The Deaccession and Surplus Process
With the repurposing of one of the borough's storage facilities, the museum is having to downsize our collection and a significant number of objects must be disposed of through various means. According to borough regulation and the museum's collection management policies, knowledge of deaccessioned items must be made available to the public through advertisements and public auctions. This page functions as an unofficial notice for the deaccession process, and will provide a list of all the items available for auction. We will fill this page with text descriptions and images of the items, and official notice will be provided online once bidding has begun.
Bidding for the deaccessioned objects will occur on the internet, on the website publicsurplus.com. To participate in the auctions, you must be a verified purchaser on Public Surplus, which can take up to a day to verify.
Bidding for the deaccessioned objects will occur on the internet, on the website publicsurplus.com. To participate in the auctions, you must be a verified purchaser on Public Surplus, which can take up to a day to verify.
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Once you are verified, access the City of Wrangell's auctions by selecting Region -> Alaska and selecting Agency -> City & Borough of Wrangell. You can then view the listings and place bids. The auction period will be open for two weeks.
Important notes
- These items are former museum held objects sold as-is, and should not be understood to be either usable or functioning for any task.
- Buyer is responsible for either picking up the object or arranging for its pickup.
- For non-residents considering bidding, please note that Wrangell is an isolated island in Southeast Alaska, and is not connected to any Interstate highway or other road system. Any shipping must be done by either barge or air mail, the cost of this is a separate expense from your bid, and shipping must be arranged by the buyer.
- Buyer is responsible for either picking up the object or arranging for its pickup.
- For non-residents considering bidding, please note that Wrangell is an isolated island in Southeast Alaska, and is not connected to any Interstate highway or other road system. Any shipping must be done by either barge or air mail, the cost of this is a separate expense from your bid, and shipping must be arranged by the buyer.
List of items for sale:
STONE CLEAT 1969.031.001
A stone cleat handcarved from light grey colored rock. Flat rectangular base with 4" high tapered shaft in center. Top of shaft is wider to help retain rope. One corner is missing or designed with a notch.
SCHOOL DESK 1974.001.002
Enlarged arm rest design creates writing surface which is covered with graffiti, including the name of Wrangell resident Bill Willard. Storage shelf under seat. This desk would be the intended size for middle or high school students. Turquoise paint is worn.
LOG TIMBER 1976.005.001-004
Log section from old FORT WRANGEL. Both sides notched at one end and three large galvanized spikes are hammered thru and bent over. Other end is a straight cut thru this 6" diameter log. (Cut to buck the log into segments.)
BUCKET 1976.024.029
Wooden mop bucket with mop ringer inside. Metal components rusty and ringer is seized. Wooden components in good condition except 1/2 wooden handle is missing.
SEWING MACHINE 1977.010.005
Sewing machine in fold down table. National Sewing motor pat. May 22,1917, #8839 Occident Rotary. Very clean. Electric cords in good condition, unique looking metal foot pedal. Square shaped cabinet has bright paint and trim. Slight damage to front panel where handle was mounted and now missing.
ORGAN 1980.007.001
Field pump organ. This portable traveling organ is painted olive green, has 29 white keys, 20 black. Top is hinged in center to fold back for key access. Looks like front panel is missing that covered access to foot pedals, only half latches on top remain. Otherwise unit looks worn, but complete.
ENGINE, WATERCRAFT 1981.006.003
Evinrude outboard boat motor, 50 hp circa 1946. Serial # 8014.00140. Looks complete, including prop. Metalic blue paint. Engine is mou nted on a motor rack without wheels. Restored and rebuilt by Dave Ellis in 1960. He stated it was in operation in 1962. Heavy, at least 100lbs.
ENGINE, WATERCRAFT 1981.006.004
Evinrude outboard boat motor, 22 1/2 hp circa 1939 to 1950. Serial # 2603930090. Looks complete, including propeller. Metalic gold paint. Engine is mounted on a motor rack without wheels.
WOODEN BARREL 1993.001.001-002 WITH SHOE LASTS (COBBLER SUPPLIES)
A medium sized wooden barrel constructed of narrow vertical boards held together with four galvanized metal bands. The barrel contains 13 wooden mocassin forms and shoe lasts.
LAMPPOST 1993.019.097
Cast iron light fixture, possible street light. Fragments of electrical wires inside. Two ports midlength of object have remnants of ceramic insulators. Might have been in a fire. Listed on research spreadsheet as a lamp post light.
BLOCK, SNATCH 1993.024.002
Heavy wooden block with iron hook. Some records call this a dead man, block & tackle.
BOOK PRESS 1993.034.002
Book press. Heavy iron construction. Handle on top is a circle shape. Press plate finish was once black with gold decoration, now worn.
COFFEE GRINDER 1993.064.001
Coffee grinder floor model as seen in general mercantile stores. Hand cranked. Two 23" iron flywheels, painted red attached to heavy iron grinding base. One wheel has a handle. Manufactured by Fairbanks Morse & Co, Chicago. #10 embossed on base.
SLED 1995.034.001
Large wooden sled, looks handmade, no metal on the runners. Looks like adult cargo sled, might not be intended to be purely recreational. Traces of green and blue paint. Fragile, needs conservation.
WINDOW ELEMENT 1996.004.001-003
Window sash weight. Heavy cast iron cylinder used as a counter-weight suspended on a rope, within the structure of a large window. It's purpose was to make a large window easier to open. The cylinder shape is slightly rounded at the bottom, and has a hole at top for accepting the rope. A 6" rope fragment is attached to this object.
BORING TOOL 1996.018.001
A gold prospector's crevicing tool. Looks like a rusty curved rod with an elongated spoon end and a bent hook at other end. Hook loosens up gravels and other materials down in cracks and crevices where gold hides. Use spoon end to scoop down where other tools cannot reach to bring out gold. (obtained from ~ 2 mi up Institute Creek).
SCALE 1996.032.001
Grocery scale, Toledo, brand, from Benjamins grocery store in Wrangell. #468726, Style: 3125BX. Last patent date:1925. Deluxe white enamel finish, has several glass viewing portals to see interior weights function. Very clean.
ORE ROCKER RECONSTRUCTION 1996.035.001
A gold rocker. The gold mining implement used for separating alluvial placer gold from sand and gravel. Modern construction. 5 part assembly, complete.
(1) gate at rocker box end with handle
(2) rocker box made of plywood with wire mesh bottom
(3) slotted rocker floor to separate rock sizes
(4) rocker cradle frame
DOLLY 1998.122.003
Barrel cart dolly circa 1940's-1960's. Orange paint on metal frame with wooden handles. Rubber covered wheels. "BABL" stenciled on side. This stands for Boyer Alaska Barge Line, the company before Northland Barge in Wrangell. Also called warehouse cart, hand truck, drum dolly. The length of this cart is rounded to accommodate the rounded sides of a barrel it would carry.
DOLLY 1998.122.004
Heavy cart barrel dolly, circa 1870-1920?. Heavy iron wheels. Iron frame with wood handles. The length of this cart is rounded to accommodate the rounded sides of a barrel it would carry. Green paint is worn and peeling. Stenciled on side is partial name _EDON_ ? Also called warehouse cart, hand truck, drum dolly.
GAS FIXTURE 1998.216.001
Gas light fixture, a component of a large interior hanging light possibly for a hotel or bank. Spherical brass reservoir connected to tubing and valves. Lighting chamber at base and hanging hook at top.
MURAL 1998.249.001-002
mural from wrangell institute gymnasium one of two. Hand painted scene of a walrus hauled out on iceburg. Painted on 4 x 8 sheet of plywood with acrylic paint. Hand painted scene of native boy standing on ice pointing a spear at a fierce polar bear. Painted on 4 x 8 sheet of plywood with acrylic paint.
ELECTRICAL SWITCH 1998.250.001
Electrical switch pieces, field exciter for a generator control board. Switches are mounted on a heavy wooden board painted black.
ELECTRICAL SWITCH 1998.250.002
Electrical switch pieces, contactor assy. A brown ceramic coil mounted on a black painted board together with a large switch and electrical connections. Needs cleaning.
MILK CAN 2001.018.001
Metal milk can with handles. Rusty overall. The lid seems to be fused on and damaged. Base is warped
RACK 2003.021.002
Paper dispenser, natural wood top with black painted cast iron legs. Clearly imprinted information on wooden top: "American Roll Paper Co", Economic Hopkin trademark.
PIKE, POLE 2003.021.003
Tool for moving floating logs around. Long wooden handle with metal hook and pointed tip at end.
BASKET, FOOD STORAGE 2003.021.006
Food storage basket, bushel size, made from thin wooden slats stapled together, two wire handles. Stamped on side is "Benjimans Wrangel". Blue colored paper label on side says "Blue Bird Sweet Potatoes". Label is torn but legible.
BOX 2003.021.007
A wooden box or crate constructed of three rows of wooden slats, or boards, each side. Well made. No label.
FOG HORN 2003.048.001
Rotary fog horn for sailing vessel communication. Wooden box housing, top cover missing exposing internal billows and worn. Would make an interesting exhibit. Faded red paint, side is stamped with partially visible label: " L_THROP'S, _____FOG HORN". Needs conservation cleaning.
SHIP’S TELEGRAPH 2005.036.010
Metal stand and round dial, painted brown. Glass around dial housing is broken and missing. Two brass handles can be moved along the outside of the dial. The ship pilot could communicate orders to the engine room with this device. The engine room had a similar telegraph and would response back to the pilot that the message was received. (This might have been the engine room telegraph with a more basic design and overall brown paint). Also called a throttle indicator. Written along base is " to tug Leonard M".
LIGHTING FIXTURE 2007.013.001-002
Outdoor light fixture from the Wrangell Institute Administration building. Brass construction with 6 amber glass panels. Hexagonal shape with artichoke finial at bottom. Electric. Black finish.
CRATE 2007.032.002
An empty wooden crate painted grey, modern, heavy construction for transporting something heavy. Outside label says from Masterpiece Int'l Shipping to Wrangell Museum. Shipping label says Wrangell Museum, Dennis Chapman.
SERVING TABLE 2014.100.028
1950s style wooden coffee table with simple spindle legs and plain double ended serving tray top. Looks like natural pine finish which is worn and covered with fine white paint splatter. This furniture might be called a coffee table, serving table, tray table, side table.
MEMORIAL PLAQUE 2019.015.004-005
Steel and brass cabinet, memorial plaque. "Wrangell General Hospital and Long Term Care Facility Book of Memorials". Brass "book" opens to 3 brass pages that list birth and death dates of patients. Deaths from late 1940s to 2004. Very Heavy. This plaque hung in Wrangell Medical Center for years, before SEARHC took over operation.
SCYTHE L1980.034.002
A tool to cut hay and vegetation by hand. Curving wooden shaft with metal blade at end and a handle. Handle and wooden portions in good condition, no weathering. 30" metal blade has minor rust. Might be missing something attached to threaded bolt found at mid-length. (2nd handle?)
ROCKING CHAIR L1980.037.005
Wooden rocking chair, looks like a 1890s Murphy Style nursing chair. Natural stain oak with beautiful curving arms. Solid wooden seat. This piece of furniture is in fragile condition.
CAPTAIN’S CHAIR L1980.037.007
Wooden captain's chair with worn black paint. The curved back flows into arm rests. Spindle supports are between the back rest and solid wood seat. Very sturdy.
WAGON JACK L1980.042.001
Tool, iron wagon wheel jack. Looks like a Handy Man Jack of modern era with a long handle. Appears to be in good working condition, rusty. Old tag attached reads: for loan only, owner name not legible.
BATTERY CHARGER L1980.045.001
A 1920's Westinghouse Rectigon Tube Battery Charger. Style 424501. Rusty metal body on small legs with good label in front. Missing top cover.
FEED GRINDER L1993.055.001
Silage chopping machine. Dicks Famous Corn Husk, Straw, and Hay Shredding, Critter Splitter and Crusher Machine, patent #233. Hard to read label. Triangle shaped label with enclosed grinder and 3ft delivey shoot. It has a tapered wooden hand crank. Still has original paint, (red & gold) could make a good display. Needs conservation cleaning. Also known as a fodder shredder machine.
TAXIDERMY MOUNT L1995.016.047
Handcrafted wooden plaque with two sets of Sitka Blacktail deer antler mounts. Both bucks are 3-points. The set on proper right side has only 1 brow tine, other has both brow tines.
BOOK PRESS L1996.039.001
Book press. Heavy all iron construction, handle at top is shaped like a long shaft with an iron ball attached to each end.
STONE CLEAT 1969.031.001
A stone cleat handcarved from light grey colored rock. Flat rectangular base with 4" high tapered shaft in center. Top of shaft is wider to help retain rope. One corner is missing or designed with a notch.
SCHOOL DESK 1974.001.002
Enlarged arm rest design creates writing surface which is covered with graffiti, including the name of Wrangell resident Bill Willard. Storage shelf under seat. This desk would be the intended size for middle or high school students. Turquoise paint is worn.
LOG TIMBER 1976.005.001-004
Log section from old FORT WRANGEL. Both sides notched at one end and three large galvanized spikes are hammered thru and bent over. Other end is a straight cut thru this 6" diameter log. (Cut to buck the log into segments.)
BUCKET 1976.024.029
Wooden mop bucket with mop ringer inside. Metal components rusty and ringer is seized. Wooden components in good condition except 1/2 wooden handle is missing.
SEWING MACHINE 1977.010.005
Sewing machine in fold down table. National Sewing motor pat. May 22,1917, #8839 Occident Rotary. Very clean. Electric cords in good condition, unique looking metal foot pedal. Square shaped cabinet has bright paint and trim. Slight damage to front panel where handle was mounted and now missing.
ORGAN 1980.007.001
Field pump organ. This portable traveling organ is painted olive green, has 29 white keys, 20 black. Top is hinged in center to fold back for key access. Looks like front panel is missing that covered access to foot pedals, only half latches on top remain. Otherwise unit looks worn, but complete.
ENGINE, WATERCRAFT 1981.006.003
Evinrude outboard boat motor, 50 hp circa 1946. Serial # 8014.00140. Looks complete, including prop. Metalic blue paint. Engine is mou nted on a motor rack without wheels. Restored and rebuilt by Dave Ellis in 1960. He stated it was in operation in 1962. Heavy, at least 100lbs.
ENGINE, WATERCRAFT 1981.006.004
Evinrude outboard boat motor, 22 1/2 hp circa 1939 to 1950. Serial # 2603930090. Looks complete, including propeller. Metalic gold paint. Engine is mounted on a motor rack without wheels.
WOODEN BARREL 1993.001.001-002 WITH SHOE LASTS (COBBLER SUPPLIES)
A medium sized wooden barrel constructed of narrow vertical boards held together with four galvanized metal bands. The barrel contains 13 wooden mocassin forms and shoe lasts.
LAMPPOST 1993.019.097
Cast iron light fixture, possible street light. Fragments of electrical wires inside. Two ports midlength of object have remnants of ceramic insulators. Might have been in a fire. Listed on research spreadsheet as a lamp post light.
BLOCK, SNATCH 1993.024.002
Heavy wooden block with iron hook. Some records call this a dead man, block & tackle.
BOOK PRESS 1993.034.002
Book press. Heavy iron construction. Handle on top is a circle shape. Press plate finish was once black with gold decoration, now worn.
COFFEE GRINDER 1993.064.001
Coffee grinder floor model as seen in general mercantile stores. Hand cranked. Two 23" iron flywheels, painted red attached to heavy iron grinding base. One wheel has a handle. Manufactured by Fairbanks Morse & Co, Chicago. #10 embossed on base.
SLED 1995.034.001
Large wooden sled, looks handmade, no metal on the runners. Looks like adult cargo sled, might not be intended to be purely recreational. Traces of green and blue paint. Fragile, needs conservation.
WINDOW ELEMENT 1996.004.001-003
Window sash weight. Heavy cast iron cylinder used as a counter-weight suspended on a rope, within the structure of a large window. It's purpose was to make a large window easier to open. The cylinder shape is slightly rounded at the bottom, and has a hole at top for accepting the rope. A 6" rope fragment is attached to this object.
BORING TOOL 1996.018.001
A gold prospector's crevicing tool. Looks like a rusty curved rod with an elongated spoon end and a bent hook at other end. Hook loosens up gravels and other materials down in cracks and crevices where gold hides. Use spoon end to scoop down where other tools cannot reach to bring out gold. (obtained from ~ 2 mi up Institute Creek).
SCALE 1996.032.001
Grocery scale, Toledo, brand, from Benjamins grocery store in Wrangell. #468726, Style: 3125BX. Last patent date:1925. Deluxe white enamel finish, has several glass viewing portals to see interior weights function. Very clean.
ORE ROCKER RECONSTRUCTION 1996.035.001
A gold rocker. The gold mining implement used for separating alluvial placer gold from sand and gravel. Modern construction. 5 part assembly, complete.
(1) gate at rocker box end with handle
(2) rocker box made of plywood with wire mesh bottom
(3) slotted rocker floor to separate rock sizes
(4) rocker cradle frame
DOLLY 1998.122.003
Barrel cart dolly circa 1940's-1960's. Orange paint on metal frame with wooden handles. Rubber covered wheels. "BABL" stenciled on side. This stands for Boyer Alaska Barge Line, the company before Northland Barge in Wrangell. Also called warehouse cart, hand truck, drum dolly. The length of this cart is rounded to accommodate the rounded sides of a barrel it would carry.
DOLLY 1998.122.004
Heavy cart barrel dolly, circa 1870-1920?. Heavy iron wheels. Iron frame with wood handles. The length of this cart is rounded to accommodate the rounded sides of a barrel it would carry. Green paint is worn and peeling. Stenciled on side is partial name _EDON_ ? Also called warehouse cart, hand truck, drum dolly.
GAS FIXTURE 1998.216.001
Gas light fixture, a component of a large interior hanging light possibly for a hotel or bank. Spherical brass reservoir connected to tubing and valves. Lighting chamber at base and hanging hook at top.
MURAL 1998.249.001-002
mural from wrangell institute gymnasium one of two. Hand painted scene of a walrus hauled out on iceburg. Painted on 4 x 8 sheet of plywood with acrylic paint. Hand painted scene of native boy standing on ice pointing a spear at a fierce polar bear. Painted on 4 x 8 sheet of plywood with acrylic paint.
ELECTRICAL SWITCH 1998.250.001
Electrical switch pieces, field exciter for a generator control board. Switches are mounted on a heavy wooden board painted black.
ELECTRICAL SWITCH 1998.250.002
Electrical switch pieces, contactor assy. A brown ceramic coil mounted on a black painted board together with a large switch and electrical connections. Needs cleaning.
MILK CAN 2001.018.001
Metal milk can with handles. Rusty overall. The lid seems to be fused on and damaged. Base is warped
RACK 2003.021.002
Paper dispenser, natural wood top with black painted cast iron legs. Clearly imprinted information on wooden top: "American Roll Paper Co", Economic Hopkin trademark.
PIKE, POLE 2003.021.003
Tool for moving floating logs around. Long wooden handle with metal hook and pointed tip at end.
BASKET, FOOD STORAGE 2003.021.006
Food storage basket, bushel size, made from thin wooden slats stapled together, two wire handles. Stamped on side is "Benjimans Wrangel". Blue colored paper label on side says "Blue Bird Sweet Potatoes". Label is torn but legible.
BOX 2003.021.007
A wooden box or crate constructed of three rows of wooden slats, or boards, each side. Well made. No label.
FOG HORN 2003.048.001
Rotary fog horn for sailing vessel communication. Wooden box housing, top cover missing exposing internal billows and worn. Would make an interesting exhibit. Faded red paint, side is stamped with partially visible label: " L_THROP'S, _____FOG HORN". Needs conservation cleaning.
SHIP’S TELEGRAPH 2005.036.010
Metal stand and round dial, painted brown. Glass around dial housing is broken and missing. Two brass handles can be moved along the outside of the dial. The ship pilot could communicate orders to the engine room with this device. The engine room had a similar telegraph and would response back to the pilot that the message was received. (This might have been the engine room telegraph with a more basic design and overall brown paint). Also called a throttle indicator. Written along base is " to tug Leonard M".
LIGHTING FIXTURE 2007.013.001-002
Outdoor light fixture from the Wrangell Institute Administration building. Brass construction with 6 amber glass panels. Hexagonal shape with artichoke finial at bottom. Electric. Black finish.
CRATE 2007.032.002
An empty wooden crate painted grey, modern, heavy construction for transporting something heavy. Outside label says from Masterpiece Int'l Shipping to Wrangell Museum. Shipping label says Wrangell Museum, Dennis Chapman.
SERVING TABLE 2014.100.028
1950s style wooden coffee table with simple spindle legs and plain double ended serving tray top. Looks like natural pine finish which is worn and covered with fine white paint splatter. This furniture might be called a coffee table, serving table, tray table, side table.
MEMORIAL PLAQUE 2019.015.004-005
Steel and brass cabinet, memorial plaque. "Wrangell General Hospital and Long Term Care Facility Book of Memorials". Brass "book" opens to 3 brass pages that list birth and death dates of patients. Deaths from late 1940s to 2004. Very Heavy. This plaque hung in Wrangell Medical Center for years, before SEARHC took over operation.
SCYTHE L1980.034.002
A tool to cut hay and vegetation by hand. Curving wooden shaft with metal blade at end and a handle. Handle and wooden portions in good condition, no weathering. 30" metal blade has minor rust. Might be missing something attached to threaded bolt found at mid-length. (2nd handle?)
ROCKING CHAIR L1980.037.005
Wooden rocking chair, looks like a 1890s Murphy Style nursing chair. Natural stain oak with beautiful curving arms. Solid wooden seat. This piece of furniture is in fragile condition.
CAPTAIN’S CHAIR L1980.037.007
Wooden captain's chair with worn black paint. The curved back flows into arm rests. Spindle supports are between the back rest and solid wood seat. Very sturdy.
WAGON JACK L1980.042.001
Tool, iron wagon wheel jack. Looks like a Handy Man Jack of modern era with a long handle. Appears to be in good working condition, rusty. Old tag attached reads: for loan only, owner name not legible.
BATTERY CHARGER L1980.045.001
A 1920's Westinghouse Rectigon Tube Battery Charger. Style 424501. Rusty metal body on small legs with good label in front. Missing top cover.
FEED GRINDER L1993.055.001
Silage chopping machine. Dicks Famous Corn Husk, Straw, and Hay Shredding, Critter Splitter and Crusher Machine, patent #233. Hard to read label. Triangle shaped label with enclosed grinder and 3ft delivey shoot. It has a tapered wooden hand crank. Still has original paint, (red & gold) could make a good display. Needs conservation cleaning. Also known as a fodder shredder machine.
TAXIDERMY MOUNT L1995.016.047
Handcrafted wooden plaque with two sets of Sitka Blacktail deer antler mounts. Both bucks are 3-points. The set on proper right side has only 1 brow tine, other has both brow tines.
BOOK PRESS L1996.039.001
Book press. Heavy all iron construction, handle at top is shaped like a long shaft with an iron ball attached to each end.
