The Way We Were

Feb. 16, 1922

The recommendation of the Board of Engineers to Congress for an appropriation of $50,000 for a breakwater for the protection of Wrangell harbor is as welcome as it was unexpected. Just a short time ago the board had publicly announced its intention of reporting unfavorably on the project. Then, following a survey made under the direction of Col. James G. Steese, District Engineer of the Alaska Rivers and Harbor District, the board recommended that the project be approved and Congress asked to make the necessary appropriation. Steese made a personal trip to Wrangell and investigated the feasibility of the undertaking, at the same time looking into the question of securing materials for carrying out the work. He considered it a worthy project and one that the federal government would be justified in undertaking. For his activity and his perseverance and his diligence, Steese is deserving of the highest praise.

Feb. 14, 1947

Wrangell will be joining hands with Petersburg this week in protesting the closing of the shrimp season, which would give shrimping a closed season of eight months as against the usual two months. Mass meetings were held in Petersburg, at which George Sumption, Neil Grant and John Siversten appeared to add Wrangell’s voice. Sunday they will go to Juneau to appear before Albert M. Day, head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who will be in the Capital to attend meetings of the Alaska Game Commission. It was pointed out that closing of Wrangell’s shrimp cannery will cause severe hardship on many people who depend entirely on shrimp picking for their livelihood. A petition, signed by many of Wrangell’s residents, will be presented to Mr. Day by the Wrangell men. Feeling is equally high in Petersburg over what is termed the abrupt and unnecessary closing. Shrimping is one of Petersburg’s main industries. All unions and organizations have lined up in protest and appeals are also to be made by Gov. Gruening.

Feb. 18, 1972

More than 30 volunteer firemen crowded into the city council chambers last Thursday to press for the return of their fire hall offices now occupied by the police department. The council promised to have an answer for them by next Tuesday’s regular meeting. The city was looking at two alternatives for temporary police headquarters: leasing of the Red Men Hall or leasing of offices upstairs in the Elks Hall. The police department is occupying the offices upstairs at the fire station, which until last December housed city offices. When the city moved to its new administrative offices on the fill area, the police department stayed behind.

Feb. 20, 1997

Pennywhistles, guitars and songs of the prairie were enjoyed by all who attended the Tom May folk concert Feb. 12. May’s performance was sponsored by KSTK, Wrangell radio. May sang many songs referring to the prairies and windswept lands of his home state, Nebraska. One of the highlights of the evening was a poignant song about an aged woman friend in Montana who had shared with him many years of wisdom and Celtic humor. May is also host, producer and originator of River City Folk and American folk music programs on National Public Radio.