The Way We Were

June 12, 1924

About three months ago, the attention of the town council was called to the fact that transient peddlers and house-to-house canvassers, who pay no taxes nor contribute in any other tangible way to the growth and welfare of the town, are getting away with good Wrangell dollars that ought to remain in Wrangell. The mayor appointed a committee to draft an ordinance that would require itinerant peddlers to pay well for the privilege of calling on the citizens of Wrangell. The ordinance calls for a license fee of $300 a week or fraction thereof for the privilege of canvassing in the town. The ordinance also deals with traveling shows, circuses, convert troupes, itinerant perpetrators of games of chance, clairvoyants and all other mediums.

June 10, 1949

The Common Council of the Town of Wrangell met at City Hall last night with Mayor George Gunderson presiding. Fireworks were a topic for much discussion, especially after the serious violations of the fireworks ordinance in Wrangell last year. The city clerk was instructed to have the ordinance printed and Chief of Police C. P. MacCreary to see that it is rigidly enforced. The council heard a complete report on sewer construction and learned what needed work will be next. After a lengthy discussion the council voted to buy more clay sewer pipe for further work. A discussion was held on the feasibility of having shrimp canneries dump their shells off the bluff out Zimovia Highway, but no action was taken as it was felt a dump that far out of town was impractical.

June 14, 1974

Property owners may face a six-mill increase in the tax levy – the first increase since 1969 – if a proposed city budget for fiscal 1974-75 is approved. The proposed $1,578,992 operating budget is an increase of $251,137 over the past year. Wrangell operates on a fiscal year from July 1 through June 30. The city manager said his proposed budget is based on a six-mill increase in the tax levy, but that it might be possible to reduce the increase by about 3.5 mills. In order to reduce the levy, the city council and voters would have to approve a special general obligation bond issue for $40,000. The money would be earmarked to pay part of the library construction cost, thus freeing for the general operating budget some federal revenue-sharing funds that were designated for the library.

June 10, 1999

The circus came to Wrangell this week with ponies, peanuts, donkeys and dogs, and almost everyone young of heart rushed to see it. The Starr Brothers Family Circus, sponsored locally by the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, had a troupe of 30 and entertained a full crowd for the Tuesday evening performances. Set up on the end of the track field, colorful flags flapped in the wind high above the circus tent, and piles of hay and several RVs and campers marked the temporary homes of the performers. Although there were no elephants, tigers or bears (not even outside), no one missed them. The traditional-style circus offered everything most circus fans could imagine even before the acts began.