The Way We Were

May 1, 1924

A number of citizens met at the Wrangell Hotel last night to discuss the matter of securing a saltwater pump for Wrangell. It is a well known fact that the only thing that saved Ketchikan during the recent fire in that city was the constant streams of saltwater that were kept going by the pumps on the vessels lying in port. O. D. Leet, manager of the Wrangell Ice and Storage Co., is willing to permit the use of one of his engines to run a pump at any time. With the hose now on hand it would be possible to reach a fire as far down Front Street as Ole Johnson’s store. But in case a saltwater pump should be installed, more hose would of course be purchased. Another thing could be done which would give tremendous advantage in case of fire would be to pump saltwater into the city main. This would give an inexhaustible supply of water in any part of the town that is reached by the main. A committee composed of F. E. Gingrass, E. M. Campbell and Arnt Sorset was appointed to obtain further data and make recommendations as to size of pump required, etc., and report at a later meeting.

May 6, 1949

Activity started in Wrangell this week with the opening of the halibut, shrimp and salmon seasons in the area and the arrival of Mr. A.R. Brueger of the Farwest Wrangell Cannery with a few of his key men to get work started on preparing the cannery for the season. The halibut season opened on May 1 along with the Stikine area for gillnetting and trolling for salmon. The shrimp season opened May 2. “It’s going to be a good year and everybody is going to pay their bills,” buyer Mr. Engstrom optimistically stated.

May 3, 1974

The state’s Local Boundary Commission has given conditional approval to the City of Wrangell’s proposal to annex 24,400 acres. Meeting in Fairbanks on April 26, the commission voted 3-1 to endorse the city’s proposal, with the stipulation that an ordinance be adopted sitting differential property taxation zones on the basis of the city services provided. Pat Poland of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs told the Sentinel: “The commission seemed to feel that the annexation plan would work, but due to the amount of testimony in opposition, the majority felt that the differential tax plan should be instituted.” Poland said if the annexation proposal is ratified by the Legislature in January, it would become effective in 45 days. “Then in about 15 to 18 months, the commission would review the plan’s implementation to determine how well it’s working.”

April 29, 1999

Wrangell seems a little quieter this week. After the exit of visiting artists, musicians, teachers, students, archeologists, geologists and even bird caretakers, all here for the annual Garnet Festival, the calm after the storm has settled into place. The third annual event was a great success, according to festival coordinator, Wilma Leslie. “The festival is growing, but according to marketing statistics, it takes three to five years for one to reach a peak,” she said. “I am learning what works and what doesn’t. A lot of the events were successful because of Wrangell’s participation, and people outside the community are also interested in helping it grow.”