The Way We Were

Sept. 13, 1923

The pictorial section of a recent issue of The New York Times contains some excellent views taken at the time of President Harding’s visit to Wrangell. One exceptionally fine picture is that of Mrs. Harding, Junior Barnes and an Eskimo dog breed. There is also a good picture of Gertrude Goodrich shaking hands with the president. A picture of Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover taken while speaking shows the president, Gov. Bone, George H. Harnes and Dr. Diven standing a couple of feet back of the speaker. There is also an excellent picture of the president and Mrs. Harding taken when they were aboard the launch returning to the U.S.S. Henderson. The president and Mrs. Harding are each holding a copy of the Wrangell Sentinel in their hands.

Sept. 10, 1948

Senton Thompson, chief of Alaska fisheries from the Washington, D.C., office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and George Kelez, fisheries management supervisor from the Juneau office, were in Wrangell on Saturday for a meeting with local fisherman, packers and merchants who were requesting the same commercial fishing extension to Sept. 7 for Wrangell District that was granted the southern district. A.R. Brueger, local canneryman, explained to the officials that, in his opinion, the fish were still running well in this district. His cannery received sufficient fish to keep it running virtually around the clock shift the past few days the season was open. Thompson, however, said figures received by him on the fish run did not warrant the extension for this area.

Sept. 14, 1973

Wrangell’s community library soon will be moving into quarters to match its impressive collection of books, phonograph records and periodicals. Librarian Irene Ingle said, “We have simply run out of room here.” Ingle has been in charge of the library since 1949. The new 3,250-square-foot building is to go on city-owned land already cleared where a theater and the old American Legion hall once stood. Construction is scheduled to begin this month and completion is expected by mid-January. The $144,328 cost will be financed from state and federal grants and a $50,000 city bond issue. The new library will be the fulfillment of a longtime dream for Mrs. Ingle, who has built Wrangell’s library into one of the best small-town libraries in the state but is now stoked by space considerations. Operations of the library in the past have been through grants, donations, sales and special events prompted by the library board and the librarian. This year, however, the city budgeted $600 for books and for periodical subscriptions and the state awarded a one time $1,000 grant for purchase of books and supplies. Mrs. Ingle’s famous library popcorn machine will be going along to the new building, too.

Sept. 10, 1998

Garbage was once again the top discussion during the city council meeting held Sept. 8. The council talked with local resident and apartment owner Dick Ballard about the problems which have arisen since the latest rate increase and regulation in local services, specifically when a dumpster is involved. Other topics included the problem of noise and smoke that is being generated near the Senior Citizens apartments. Although no final decision was made on either concern, lengthy discussion ensued.