The Way We Were

March 30, 1922

Probably the largest audience seen in Wrangell during the past year was the one that greeted Alaska Territorial Delegate to Congress Dan Sutherland at the Redmen’s Hall on Tuesday evening. In his opening remarks, Mr. Sutherland touched briefly upon the disarmament conference, which he considered one of the greatest events in world history. Mr. Sutherland began reading an editorial in an Alaska newspaper calling on him to explain why he disregarded the wishes of the people of Alaska and failed to support Judge Wickersham for territorial governor. In answer, he read some correspondence from his files between himself and President Harding. The address was a resume of the delegate’s work the past year, and was well received by the audience. The speaker was frank and outspoken on all the leading questions pertaining to the administration of Alaska affairs, and made it plain he was willing for the audience to know just where he stood on every question relating to Alaska affairs.

April 7, 1947

Wrangell this week went back 50 years to the days of the gold rush when it was a tent city of about 15,000. It hasn’t quite made that figure yet, but has a start on the tent city. When the Harry Foremans, of Grants Pass, Ore., and the Wm. Piatts, of Spokane, Wash., arrived here this week, they waved the housing shortage aside, rustled equipment and are now living in tents pitched at city park. Three other families also arrived aboard the Alaska to make Wrangell their home. The Foremans and Piatts are used to “roughing it,” they said yesterday of their tent homes. “We’re getting along fine. We’ve read that to settle in Alaska one of the main requisites is a pioneering spirit. We believe we have that and we’re in Wrangell to stay.” Mr. Foreman and Mr. Piatt are both experienced sawmill workers.

April 7, 1972

A convention with up to 80 delegates of high school business students is scheduled for next Friday and Saturday at the Stikine Inn. Mrs. Joan Eagle, typing and shorthand teacher at Wrangell High School, is coordinator of the two-day event, which will include films, a business machine display, a battery of office skills contests and a speaker, James Biema, assistant director of vocational education for the Alaska Department of Education. The Wrangell High School Office Education Association’s 33 members plan to attend, along with visitors from Kake, Adak, Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, Craig, Metlakatla, Hoonah and Petersburg, according to Hap Jones, Wrangell business teacher. Mrs. Eagle said contests in procedures, spelling and the ability to undergo formal job interviews are planned. The convention is being sponsored by the state Division of Vocational Education.

April 10, 1997

During its meeting last spring, the Alaska Board of Game passed a new regulation that will require hunters to salvage the edible meat of black bears harvested during spring seasons. Beginning this year, hunters who harvest black bears in Alaska between Jan. 21 and May 31 must salvage all the edible meat from the front quarters as far the distal joint of the radius-ulna (knee), hindquarters as far as the distal joining of the tibia-fibula (hock), and that portion of the animal between the front and hind quarters (back straps). Wanton waste of edible meat is a serious offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and one year in jail.