The Way We Were

July 10, 1924

Dr. Diven is leaving Friday on the Haleyon to establish the Christian Endeavor Society’s camp at Anan Creek. This is the girls camp and will be directed by Mrs. Tozier, Mrs. Patterson and Miss Swanson. Dr. Diven, assisted by Homer Worden and Sidney Tozier, will attend to all the heavier work around the camp except the eating, in that the dozen girls of the camp have cheerfully agreed to take a full share. Some of the girls who are planning on the camping trip are the Misses Dorothy and Marjorie Johnson, Irene and Virginia Tozier, Erma Grant, Margaret Ottesen, Marie Helseth, Catherine, Glen and Betty Matheson.

July 8, 1949

F. G. Hanford, who recently finished remodeling his new home on Reid Street, held an informal open house for a few friends last Sunday. Hanford, who has long advocated use of cottonwood for plywood and attempted to promote other woods which are plentiful on the Stikine River, had his home finished in the wood that he has boosted for so long. Results of Mr. Hanford’s home prove his statements for the cottonwood paneling, in the opinion of many, far surpasses knotty pine finish. The cottonwood used in the Hanford home came from Fraser River in British Columbia and is in the variety of dark and light woods. The house consists of a living room, bedroom and kitchen. Both the living room and bedroom are finished in cottonwood with birch moldings. The kitchen is done in yellow and white and has a bar, also of attractive cottonwood. New draperies, furniture and floor coverings makes Mr. Hanford’s home an outstanding home in Wrangell.

July 12, 1974

Beautiful clear skies, calm water and dozens of spectators paid tribute to the sleek and spacious new state ferry Columbia when she sailed into Wrangell on Sunday for her maiden voyage through Southeast. The Edelweiss Band, playing on the vessel during the trip, departed her decks to perform for Wrangellites in front of the ferry terminal. Named after the Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, the new flagship of the Alaska ferry system was constructed at the Lockheed shipyard in Seattle for $20 million. The largest of Alaska’s ferries, she is 418 feet long and 85 feet wide, with space for 1,000 passengers and 184 standard-size vehicles. The Columbia is outfitted with plush carpets, intricate light fixtures, dozens of Alaska paintings, bright colors through the vessel – and a distinct odor of newness.

July 8, 1999

A group of Wrangell men got together this past weekend and before the night was over they caused quite a scene. Sparks flew and the commotion could be heard all over town. The police weren’t called this time, however, because the noise makers were Wrangell’s pyrotechnics who were putting on a fireworks show that will not be soon forgotten. For 35 minutes Sunday night the sky over the town was ablaze with rockets, roman candles, falling stars and all colors of burning glitter. Spectators of all ages stood by the waterfront watching as the rockets rose from the old mill dock. The crew used long wooden rows of racks into which black tubes measuring between two and a half inches to six and a half inches in diameter were placed. Shells were placed on top of the tubes. Between the rows were rails or electronic boards. A control panel enabled one person to electronically ignite whichever group of fireworks he wanted without ever having to actually come close to the shell. Utilizing an entirely new system, the 11-member pyrotechnic team spent 14 hours straight setting up the show, executing it, then cleaning up. The crew estimates they spent over 200 hours just preparing for the night’s show.