senior Sagamore; Lloyd Benjamin, Junior Sagamore; Charles Williamson, Chief of Records; William E. Byrd, Keeper of Wampum; Lowell Sturtevant, Collector of Wampum. Carl Bradley, a new trustee, will serve with Ed Lindeman and Olaf Hansen, holdover members of the board. Members are encouraged to turn out for this important installation and smoker event.

January 14, 1966: Dr. Davis W. Dale opened his new resident practice in Wrangell yesterday. Offices are located in the Bishop Rowe Hospital. Dr. Dale and his wife Ruth, arrived in Wrangell Saturday bringing his receptionist Mrs. Arlene Hart, office and examining equipment and modern X-ray machine which will remain adequate for the community after the acquisition of our new hospital. The X-ray machine was purchased by the city and has been installed in the hospital. Dr. Dale and his wife, Ruth, accompanied by their two miniature poodles are currently residing in a trailer near the power plant. They have expressed interest in acquiring a homesite next to the water with a view. His receptionist, Mrs. Hart, is residing at the hospital until the end of the school year when she can bring her family to Wrangell.

January 10, 1991: Most Wrangellites deal with rain using umbrellas, raincoats and “Wrangell tennies.” But for some local residents, rain brings problems even a bucket couldn’t touch. Such is the case for residents living near or at the foot of Mount Dewey and for many other residents of the community. People living along Cassiar Street and Second Street have seen the water runoff from Mount Dewey increasing over the past 10 years. As brush and trees are cleared off uphill areas to make way for new homes and roads are built to accommodate the new residences, downhill homeowners have watched drainage problems worsen. The loss of vegetation has helped create the problem as the land is less and less able to soak up runoff. An old reservoir in the area was filled years ago, contributing to the situation. And the lack of proper manmade drainage systems in the area - to compensate for the loss of natural protection and land disturbances - also contributes to the standing water at the base of Mount Dewey that is becoming more of a problem than a slight nuisance.