Digital Bob Archive

8 May 1981 issue

MAY 3, 1923-The seaplane Northbird made its first real commercial flight in this part of Alaska today, previous flights having been for sightseeing or pleasure. Today the plane carried two passengers on the first leg of a long trip through the territory, during which they will use several modes of transportation. Pilot Roy Jones flew Max Humphrey and George Langer to Sitka, making the trip up in one hour and 22 minutes. Humphrey represents Hill Brothers Coffee and Langer is the Alaska representative for the U. S. Rubber Company.

MAY 12, 1923-Immense icebergs are blocking passage through Icy Strait, according to Captain A. Nilsen, superintendent of the Northwestern Fisheries Company at Dundas Bay. Nilsen arrived in Juneau last night on the tender Orient. He said the ice is almost solidly massed from the Inian Islands to Point Adolphus and the Orient had to detour repeatedly to get through. He said the ice is the worst he has ever seen in the strait and had been gathering there for the past month. Nilsen blames the great volume of icebergs on the earthquake shocks that were felt in Glacier Bay area several weeks ago.

JULY 7, 1948-The palatial log cabin summer home of Norman B. Cook was completely destroyed by fire last night at Point Louisa when gasoline exploded while Cook was filling his automobile tank from a storage barrel in his garage. The blaze occurred about 7 p.m. and all efforts to fight the flames were futile.

AUGUST 6, 1948-One of Juneau?s food stores which has operated for some years as an outlet of the Piggly Wiggly Corporation has severed that connection and reverted to its former name, United Food Company, according to Edward S. Nielsen, the manager. The firm will continue to operate in the Blomgren Building on Front Street.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1945-The Twentieth Century Market is the new name of what has been Irving Market and it will be closed for approximately 30 days for extensive alterations. The Twentieth Century Meat Market, however, will remain open. New additions to the staff at the market are Kay Gratio, office manager, and Peter Geschwind, meat cutter, the latter augmenting the meat staff of Bill Cope and George Marcum.

SEPTEMBER 25, 1945-Joseph Thibodeau has been elected Commander of Alford John Bradford Post No. 4, American Legion, to serve for a year. Other newly elected officers are Leo Jewitt, first Vice Commander; Ernie Lincoln, second Vice Commander; Frank Hungerford, Adjutant; Lee Butts, Chaplain; Bob Tratch, Sergeant-at-Arms; C. C. Carnegie, Service Officers, and A. E. Karnes and H. G. Nordling, Trustees.

AUGUST 23, 1948-Everything is set for the Evergreen Olympics tomorrow in Evergreen Bowl, according to Stan Garrett, physical instructor. Events will include swimming and diving contests as well as track and field events. Signed up to take part are Elton Engstrom, Elbert Carlson, Don MacKinnon, Jeff Pegues, Ralph Trevers, Ray Weidman, Bill Orme, Mason Beach, Raymond Beach, Lee Nance, Leo Osterman, Jerry Richardson, Greg Ripke, Dick Folta, Buzzy Hayes, Jim Long, Jerry Godkins, Johnny Richardson, Eddie Dull, Bob Ripke and Julian Rivers.

MAY 31, 1950-Joseph M. Schofner, director of the instrumental music at the Juneau public schools for the past three years, has announced his resignation. When he came to Juneau directly from military service in 1946, there were only 25 students in the band. Now 96 are enrolled in the instrumental music program. Schofner has also directed the Juneau City Band for the past three years.

JUNE 8, 1950-Dr. John H. Stewart, a surgeon of extensive training and experience, will arrive from New York next month to join the Juneau Medical and Surgical Clinic. Dr. Stewart will be accompanied by Mrs. Stewart and their three sons.

JUNE 29, 1950-An exact reproduction of the historic Liberty Bell has been received in Juneau from the United States Treasury Department for permanent exhibit in Alaska. The bell is a duplicate of 52 others which have been on tour throughout the United States as part of the Independence Savings Bond drive which comes to an end on July 4. The bell will be placed near the main entrance of the Federal and Territorial building on Fourth Street. The Liberty Bells were cast at Annecy, France from precise measurements of the original bell at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. They were donated to the Treasury Department by America?s copper industry as a public service to aid in the success of the bond drive. The firms participating were Anaconda Copper Mining Company, Kennecott Copper Corp, Phelphs-Dodge Corp., American Smelting and Refining Co., American Metals Co., Ltd., and the Miami Copper Company.