PAIl/ER. ALASKA_Dorothy M; Bell. Editor
Published every v;cok for the Matanuskr. Volley farmer3' Co-operating Association for
the purpose of giving news of the Valley nnd the Association,
Single copy
Subscription $1,75 por year Box $1.00 'to non-co-op members 10/
Edited .and published in the Matanuska Valley at Palmer, Alaska<
IT DOESN’T ALWAYS POUR TIEN IT RAINS
i
Much ng wo fool tho loss of our Hospital
we cannot help, but foci thankful for the
surrounding circumstances at the time it
burned to the ground.
First, it was oxtromoly'fortunate that wo
had no wind at the tine. For almost two
v:cek3 the wind had been blowing a gale
through town’and only that dr.y had it
quieted down. 1c could have lost tho
greater portion of Falmor on both sides of
the tracks.
In the second place, the fire might have
broken out in the night when'the town and
all the patients were asleep. Valuable
time would have been lost in reaching the
fire and rousing the patients. In all
probability the fire would not have been
discovered as soon.
Should it have been raining, tho welfare
of the patients would have boon endangered,
Equipment and supplies- would have boon
damaged.
’"o con also be thankful that the weather
was reasonably warm.
3o when we take everything into consider
ation, as long as it happened, we can bo'
glad that the elements were in our favor.
rrc hope that ir. the near future we rill be
able to hove another finer and hotter hos
pital--nnd fireproof--of concrete if pos
sible, Being confined in bed r.nd helpless
-.-hen r, building breaks into f3.-ar.ics over
your head, feast be'a terrible sensation to
patients. Ho-.rover, the patients have with,
stood the shock wonderfully well aid arc
getting along fino,
VTo are still marveling that with'the ex
ception of Mr. Sddy being burned, no'one
was overcome in the burning building,hurt
or trapped in by flames. 3?ith so little
time to get organized and into action on
the ovacuation, the co-operation exhibited
was most commendable.
*7c con truthfully scy—It doesn’t always
pour when it rains.
TEJOIffiUY HOSPITAL SET UT IN SCHOOL
, Cont. from p. 1
so that the school can'bo mr.do ready tiy
the first of September.
Uhntcver babies arrive this summer will
have the unique distinction of being born
in a Library and school building. I*f
environment at tine of birth is a factor
in the child’s dovolopmcnt, no ought to
have some brilliant end studious children.
Palmer TJILL HAVE NET' HOSPITAL
CONT. from p. 1
Protestant Church.
Dr. Hoohn, irho hat! just left the hospital
before the fire t;qs discovered, rnc taJcon
word by Mrs. Mary T7itt. By'the time Dr.
Hochn reached the Hospital, all patients
ucro out and the process of rosiuing
equipment v;ns in rapid progress.
Dr. Hochn then set out to get his patients
rounded up r.i'd transferred to more com
fortable quarters. He and Trillion 3ouv:ens
called Anchorage nnd Fort Richardson for
ambulances to como after the pationto and
bed® for then rhon they arrived. The T.B.
cases mere taken to a Hospital at Fort
Richardson and the others rho needed con
tinued caro Trorc admitted at the Previ- .
dcnce Hospital in Anchorage, All ncre in
bod*again by 3 A,M, Three of the patients,
Mrs, Frank Holler, Mrs. Dora Homing and
Helen Stephen,verc practically ready to"
be discharged so uoro sent homo instead.
Mrs, Homing nas taken to the Noil Miller
homo until'she could bo takon to her hono
in Wasilla,
It v:as amazing the r;ay equipment and sup
plies come out of the burning building.
Miss Laura T’olfc, nurse in charge, took
over the organization of the ovacuation
cron in the hospital and by about eleven
o'clock"nhen the roof collapsoj, beds,'
, bedding; office equipment and supplies,
records, all the surgery equipment, the
big X-Ray, all threo rofrigerators(includ
ing a hugo refrigerator)ar.d practically
every movable"object oh the first floor
was taker, out. If a nail nas in the my
if •.-ran chopped dovn. Doors trero enlarged
in a matter of seconds. Light articles
wore relayed through the windows and
tractors with trailers nppecrod to haul
articles to safety. Tho teen-agers were
right on tho job and aro to bo highly com
mended for their cocl-hoadod assistance.
It would bo impossible to mention nil
these who were helping either in trying
to sc^uolch the flames or in saving equip
ment, but they had to work hard and fast
to so oompictoly dofurnieh a building in
a matter of l£ hours,
fir. Eddy was”the only one who recoivcd any
serious burns. A fow minor scratches and
bruises wore reported.
As the building collapsed, surrounding
dwellings were greatly endangered. Thoy
wore wotted down and watched.
Cent, on p. 5