- 1941

USS_Juneau_(CL-52) in New York harbor, 11 February 1942. photo from Bureau of Ships Collection, U.S. National Archives._19-N-28143

USS Juneau, a $13 million, six-thousand-ton light cruiser was launched October 25 at Kearny, New Jersey and christened by Mrs. Harry I. Lucas, the wife of Juneau’s mayor.

Morrison & Knudsen Construction Company was low bidder on building the Civil Aeronautics Authority airport at Juneau with a figure of $442,000. Landfill work for the field was to start by July 1 and would require moving approximately two million cubic yards of material. Work began in February on a 12,000-yard rock fill on the north side of Willoughby Avenue next to the government school and in part of the Native village.

Unless the residents of Juneau wake up, the capital of Alaska would be transferred to Anchorage within the next 10 years, Herb Hilscher, magazine writer, told members of the Juneau Rotary Club September 2. He pointed to the recent move of the Civil Aeronautics Administration to Anchorage and said, “Juneau has just two payrolls the Alaska-Juneau and government, and the AJ isn’t going to get any larger. Anchorage is growing rapidly and has little industry to support it and will soon start making raids on federal and territorial offices.”

A 56-mile-per-hour gale whirled up Gastineau Channel February 3 and struck the Pan American airport on Glacier Highway. The hangar was demolished and with it three training planes belonging to the Alaska School of Aeronautics. During the same storm an 80-mile gust snapped some of the cables anchoring Pan American’s Douglas DC-3 plane. The plane was tipped up on one wing and there was some damage. Two Pan American Electras were unharmed.

The Big Dipper totem recently carved by the Civilian Conservation Corps at Juneau was erected May 19 on the site of the old Auk Village at Auke Bay by the Forest Service. Frank St. Clair of Hoonah was the chief carver of the 50-foot red cedar pole.

Juneau’s iron lung, purchased by local subscription at a cost of $550, arrived on the steamer Yukon June 12. The drive was started early this year after a young miner succumbed to infantile paralysis.

Radio Station KINY was authorized July 10 to increase its power output to 5,000 watts, up from 1000 watts, which made it the most powerful broadcast station in Alaska.

The Evergreen Bowl outdoor swimming pool was officially opened July 18. In the ceremony, Mayor Lucas dedicated the pool “to the betterment of the health of the children of Juneau.” The pool was one of Juneau’s federal Work Progress Administration projects, the total cost being $9,900 of which the city contributed $2,700.

The Auke Bay Water Users Association was organized in October to obtain a water system for that area. The Forest Service was approached for assistance and it was hoped that Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees could be employed on the project. Twelve Tee Harbor youngsters moved into their new one-room school building the end of September from temporary quarters in an old wanigan on the beach.

Alaska’s newest magazine published in Douglas, The Alaska Woman, appeared on the newsstands beginning October 15.

Immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, Juneau geared up for civil defense. Both mayors of Juneau and Douglas ordered complete blackouts of the two cities. Street lights were extinguished and windows of lighted rooms were to be completely screened. Cars were to be driven only with lights at low power. In the event of an air raid alarm, cars were to stop and turn off their lights.

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