ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETING VALLEY
FAIR ASS’N. NOV. 13
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLET
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD lor that item
you may have for sale, rent
or lease.
PRICE TEN CEN’iS
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 2
PALMER, ALASKA, THURSDAY, NOV. 1, 1956
PHONE CUT - OVER DELAYED MANY WEEKS
SERVICE TO BE
HELD FRIDAY FOR
WALTER E. HUNTLEY
Funeral services for Walter
Elliott Huntley will be held from
the United Protestant Church in
Palmer Friday afternoon at two
o’clock. The Rev. Kenneth Hugh
es of the Lazy Mountain Child
rens Home will officiate and
burial will be in the Palmer
Cemetery. Mrs. Max Sherrod will
be the organist and will accom
pany Mrs. Jeanne Lancaster and
Mrs. Ruth Roop who will sing.
Friends may pay their last re
spects from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at
the church.
Pall bearers will be I. M. Sand
vik, Wesley Lancaster, Sidney
Lindeke, Harold Thuma, Virgil
Eckert and Roman Splettstoezer.
Mr. Huntley passed away at
Valley Presbyterian Hospital Oc
tober 30 following a lengthy ill
ness. Born in Rudyard, Michigan,
March 4, 1897, Huntley came to
Alaska in 1935 with the first col
onists and developed a Grade A
dairy farm. In 1936 he was nam- j
ed U. S. Commissioner of the I
newly created Palmer Recording;
iTecinct and held that office for j
the following 12 years. lie be-!
came a charter member of the j
Lnited Protestant Church and j
was an elder of that church. He ;
was the first elected president
of the Matanuska Valley Farm
ers Cooperating Association
board of directors and represent
ed the valley on the “We the
People" radio program in New
York.
In 1939 Huntley left the valley
to help build the naval base at
Kodiak. He returned the follow
ing year to resume farming and
also worked at Fort Richardson
where he received foot injury i
which kept him on crutches for
a long period of time. In 19451
he was elected to the Territorial
Legislature as Representative
and co-authored the Agriculture j
Bill which meant so much to the
valley. In 1947 he again served
as Representative and in 1949
was elected to the Territorial
Senate. He was appointed U. S.
Marshal of the Third Division
and served in that capacity from
1951 to 1953.
Huntley was well-known throu
ghout the territory for his varied
activities, among which was 20
years in the Boy Scout program.
He was a holder of the Scout
master Key.
Surviving Huntley are his wife,
Beatrice (Hoag), postmaster at
Palmer, and four children, Mrs.
Beatrice Jane Hulvey of Rose
well, N. M., Mrs. Margie Carlson
of Fairbanks, Duane Huntley,
USA Fort Richardson, and Lad
die Huntley, Lomite, California.
A fifth child, Walter E., Jr., died
in infancy. Mr. Huntley is also
survived by a brother, C. O. Hunt
ley of Palmer and three sisters
who make their homes in Michi
gan, Mrs. Mary Stevenson Mrs.
(Continued on page 8)
Watch Temperature
In Spud Storages,
Says Specialist
“Now is the time to buy a good
thermometer for your potato
storage”, Dr. Cyrtis Dearborn,
extension specialist with the
University of Alaska pointed out
this week.
“After the rush of harvest, “he
pointed out, “we sometimes for
get the potatoes we have care
fully stored are alive and breath
ing. They still need careful at
tention and storage must be kept
dark to prevent greening of the
tubers. In the greening process
a poisonous substance known as
solaine accumulates in the sur
face of the tuber.”
Temperature control in the
storage within the range of 38
to 40 degrees is the most impor
tant single factor, other than
darkness, for providing good
storage conditions, he said. !
Temperatures below 38 degrees
result in a build-up of sugars in
the potato.
For correct storage tempera
ture Dr. Dearborn pointed out
that good operators don’t take j
chances—they use thermometers.
“Accurate thermometers are:
easy to read and are cheap en- •
ough for anyone who owns a ton !
of potatoes. No one w'ould con
sider running an egg incubator
or a home freezer without a
thermometer. Yet potato storages
with thousands of dollars worth
of food arfi often operated with
out an accurate temperature re
cording device,” he said.
The best thermometer for tire
potato storage can be purchased
for about $10, he said. It is built
with two indicators, one show
(Continued on page 8)
PALMER MAN KILLED
IN TRUCK ACCIDENT
Charles Almquist, 39 driver of
a 1948 Chevrolet pick up truck
met apparent instantaneous
death yesterday afternoon short
ly after 3 p.m. when the pick
up went out of control about
four miles south of Palmer on
the Matanuska Road and over
turned against an embankment.
He and a passenger William
Hart also of the Palmer area
were pinned beneath the vehicle.
The accident was discovered by
Jack Cope rural route mail
man. Hart suffered minor injur
ies and a third passenger, Moy
ene Lucas escaped without in
juries. Alquist had lived in the
valley area a number of years,
working in the Miner Roop coal
mine, for Meehan Trucking firm
and others. At the time of his
death he was employed on the
Francis Johansen farm. Territori
al Police are investigating the
accident. Officials have not yet
determined whether there are
survivors. Alquist was a veteran
of World War IT, having served
in the U. S. Army.
Grand Re-Opening
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
YOU ARE INVITED TO OPEN HOUSE
FROM 2 - 4 P.M.
Watch our new menus for special features
including special breakfasts
VISIT THE COMPLETELY RENOVATED
Frontier Cafe
CO OP OPEN HOUSE
SET FOR SUNDAY
All residents are invited to the
open house which will be held at
the Matanuska Valley Farmers
Cooperating Association office
and departments this coming
Sunday. The observance of the
Co-Op’s 20th anniversary was
called off last Sunday due to
reports of inclimate weather and
bad road conditions.
All departments will be open
to the public for inspection and
personnel will be on hand to
conduct visitors through the
warehouse, trading post, cream
ery and garage. Visitors are in
vited to drop in at the main office
between 2 and 4 p.m. where re
freshments including a big birth
day cake, will be served, along
with Matanuska Maid ice cream.
In observing their 20th birth
day all departments have been
running special sales which are
being continued through this
week in the Trading Post and
Garage.
Original members, along with
present-day members of the As
sociation; board members and
other representatives of the Co
Op will be on hand Sunday to
greet visitors. Pictures will be
taken of the various groups and
of the present-day employees.
FRONTIER CAFE
TAKES ON NEW LOOK
Open house will be held at the
Frontier Cafe Friday afternoon,
November 2, from 2:00 to 4:00 in
observance of the grand re-op
ening, The cafe, owned and oper
ated by Howard and Eva Camp
bell has just been completely
renovated, creating a modern
and tasteful atmosphere in which
to ‘dine out.” Mrs. Campbell
said this week that along with
the new face-lift in the cafe, the
menu will also have changes,
with special features to be in
c.uded, with emphasis on special
breakfast menus which will offer
a wider variety to those who take
breakfast at the restaurant.
Modern decor has been used
throughout the cafe in a black
and white color theme, compli
mented by red.
AREA POULTRY MEN
INVITED TO ATTEND
EGG QUALITY COURSE
An egg quality school will be
conducted November 7, 9, 14, and
16 in the meeting room at the
Co-Op general office building by
George Crowthers, marketing
supevisor with the Alaska De
partment of Agriculture. The
course is being sponsored by the
Department with the cooperation
of the Matanuska Valley Farm-;
ers Cooperating Association. i
All M.V.F.C.A. poultry men are j
this week being notified of the !
course by letter. All other poul-;
try men are invited to attend. 1
The discussions, slated to be
gin at 8 p.m., will include the in
terpretation of various quality
factors for grading and weighing
eggs, as well as poduction man
agement. During the course two
films, provided by the U. S. De
partment of Agriculture, will be
shown.
NOTICE
The M.E.A. Office will
be open November 12
for bill payments. j;
' Closed November 22 ;
and 23
KEA Crewman Victim
Fatal Accident
Funeral services for Jack G.
Wilson, 54, will be held in Anch
orage next week by the Interna
tional Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers of which Wilson was a
member. Following the services
his body will be shipped to Seat
tle where interment will take
place. It is planned that his body
will be accompanied by Cy Brew
er, MEA manager and Phil O’
j Neill, MEA president, and Mrs.
| O'Neill. He is survived by a bro
i ther who makes his home in Seat
tle.
Wilson was killed on October
30 when he touched a 7200-volt
line while working with the MEA
crew on the Fingerlake Road.
First-aid and safety training, a
longtime part of MEA’s safety
policy, was put to use immed
iately by Wilson’s fellow crew
men and a physician was sum
moned, along with the commun
ity ambulance. Although continu
ed ateinpts were made to revive
him, he was pronounced dead
a short time after being taken
to the valley hospital.
This was the first fatal acci
dent experienced by the Matan
uska Electric Association in it's'
entire history. It was reported
that Wilson had failed to don his
i uulkji giuvt’.s ut'iure woi k
ing near the live line. Whether
he slipped and grabbed the wire
or just how the accident happen
ed was not determined. He was
pulled down from the wire by a
crew member and attempts to re
vive him were started at once.
The Palmer Funeral Chapel is
I in’ charge of arrangements.
In commenting about the ac
cident Cy Brewer, MEA manag
er, said he would like to thank
those who gave assistance, in
cluding Bill Smith, who should
be recognized for his bravery in
removing W'ilson from the line,
with blue fire over the pole,
equipment and the victim. Smith,
Phil McRae, Stan Lowe and Ralph
Moore brought him down and ap
plied artificial respiration, con
tinuing until he reached the
emergency room at the hospital.
Also to Dr. C. C. Bailey, Brewer
said, for his immediate and con
tinued assistance and the immed
iate action of Bernie Bouwens in
taking the ambulance and assist
ing. Also Drs. Bailey and Bur
nett who continued resuscitation
efforts after Wilson was in the
hospital. “From the start to fin
ish I can imagine no better
chance to live than the one given
Jack. If I, personally, get into
it sometime I hope that I can be
in the hands of the same group.
That’s the highest commenda
tion I can think of”, Brewer
added.
ISABELLE PASS
CLOSED AFTER JANUARY 1
The Bureau of Public Roads
wishes to inform the public that
Isabel Pass on the Richardson
Highway will be maintained only
until approximately January 1,
1957. The Richardson Highway
from Big Timber to Big Delta
will be closed through the
months of January, February
and March 1957.
See our lovely assortment of
• CHRISTMAS CORSAGES
• POTTED PLANTS
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
SERVICES
Sunday School .10:30
Church Service.11:00
(Baby Sitter) !
CO-OP CLUB ROOM
Skaters Invited
To Use Kepler
Lakes for Outings
The ice skating season is about
to get under way in the Valley.
Jess Kepler reported this week
that Echo lake is frozen deep
1 enough for skating and that most
i of the ice is clear and not dusty.
: He said the road to the picnic
j ground has been sanded to make
I travel easy for those who would
I like to skate at Bradley or Kepler
| lake. Mr. Kepler said the latter
two lakes are well frozen but
the connecting creek is danger
ous.
To add to the skaters fun, Mr.
Kepler said he will permit camp
fires at the edge of the lake and
the road will be kept open and
there will be no charges made
| for the use of the grounds, he
■ said.
Duing the past few' years Mr.
\ Kepler has developed the lake
area on his property and has al
lowed free use of the lakes and
picnic grounds for fishing and
picnicking. He has furnished a
number of boats, with the charg
es for their use being on a vol
i unteer basis.
__ _ .
CEREBRAL PALSY
BENEFIT SAT. NIGHT
Tickets are on sale for the
Cerebral Palsy benefit dinner
dance which will be held at Pal
mer Elks hall this Saturday eve
ning. The public is invited to at
tend and help the local Elks
lodge raise money for this CP
fund. All proceeds will be used
in Alaska to help children who
are victims of this disease.
The dinner will begin at 7
p.m. and a dinner choice of roast
turkey or roast beef will be of
fered. Special entertainment has
been arranged and will follow
the dinner, with dancing to
round out the evening. Tickets
for the dinner-dance are $3.00 per
person. Those unable to attend
: the dinner may purchase dance
tickets for S2.00 per couple,
i Tickets may be obtained from
I Palmer Elks or at the door Sat
' urday night.
GARDEN CLUB PLANS
CHRISTMAS CONTEST
! The Palmer Garden Club an
nounced this week that the
Christmas home decorating con
test will again be held this year.
The contest will be divided in
two sections, one for indoor dec
orations and one for outdoor,
with cash prizes to be offered in
each section. * i
All valley residents interested
in entering the contest is asked
to register at Maud’s Flower
Shop. Additional details regard
ing the contest will be announc
ed at a later date.
EQUIPMENT COMPANY
FAILS TO MEET
FULFILLMENT DATE
The eut-over date for the new
| Matanuska Telephone Associa
I tion system has been delayed sev
1 eral weeks, it was announced this
week by Robert Partridge, MTA
manager.
The delay is being caused by
the failure of the Kellogg Swit
chboard and Supply Company to
deliver the central office equip
ment in the time specified in
the contract, he said. Word was
first received in Palmer from
the firm’s representative in An
chorage that shipping dates were
being delayed. Several weeks
were spent trying to get firm
commitments from the firm and
the last word received in the
Palmer office was that equip
ment for the Palmer office would
be shipped November 30. The
contract called for October 21
delivery and the contract has
been in violation since that date,
; The wire indicated that Palmer's
| cut-over date would be in Janu
I ary or February, however. Part
! ridge said this week that it now
looks like the eut-over will not
| take place before spring because
; of the delay in shipping. A pen
| alty clause in the contract guar
j antees the MTA loss of estimate
j ed revenue after November 21,
i the date Palmer would have been
! cut-over, .plus any extra labor
j costs due to direct or indirect
! violation of the contract.
When'it first became evident
that Kellogg was not going to
fulfill on their shipping date
i MTA attempted to change manu
facturing firms. At that time REA
indicated they thought it would
be a disadvantage and refused
to approve a change.
No reason has ben given the
Matanuska Telephone Associa
tion for the delay in shipping.
In an effort to ease the incon
venience this delay might cause
to subscribers in the immediate
rural area, MTA plans as soon
as preliminary work is complet
ed, to connect new outside plant
wires into the presently manu
ally operated board. Work will
be started to tie in rural lines
where practical and possible to
the old board. Partridge said. He
added that the work will have to
be done on an impartial basis
and that there will be some
(Continued on page 5)
Matt Onkka drew the winning
ticket for the Corvette at
Kirk’s Sales and Service. Al
ternates were Joe Otte and
Irene Beyiund
KIRK’S SALES &
SERVICE
Masquerade Dance
WASILLA GRANGE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 3,-9 P.M.
WASILLA COMMUNITY HALL
• LIVE MUSIC
• PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUMES
Donation $1.00 Public Invited
FREE
WILD GAME SMORGASBORD, PALMER BAR JBJT,
moose, caribou a goat EVERYONE WELCOME