On Thursday, Oct. 23, 1986, Pope John Paul II canceled his tentative visit to Juneau. After his trip to Canada was moved to the beginning of his North America visit, the stop in Juneau would have been too difficult for the pope to make with the new schedule.
A new post office was set to open in November, meaning more efficient service for customers and improved working conditions for postal workers. The Mendenhall Valley post office was to replace the downtown office and become Juneau’s new primary service spot.
In the Thunder Mountain Mobile Home Park, a group of residents quickly extinguished a fire in a person’s home using a pressurized water fire extinguisher. The owners of the trailer were at church when the largest of their four dogs accidently turned on a burner under their deep-fryer full of oil, causing the home to be set aflame.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire freelancer Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives.
