November 14, 1918
Monday afternoon P.C. McCormack of the Wrangell School Board acted as courier and read the proclamation that the war was over to the pupils of the various rooms and the school bell began the celebration. After the singing of “America” and the “Star-Spangled Banner” by the assembled school, the pupils were dismissed for the remainder of the day. Meanwhile, other bells, church bells, fire bells and Government school bell, were ringing joyfully and the whistles from the Columbia and Northern, the shingle mill, the cannery and the Standard Oil were taking a prominent part in the general outbreak of joy. Dignified businessmen threw their hats into mid-air, shouted, clasped hands and even executed jig-steps in their enthusiasm. Women were nearly as demonstrative, although a few of them wept, some secretly, afterwards confessing their weakness, others openly. The clamor continued for several hours. A torchlight procession was announced to take place in the evening. P.C. McCormack would read the President’s proclamation of the end of the war. The reading was followed by a salvo of hurrahs after which came the call to “fall in!” and the procession started. In the lead was the Bjorge car, properly decorated, a drum corps, and citizens carrying torches, lanterns or flags. The procession grew longer and longer. The marchers shouted continually; small boys hammered big cans; occasionally several voices burst into song, and joy was unconfined.
November 12, 1943
More than $180.00 has been collected in the annual tuberculosis seal sale drive, which opened here last week. Seals are already in the hands of most citizens of the community and those who do not have them may obtain them from Mrs. Campbell. The Christmas seal sale is an annual affair in the Territory to aid in the war against tuberculosis and a large part of the money collected in Alaska stays in the Territory to aid Alaska victims.
November 14, 1968
Sometimes the mail is slow in Alaska. But two and a half years is a long time for a note to get here from Washington State. James Bailey, eight and a half, a Wrangell School third grader, got the note on Saturday. It was sent June 6, 1966. Probably the most unusual thing about the note was its container – a steak sauce bottle. It read: “Dear friend, I am interested in you. I am seven and a half years old. I go to May Valley School. I live near Seattle. I hope you will send me an answer. I live on Squawk Mountain. This June I will be eight. Martin F. Sellen”. The letter carried a return address. Jim wrote the sender, telling him of the find.
November 18, 1993
Wrangell’s history and a local carver are featured today on “Rain Country” program on Southeast’s public television station KTOO. “Every time we come to Wrangell, we’ve noticed this beautiful front yard with wooden carvings in it”, according to Rain Country producer Scott Foster. “We finally get a chance to talk to Art Clark and we’re excited to share his story with our viewers.” The Rain Country crew traveled to Wrangell during the summer to interview Clark and video tape his carvings.
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