Empire Archives is a new series released every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories featured in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1985, 1995 and 2005.
This week in 1985, early drawings and construction plans for a new Douglas library and fire hall were shared with residents for feedback and comments. If approved, it would replace and expand on the original library and fire hall in south Douglas. It was estimated at the time that construction of the building would cost about $3.6 million (approximately $10.2 million today) and was expected to be completed in December of 1986.
Original Story: “Douglas fire hall-library plans unveiled” by Betsy Longenbaugh. 07/22/1985
This week in 1995, the state braced for a potential workers’ strike of its ferry system that, if approved, would last for a month and take place during one of the busiest times of the season. A vote to decide was slated to take place in early August and if OK’d by members, the strike had the potential to cost the state $3.8 million (approximately $10.7 million today) in lost revenue and would halt large events like the upcoming Alaska State Fair in Haines. The workers were demanding better pay.
Original Story: “State readies for ferry worker strike” by Jeanine Pohl. 07/ 19/1995
This week in 2005, a man who was allotted 220 acres of land on Douglas Island adjacent to Eaglecrest Ski Area — an exchange with the U.S. Forest Service for 100 acres his family owned on Admiralty Island — said he was considering leasing 20 acres of that Douglas Island land to a local Juneau nonprofit to open a bear sanctuary there. If approved, Bear Education & Animal Rehabilitation Sanctuary (B.E.A.R.S Inc.) would use the land to rehabilitate and return wild bears that wander into urban areas for food in Juneau.
Original Story: “Trade makes room for bear sanctuary” by Timothy Inklebarger (via Associated Press). 07/21/2005
• Questions or suggestions for the Empire Archives series? Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.
