Local history

The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 4, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 4, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 23, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 23, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 19, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 19, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 12, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 12, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 8, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 8, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
MXAK’s executive director Steve White watches the wall of monitoring screens as maritime information specialist Jason Hort (foreground) tracks vessels transiting the North Pacific. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Buying time: Juneau’s Marine Exchange of Alaska saves lives, cargo, communities and wildlife

Two retired Coast Guard captains lead team providing data to ensure safe transit for hundreds of vessels.

MXAK’s executive director Steve White watches the wall of monitoring screens as maritime information specialist Jason Hort (foreground) tracks vessels transiting the North Pacific. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 24, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 24, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 24, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 24, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A dump truck carries away a load of debris during demolition work on the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine steam power plant Nov. 20, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Going, going…gone: A historic AJ Mine building disappears

Power plant built in 1916 kept Juneau’s economic engine charged for decades before falling into disrepair.

A dump truck carries away a load of debris during demolition work on the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine steam power plant Nov. 20, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 16, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 16, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 10, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 10, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 2, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 2, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 27, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 27, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 18, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 18, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 11, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 11, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 5, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 5, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nine pairs of rubber boots await feet near the entrance to Catherine Fritz’s home in Juneau. The collection includes very early models made in the United States, later imported versions that are steel-toed, insulated and regular. Fritz’s favorite pair is a short version that slip on easily. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Rubber barons: Weirdly fashionable and always functional rubber boots

From boat decks to badge of belonging, XtraTufs are universal.

Nine pairs of rubber boots await feet near the entrance to Catherine Fritz’s home in Juneau. The collection includes very early models made in the United States, later imported versions that are steel-toed, insulated and regular. Fritz’s favorite pair is a short version that slip on easily. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)