Section
One
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER SCHOOLS OPEN
SEPTEMBER 4
9:00 A.M.
VOLUME 9, NUMBER 45
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. AUGUST 30, 1956
PRICE TEN CENTS
in
Famed Organist
To Present Concert
In Palmer Sept. 8
Roy M. Darley, organist at the
Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake
City, Utah, will present a con
cert in Palmer on Saturday,
September 8 at 8:30 in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints new church on
Springer Road.
Before coming to Palmer for
his concert, Darley was guest
organist at the Hollywood Bowl
for a music festival consisting
of 1,000 singers and a symphony
orchestra. This is the second
consecutive year he has had this
honor. While in Alaska he will
also perform in Anchorage on
September 6 and in Fairbanks
September 4 and will visit in
the Valley September 1, prior
to his concert the following
week.
Mr. Darley will be playing a
Baldwin No. 5A organ, a very
new anti modern instrument,
loaned for his use by the Brown
Piano Company of Anchorage.
The Palmer concert will be
held at the new L.D.S. Church at
8:30 and tickets are now avail
able from all church members
or may be obtained at the door
on the 8th of September. Pro
ceeds will apply on the purchase
of the new organ for the local
church.
Mr. Carley’s program will in
clude works by Bach, Handel,
Frank. Louis Veirne, Widor,
Prucell, Boellmann and others.
Concert-goers are urged to
make plans to be seated at the
concert prior to 8:30 p.m. to
avoid disturbing the organist.
The program will begin prompt
ly at 8:30, it was announced.
Agricultural Agent
Predicts Best Fair
Lew Hanks, district agricul
tural agent with the Extension
Service, says the 16th annual Ma
tanuska Valley Fair shows every
indication of being the biggest
and best yet.
“Here is the chance for every
producer in the Valley to show
all of Alaska the quality of the
agricultural products we pro
duce”, Hanks said
“We have had an excellent
growing year. The Fair Board of
Directors urges every producer
to show their results at the Fair.
They hope that continued em
phasis over the years can be
placed on the agricultural phas
es of the Fair.
“Fairs help sell our products.
Let’s get the exhibits ready and
make this Fair the best agricul
tural Fair yet”, he said.
BACK TO SCHOOL
HAIR STYLES
at the
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
LAVONNE JOHNSON
Phone 3043
Be sure to take your flowers
to the Matanuska Valley Fair.
Flowers for all occasions at
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
CO-OP CAFE
Open Days
6:45 A.M. to 8 P.M.
CLOSED ON SUNDAY
OPEN MON., SEPTEMBER 2
CLAUDIA WILSON. Mgr.
VALLEY FAIR HONORS
EARLY PIONEERS
This year the three days of
the Matanuska Valley Fair will
be dedicated to individuals who
have made unlimited contribu
tions of themselves and their
time to the promotion and de
velopment of the Matanuska Val
ley.
Saturday, September 1 has
been designated as the M. D.
SNODGRASS DAY: Sunday,
September 2 as the DON L. IR
WIN DAY; and Monday, Septem
ber 3 as PIONEER DAY.
M. D. SNODGRASS DAY will
honor the “Dad” of the Matan
uska Valley Fair. “M. D.”, as he
is known to his many, many
friends, will be introduced to
fair-goers when the Fair Asso
ciation’s first permanent exposi
tion building, THE SNODGRASS
BUILDING, is dedicated in his
honor on the opening day of the
1956 Fair. M. D.’s colorful his
tory in Alaska began back in
1907 when he was appointed an
agent of the U. S. Department
of Agriculture for service in Al
aska at Kodiak. The selection of
M. D. Snodgrass
two sites at Kodiak and Kalsin
Bay and the breeding station at
Kalsin Bay required four years
to complete. The Kodiak Dairy
Station was completed in 1913
following the eruption of Mt.
Katnai. In 1917 he was assigned
to the Fairbanks Experiment
Station where outstanding de
velopment in wheat production
(Continued on Page 5)
Or. Jaeger, Dentist
Opens Palmer Office
Dr. Paul Jaeger, orthodotist,
has arrived in Palmer and has
opened an office of dentistry in
the Severns Building. Dr. Jae
ger comes to the valley from
Kodiak where he has been a
practising dentist for the past
few months.
At the present time his fam
ily is in Kodiak. Dr. Jaeger is
seeking housing for his wife and
six children, age 11, 9, 8, 6, 4,
and 2 mortths, and plans to bring
them to Palmer in early Sep
! tember.
Dr. Jaeger is a graduate of
Washington University and also
did undergraduate work at St.
Lewis University. He served in
the Air Force at Ladd Air Base
from 1950 to 1952 as a dentist
and opened his first practice in
Phoenix, Arizona. Other school
ing was received at seminars in
New York. Arizona and Tennes
see. and completed a semester
at New York University this past
January. He has taken six cour
ses in orthodontics.
Dr. Jaeger stated his office
will be open during the week
from 9 a.m. to noon; from 2:00
to 5:00 afternoons, and from 7:00
to 9:00 evenings.
NEW HOURS
PALMER HEALTH FARM
Co-Op Shopping Center
OPEN DAILY 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
CLOSED Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
HEAD 1956 MATANUSKA VALLEY FAIR
T. A. Moyer, president
A. V. Hagen, manager
VALLEY DAIRY COWS
FEATURED AT FAIR
Selected dairy cows of excel
lent caliber will be presented to
the public at the three-day Ma
tanuska Valley Fair. The cows
will be exhibited in the new ex
position building, providing the
general public the privilege to
see where their Grade A milk
originates. Milking equipment is
being loaned by the Co-Op Ware
house and all interested persons
will be able to witness the milk
ing process.
FIVE YOUTHS
INJURED IN ACCIDENT
Five youths, four from Palmer,
were injured last night when a
1950 Ford convertible in which
they were riding left the high
way at mile 51.2 and overturned.
Hospitalized were Glen Sandvik,
Mickie Leek, David Ingalls, and
Elden Sandvik, all of Palmer.
Jim Toci. Fort Richardson, es
caped with minor injuries. The
car was being driven by Glen
Sandvik when it went off the
road.
Ottidal P*io-(f,n>G*n
MATANUSKA VALLEY FAIR-SEPT. I, 2, 3
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 1 — M. D. SNODGRASS DAY
12.00 Noon RAISING OF COLORS
KODIAK NAVAL STATION BAND, Joseph P. Mokry,
MUC
OPENING CEREMONIES. T. A. Moyer, Matanuska Valley
Fair Ass’n., president
Chaarles W. Wilson, Mayor of City of Palmer
James Wilson, master of ceremonies
12:30. P.M, DEDICATION OF SNODGRASS BUILDING in honor
of M. D. Snodgrass, pioneer Alaskan.
ADDRESS BY T. A. MOYER, president Matanuska Valley
Fair Ass’n.
ADDRESS BY DON L. IRWIN, director of Agriculture
Research
ADDRESS BY GEORGE ED SMITH, president M. V. Cham
ber of Commerce
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
James Wilson, master of ceremonies
I 1:00 P.M. KID’S ACTIVITIES, free grandstand
1:20 P.M. PIE-EATING CONTEST
| 1:25 P.M. BURRO VS. SHETLAND PONY RACE
! 1:30 P.M. TRACTOR DRIVING CONTEST
I 2:00 P.M. GREASED POLE
2:10 P.M. GREASED PIG
3:30 P.M. HORSE RIDING EVENTS (Up to 19 yrs. in age)
PAID GRANDSTAND
3:45 HOG CALLING CONTEST
3:50 HORSE RIDING EVENTS (Up to 19 vrs. in age)
4:00 P.M. KODIAK NAVAL STATION BAND CONCERT Free
Grandstand
10.00 CORONATION BALL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 — DON IRWIN DAY
11.00 A M. OPENING OF FAIR GROUNDS
1:30 P.M. KODIAK NAVAL STATION BAND CONCERT —
Free Grandstand
1:45 P.M. DOG OBEDIENCE CLUB
2:00 EARL NORRIS DOG TEAM DRILL
2:15 PARADE OF TRANSPORTATION
■ 3:15 P.M. HORSE RIDING EVENTS (a) Women 19 yrs. and older
Paid Grandstand
. HORSE RIDING EVENTS (b) Men 19 yrs. and older
3:30 P.M. EDDIE PEABODY AND THE JOHNNY TEMPY
TRIO*
4:00 P.M. HORSE RIDING EVENTS (c) Top two winners of
(a) and (b) events
HORSE RIDING EVENTS Top two winners of Saturday’s
events
5:00 P.M. EDDIE PEABODY AND THE JOHNNY TEMPY TRIO
5:30 P.M. WOOD CHOPPING CONTEST. Ben Hitchcock chal
lenging all comers
8:30 P.M. FIREWORKS’
In case of rain, fireworks will be held over*until Monday
at 7:30. Moose Lodge of Palmer is handling fireworks display.
Through the courtesy of Olivera's of Anchorage and the
Matanuska Valley Bank of Palmer the world-renowned
Eddie Peabody and the Johnny Tempy Trio are brought to
the Matanuska Valley Fair as an added attraction.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 — PIONEER DAY
11:00 A M. OPENING OF FAIRGROUNDS
12:30 P.M. SOFTBALL GAME, Hohns Plumbing of Anchorage
vs. Palmer
2:30 P.M. MOTORCYCLE EVENTS — Paid Grandstand
3:30 P.M. COPPER RIVER INDIAN DANCES
4:00 P.M. KODIAK NAVAL STATION BAND — Free Grand
stand
4:30 P.M. PARADE OF CHAMPIONS — All livestock winners
PARADE OF CHAMPIONS — All animals and fowls, if
possible
5:00 P.M. AUCTION OF ANIMALS FOR OWNERS
7:30 P.M. DRAWING FOR ALL PRIZES
8:00 P.M. CLOSING OF FAIRGROUNDS
! VALLEY FAIR TO SEEK
’57 STATE FAIR TITLE
The Matanuska Valley Pair As
sociation will seek the addition
of State Fair to their incorporat
ed name, it has been announced.
“We believe that the Territory
has grown to such proportions
that it is now large enough and
the time is right to hold a State
Fair once a year”, T. A. Moyer,
Fair Association president said.
The Matanuska Valley Fair
Association will sponsor its 16th
annual fair on September 1, 2,
and 3 at Palmer, Alaska. The
Valley Fair is famous not only
throughout the Territory, but a
familiar title to thousands of
Stateside tourists and former Al
askan residents who have visited
Valley Fairs. It is the largest
industrial and agricultural Fair
i held in the Territory of Alaska
each year.
“Our Fair dates coincide with
the harvest season, thereby af
fording farmers an opportunity
to display their produce at its
best. We have permanent fair
grounds which are being en
larged and bettered each year.
We have permanent exposition
buildings and ample ground
space for much more expansion,”
Board members pointed out.
We feel that with the central
location of the Matanuska Val
ley with every phase of trans
portation except boats able to get
in and out o fthe region—we are
in the best position to offer
space and buildings for a State
Fair. We hope that plans may be
prpgresad, through the coopera
tion of other drgtmizations thr
oughout Alaska, to sponsor the
first State Fair in conjunction
with the 1957 Matanuska Valley
Fair next year,” they further
stated.
Fair Board members are ne
gotiating with national firms for
various national contests which
will be staged at next year’s
Fair in Palmer.
LIMOUSINE SERVICE
TO START BETWEEN
PALMER-ANCHORAGE
With Palmer and the vicinity
without bus, train, or plane ser
vice, it will be welcome news to
learn that a limousine service
between the Palmer area and An
chorage will begin September 4.
George Fletcher of Palmer an
nounced this week that he will
operate a daily limousine ser
vice (except Sundays) between
Palmer and Anchorage. The car
will leave the Matanuska Hotel
at 10 a.m. and leave Anchorage
at 3:30 p.m. Further information
may be obtained by calling Flet
cher at the hotel.
Word is around town that the
blueberries are at their best in
the vicinity of Mile 134, Glenn
highway. They say they are thick
this year and in top condition
right now.
OFFICIALS PREDICT
BIGGEST FAIR IN
ALASKAN HISTORY
At twelve o’clock noon on Sat
urday, September 1, Mayor Char
les W. Wilson will cut the ribbon
that will officially open the gates
to the 1956 Matanuska Valley
Fair. The first ceremony to be
performed this year will be the
! raising of the colors. The U. S.
Navy Band from Kodiak Naval
Station will play the salute un
der the direction of Musician
Chief Joseph P. Mokry, USN.
; The opening ceremonies will in
clude words of welcome from
T, A. Moyer, Matanuska Valley
| Fair Association president; May
! or Wilson, and James Wilson, of
ficial fair host.
Opening ceremonies will be
followed by the dedication of the
SNODGRASS BUILDING dur
ing which President Moyer, and
Don L. Irwin, director Alaska
Agricultural Experiment Station,
will address the gathering prior
to an address by M. 1). Snod
grass for whom the building has*
been named. Host Wilson will
act as master-of-ceremonics.
oaiuiuaj' uas uisu ueen
named Family Day at tlie Fair,
the afternoon's program will be
geared around the younger set
with pie-eating, tractor driving,
greased pig, and greased pole
contests lined up for the kids.
All of these events will be free.
The grandstand will be cleared
just prior to 3.30 when the jun
ior horse riding events are
scheduled. A small fee will be
charged for seats in the grand
stand during the horse riding
events. At 4 00 there will be a
band concert by the entire brass
section of the Kodiak Naval Sta
rtion band. The band, the ?ravy’s
Alaskan musical representative,
plays both concert and dance sel
ections, and the 15-man organiza
tion has an all-Naval School of
Music (Washington, D. C.) com
pliment. There will be no charge
for the concert.
The greatest number of exhib
its ever shown at an Alaskan fair
will be on display throughout
the fairgrounds in the many ex
hibition buildings. Food conces
sions are dotted on the midway
at convenient intervals ar.d
there will be rides for young in
age and young at heart. An adult
ferris wheel and the popular
merry-gorouriu, pius kiddies
rides have been set up down the
center of the midway. Sales
booths, demonstrations, free sam
ples, interesting commercial, in
dustrial and educational displays
will also be found on the grounds
and in the many buildings, all
of which have fresh bright coats
of paint this year.
At 10 p.tn. Saturday night the
doors will open at Central School
gymnasim for the Coronation
Ball.
On Sunday, St. ptember 2, the
gates will be opened at 11 a m,
and a full day’s program has
been planned for the entire fam
ily, beginning with a band con
cert at 1:30, followed by the dog
obedience club show, Earl Nor
ris’ dog team drill and the par
ade of transportation. These
events will all be played before
a free grandstand. Paid grand
(Continued on page 8)
HEAD COOK WANTED
for IMMEDIATE employment
VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL
Applicants are urged to leave names and
references at the hospital receiving office at
the earliest date possible. Starting salary
is $325 a month plus two meals.
ANNOUNCING DAILY LIMOUSINE SERVICE
For Palmer, Anchorage and Vicinity
Starting Tuesday, September 4
LEAVING
MATANUSKA HOTEL — 10:00 A.M.
DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY
LEAVING ANCHORAGE — 3:30 P.M. DAILY
except Sunday
For information call Palmer 2021