BOOKLET TELLS OF “THE FIRST THREE YEARS” IN THE COLONY
Through the courtesy of Ralph i
Moore a copy of “The First Three
Years”, an historical presenta
tion on the United Protestant
Church, the Matanuska Valley
Colony and interesting sidelights
in the Matanuska Valley. The
booklet was published by the
Rev. B J. Bingle, pastor of the
United Protestant Church in the
early days of the colonization of
the Valley. Excerpts from the
booklet are reproduced below
and will probably bring back
memories to those who were here
in the pioneer days and will offer
a bit of historical background
Colonists Sign-Up
for those who are more recent
arrivals in the valley.
Work in Washington
The colonization adventure
was initiated when A. A. Shon
beck, political exponent of this
section of Alaska, and Colonel
O. F. Ohlson, general manager
of the Alaska Railroad, were
called to Washington to give
data and suggestive ideas. The
head of the .Matanuska Valley
Experiment Station ,a man of
thoroughness, efficiency, and
capability — Don L. Irwin — was
also called to Washington and
asked to be the Colony’s execu
live.
The Pastor Arrives
May the 6th, 1935, was the date
high noon when the long coal
train with one passenger coach
pulled in before a small red shed.
Rev. Winterberger who was to
initiate me to my new field, in
troduced me to the old settlers.
All were cordial, including the
civil engineer, Ross L. Sheely,
who was later to be the Colony
manager.
Make Camp
Dinner was quickly provided
for us at the M. D. Snodgrass
ranch, a settler of 25 years of
Alaskan experience.
But that first day was not one
of idleness At 6 p.m. a trainload
of “transient” men, who were
collected in California and sent
North by steamer, arrived, 400
in all, exclusive of officials.
Never was a man expected to do
more than was expected of those
Work Camp
The Minnesota Colonists had
just arrived at Seward and were
due to arrive in the Valley the
next evening. Temporary homes
had to be constructed for these
87 families. Food had to be pro
cured as well as stoves, beds,
bedding, and mattresses. The task
to be accomplished was too great
for these men, or for any group
of men regardless of how good
they might be. However, every
available man in the Valley was
hired to construct these homes.
In spite of its seriousness and
Surrey Work Begins
later tragedy, it was a relief to
learn that the Minnesota Colon
ists were to be detained at Sew
ard five days due to measles
aboard ship.
The Minnesota group arrived
May 10.
The first church service in the
Valley was held at Matanuska, a
town seven miles south of the
townsite of Palmer on May 7. On
May 12, Mother’s Day, the first
church service was held in Pal
mer. Services were held in the
architect’s tent.
Building First Church
Events happened thick and fast
in the new settlement. With poles
and logs and odds and ends of
shiplap we were enabled to put
up our building. Just before the
building was completed Wiscon
sin and Michigan families arriv
ed. Before they put into the
woods where the seven newly
constructed tent towns were, old
Mother Nature had played her
old Alaskan game. Not only was
frost at that time leaving the
ground but the clouds had pour
ed down water steadily for near
ly 60 hours. What those roads
were like no one could tell un
less he had seen them person
ally. Newly arrived trucks and
tractors were hooked together
and materials for building the
seven villages had to be “mud
ded” through to their destination.
Church Work of Colony
Now the Church work had tak
en on new developments. Father
Sulzman of the Catholic Church
came in from Seward and a Rev.
Aasen of Minnesota and Rev.;
Frieling of Anchorage were (
present to care for the Lutheran j
families. Rev. Aasen as advance
field representative, remained I
only a short time. Time in the
Community hall was allotted to
each of us during the forenoon
hours. In the evening we attemp
ted to hold services in the hall,
or about a huge bonfire in the
clearing.
First Newspaper
Other services which our
church performed for the Colony
in those early days were many
and varied. One in particular
was the giving to the people a
daily newspaper. Hence that old
radio which was originally hook
ed up to Jim Felton’s fence was
brought into play, and the Palmer
Daily was the result being typed
out on carbon paper and giving
Early-Day Law
national, world, and local news.
It did fill a big need and continu
ed till a sufficient number of
families had radios of their own.
'New Doctor Arrives
The coming of an additional
doctor into the Valley who im
mediately found a big place in
the hearts and lives of all, was
not accidental. God having put
the thought and purpose into the
heart of this young Moravian
(Dr. C. Earl Albrecht), then in
charge of the church hospital at
Philadelphia, to come to Anchor^
age and wait — perhaps they
would need him some day in the
Valley. The time came and the
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HOTEL
doctor was needed. Three deaths
of children had occurred. The
work was too much for the one
doctor present. Scarlet fever now
added to the terror. Within 24
hours the new' doctor was on the
ground. So quick was the action
and so surprising the need that
in the shake-up we lost our
Community Hall which contained
the library, recreation hall, com
munity center and church, all in
one. It was turned into a hospital
and within two hours after be
ing cleared out, scarlet fever pa
tients arrived. With a rigid quar
antine on and a necessity for sea
foods to be procured. Rev. Bingle
went fishing. Having lived in Al
aska seven years he made up
the crews and went after the fish.
For some time the pastor used
Colonists bring home the fish
his little Model A run-about and
the speed made oon that 30 miles
of twisty road won for him the
title of “Matanuska Valley Dash
hound.”
Manse is Built
A general meeting of the con
gregation was called on August
29. We decided to form a tem
porary organization under the
supervision of the Board of Na
tional Missions — Presbyterian
Church, U. S. A., on the federat
ed church plan, as there were 13
different denominations repre
sented, and to erect a manse with
the $500 allowed by the Board of
National Missions, asking for
volunteer labor to do same. The
manse was completed sufficient
ly on the outside to move into
November 1, at which time the
mercury dropped to eight below
zero. This home came in for
much use. Farmers’ wives who
walked in many miles would
stop here for rest and coffee.
Many would come for overnight.
The American Legion used the
manse as a meeting place. Other
groups held their meetings there
and Mrs. Bingle kept the library.
Transportation
On November 24, 1935 the con
gregation held a formal meeting,
adopted a constitution and for
mulated by-laws for the new
church. The name Protestant
Community Church was later
changed to United Protestant
Church. Dr. Albrecht was chosen
to be presiding officer of the
seven member council. In the
spring of 1936 the Board of Na
tional Missions was asked to give
a grant of money with which to
erect the new church. On May 9,
a proposition was made to give
$1,500 if a like amount in funds
was raised in the Valley—in
funds, material and labor. M. D.
Snodgrass had previously given
two lots in the Snodgrass addi
tion of the Palmer townsite.
In July it was learned that the
government was willing to grant
land in the Community Center
on which to construct the new
building. The men set to work
cutting logs—the women help
ing with the peeling work. The
cornerstone was laid September
30, 1936. Don L. Irwin, first col
ony manager and chairman of
the building committee took the
leading part. Vic Johnson, new
farmer from Wisconsin, was sel
ected to head the building ad
venture as chief carpenter. Men
could be seen dotting the surface
of the building everywhere for
the space of three months. Hot
lunches were provided at noon
by the women of the congrega
tion under the leadership of
Mrs. Carl Erickson.
Then came the time for com
pletion, including inside work.
By this time the men had to go
Church Completed
Youths Invited to' King’s Adventureland
If your age is between four
years old and that of a high
school senior you are invited to
a wonderful time during the'
mornings of the next two weeks
in “The King’s Adventureland”.
to work at their own homes but
the women of the church took
their places. The chinking was
done by them, the oiling of the
logs and a dozen other items.
Then the Colonists had a build
ing worth no less than $10,000
and all of the finances were cared
for but a small amount.
Conclusion
At the time Rev. Bingle con
cluded his report the colony was
under the leadership of Leo B.
Jacobs, general manager, the
church was enrolled in the Yu
kon Presbytery'. He concluded
his writings with these prophetic
words, “The Matanuska Valley is
here, the climate will remain the
same, market and soil will im
prove with development. This
history as one of the large 20th
century pioneering projects.”
“Adventuring with Christ" is
tihe theme of this year’s daily
vacation Bible school at the
United Protestant Church. Daily
sessions, Monday through Friday,
May 28-<June 1 and June 4-8,
will be conducted at the church
from 9 a.m. to noon.
Interesting lessons are planned
as well as singing, story-telling,
scripture memorization, recrea
tion, and hand work. An ade
quate staff of experienced teach
ers and helpers will be on hand
in each department. A special
love offering will be taken dur
ing the school to send to Dr. and
Mrs. Burt Long, formerly of An
chorage, who now serve as mis
sionaries among some of the
many unfortunate lepers of Af
rica. Everyone is welcome to at
tend this daily Bible school.
Because of the plentiful supply
of fish, crustaceans and plankton
in the waters surrounding An
tarctica, these waters abound m
whales and seals.
GAMES - HANDCRAFT - STORIES - COWKTS - SURPRISES I
'mzm.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
MAY 28 - JUNE I & JUNE 4 -8
| THEY’RE HERE . . .
Mercury
OUTBOARD MOTORS
Come in ... look them over
GRASSER'S
HARDWARE &
SPORTING GOODS
“Home of Dutch Boy Paints”
tf-i&Uina Seaton,
OPENS MAY 28th
THE ALASKA
RAILROAD’S
“Au Ro Ra”
Resumes Service
MAY 29th
Take this daylight train to your favorite fishing streams.
Leaves Anchorage at 10 A.M., Wasilla at 11:40 A.M. Satur
days, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; leaves Fairbanks at 10 AM.
Sundays. Wednesdays. Fridays; arrives Wasilla 7:48 P.M.,
Anchorage 9:35 P.M.
FOR TRAVEL COMFORT—"The Midnight Sun" leaves An
chorage 8:30 P.M.. Wasilla 10:10 P.M. Sundays. Tuesdays,
Thursdays; Fairbanks, 8:30 P.M. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fri
days; arrives V/as ilia 6:29 A.M., Anchorage 8:15 A.M.
-tKe. ^ tSB* Jrm.
Ri% ■ L-RO^O
C. F. Krause, Agent
PHONE 32fl PALMER. ALASKA