Digital Bob Archive

20 July 1979 issue

APRIL 14, 1913-One of the projects of the new City Council that is about to take up the reins of government in Douglas ? or ?New Town? as the oldtimers call it ? is the widening of St. Ann Avenue. Time was when it was only a trail connecting Douglas with its meal ticket, Treadwell. It was a rough trail, too, winding its devious and uncertain way through gullies and around stumps and cabins.

APRIL 5, 1915-The latest business to establish on Willoughby Avenue is the Capital Dye Works, owned by C. Meldner. His new building is 18 by 40 feet and has a dry room, cleaning room and pressing room. Dry cleaning machinery is on its way here from Cincinnati and will be installed as soon as it arrives.

OCTOBER 5, 1917-If present arrangements do not miscarry, the first issue of the Gastineau Breeze will appear next week. The monthly paper is being published by Douglas High School students.

OCTOBER 22, 1917-A bad fire, believed of incendiary origin, destroyed the Sans Souci Building at Third and C Streets in Douglas at an early hour this morning. The building housed the Douglas Post Office. Firemen fought the blaze for four and a half hours and had it out by 6 o?clock. Postmaster Jack Hensen and his assistant, Nora Museth, were soon on the scene and saved all the mail, supplies and equipment except 50,000 stamped envelopes which were in a back room. The office is being temporarily reopened in the Thomas Building across the street. The Sans Souci was the most commodious business building in Douglas and was owned by G. Roene who built it in 1905. There were apartments upstairs in the building but only the one of the owners was occupied and he was in Juneau at the time the fire broke out.

JANUARY 1, 1918-All eight bars in Douglas closed their doors promptly at midnight last night and locked them permanently. This was mandated by the referendum approved by voters throughout the territory in the 1916 election. There was considerable last minute drinking before the black hour came, but there was no disorder.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1924-The Douglas Public School opened this morning following the summer vacation with a total enrollment of 139. Of these, 27 are in the high school, including 11 freshmen, 7 sophomores, 7 juniors and 2 seniors. Miss Bernice Scoville is the school superintendent.

MARCH 30, 1925-The Studebaker Building, familiarly known as ?The Old Stand? because of the saloon that so long occupied its, has been purchased by George Simpkins and will be the new home of the Alaska Bindery. In addition to the bindery, Simpkins will operate both a wholesale and a retail shop selling stationery and office supplies. The building is on Front Street between Seward and Main. The bindery has been located on Ferry Way since it was established by Simpkins 13 years ago. (Note: The lower floor of the building is now occupied by The Hamlet.)

SEPTEMBER 25, 1926-Lieut. James Simpson MacKinnon has forwarded his resignation as an officer of the United States Navy and has purchased the interest of Dr. H. Vance in the Alaska Steam Laundry which was founded by Mrs. MacKinnon?s father, E. R. Jaeger. He will become vice president of the laundry company, Warren H. Wilson retaining his place as president.

APRIL 2, 1930-Mayor Thomas B. Judson, unopposed for reelection, carried his entire three-man ticket onto the City Council. Wallis S. George, H. Messerschmidt and Homer G. Nordling defeated J. E. Green, James Larson and George B. Rice for the seats. R. E. Robertson was unopposed for the School Board. A total of 638 votes were cast out of 902 registered voters.

FEBRUARY 18, 1936-Members of the Juneau Ski Club and their friends will gather at the Terminal Cafe at 7 o?clock this evening for the club?s first annual banquet. About 70 couples are expected to attend, according to Chairman Orrin Kimball. Ernest Parsons will serve as toastmaster and Dan Roller will present the club?s gold trophy to Al Bystrom who became the first winner of the cup by leading the field in downhill race over the Douglas Ski Trail course last Sunday.

MAY 25, 1936-The Aeronca seaplane purchased by the Gastineau Flying Club through Pilot Sheldon Simmons, Juneau agent for the company, arrived yesterday aboard the steamer Northwestern and was assembled at the Alaska Air Transport float this morning. It made its first flight this afternoon.

FEBRUARY 3, 1937-E. L. ?Bob? Bartlett, formerly secretary to Delegate Anthony J. Dimond and more recently a member of the staff of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, has been appointed Informational Service Representative on the Social Security Board and assigned to Alaska. His office will be in Juneau. The appointment was announced this morning by Hugh Wade, director of the Alaska Social Security office.

APRIL 27, 1938-Case Lot Grocery was opened this morning at 240 South Franklin Street by Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Irwin. (Note: The grocery expanded over the years and eventually moved to the airport area where it became the Glacier Valley IGA Store.)

MARCH 31, 1939-The Baranof Hotel side of Franklin Street takes on a still busier air tomorrow with the opening of the Baranof Liquor Store in the hotel building. The store will be operated by John H. Walmer, former proprietor of the U. & I. Lunch.