The Way We Were

Sept. 7, 1922

A seaplane arrived here last night piloted by Roy Jones of Ketchikan. It alighted beautifully near the dock of the Alaska Sanitary Packing Co. Mr. Jones has made several flights today, taking up local people. Among those who have enjoyed the thrill of soaring in the air thousands of feet above the Earth are Leonard Campbell, Alex Vreatt, Grover Foster, Dr. R. J. Diven, Ole Johnson, Misses R. J. Coulter, Katherine Harvey and Elwina Bradseth.

Sept. 5, 1947

Two senatorial parties who visited Wrangell last Saturday night, the Small Business Committee headed by Sen. Capehart, of Indiana, and the Public Lands Committee headed by Sen. Hugh Butler, of Nebraska, promised careful consideration of Alaska’s problems following their inspection trip to the territory and return to Congress to Washington. Alaska Territorial Gov. Ernest Gruening accompanied the Public Lands Committee, and Secretary of Alaska Lew Williams accompanied the Small Business Committee. At a public meeting for the visitors at the Elks Hall, a beautiful key carved from Wrangell yellow cedar and decorated with totemic designs was presented to Gruening in appreciation for the many favors he has done for the town. The key was carved by William Eastaugh, who made a similar one recently which was presented to Seattle Mayor William Devin when he and a Seattle Chamber of Commerce party visited Wrangell. Mayor Devin’s key won wide publicity in Seattle for its beauty and unique carvings.

Sept. 8, 1972

Don Riach, Wrangell’s band director and operator of Riach Ranch out the old airport road, set a new record this week by arriving home from his annual fall hay-buying trip to British Columbia with a whopping 12½ tons of alfalfa and timothy on his truck and on a heavy-duty trailer. Riach goes each year to Vanderhoof, B.C., for the hay for his animals, which this year includes 34 goats and two pigs. Last year was a record hay haul, too, but was only 5½ tons. Riach went first to Washington and Oregon on business and to have his truck repaired, then drove to Prince Rupert, picking up his big hay load on the way. He arrived home on the state ferry Taku Monday night and was met at dockside by Mrs. Riach and the couple’s seven youngsters.

Sept. 4, 1997

Wrangell’s Economic Development Committee last Wednesday, Aug. 28, considered two proposals for funding from the Southeast Revolving Loan Fund. The committee tentatively approved a request from On-Site Systems of Auke Bay for $500,000 to make and market an ultraviolet light system that disinfects muskeg tainted water – a device that was felt to have good potential in Wrangell, where available water supplies are below federal standards for clarity and color. The committee also heard a proposal from Dominic Papa of Wrangell for $44,000 to start a hobby shop specializing in remote-controlled planes and cars. Although committee members found the idea appealing, they felt that income projections might be unrealistic, and recommended that Papa get assistance from loan officers at the Southeast Business Development Center to form a solid business plan.