The Way We Were

November 30, 1916: The Fourth Annual convention of the Alaska Native Brotherhood convened at Wrangell on Tuesday in St. Philip’s gymnasium. Owing to the stormy weather the attendance is not as large as was expected. The Alaska Native Brotherhood is becoming an important organization, and its influence on Native life is manifest. Wrangell is therefore proud to be host to its Fourth Annual convention.

November 28, 1941:

Shakes Island is now officially in the domain of the Interior Department in charge

of the Office in Indian Affairs. Transfer of custody of the Island which was restored by the Forest Service with Community House and

Totems was made this week to the Indian Office with George T. Barrett, Principal of Assistant Regional Forester Charles Burdick. He said the Forest Service would continue to cooperate with totem

work and other CCC activities to keep the show place up. To conduct visitors, supply

information, etc., the Indian Office probably will have some boys from the Institute on the job during tourist season as guides.

November 25, 1966: The Wrangell High School Wolves opened their season last Friday night with a win over the teachers who were supported in part by the town team. The Wolves trampled their elders by a score of 72-37. Halftime score was 29 to 17. Both groups for the most part used zoned defense. For the teachers, Whitney led the scoring with 8 points followed by Castle with 7. The high school boys scoring was divided among seven of the players used.

November 28, 1991: One thing that’s often discussed in Wrangell is the lack of activities for young people. Don House has done something to remedy that situation. Whenever they can get a band, a group of kids and their adult chaperones organize a

dance. House allows the group to use part of his facilities at the Stikine Bar at no charge.

The dances are becoming pretty popular with the kids. At a recent dance, about 150 kids showed up. Some people have said a bar isn’t a suitable place to hold a dance for youths, but the bar itself is completely shut off from the dance activities. Ideally, organizers like to arrange the dances on the nights when the bar is closed. When this can’t be arranged chaperones are placed at the doors to ensure there is no interaction between the kids and Stikine Bar patrons.