The Wrangell Sentinel

The Wrangell Sentinel is a weekly newspaper founded in 1902 in Wrangell, Alaska. The newspaper remains in publication with only a few short periods of inactivity. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Alaska.

Wrangell Sentinel
Don Young being interviewed at The Wrangell Sentinel in 2020
TypeDaily newspaper
PublisherAnne and Rod Loesch
Founded1902
LanguageEnglish

The paper covered potlach traditional celebrations.[1]

The paper went through a brief bankruptcy in 1995 before its former publisher, who was also the paper's largest creditor, took back control.[2] Former Sentinel employee Jamie Bryson launched the Petersburg Press in 1974 [2]

History

The paper began in 1902 with the first issue published November 2 as the Alaska Sentinel.[3] In 1903 it was listed in the Governor of Alaska's report to the Department of the Interior as one of the newspapers in Alaska[4] and again in 1904.[5] A 1906 congressional report from the U.S. Government Printing office reported the Sentinel was among 23 papers in Alaska in 14 towns.[6]

The paper's name was changed in 1909 when Richard Bushell was induced to takeover the paper.[7] Leonard P. Dawes took over the paper two years later.[7]

August 19, 1920, the editor of the Sentinel, J. W. Pritchett, received a copy of the New York Times sent by plane, the first piece of mail to arrive in Alaska by plane.[8]

Mrs. Pritchett took over running the paper in 1930 when her husband became ill.[7] She was the paper's editor and publisher for 8 years.[7]

Lew Williams Jr. and his wife Winnie Williams ran the paper for many years until 1965.[9] He also published other newspapers in Alaska and was also the mayor of Petersburg, Alaska.[10]

Charles Willis, a former president of Alaska Airlines, also ran the paper for some time.[3]

The current publishers are Anne and Ron Loesch.

References
  1. Ostrowitz, Judith (21 November 1999). "Privileging the Past: Reconstructing History in Northwest Coast Art". University of Washington Press – via Google Books.
  2. Atwood, Evangeline; Jr, Lew Williams (13 June 2006). "Bent Pins to Chains: Alaska and Its Newspapers". Xlibris Corporation – via Google Books.
  3. Sentinel, Wrangell. "About Wrangell Sentinel". www.wrangellsentinel.com.
  4. Governor, Alaska (22 November 2018). "Report of the Governor of Alaska to the Secretary of the Interior" – via Google Books.
  5. Governor, Alaska (22 November 2018). "Annual Report of the Governor of Alaska to the Secretary of the Interior". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
  6. Congress, United States (22 November 2018). "Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
  7. Atwood, Evangeline; Jr, Lew Williams (13 June 2006). "Bent Pins to Chains: Alaska and Its Newspapers". Xlibris Corporation – via Google Books.
  8. "The Pathfinder". Pioneers of Alaska. 22 November 2018 – via Google Books.
  9. "Juneau Public Libraries--Juneau, Alaska". www.juneau.org.
  10. "Members — Creating Alaska". alaska.edu. 28 April 2015.
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