The Way Were Were

July 19, 1923

Ray Ready, a former Wrangell boy, who was connected with the Sentinel in 1917, is now operating a Linotype machine in the composing room of the Derrick Publishing Co. at Oil City, Pennsylvania. He says that a news dispatch from Wrangell a few days ago reported: “President Harding was greeted by thousands upon his arrival at Fort Wrangell, and the president made a speech from the steps of the courthouse.” Then Mr. Ready said: “Will you please tell me just where that courthouse in Wrangell with steps is located.” The joke is on Ray, as our big courthouse has been built since he left here.

July 23, 1948

This was “Baby Week” for Dr. John O. Bangeman, local physician and surgeon, at Bishop Rowe Hospital in more ways than one. The well-known old stork zoomed the rooftop three times and on each flight Dr. Bangeman found himself handing the nurse a new bundle of pink and white babyness. The old bird started the week out bright and early, leaving a 7-pound, 10-ounce son addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Hamley at 6:58 a.m. Monday morning. The following afternoon at 4:44 p.m., Swoop Stork revved up his beak and Dr. Bangeman reached the hospital in time to deliver a 7-pound daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Martin. It was around noon yesterday that the final delivery came. Dr. Bangeman saw Swoopie Stork taking flight up Third Street. He rushed to the hospital and delivered an 8-pound, 10 ¾-ounce girl, and when he looked at the label he found her consigned to “Dr. and Mrs. John O. Bangeman, Wrangell, Alaska.”

July 20, 1973

An eight-member team of writers and photographers from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, visited Wrangell last week in support of Operation Midnight Sun – a fact-gathering trip on clearcut logging. The writers and photographers interviewed Wrangell Lumber Co. officials, community leaders and residents to determine their attitudes on the clearcut logging issue. In order to experience Alaska wilderness firsthand, the group has been camping in clearcut areas in Southeast. In addition to producing editorial reports for national publication, the team will produce a slide show depicting the story of Operation Midnight Sun, covering its mission, preparations, operations and conclusions.

July 16, 1998

The U.S. Forest Service wishes to inform the public about a couple projects listed in its new resource analysis report for Wrangell projects. Many of the suggested projects listed would occur several years into the future and would require environmental analysis to be completed before any action was taken, but at least two of the projects described in the report are in the development stage now. The North Wrangell trail is being built by the Forest Service this summer. About 2.5 miles of new trail and shelters will be built in the phase of this project. The second phase of the project would connect the trail system to road access on state lands on the northeast side of the island, forming a loop system.