The Way We Were

Oct. 30, 1924

H. A. Kuehl of the Pendleton Gold Mining Co. was among those who came down the Stikine this week on their way Outside. Mr. Kuehl reports his company made good progress during the past season considering the numerous difficulties encountered, such as having to build a stretch of road in order to get machinery and supplies to the property. They were very hopeful that they would be able to get their dragline into operation before the close of this season but the freeze-up came the day they started operations. However, they are now in a position whereby they can begin actual operations at the beginning of the season next spring, and it is expected that they will be able to begin sluicing five or six weeks before navigation opens on the Stikine.

Oct. 27, 1949

Loyal Binkley, on his 40-foot seine boat LJB, returned last week from Seattle after a rough 10-day trip. Binkley went south Sept. 27 with William Nichols, the latter’s son and another man. They were six days on the southbound trip. Binkley stayed in Seattle a week, during which time he purchased 15 Navy surplus 80- and 50-gallon boat tanks, usable for either water or gasoline. He also brought back a quantity of produce and three rubber self-sealing tanks for his brother Al Binkley’s boat, the Chief Binkley. William Nichols returned with him and the two fought heavy winds and rough seas most the way north.

Oct. 30, 1974

The $2.6 million improvement project at Wrangell airport, which has been underway for the past 10 months, was officially accepted last week by the state and federal governments. The contractor, Burgess Construction, began moving its equipment out. Some of the work accomplished since crews began moving airport earth last December includes: Extension of the runway from 5,000 to 6,400 feet; expansion of taxiway and parking areas; installation of runway taxiway and parking area lighting; and installation of a rotating navigation beacon.

Oct. 28, 1999

Wrangell museum director/administrator Theresa Thibault reports that she has just received the “50 percent design and development” plans for the new James and Elsie Nolan Center. This means that half of all the paperwork necessary to begin construction is now complete. She expects they will be able to put construction documents out to bid in January and construction will begin as scheduled in the spring. The newly received plans and specifications include detail about the floor plans of individual rooms, windows, siding, cross sections and roof construction. Presently, the ground is being prepared for laying the foundation.