End of an era as Randy Oliver returns for one last logging show

One of the most highly anticipated events in Wrangell's Fourth of July celebration is the Chuck Oliver Logging Show. The contest harkens back to Wrangell's days as an important part of the timber industry in Southeast Alaska. Formed in 1975 by Chuck Oliver, who was then working with Alaska Lumber & Pulp, the logging show drew people from all over to Wrangell. The contest offered numerous events for participants to show off their skills, according to a 1975 paper in the Wrangell Sentinel's archives. The events included axe throwing, "ma and pa" bucking, axe cutting, speed climbing, log rolling, and several others.

"Back in the late '70s, early '80s it was a three-day event," said Randy Oliver, Chuck's son. "There was like 18 or 19 events that would span over three days. Logging was prevalent back then, there was 23 camps around Wrangell, this being the sawmill and the hub. So for Fourth of July this town would swell to 5,000 people."

While the hey-days of the timber industry in Southeast Alaska are in the past, the logging show has remained an integral part of Wrangell's summer. The Oliver family has participated in the organizing of the competition off-and-on since it was first started, Randy said. However, part of the logging show's tradition will come to a close this year. Chuck passed away in March, at the age of 90-years-old. Randy said that this, the 45th annual logging show, would be his last.

"We've had a lot of fun, and it's a lot of work, I'll tell you right now it's a lot of work," Randy said. "If I lived here I would continue to do it until I just couldn't do it any more ... But I'm based out of Anchorage, because I moved up there to take care of my mom and dad. My mother's 90, my dad was 90, she just turned 90. So I'm there taking care of them, that's why it's been so difficult."

Randy reiterated how the logging show has been a mainstay of Wrangell's Fourth of July celebration, and it will continue to do so even without his direct involvement. He said that Wrangell resident Tom Roland will be taking over for him as of next year. This year's logging show is meant to be a tribute to Chuck, he said, and it is lining up to be a very good competition. This year will see events like axe chopping, power saw bucking, axe throwing, the rolling pin toss, and much more.

"When this started back in the '70s, it was my dad's vision to teach the youth in the community what logging was like in the old days, so they could see it how it was then and how it is kind of now, and that was part of the reason we married the two together. You got hand pulled crosscut saws and then you have chainsaws, too."

This year's Chuck Oliver Logging Show will begin after the Fourth of July parade, with signups starting at 12:30 p.m. at City Dock. There is an entry fee, and a waiver will have to be signed before participating. There will be plenty of cash prizes and other awards to compete for. Randy added that they would be auctioning off two commemorative prints by Kitty Angerman during the event, to raise money for the chamber of commerce.

"This is more than just me, there's a lot of people who donate things to help us with the show," Randy said. "They donate time, and it's kind of a thankless job, but like I said, it's a mainstay."