The Wrangell sentinel., 1940-06-14
87 YEARS OF PROGRESS

town. It was on June b, 1908. that the voters of the community cast their ballots for incorporation. His toric Fort WrangeIl had been an uu and coming community for many years before that h fact. it can justly lay claim 10 being the oldesl settlement in the Territory. Al though land was first sighted hy the Russians off Sitka. Fort Nrangen was The first to become a permanent settlement
 But it was on June 15. 1903. that Wrangell accepted the modern trend and became an incorporated town. The old records at the City Hall re- veal an interesting account Of the occasion and the events leading up to it.
 The idea germinated. as do many community ideas. in the Chamber of Commerce. an organization which began 10 function in Fort Wrangell on March 9, 1898. Those first years of the Chamber saw only in termittent activity but on April 3I, 1902. the Chamber was re-organized and it was in this latter group that the plan for incorporation was pushed and finally achieved. c P. Collins was President of the group, J. G. Grant, Vice President; E. K. Turner, second Vice President, J. E. Norden. Secretary. and Robert Reid Treasurer. The membership included P. C. Mccormack. J E. Collins, P. C. Jensen, Robert Reid. L. J. Cole, A Y. R. Snyder, pr. o. ". Stanton, E. Lynch. F W. Carl yon. Leo c. Patenaude, P D. Hange. F. E. Coyle. Bruno Grief. Ole John son. Fred T. Johnston, J. c Grant. John Norton, William E Lloyd, John Sehuler. Patrick LOftus. Fred SfackpOle, T. J. Case, L. R. Porter. B ". Wood lM. D.. Richard Bland, Donald Sinclair and Ed R Turner
 Al the meeting of this Chamber group on March 19. 1903. a com mittee was appointed to secure the sentiment of the people of Wrangell regarding the incorporation of the town. President Collins appointed T. J. Case and H. D. Campbell to report al the next meeting. A special meet ing was held on March 27. 1903, to hear a report from this committee, which turned in a petition signed by ITS citizens of WrangeIl who desired to see the town incorporated After an evening spent in discus sion, a committee was appointed to investigate how far the town limits could extend and 10 arrange for a town election Named to that com mittee were, ". c. Thomas, L. s Commissioner, P. c. Mccormack, pioneer merchant. and 4. Y. R. Sny- der, then editor of The Sentinel.
 This committee funetioned in mo- ble fashion. The records show the election was held on June 15. 1903. On June IS, 1903, a meeting of the Chamber was called to hear the re- port of the committee on town election. The report was brief and to the point. The committee said the election had been held, that ey- erything had turned out satisfact- orily, and that the organization meeting of the Common Council of the incorporated Town of Wrangell was called for June 20. 1903.
 Thus Wrangell became an incor- porated town, through the efforts of it's leading citizens banded together in a Chamber Of Commerce.
 And the Common Council meet ing of June 20, 1903, was held as scheduled P. c. Jensen acted as Chairman The following had been elected to serve on that Council: P. c. ensen, Donald Sinclair, Fred Lynch, L. M. Churchill, Dr. O. W. Stanton, John E. Worden and Thomas J. Case. Mir. Jensen was elected President and ex-officio Mayor. The first ordinance intro duced was by L. NJ Churchill, known as Ordinance No. l. and pro- vided for fire protection for the Town Of Wrangell.
 So tomorrow Wrangell observes it's 37th incorporation birthday, thanks to the vision, initiate and de- termination of those early leaders. Some of them are still with us lend ing their full support to the town and their community. Others have passed on but have left their indel- ible mark. The progressive spirit of all of them lives on as another gen. eration takes up the burden and uha, rd years of progress