The Way We Were

Sept. 25, 1924

Henry H. Darud, a hydraulic expert who went into the Cassiar early in August for the purpose of making a thorough examination from a hydraulic standpoint of the holdings of the Dease Creek Mines Corp. on Dease Creek, arrived in Wrangell on Monday. Mr. Darud stated that his investigations were highly satisfactory. He expects to return shortly after the first of the year, and will go up the Stikine by dog team over ice. It is significant that H. G. Nichols, one of the best known mining engineers living today, made the following statement over his own signature after having spent part of a season in the Cassiar: “Dease Creek, in particular, is attractive. There are benches of gravel with very little overburden and from 20- to 75-feet deep and with no indications of cement gravel. There is probably far more gold to be won from the Cassiar gold field than it has yet produced, and that by hydraulicking.”

Sept. 23, 1949

William M. Maxey, president of the Alaska Telephone and Engineering Co., which owns and operates the Wrangell telephone system, addressed the Seattle Chamber of Commerce on Monday, telling that body that Alaska will never be fully defended until its telephone system is modernized. He set about to organize the company with the purpose of modernizing the communications system of every community in Alaska. The first project, upon which he is now engaged, involves the purchase of the Seward, Wrangell and Nenana exchanges and converting them to dial phones. Maxey said his idea is to have a unified standard system throughout the territory, adding that although the Army’s Alaska Communications System does a good job, it needs help.

Sept. 27, 1974

“Joint surveillance on the Taku River went well last weekend and I see no reason why it can’t go just as smoothly on the Stikine River,” state Public Safety Commissioner Pat Wellington said Tuesday. The commissioner said Gov. William A. Egan will be on hand to dedicate the new $1.4 million Public Safety Training Academy in Sitka on Oct. 11. The new building will accommodate 56 students in 14, four-man rooms. There will be two classrooms, a library and facilities for videotape training and production. Department of Public Safety recruits, village police, municipal police, emergency medical technicians and various specialized schools will be held at the academy. Members of the Wrangell police and fire departments have graduated from past schools.

Sept. 23, 1999

In a recent press release from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Seattle office, Wrangell was listed as one of three Alaska cases being pursued for asbestos violations, with a $55,375 fine. The City of Wrangell contracted with two contractors to handle asbestos removal from the old Wrangell Institute. Alaska Abatement of Anchorage was the contractor responsible for the actual removal and disposal of the asbestos. Carson Dorn, of Juneau, was contracted to act as the inspector at the site in order to ensure that the asbestos was removed and disposed of properly. According to City Manager Dave Soulak, City Attorney Robin Taylor has contacted each of the contractors, and they are working with the EPA to address the concerns.