The Way We Were

Feb. 9, 1922

Probably the most welcome news contained in this issue of the Sentinel is that the Wrangell sawmill will start up next week. During the next two months the mill will be busy on orders for Southeast Alaska customers. After that, there will be some export orders to be filled. Consequently a full season’s run is assured.

Feb. 7, 1947

One of the most pressing topics taken at the Stikine Sportsmen’s Association meeting last Monday night was how the deer are faring this winter. Reports have drifted in of many deer being found frozen to death or being killed by wolves. The Petersburg Air Service plane, piloted by Gil Joynt, spotted about six dead deer along the beach on its first trip to Wrangell after the cold snap. Several recommendations were made by the association Monday night; the first one being to leave the moose season as it is but to outlaw spotting moose from an airplane and to place a warden on the river one week before and after the moose season. On trapping regulations, it was recommended that the marten season be closed next year but the season on mink, weasel and otter be open.

Feb. 11, 1972

The state Department of Public Works in Juneau has accepted a bid of just over $19.5 million by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction, of Seattle, to build the 418-foot-long state ferry Malispina to replace the Wickersham. The Wickersham is foreign-built and under federal law cannot carry interstate passengers on her Alaska runs. Construction of the new ferry, which will accommodate several hundred passengers and dozens of vehicles, with dozens of berths, is expected to take 27 months. The bid was less than the $20 million estimated by state engineers and the contract is the largest ever awarded by the state, according to George Easley, public works commissioner.

Feb. 13, 1997

Sunshine did little to warm up the weather, but spirits were high nonetheless as Wrangell enjoyed its 17th annual Tent City celebration last weekend, sponsored by the chamber of commerce. Displays and games, concession stands and tournaments brought locals and nonresidents into the streets by day and into saloons by night. There were quilts and collectibles to look at, a scavenger hunt and roller skating for youngsters, cribbage and Scrabble tournaments for the sedentary, a golf tournament for the masochistic, along with tall tales contests, beard judging and suds drinking for the traditionalists. Rebecca Campbell and Lovey Brock were Tent City co-chairs this year. Both praised the community and volunteers for making it such a success. “We couldn’t have done it without all the other people helping,“ says Campbell. “It went beyond my expectations,“ says Brock. “The people who chaired the different events did such a great job. We want to thank them all.”