The Way We Were

April 16, 1925

The regular monthly meeting of the executive board of the local chapter of the Red Cross was held at the City Hall on Tuesday evening with Chairman J. G. Grant presiding. Red Cross nurse Mrs. S. D. Grant reported that some time ago G. E. Diemart had placed his taxi at the disposal of the nursing service, free of charge, and that he had taken patients she was accompanying to the boat for travel to a hospital, regardless of the time of day or night. A vote of thanks was extended to Mr. Diemart for his cooperation.

April 14, 1950

A trollers agreement covering all of Southeast Alaska became effective this week. The agreement came about after negotiations in Ketchikan between the United Trollers of Alaska and fish buyers. All buyers have agreed to sign. Minimum prices are 31 cents per pound for large reds, 21 cents per pound for small reds and 20 cents for whites. This is an increase of 2 cents on reds and 1 cent on whites over the last year’s contract. There is a further agreement that any minimum price for cohos will be negotiated no later than July 1 to become effective July 15.

April 16, 1975

With one councilman voting no and the mayor voicing “serious doubts about how we’re going to pay for this,” the Wrangell City Council last week ordered preparation of working drawings for a citywide sewage collection and disposal system. The cost is an estimated $4.9 million. The city’s share is about $655,000. Currently, the city disposes of its raw sewage into the ocean. The city is being compelled by federal anti-pollution directives to build the new system, which includes an interceptor sewer, pumping plants and a disposal plant and ocean outfall line.

April 20, 2000

Petroglyphs are a treasure from the past which set Wrangell apart from many other Alaska communities. Our communal wealth unexpectedly increased this month with the discovery of two buried petroglyphs uncovered during construction of the new viewing platform and walkway at Petroglyph Beach. One petroglyph, an eagle or thunderbird, has been moved to the museum, where it is on display, while the second, a type of fish, is awaiting transport, also to the museum. A drawing of the bird petrogylph appeared in a thesis on Alaska petroglyphs written in 1974 by Edward T. Stevens, so it must have become covered up since that time. Museum director/curator Theresa Thibault reports that both petroglyphs were buried a couple of feet below the beach surface and are in excellent shape.