The Way We Were

March 5, 1917: Andrew Stevenson and W.R. Hillery, president and vice president, respectively, of the Bank of Alaska, arrived Tuesday morning on the Princess Sophia. Mr. Stevenson is returning to Alaska from a business trip to New York, while Mr. Hillery is returning from a business trip to cities on the Pacific coast. Messrs. Stevenson and Hillery will spend several days here getting better acquainted with the Wrangell people and local business conditions. From here they will go to Skagway where Mr. Stevenson makes his headquarters, and will be present at the housewarming of their new bank building which is the finest business structure in Skagway. In the near future Messrs. Stevenson and Hillery will make an extended trip to the Westward, visiting another branch bank that will be established at Cordova. Both gentlemen are optimistic over the business outlook in Alaska for the coming season.

March 6, 1942: Plans for a fish derby, featuring fishing and contests for biggest trout caught on a fly this summer, will be completed at the next meeting of the Stikine Sportsmen’s Association of Wrangell on April 6. The Association held its March meeting Monday night in the Civic Center and discussed general plans and activities for the year. Efforts are still being directed toward obtaining an indoor shooting range and the Totem shed is being considered if it becomes available. President Fred Hanford reported the sportsmen had been delegated by the Game Commission to try and capture some white geese on the flight north this spring with the aim of determining more about the birds and possibilities of them wintering in this region if adapted.

March 10, 1967: Construction of an airport in Wrangell on the back channel near Point Highfield is expected to start prior to July 1, Gov. Walter J. Hickel advised the chamber of commerce in a communication read at yesterday’s luncheon meeting at Winnies Café. In a letter the Gov. said, “ I have checked with the Department of Public Works and am advised that they plan on advertising for or inviting construction bids for the Wrangell airport project as soon as the federal aid funds have been allocated for the job. They expect this to begin in either April or May.” Commissioner Robert W. Ward of the Department of Administration advised in a letter reply to chamber query that there appeared to be no problem in getting the project committed to construction prior to July 1. Ward said the Wrangell airport project has top priority.

March 5, 1992: This year, Wrangell may be visited by over 8,000 fewer cruise ship tourists than last year. The loss of the Crystal Harmony and the Daphne should make a significant impact on the tourist trade here this season. Approximately 11,000 visitors will arrive on the ships this year, a sharp decrease from the estimate of 19,000 last year. Costa Cruise Lines announced earlier this year that the Daphne was being replaced by a larger ship which would be bypassing Wrangell for marketing reasons. In addition, Fred Angerman of Wrangell Stevedoring said the Crystal Harmony will be making cruises to the Olympics in Barcelona this summer. The ship stopped in Wrangell five times last year. It was scheduled to cruise the Mediterranean last year, but it was reassigned to cruise Alaska because of the war in the Persian Gulf.

 

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