Published every Friday at Kediak, Alaska
Yearly Subscription Rate $7.00
Second class mail privileges authorized at Kodiak, Alaska
Send notices of undeliverable copies to:
THE ISLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY
Box 1307, Kodiak. Alaska
Sig J. Digree, Editor and Publisher
Betha Digree, Associate Editor
Mechanical Department . John Salmine
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use or republic*
tion of all news dispatches credited tc it or not otherwise credited in
this paper and also the local news published herein.
The Mirror’s Headline History
Of Kodiak’s First Cold Storage
That Kodiak finally—actually—
and truly does have an operating
cold storage plant is a fact that
brings pleasure to every resident.
The community struggled long and
hard in pursuit of such a necessary
development over a long period of
years. That many a resident has
expressed a somewhat dubious
“Show Me” attitude about the con
crete developments in the past sev
eral months should not be too sur
prising to those long-time residents
who recall the history of the cold
storage struggle.
For the more recent newcomers
(relatively speaking) the follow
ing resume of the more recent cold
storage story might serve to ex
plain the sometimes hopeful but
doubtful attitude of others.
“Chamber Hears Of Cold Stor
age”—was a headline in the Mirror
of July 26, 1947. This article told
of the “possibilities in this area”
expressed by Bob Logan of Cor
dova. Logan told of the develop
ment of the cold storage plant in
Cordova and how it was being
utilized. He further advised Ko
diak residents that the plans then
under way for establishment of a
cold storage at Cold Bay “shouldn’t
prevent success of a cold storage
here.”
Less than two months later, in
the September 6, 1947, issue of the
Mirror there was a story about
Wallis S. George of Juneau con
ferring with city officials here “on
a proposed cold storage plant at
the city dock.”
This story was followed in the
October 11, 1947, Mirror with a
story headlined, “Council Meets
Approves Lease For Cold Storage
Space at City Dock.”
On April 3, 1948, Mirror head
lines read: “Cold Storage Company
Plans June Construction.” This
story gave some of the details of
the company organization and re
vealed that a total of $50,000 worth
of stock had been sold locally.
Residents were further encour
aged in that the May 22, 1948, is
sue carried a story regarding plans
of the Whiz Fish Products Com
pany to also put in a cold storage
plant. This story cited several rea
sons why the firm might shelve
its plans due to the water short
age. However, on June 26, 1948,
the Mirror headlines read: “Whiz
Fish Cold Storage Plans Going
Ahead.”
“Architect Here For Cold Stor
age” read the Mirror of July 24,
1948, telling of the arrival of Joe
Wohleb, architect for the Wallis
George group. This had been pre
ceded by a story in the January 31,
1948, issue which was headed:
“Cold Storage Plans Almost Done,”
and related about the “architect’s
prospectus being completed.” It
also told about the interest of the
Halibut Producers Cooperative of
Seattle in -the Kodiak develop
ments.
On May 7, 1949, the Mirror was
able to report, “Cold Storage By
Next Spring.” And the July 30,
1949, issue headlined the story
“Cold Storage Plans Are Detailed.”
Two drawings of the proposed
plant were depicted on the front
page of the Sept. 3, 1949, issue and
the Juneau Empire newspaper was
quoted as saying:
“A modern three quarters of a
million dollar cold storage plant
is assured the city of Kodiak. The
construction of the cold storage
plant in Kodiak is the fulfillment
of a dream the people have looked
forward to for many years.
“The Kodiak Ice and Cold
Storage Company was incorporated
September 11, 1947, by Ben Kraft,
Ray Martin, L. K. Wodlinger and
Jack Hinckel of Kodiak, and Wallis
S. George of Juneau. George was
elected president and general man
ager.
“The capital stock of the com
pany is $500,000 and is divided into
5,000 shares with a par value of
$100 per share." The article went
on to describe the plant as being
460 feet in length by 125 feet wide
with a capacity of 5,000,000 pounds
ONE OF THE FIRST REQUISITES in a cold storage plant is water.
The City crew is seen completing the last stages of the new water
system being installed to furnish an adequate water supply for the
plant’s operation. Staff Photo
and a sharp freezer capacity of 100
tons per day while the ice capacity
was to be 1,500 tons.
In the November 12, 1949, Mir
ror there appeared a two-page cen
terspread ad inviting everyone to
“Kodiak’s Community Barn
Dance.” This was held on Novem
ber 18th in the newly built fish
shed of the cold storage plant. It
was sponsored by the Kodiak Re
tail Liquor Dealers Association for
four different local charities and
wras the big social event of the
year. All liquor establishments in
Kodiak closed at 8 p.m. that night
which assured a big turnout for
the dance, which also featured a
“Mile Long Cocktail Bar.”
Beyond this date we didn’t re
search into the files any further—
it being a time-consuming and
musty sort of past-time. At any
rate the cold storage as proposed
and even under construction at
that time, never did become a re
ality. It was discussed from time
to time in the years following but
not until the last year was the idea
of a cold storage at the city dock
taken up again. Perhaps the im
portant thing in the long run is
the all-important fact that it ac
tually is now in operation. If you
still don’t believe us . . . take a
look-see for yourself down there.
It might make your blood run cold,
but it is sure to warm your heart!
Lt. Melvin Hartman
Honored By C. G.
Initiative, skill, courage sound
judgment, and unwavering devo
tion to duty, have earned Lieuten
ant Melvin J. Hartman, USCGR, of
the Coast Guard Air Detachment
at Kodiak, Alaska, the Coast
Guard Commendation Medal and
Citation.
The medal was presented by
Captain Albert E. Harned. USCG.
Chief of Operations for the 17th
Coast Guard Dstrict, on behalf of
Vice Admiral E. J. Roland, USCG,
Acting Commandant of the Coast
Guard, at special ceremonies on
May 18, 1962, at the Coast Guard
Air Detachment at Kodiak.
The Citation reads in part, “For
meritorious performance of duty
on 10 November 1961, while serv
ing as pilot of a Coast Guard heli
copter engaged in emergency evac
uation of an injured Coast Guards
man from the Coast Guard Cutter
NORTHWIND, off Cape Lisburne
in Alaska. When advised that the
man had received a skull fracture
and other injuries from falling ice,
FISH CARTS STAND READY
to take the halibut as the fish are
taken from the boats. Staff Photo
mm m* w* it a# M#i
m.
Ph. 486-2662
and that immediate hospitalization
was necessary, Lieutenant Hait
man volunteered for the flight and
directed the stripping of all non
essentials from the helicopter.
At midnight, with minimum fuel
load, maximum gross w'eight, and
complete disregard for his own
personal safety, he departed the
pitching flight deck of the NORTH
WIND, carrying the injured man
in a litter, with a hospital corps
man is attendance. Despite the
fact that the aircraft was not
equipped for night flying, he per
servered and flew through heavy
snow squalls five miles to shore,
landing there safely with his pa
tier.t. The man was quickly trans
ferred to a waiting plane and
thence evacuated to a hospital.”
Install Legion
Officers May 29
The American Legion installa
tion of officers will be held Tues
day evening, May 29, at the Amer
ican Legion Dugout.
Commander Poe and other offi
cials from the Alaska Legionaires
will be on hand to conduct the in
stallation ceremony.
Ons fourth of all the halibut
csu ’ht in the Pacific are caught
withis 100 miles of Kodiak.
THREE MEMBERS OF THE KODIAK COUNCIL of the Navy
League are sefcn with Rear Adm. F. E. Bakutis, second from right,
and Capt. James Fulp. The picture was taken after the dinner and
Hail and Farewell party at the Officers Club Friday evening. League
members left to right are Stan Nelson, Frank Irick, secretary-treas
urer, and Lou Veerman, president of the local Chapter.
Official Navy Photo
Over one-third of all the halibut
caught in the Pacific are taken
within 250 miles of Kodiak.
LOU VEERMAN, president of
the Kodiak Chapter of the Navy
League spoke before the Navy
League members, and military
personnel attending the dinner
at the “O” Club Friday night.
Official Navy Photo
I
(INSURANCE
agents and companies don’t just
collect premiums and never pay
losses, a lot of people would
like you to think that. It is
about as thinking as writing fire
insurance on a swimming
Pool.
A number of people in this com
munity have found that it sure
PAYS
to carry insurance, this is evi
dent by the fact we have losses,
since January 1st, in the amount
of
$68,935.52
Kodiak Insurance
Art Brooks at 486—2215 \
NOTICE
Electrical power will be turned
off from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., Sat., May
26th, along Maple, Popular, Carolyn,
East side of Benson in Aleutian
Homes. Mill Bay Road and Island
Lake. In case of inclement weather
power will be interrupted on the
first day weather permits.
Kodiak Electric Ass’n.