- 1935
Douglas Bridge Grand Opening 10-13-1935. Alaska State Library, Trevor M. Davis Photograph Collection, ca. 1912-1968, P97-009-16mm-DouglasBridge.
The new Douglas Bridge officially opened with a parade of cars from Juneau to Douglas on its dedication October 13, although the first car had crossed over on Labor Day September 2. It was built with Public Works Administration funds at a cost of $225,000 and the total length was half a mile.
The Juneau Ferry and Navigation Company, which had operated ferries between Juneau and Douglas for many years, concluded its service October 31 with its last run to Douglas with the ferry Teddy. The Douglas ferry service started in the 1880s with rowboats and small sailboats and at one time operated to Treadwell and Thane and sometimes to Nevada Creek as well as Douglas.
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After the bridge opening, the Channel Bus Company then began operating 12 round trips a day between Juneau and Douglas and four round trips a day between Juneau and Auke Bay. Prior to the bridge opening the bus company had experienced a freak accident May 19 on its Auke Bay run when a sudden wind squall toppled a large spruce tree lengthwise atop its new bus near the Auke Bay store. None of the three persons aboard were injured, the bus sustained little damage, and it was soon back on its run.
The Juneau City Council voted to make several changes in local street names. Lower Front Street became South Franklin Street, while the portion of Gold Street south of First Street would hereafter be known as Gastineau Avenue. The new Gold Creek bridge on Calhoun Avenue opened May 10, twice as wide as the old wooden bridges it replaced. It was Juneau’s first federal Public Works Administration loan project, costing $5,700. The work of installing ski and toboggan slides in Evergreen Bowl was completed January 3 and the city soon had lights installed. Both slides were for the use of small children.
The Thane post office closed September 30, having served that area since it had opened February 12,1914. Residents there would henceforth receive their mail at the Juneau post office.
Starting May 23 miners struck for higher wages, a shorter work week, and better benefits and working conditions at the Alaska Juneau Mine. The strike was marked by violence and bitterness between parties, lasting 45 days before non-union workers started work July 5 and broke the strike.
Juneau’s new radio broadcast station, KINY, went on the air May 31 from its studio and transmitter on the top floor of the Goldstein Building. Broadcast hours initially were from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. daily and were transmitted on 1310 kilocycles. Juneau-Fairbanks air service was inaugurated April 2 by Pacific-Alaska Airways, a subsidiary of Pan American. A new radio station for Pacific-Alaska Airways was established on Canyon Island in the Taku River.
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