Digital Bob Archive

12 October 1979 issue

JANUARY 28, 1907-Lack of coal is hampering the operations of the Treadwell mines. A Japanese coal ship failed to arrive on time and there is a coal famine on the Pacific Coast. The Treadwell company has scared up 2,500 tons of coal in Seattle and it will be brought north by the freighter Montara which was withdrawn from the San Francisco run especially to make this trip. Meanwhile, steps are being undertaken to alleviate this condition. Building of the first oil storage tank at Treadwell began early this month. It is being erected on the old chlorination plant location. When the storage tanks are completed the company will switch from coal to oil.

MAY 14, 1913-The City of Juneau has been presented a brand new rock crusher by Bart L. Thane, local mining man. The machine is now on the dock here and will soon be set up. This will enable the city to lay lasting pavements to replace the miserable plank roadways now in use.

MAY 25, 1915-The Redondo, newest acquisition of Alaska Steamship Company, arrived in Juneau late yesterday with 150 tons of cargo for local merchants. The vessel is the steam schooner type, 188 feet long, and was built at Toledo, Ohio, in 1902 and first operated on the Great Lakes. More recently she has run between Coos Bay, Oregon, and San Pedro, California, in the lumber trade. She has accommodations for 33 cabins and 16 steerage passengers.

JUNE 8, 1915-Mrs. D. Z. McClelland, who has been in charge of the Juneau Public Library since it opened last year, has resigned the position and will leave soon for Seattle. Her place will be taken by Miss Margaret Duncan Green, a sister of Mrs. R. E. Robertson. She has been employed in the Carnegie Library in Washington D. C., for the past two years and will arrive in Juneau in the near future.

FEBRUARY 3, 1921-?I believe we are well in line now to see the establishment of a large pulp and paper manufacturing plant at Thane, and I hope and believe construction will start this spring.? Those were the words of George T. Jackson, general manager of the Alaska Gastineau Mining Company, who was speaking at a meeting of the Juneau Commercial Association today.

AUGUST 28, 1925-The new home of the G. E. Krause concrete manufacturing plant is now under construction at 12th and E Street and will be ready for occupancy by mid-September. The one story building is L shaped measuring 60 and 90 by 30 feet and rests on concrete piers. Mr. Krause has operated his plant for several years in the Nelson building on Willoughby Avenue.

MARCH 9, 1926-A Russian bell thought to have been brought to Alaska in the very early years of the Russian occupation, has been donated to the Territorial Museum by the Rev. Gerasim Sebwaltz who is in charge of the church in Afognak. It is the first bell in that museum?s collection of Russian artifacts. Fr. Sebwaltz reports that the bell was found in a mass of debris on Afognak Island and had apparently been there for a long time. It is twelve and a half inches high and eleven inches in diameter. The rim is chipped and the bell has some cracks. The clapper is missing but the bell still has a good tone when struck with a hammer.

APRIL 30, 1927-The Scottish Rite bodies of Masonry today announced the purchase of the lot at the northeast corner of Fourth and Seward Street where they will soon begin construction of a three story concrete Masonic Temple. The building will occupy the entire 50 by 100 foot lot and will cost an estimated $50,000.

DECEMBER 13, 1929-The Melody Shop, Juneau?s newest mercantile business, will open on December 16 and will feature Victor radio sets, phonographs and records and a complete line of sheet music. Mrs. W. J. Pigg is the proprietor.

MARCH 22, 1933-A 65-gallon still, believed to be the largest ever uncovered by prohibition officers in Juneau, was seized two days ago in a residence on Sixth Street between East and Harris Street. Also seized were about 75 gallons of moonshine, a large quantity of mash, kegs, bottles and other supplies. Three men were arrested at the scene. The seizure is ironic because today President Roosevelt signed the bill legalizing the manufacture and sale of beer and it is believed legalization of hard liquor will soon follow. Beer sales will become legal at midnight on April 6.

JUNE 19, 1934-The Douglas High School annual, The Taku, will be off the press tomorrow. Elsa Lundell is editor and other staff members are Astrid Loken, Helen Pusich, Lloyd Guerin, Arvo Wahto, Glenn Edwards, Jennie Savikko, Roy Williams, Bernhart Savikko, Wilma Feero, Jessi Fraser, Betty Sey and Myrtle Feero. Mrs. R. E. Engstrom is faculty advisor.

OCTOBER 16, 1939-Juneau was treated to a rare sight yesterday when approximately 300 whistling swans flew over the Douglas bridge and down Gastineau Channel on their way south. The swans have been on the flats near the PAA airport for several days.

MAY 8, 1940-Frank A. Metcalf has been named City Engineer to succeed Milton Lagergren who resigned to take a position with Livengood Placers near Fairbanks. The position is now a full time job and pays $225 a month.

JANUARY 17, 1941-Among the many examples of art work to be on display at the Masonic Temple next Tuesday will be paintings and drawings, antiques, soap carvings, hand hammered copper work, ceramics, silver, and needlework. The exhibit is being presented by the Fine Arts Department of Juneau Women?s Club under the direction of Mrs. Walter B. Heisel.