July 29, 1926

A party of naval officers arrived in Wrangell at 2 p.m. Sunday on the USS Gannett to investigate Wrangell’s suitability as a base for the air mapping expedition when it moves north from Ketchikan. About two weeks ago Mayor J.C. Grant sent a cablegram to Ketchikan inviting Lt. Wyatt to consider Wrangell as his next base of operations, and assuring him that the town would be willing to cooperate in every way possible. The Gannett returned to Ketchikan Sunday night without any decision being announced as to what will be done. Should Wrangell be chosen as a base for the air mappers during the remainder of the season, it would mean bringing more than 100 people here for the next three months of work. 

July 27, 1951

October 1951 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Wrangell Public Library. Since its organization in 1921, the Wrangell Women’s Civic Club and Library Association has assumed the responsibility of keeping it supplied with books and magazines. Mrs. H. B. Thornquist, chairman of the library board, said the board has plans for enlarging the library into the room formerly occupied by the Girl Scouts, thus furnishing a children’s annex to the library - a small space devoted just to children’s books and reading tables. 

July 28, 1976

Wrangell has been awarded a $700,512 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration for construction and installation of a float system at the Shoemaker Bay small boat harbor. According to City Manager James Eide, moorage space for approximately 190 small boats will be constructed with the grant. The breakwater and dredging, financed by the state, are completed. Eide said engineering on the moorage facilities could be completed within 30 days. He said work could be advertised for bids, with construction starting as early as this fall. Work could be done through the winter, he added. The floats will be prefabricated concrete, with steel approach ramps. The total cost of the harbor project is approximately $2,055,000.

July 26, 2001

Two items of unfinished business kicked off Tuesday’s city council agenda after a public hearing that addressed the issues. The proposed ordinance for asking voters in October to decide whether to build a new museum has been one of the thorniest problems to confront the city council in recent memory. The ordinance, which would have asked if voters wanted a museum only, was approved in its first reading on July 13. It was put forth as an option to the plan presented by a citizens initiative petition, which will ask whether voters want a combined museum and civic center building. The council on Tuesday voted down the proposed ordinance to build only a museum.