The Way We Were

Nov. 3, 1921

Miss Liberty Worden gave a Halloween party Monday night in the school room of the post office building for her Saturday afternoon girls sewing club. The decorations and dainty refreshments and favors were all in keeping with the traditions of the day. A ghost and a witch who told thrilling fortunes enlivened the program and some jolly games were enjoyed. Miss Betty Matheson won the prize for adjusting the head of a make-believe black cat as near to its proper position on the body as was possible when blindfolded. Erma Grant was the prize winner in a marshmallow contest.

Nov. 1, 1946

The ARB cannery tender Roamer, skippered by John Siverston, arrived in Wrangell on Wednesday evening with 50 tons of merchandise for Grant’s Grocery. B.Y. Grant, proprietor of the store, flew south about a week ago to make arrangements for the shipment. “Mr. Grant deserves a lot of credit, “ Siversten said. “He went down, chartered the boat, bought his groceries and then battled the longshoremen to get the boat loaded. It was tough going for him.” Siversten said because of the weather conditions this time of year it was extremely unsatisfactory to bring up supplies on small boats. Bad weather could delay their trip for several days, thereby increasing the danger of spoilage. Siversten said it was hard on a skipper’s nerves to make some of the stormy crossings that cannery tenders are not built to endure. They left Saturday and got here Wednesday night, without making a stop.

Nov. 5, 1971

Mr. and Mrs. George Norris have purchased the former Tom Sawyer Gift Shop here, as of Nov. 1. The new enterprise will be known in the future as Norris Gifts and Ceramics. Mrs. Norris will manage the shop. She is the former Olga Ogelend, member of a pioneer Wrangell family. She was raised in Wrangell and graduated from the schools. For nine years she was a dental assistant in the office of Dr. Gray Floyd and also is well known in art circles, having had her paintings displayed in the Wrangell Museum. In her new shop, Mrs. Norris will carry a line of her own hand-made ceramics as well as paintings, in addition to a varied line of gifts. Mr. Norris has lived here 11 years. He is from Willamina, Oregon, and is in the construction business here.

Nov. 7, 1996

Residents beyond 9 Mile Zimovia Highway are eagerly awaiting electricity to their property, calling City Hall as they watch the poles being put up and asking: “How soon can you hook us up?” Tim Gillen, the city’s electric utility supervisor, says that isn’t likely until spring -- as soon as the frost is out of the ground and poles can be put in to carry the wires to houses. The new line will stretch all the way out to McCormick Creek, says City Manager Scott Seabury. Once all the wires and transformers are in place, residents will need to apply with the city for service. The city hopes that extending electricity out to McCormick Creek will enable light industries to establish themselves out the road, and the extra power will be useful if the 6 Mile sawmill again becomes active.