The Way We Were

July 2, 1924

Frederick H. Meisnest, waste product engineer with Stanley Hiller Inc., was in Wrangell this past week. Mr. Meisnest is vice president and treasurer of the Alaska Shellfish Co., recently established by James M. Bell, president and manager of the company, for the purpose of packing crabs. Both Mr. Meisnest and Mr. Bell are graduates of the College of Fisheries of the University of Washington and have had a wide experience in the fish business. Mr. Meisnest is in charge of the Seattle office of Stanley Hiller Inc., as Northwest representative. This is a company of waste product engineers who devote their entire time to devising processes and machinery for the saving of waste materials. Mr. Meisnest is at work now devising a process to utilize crab waste. As soon as he has it completed, it will be used by Mr. Bell in the crab cannery here.

July 1, 1949

John Coulter and Monte Clemmons recently enjoyed a trout fishing expedition 17 miles up the Stikine, which not only netted them full circles but also contributed to their manly physiques -- and vocabularies. Leaving Warm Springs Slough with full baskets, their outboard motor took some of the joy out of life by refusing to start. Various remedies refused to budge, so they rowed 17 miles down river to Nore’s cabin where they borrowed another outboard. But this was not Coulter or Clemmons’ day with outboard motors. A short distance from Nore’s the borrowed motor quit cold. So, back to the oars. They arrived home at 1 a.m. -- about five hours overdue, blistered, tired but triumphant.

July 5, 1974

The Lost Valley Timber Co. has begun road construction in the Pats Creek area in preparation for what will be the first logging on the island since 1967. Chuck Oliver, owner of the timber company, said the road work began about a month ago. Although shipping is slow, Oliver said, his logging equipment is on its way. Lost Valley has a three-year contract with Alaska Lumber and Pulp to harvest 25 million board feet a year, Oliver said. Eventually Olver plans to work 20 to 25 men, some of whom will be hired locally, he said. At present, eight men are working, three from Oregon.

July 1, 1999

Due to the new road surface recently completed on Zimovia Highway between Pats Creek and McCormack Creek, the Wrangell Police Department has received citizen reports of speeding in the area. Responding to the need to protect the public and maintain safe speed limit levels, the police will be operating radar patrol units at various times concentrated in this area. Radar patrol units will also be operating in several other areas within the city during the summer months, concentrating on high-traffic areas like Case Avenue, Zimovia Highway and Evergreen Avenue. The Wrangell Police Department would like to ask everyone for their assistance in abiding by the traffic laws to assure everyone has a safe summer season.