- 1945

Governor Gruening (seated) signs the anti-discrimination act of 1945. Alaska State Library, Alaska Territorial Governors. Photographs, Ordway Photo Shop photo, P274-1-2.

On February 16 Governor Ernest Gruening signed into law the first anti-discrimination act in the United States, passed by the Alaska Territorial Legislature, due in large part to the advocacy of Juneau residents Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich, representing the Alaska Native Sisterhood and the Alaska Native Brotherhood. An impassioned speech by Mrs. Peratrovich before the final Senate vote was credited as the turning point for approval of the act.

About 350 feet of the approach to the Douglas City Dock was demolished in a February storm, with a loss estimated at $30,000 to $35,000. The dock itself also sustained some damage and the storm took out the old ferry slip and gangplank. The approach would have to be replaced so the salmon cannery on the dock could operate that summer.

Inaugurating a new air service for Southeastern Alaska, Alaska Coastal Airlines purchased a Grumman twin-engine amphibian in February from the Royal Canadian Air Force. It would be used for regular service between Juneau and Ketchikan.

Voters approved a franchise for Channel Bus Lines and turned down the city manager form of government by a vote of 459 to 256 on May 4. They voted “yes” in advisory ballots on the purchase of the water company, light and power company, garbage collection and dock, but voted “no” on city acquisition of the telephone company and bus lines.

The new 6000-ton cruiser U. S. S. Juneau slid down the ways at Kearney, New Jersey July 16, and was christened by Mrs. E. L. Bartlett, wife of the Delegate in Congress from Alaska. This was the second vessel in the U. S. Navy to bear the name of Alaska’s capital city.

Striking for a 25 percent pay raise, the Bartender’s Union threw picket lines around nine bars and two hotels in the Juneau area just before Labor Day.

The Territorial Museum obtained a replica of the famous Sukheen or “Rain Wall” screen November 7, which was in the Whale House at Klukwan (regarded as the finest screen in Alaska.)

A memorial library to be erected in Juneau as a tribute to the veterans of World War II headed the list of Rotary Club projects for the coming year.

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