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.
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