Digital Bob Archive

26 January 1979 issue

NOVEMBER 28, 1913-The Thanksgiving Day football game between the Alaska Gastineau Mine team and the Treadwell Mine team resulted in a 7 to 7 tie. This was a more even game than the one played on November 16 when a strong Taku wind made passing and punting difficult. The score that day was 21-0 in favor of the Thane bunch. Both games were played on the field at Treadwell.

FEBRUARY 26, 1914-For the first time in a number of years a vast quantity of herring has appeared in front of Douglas. Gas boats and smaller craft have made catches ranging from a few hundred to several thousand fish, most of which have been distributed free to local residents with a consequent drop in the cost of living.

MARCH 6, 1914-City Engineer B. D. Blakeslee has located a six-acre quarry for the city a little downstream from Shady Bend in the Gold Creek Valley. This is thought to be the best rock near town suited for future paving projects. There are thousands of yards of rock ready to go through the crusher as the result of a large slide off Mount Juneau that occurred there a dozen years ago.

FEBRUARY 8, 1917-At least 25 men were late for work at Treadwell and Thane this morning after the ferry Alma of the Juneau Ferry and Navigation Company went on the beach north of Douglas in a thick fog. The vessel was within a few feet of the beach when it was sighted. Back-up signals were given but the engines did not respond. The ferry Gent of the Island Ferry Company came along soon after and the skipper of the Alma chartered her to carry workers to their destinations at Treadwell and Thane. The Alma was floated when the tide came in.

MAY 27, 1929-Cash Cole, Auditor of Alaska, left yesterday for Olympia, Washington, in his boat, the Jazz, to take part in the Capital to Capital Yacht Race. The Jazz will be the only entry from Alaska. Governor George Parks will join her at Olympia and will act as navigator on the trip north.

JUNE 17, 1929-Four Navy amphibian planes engaged in aerial mapping of Southeastern Alaska have arrived from Petersburg and will make their headquarters at Juneau for the next few weeks. The work is in charge of Commander A. W. Radford, USN. The 150-foot tender Gannet with a 120-barge in tow is due here tonight. The barge contains the photo laboratory and living quarters for the plane crews. The aerial maps are being made from a height of 11,000 feet and clear weather is required.

MARCH 12, 1931-The Juneau Chamber of Commerce will recommend to the Territorial Legislature that it purchase the quarter block fronting the Capitol and make a park of it. The property is occupied by the Methodist Church and manse and the asking price is $18,800. (Note: The property was not purchased until many years later. It is now occupied by the Court Building.)

JANUARY 21, 1932-The Capital Laundry and Panatorium Cleaners have moved from their location at Second and Franklin to new quarters on the ground floor of the Adsit Building at Second and Main. Thomas E. Hall, resident of Juneau since 1913, is proprietor of the laundry and T. B. Setzer owns the cleaning business. (Note: The Adsit Building is presently occupied by Station KTOO.)

FEBRUARY 24, 1932-On Sunday morning, February 21, the boat America First, owned and skippered by John Haho of Douglas caught fire off Taku Harbor, was beached at the harbor entrance, and burned to the water?s edge. All on board were saved but the vessel is considered a total loss. It was formerly the mailboat on the Juneau-Kake run and was valued at $16,000. The boat was powered by a 59-horse diesel engine and the fire started in the engine room. (Note: The America First was ballasted with iron balls from the ore crushing mill. Occasionally one of these balls is still found on the beach of Taku Harbor and is assumed to have been a cannon ball.)

MAY 10, 1932-The Libby, McNeil and Libby salmon cannery at Taku Harbor was destroyed by fire last night with a loss estimated at $250,000. Preparations were under way at the cannery for the opening of the season. The fire made a clean sweep of the cannery, fish house, can factory, cold storage and blacksmith shop. Saved were the superintendent?s house, the bunk house, China house, mess house and office.

JULY 3, 1934-George W. Folta, assistant United States Attorney, is calling for bids for the construction of a dwelling just off Main Street between the M. D. Williams and Ray G. Day residences. N. Lester Troast is the architect.

JULY 5, 1934-An impressive part of the Fourth of July observance was the dedication of a bronze plaque honoring the memory of those Alaskans who gave their lives in the World War. The plaque was presented to the Territory of Alaska by the Alaska Federation of Women?s Clubs. The ceremony was held in the lobby of the post office in the Federal and Territorial Building where the plaque is mounted. (Note: The present location of the plaque is unknown to this writer [Robert De Armond]. Can anyone furnish the information?)

FEBRUARY 20, 1935-The Gastineau Channel Basketball League season ended with the Krause Cementers and the DeMolay team in a tie for first place, each team having won 5 and lost 1 game. There was a three-way tie for second place between the Juneau Firemen, Douglas Firemen and George Brothers, each with 3 wins and 3 losses. The High School had a 2-4 record while the Moose team was in the cellar with an 0-6 record. George Brothers team was the highest scoring with an average of 40.8 points per game.