The Way We Were

November 25, 1920

When Walter Woodbridge went south last Thursday he took with him some of the most beautiful specimens of decorative marble ever seen in Alaska or anywhere else. The specimens were taken from Mr. Woodbridge’s claims near Wrangell and were polished by him. The specimens seen by the reporter were not only surprisingly rich in coloring, but took on a polish as smooth as glass, no pores being discernible even when the specimens are held under a magnifying glass.

November 23, 1945

Larger and heavier packages may now be sent to American troops outside the United States, according to Postmaster E. R. Sharmbroich. The War Department will now accept packages up to 42 inches long or 72 inches in length and girth combined and weighing up to 11 pounds. Previous regulations set a limit of 15 inches in length, 36 inches in length and girth combined and a maximum weight of 5 pounds. It still is necessary to have a specified request from a soldier overseas presented to the postmaster in order to send any package weighing over 8 ounces. The War Department advises that Christmas Cards sent to the armed forces overseas must be in sealed envelopes and sent at the first class postage rate of 3c per ounce. They urge early mailing of these cards in order to insure their delivery by Christmas.

November 25, 1970

Wrangell will celebrate the 350th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving tomorrow with good food, good fellowship, frost on the windows and a chill in the air. It will be a time for leisure and a time for families, as workers take a holiday and stores and businesses close in commemoration of the founding of the United States by a band of hardy pilgrims. The weatherman predicts continued chill weather that has had lows in the low and below 20s and ice in the harbor and on the ponds. Some churches have scheduled special Thanksgiving services and dinners.

November 23, 1995

The new interim pastor at Harbor Light is the Rev. Agnes Rodi of Sulton, Washington. She has spent most of her life as a missionary in northern Alaska and Greenland, lately being involved in service in Russian. Semi-retired, she says, “I’m old enough to be [retired] but I keep going to fill in wherever needed.”As an interim pastor she says she usually stays several months but is never sure how long.