The Way We Were

December 21, 1916:

Alaska is the only place over which the American flag flies where two Christmas days are celebrated. This applies

especially to the Alaskan

peninsula and adjoining islands, where many of the natives belong to the Russian church with her Julian

calendar. It is only since the coming of the American public school and mission that the “American Christmas” has been introduced in those parts. According to the Julian calendar Christmas, Dec. 25, falls on the day that is Jan. 7 in the calendar elsewhere. According to the Russian church in Alaska, Christmas begins at 2 o’clock in the morning, when the church bells announce the birth of Christ, and when the natives come out of their huts they find a bright and beautiful star of Bethlehem over the church beckoning.

December 19, 1941:

Despite blackouts and

war, Christmas holiday period will be observed in Wrangell in the traditional manner.

Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 the Red Men will be host to their wives and families

at the Christmas tree in the lodge hall. Wednesday

afternoon is the annual

community affair for the

children, sponsored by the Elks. Due to the ban on outdoor lighting, the event will be held in the Coliseum theater and

will be accompanied by a

free show. There will be

something for each child. With dismissal of school for the holiday Wednesday, the Senior class, carrying out tradition, will have a Christmas tree program for the Junior and Senior high school students and faculty.

December 15, 1966:

Revision of the City

Charter is being considered by the City Council, it was revealed at Tuesday night’s meeting. The charter adopted in 1960 provided for a city

manager form of government. Councilman Al Ritchie, Sr., told the council he thought the subject should be given some study and he

recommended the mayor appoint a charter committee of local citizens, similar to the one that drafted the original charter, to review the entire document and recommend changes if desired.

December 19, 1991:

Over 100 drama/debate

students gathered in

Sitka last weekend to compete in several different events.

In this tournament, the hosting team decided to have two

preliminary rounds followed by a final round. Wrangell’s

Joe VanSlyke made finals

and placed sixth in

dramatic interpretation of

literature. The judges in that final round chose VanSlyke to perform his Steven King

selection for the

community at the

command performance at the close of the tournament.

Arram Dreyer also made

it to the final round in

humorous interpretation of

literature, placing eighth

overall. The rest of the Wrangell team also did well. The debate team of

Arram Dreyer, Joe VanSlyke and Hanna Hall placed fifth overall. Hall also placed

sixth in oratory speaking and third in radio announcing. Toby Down placed sixth in radio speaking.