The Way We Were In the Sentinel 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago.

March 24, 1921

The pupils of the public school were given a delightful surprise last Friday afternoon, when before being dismissed for the day they were told to go to the gymnasium. Arriving there, they were served with ice-cream and cake by ladies of the Parent-Teachers Association. In order to facilitate the work for those in charge of the party, the pupils, accompanied by their teachers, left the school in relays. Members of the school board also were invited to be present at the time. The party given Friday takes the place of the one given at the close of the school year last year by the Parents-Teachers Association. The refreshments were donated by the patrons of the school and the secret was so well kept that the pupils enjoyed a genuine surprise. The social committee of the P.T.A., Mrs. I.C. Bjorge, Mrs. Charles Benjamin and Mrs. C.B. Hilts, had charge of the affair.

March 22, 1946

An additional $293.50 has been obtained for Wrangell’s seaplane float to be constructed soon. The Territorial Road Board granted the additional amount when F. G. Hanford, mayor of Wrangell now in Juneau as representative of the First Division in the Territorial Legislature, appeared before them at a board meeting and requested additional funds. The original amount furnished by the territory was $960. Word from Hanford reports that with passage of the National Airport Bill in Congress, which allows 75 percent government funds for the construction of airports, he has arranged a conference with Walter P. Flett, regional administrator for the funds, who will be in Juneau shortly. He will present Wrangell’s need for an airport before Flett.

March 25, 1971

The city is contemplating a house-to-house survey to sniff out each and every member of Wrangell’s dog population. It’s all part of the crackdown on the four-footed set, who have had it much their own way in recent years, ignoring both leash and license laws. The City Council on Tuesday approved an emergency ordinance imposing stiffer dog license fees and stiffer penalties for owners who ignore them — or the leash law. City Manager Kestor Dotts said the survey is a possibility because purchase of dog licenses don’t seem to be commensurate with the number of dogs supposed to be in resilience hereabouts.

March 28, 1996

Wrangellites have been craning their necks the past few clear nights to catch a glimpse of the comet Hyakutake passing overhead. Named after the Japanese amateur astronomer who discovered it in January, the comet is the first one easily visible in Alaska since the mid-1970s. With an orbit bringing it closer to Earth than nearly any other comet this century, it will be in our skies through the early days of April. Although the cosmic traveler is moving, night by night, it can be seen by locating the Big Dipper and following the handle out until you see a “smudge.” Catch it soon. The next show will be at least 10,000 years from now.

 

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