VALLEY FAIR ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
TONIGHT
Co-Op Club Room — 8 p.m.
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The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
item you may have for sale,
rent or lease.
/OLUME 7, NUMBER 30
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1954
PRICE TEN CENTS
NEW HOSPITAL OPENS OFFICIALLY APR. 18
FIRST BABIES IN NEW HOSPITAL
TO RECEIVE SHOWER OF GIFTS
With forthought to the day
when the first babies will be born
in the new Valley Presbyterian
Hospital, merchants and suppli
ers in the Valley, Anchorage, and
several points in the States have
come forth with many, many pres
ents for the young Miss and Mas
ter. Even Mom and Dad will be
remembered with various gifts.
The response to the plan has been
so tremendous, members of the
hospital board have divided the
gifts, so that the first girl, and the
first boy, born in the new Valley
Presbyterian Hospital, and their
parents, will each receive one
half of the below listed prizes.
The contest for the first baby
girl and the first baby boy will
officially open Tuesday morning,
April 20, at 10:00 a.m., board
members announced today.
The Palmer Automotive Taxi
service was the first of local con
tributions to be offered. A1 King
will take the mother and her
baby anywhere within a 25-mile
radius of Palmer. A satin-bound,
rayon and nylon crib blanket will
be a gift from Clara’s Variety;
an electric bottle warmer from
Ben Hudgins; from the Co-Op
Trading Post, S25 in merchandise:
a foam rubber baby pillow and
hand-embroidered pillow slip
from Bettys’; a S5 cash gift from
Palmer Baking Company, and a
year’s subscription from The
Frontiersman and a Pendleton
contour crib blanket from Kos
losky’s Department Store.
Also among Palmer gifts are:
$5.00 fro mthe Palmer Sheet Met
al and Heating; S10 in trade from
Moore’s Garage; S25 bond from
the Matanuska \*ailey Bank; S10
worth of laundry from Pearl
White Laundry: a haircut, sham
(Continued on insert page
Palmer Sold Storage
To Change Hands
Harry Ryan of the Palmer Cold
Storage this week announced the
transfer of his local interests and
the acquisition of controlling in
terest in the Chirikoff Island Cat
tle Corporation on Chirikoff Is
land.
The transfer, between Ryan
and Charlie Waller of Kent,
Washington will go into effect
May 1, Mr. Ryan said this week.
Mr. Waller is expected in Pal
mer around the first of May and
is planning a new building at the
present site. Although the groc
ery and meat departments of the
store will be closed, at least for
the present, the frozen food lock
er section will remain open, with
a clerk in attendance.
Mr. Ryan extended his apprec
iation and thanks to his many
customers. The Ryan family plan
to move to Chirikof after the first
of June, where they will make
their home .
NO MINING COURSE
AT THIS TIME
According to word received by
Betty Mears, Chamber of Com
merce secretary, from Earl H.
Beistline, dean of the school of
mines at the University of Alas
ka, it will not be possible to hold
an extension course in mining at
this time in the Valley. However
he said, a course can be offered
next fall. There is no instructor
available at the present time, he
explained.
JOHN GORSUCH TO
ADDRESS GRADUATES
Senator John Gorsuch of An
chorage will be the speaker at
commencement exercises of
Palmer High School on May 25
in the High School gymnasium,
William Zahradnicek, super
intendent of schools announc
ed this week.
CITY MAY BE ASKED
TAKE OVER AIRPORT
“We would like to have the
Jitv of Palmer take over owner
ship of the Palmer Airport”, Max
Kirkpatrick of the Third Division
Territorial Board of Aviation told
members.of the local Airmens’
Association at a meeting held
April 8.
‘‘Our department hasn't got a
cent to spend on maintenance”,
Kirkpatrick stated. What funds
are available to us are used in the
construction of new airports, he
added. In explaining the depart
i ment’s stand on the dispersment
of funds, explained that by Ter
■ ritorial law no maintenance may
be performed on an airport built
in or for a municipality of 600 or
; more inhabitants. The only ex
penditures that may legally be
made are for improvements,. he
rdded.
A lengthy discussion period
where questions and answers
flew back and forth followed his
: announcements. The local avia
tion association has for some time
; sought help from the territory for
snow removal, gravel for the run
ways, and fill for an eroded sec
tion of the field. The meeting,
to which members of the City
Council and local Chamber of
Commerce were invited, was
planned to discuss ways and
means of getting the necessary
maintenance work dope.
Kirkpatrick explained to the
group that the only source of in
come the department has is one
third of the motor fuel tax plus
all aviation gas tax, providing
the latter amount does not exceed
the amount received from the
motor fuel tax.
Since 1949 we have spent S1 ,
■500.000 in the territory, he point
ed out. There is a big need for
construction work in the First
Division and the lower part of
the Fourth Division where ade
quate landing fields are needed
for DC-3's.
Among suggestions, most often
referred to in his talk, was that
the City of Palmer take over the
local field. Questions put to Kirk
patrick by Mayor Don McKech
rie and Council woman Betty
Mears brought out the fact that
although the Territorial Depart
ment of Aviation did sign an
agreement with the CAA to main
tain the local field, it is now
bound by legislature from spend
ing any money on maintenance.
This has been in effect, Kirk
patrick said, since the time the
City of Palmer was incorporat
ed.
As a solution to the present
problem, which appears to be
whether or not there will be a
field here very long, Kirkpatrick
suggested the airmen formulate
a workable plan whereby the
field can be put on a paying bas
is, present this plan to “the City
of Palmer, and request that the
City take over the airport, and
in turn lease the field and facil
ities to the local association.
Herman Porter, recently ap
pointed territorial director of av
iation, was present and assisted
Kirkpatrick in answering some of
the questions. Following the meet
ing he showed a film, “The Fly
ing Business Man.”
During the business meeting,
Ralph Farnsworth, association
president, appointed Brian Cle
worth as laison man between the
association and the local Civil
Defense organization. Rene Neil
sen, Jerry Harrison, and A1 Dick
ow were named to the group’s
aviation safety committee.
Farnsworth also announced a
public dance and party to be held
Saturday, May 1 at the Elks hall
for the 99’ers, an association com
posed of women flyers.
Pictured above is the nursing and tec mician staff of the Valley Presbyterian
Hospital.
Left to right, front row: Mrs. Dorothy Schuller ar.d Mrs. Grace Reid, nurses.
Pack tew: Miss Edith Eggleston, X-ray and lab technician? Mrs. Florence Sandel, nurse;
Miss Ina Tompkins, anthesthisi; nurses Mi .a Frances Lyrn, Mrs. Pat Munsey, Mrs. Lyla
France, Miss Irene Spurgas, Mrs. Helen Ma :a, nursing supervisor, and Mrs. Jessie De
Vries, nurse. Since this picture was taken t wo of the nurses have resigned, and nurses
tiiss Alice MacKerness, Mrs. Dorothy Hust :n, and Miss Marion Knowles have been
added to the staff. Photo courtesy U. of A. Experiment Station
LLOYD A. MORLEY
Anchorage Times Photo
Lloyd A. Morley, named ad
ministrator of the new Valley
Presbyterian Hospital, took over
his official duties today, and will
be in attendance Sunday at the
hospital open house to greet and
meet the many hundred visitors
who are expected to tour the 25
bed unit.
Administrator Morly has had
wide experience in public health
work, having served in the cap
acity of senior sanitarian and
consultant with the Alaska De
partment of Health since 1946.
In this line of work, he has spent
much time in the Valley and is
well acquainted with many Val
ley residents.
Following the completion of
the present school term, Morley
plans to move his family to Pal
mer.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
NOW AVAILABLE
Absentee ballots for the ter
ritorial primaries to be held
April 27 are available at the
office of U. S. Commissioner
Dorothy Saxton, or at the lo
cal Post Office, it was announ
ced this week.
g. P. W. Offals
Maks Palmsr Visit;
3’ub Is Form
Mrs. Louise Winegarner, Mrs.
Bobby Jo McRae and Mrs. Kay
Pippel were named to a commit
tee to work on by-laws and a
constitution for the formation of
a Business and Professional Wo
men’s club in the Valley area.
Mrs. Izabell Wolloc-k was narn
i cd temporary secretary.
Mrs. Hazel B. Johnson, Alas
ka federation president of BPW;
Mrs. Vivian Weir, president of
| the Anchorage BPW; Mrs. Hazel
Baily. territorial corresponding
i secretary, and Mrs. Mickie Har
j ness, Alaska defense chairman, all
j of Anchorage were present at the
first local meeting held in the
1 form of a luncheon Tuesday noon
| of this week. Approximately 30
j women were in attendance. Betty
1 Mears introduced the Anchorage
j officials.
The Anchorage visitors offered
: brief explanations on the aims
and purposes of the organization
which enjoys a membership of
over 165,000 women in all of the
States, and nine clubs in the ter
ritory. Folders explaining the
club’s functions and advantages
were distributed by the Anchor
age officials.
An organizational meeting is
planned for the evening of April
26 and will be held at the home
of Izabelle Wollcott at 8 p.m. All
Palmer area women who are in
terested in joining the organiza
tion are invited to attend the
meeting.
SCHOOL OPERETTA
SET FOR MAY 14
Tickets will go on sale locally
sometime next week for “The
Count and the Co-ed”, an oper
etta in two parts to be presented
by the Palmer High School chorus
May 14 at the Palmer School
gymnasium, at 8 p.m. under the
direction of Miss Lois Thompson.
Reserved seats will be sold, at
S1.25. General admission is $1.00
for adults. All proceeds will go
toward the purchase of chorus
robes.
Candidates la Be
Snfrodycsd During
Sunday Program
All Valley residents are invited
to attend the Easter smorgasbord
and afternoon with Third Div
ision Democratic candidates be
ng sponsored by the local Demo
cratic club of Easter Sunday at
the Elks home.
The dinner will be served be
ginning at 2:00 p.m. and adult
tickets may be purchased at
Bettys’ or from other club mem
bers. Childrens’ tickets will be
available at the door.
The program has been planned
as an informal afternoon with
the candidates and will offer an
opportunity for all Valley resi
dents to drop in, meet, and get
acquainted with the candidates,
i During the afternoon a special
message from Delegate E. L. Bart
i lett will be delivered. There will
j be no speeches by candidates,
l the committee stated. However,
each candidate will be introduc
ed to those attending.
The majority of the candidates
have notified the committee that
| they will be in attendance. Many
are planning to bring their fam
ilies and attend the open house
at the new Valley Presbyterian
Hospital while in Palmer.
Committee members pointed
1 out this week that the invitation
i to attend is extended to all Val
i ley residents, regardless of thgir
! party.
FAIR ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING
SET FOR TONIGHT
All members, and potential
j members, of the Valley Fair As
sociation are reminded of the an
nual membership meeting to be
held tonight, April 15, in the
Co-Op club room at 8 p.mv Those
eligible to vote are those who
hold paid-up membership in the
association. Memberships may be
paid before the me ting tonight.
An election of oAicers will be
held and annual committee re
ports will be given. All interest
. ed persons are urged to attend.
OPEN HOUSE
EASTER SUNDAY
10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Open house at the new Valley
Presbyterian Hospital will be
held this Sunday, April 18 from
10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Alth
i ough there will be no planned
program, members of the board
of directors of the Valley Hospital
Association will be in attendance
throughout the day to answer
questions and direct visitors to
any particular section of the hos
pital.
H. J. Hodgson, association pres
ident. said this week patients in
the Valley Hospital will be mov
ed to the new hospital as soon
as possible after open house, and
that the new hospital will be in
official operation at 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 20. A definite
hour was established by board
members because of the first
babies contest. The first girl and
first bov born after that hour
will be the recipients of numer
ous gifts listed elsewhere in this
issue.
Flowers for the open house oc
casion will be welcomed, board
members said this week in re
sponse to an inquiry to that ef
fect. "We would more than ap
o^eeiate flowers for this occasion,”
they said, and asked that they
be taken to the hospital in con
tainers, if at all possible, and be
fore the 10:00 a.m. opening time.
Five portable table-model radios,
gifts of Theta Chapter Beta Sig
ma Phi will be presented to the
hospital that day and will be or.
disDlay, along with many other
gifts.
---fcjonstruytmi; on the modern
hhspif&T was assured the people
of the Valley area, when in Feb
ruary 1953 the bid of C. R. Foss,
Inc., of Anchorage was accepted.
The construction contract was
signed March 19. 1953. Survey
work by Richard Demming had
been started earlier in the month
and on April 9, 1953 ground
breaking ceremonies were held,
at which time officials of the
Board of National Missions of the
Presbyterian Church, hospital
board members and many other
dignitaries were in attendance to
witness the first ‘"dozer” blade of
dirt being moved by Mrs. Bert
J. Bingle, wife of Reverend Bert
J. Bingle. former pastor of the
United Protestant Church.
Construction work on the new
hospital was stared immediately
by the contractor, with Harold
Moline as supervisor. Mechanical
work was done by the C. R
, Lewis Company of Anchorage. Ar
chitectural plans for the new hos
pital were done by Edwin Crit
tendon, also of Anchorage.
On March 6 of this year dedi
cation ceremonies were held. At
that time hundreds of interested
persons from the local area and
from Anchorage joined visiting
Presbyterians, who were in the
Valley for the annual Yukon Pres
: bytery, in dedicating the new
hospital which was made pos
j sible by the cooperation in con
i tributions and many months of
' hard work by individuals, organ
izations, church groups, the con
tractors, and the hospital board
and staff.
Those who inspected the hos
pital on that date, and those who
have yet to see the interior will
be pleasantly surprised when
they see the hospital on Sunday.
Color has been stressed through
out the unit, not just pastels, but
(Continued on page 8)
Democratic Club
Aleef Your Candidates
SMORGASBORD
Easter Sunday, April 1 8
Palmer Elks Club
Public Cordially Inviied
NIGHT AT THE RACES “rcura
ELKS AND INVITED GUESTS ONLY SATURDAY APRIL 17