The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
T
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that !
! item 7011 may hare for sale.
! rent or lease. !
VOLUME 6, NUMBER 49
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY. AUGUST 27, 1953
PRICE TEN CENTS
'BIG TOWN' COLONY DAY SET FOR FAIR
FAIR TO HAVE
MERRY-GO-ROUND
AND LOOP-O-PLANE
Pun for young and old was as
sured this week when members
of the fair board received word
that a merry-go-round and loop
o-plane will be available for fair
goers pleasure during the 13th
annual fair.
Since word was received early
this year that the B & B Shows
had been sold and that the carni
val rides would not be available
for this year’s fair, board mem
bers have been trying to locate
equipment and concessions that
would take its place.
Members of the Anchorage
Shrine lodge will bring the equip
ment to the fair and be in charge
of operations. In addition, Gene
Kirsh said this week that enter
tainment concessions have been
arranged for the fair, such as
the rat race — canary and gold
fish booth — milk bottles — Pen
ny pitch and Alaska’s favorite
game, the latter to be sponsored
by the Palmer Moose lodge.
Horse races each day, baseball
games and the ever-popular hot
dog stands will all add up to lots
of entertainment for 1953 fair
goers.
some OI tut; lclige&t CAiuuna I
ever shown at a valley fair will
be open for the public inspection
and approval. Members of the
U. S. Army this week started
moving display material ;nto
Palmer. Two truck load of plat
forms have arrived and will be
used for what will be the larg
est and most complete Army dis
play ever offered at a territorial
fair.
Commercial groups will have
displays of their products and
several organizations plan edu
cational type displays, including
the popular Division of Forestry
booth.
Gate Passes
Alba Brooks, fair board presi
dent, announced this week that
gate passes will be given to eli
gible persons but that they will
not be transferrable. Judges, sup
erintendents, board members,
maintenance crews, entertainers,
police, press and concession op
erators are among those eligible.
However, he added, concessions
will be allowed only two passes,
others working in the booths will
be expected to purchase admis
sion tickets.
GEIWITZ' RETURN
FROM LECTURE TOUR
Rev. and Mrs. George Geiwitz
of the Church of God returned
to Palmer this week following a
three-month lecture tour that
took them through 18 states. They
returned to laska via the Hart
cut-off and Alaska Highway.
THROUGH TRAFFIC ON
WASILLA RD. ASSURED
Mayor Alfred V. Hagen was
assured late today by APW
inspector, Ray Mathews and
contractor George Lilly that
through traffic on Wasilla and
Springer road would be pas
sible tonight. An access road
to the Farmers’ Market will be
in tomorrow noon and a new
approach to Valley Hospital
will be opened.
Colony street will be block
ed tomorrow near the Palmer
Cold Storage to permit neces
sary installations and Wasilla
Road and Valley street may be
blocked wthin a few days for
additional work.
FIREMEN TO BE
HONORED BY DINNER
Mayor Alfred V. Hagen, Fire ;
Chief Ray Lancaster and 25;
volunteer firemen will be hon- -
ored at a turkey dinner Friday !
evening, August 28 in the Co- /
Op club room.
Fred Zieke, Co-Op general:
manager, said this week the
dinner is being given in ap
preciation of their work Aug- !
ust 9 when the Co-Op power ;
house was destroyed by fire. !;
Jim Wilson
Reports on
Convention and Tour
Territorial Commissioner of
Agriculture Jim Wilson returned
to his office in Palmer Monday,
following his attendance at the
conference of Western States’
Commissioners of Agriculture
held at Macks Inn, Idaho and a
visiting-tour that took him to
many other areas.
Upon his return Wilson said
that the conference discussion of
state problems and problems of
state and national regulations
did not much affect our agricul
tural situation inasmuch as we
are importers of nearly all com
modities. However, he said, the
greatest value he received from
the session was from informal
discussions with various men. He
was particularly interested in
their state programs on Brucel
losis and weed control and in
learning what type marketing
problems and programs were be
in worked on.
Wilson visited the Idaho Falls
farming area and the Federal
Land Bank and Farm Credit Ad
ministration offices in the city
and equipment companie'
experiment station at Aberdeen,
Idaho. While there he reported
seeing several new varieties of
potatoes that might be of promise
here in the valley which he will
discuss with local experiment
station personnel.
While in Pocatello, Wilson was
able to visit the farming area and
stated upon his return that he
believes the local potato farm
ers and associations are as for
ward in cultural practices and
equipment developments as those
in the great potato region of Ida
ho. Farmers there, he said, are
(Continued on page 3)
Oily Election
Set for October 6
A notice of the general elec
tion to be held in the city of
Palmer on Tuesday, October 6
is being publshed this week in
The Frontiersman. In accordance
with the laws of Alaska and the
city election ordinance, the elec
tion will be held on that date in
the Co-Op Rec Hall from 8:00
a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the purpose
of electng a mayor for a two year
term; two councilmen for three
year terms and one councilman
for a two year term, the latter
o fill the vacancy created by the
resignation early this year of
O. K. Kinkaid.
The notice states that all per
sons who are qualified electors of
the city of Palmer in accordance
with the laws of Alaska and the
ordinances of the city of Palmer
shall be entitled to vote. Such
voters must be citizens of the
United States, twenty-one years
Df age or over, bona fide resi
dents of the Territory of Alaska
for a period of more than one
year and have resided in the
City of Palmer for a period of
one year or more. This is the first
(Continued on page 8)
Flower Show
To Be Feature
At Valley Fair
Many of Alaska’s most beau
tiful flowers and outstanding
plants will be exhibited at the
13th annual Matanuska Valley
fair, according to Maud Hosier,
superintendent of the flower di
vision. In addition to Valley en
tries, many exhibits are expected
from the Anchorage area.
Mrs. M. D. Snodgrass will be
hostess at the flower show and a
guest book will be provided for
registering those who attend the
exhibit.
Mrs. Hosier this week offered
suggestions to those planning to
exhibit in this division. First of
all, she said, please read your
fair book for flower show rules
which appear on page 56. Be sure
you follow them carefully, she
cautioned. If for instance you are
exhibiting African daisy—the
book says “three sprays”—so
three sprays it must be even
though you many have another
perfect one.
The ttandbooK oi r lower snow
Definitions will be used for judg
ing by members of the Anchorage
Garden club, who have recently
completed a very successful flow
er show of their own.
Definitions in the handbook
identify a Spray as portions of
plants with a number of flowers
on one stem. Cluster—several
blossoms growing close together
on the same stem. Bloom--indi
vidual flower. One blossom on a
stock. Spike—a flower structure
with flowers stemless on a com
mon lengthened stalk.
Exhibtors have been grooming
their plans for the fair, Mrs. Hos
ier said and reminded individuals
that the foliage should be clean,
no dead leaves. Blossoms
also should be clean, and no dead
flowers.
Cut flowers should be hard
ened. To do this, the chosen flow
ers should be cut the day before,
placed in cold water and stored
in a cool place over night.
All exhibits may be taken to
the flower division building at
the fair grounds anytime from
Friday noon until Saturday mor
ning at 9:00 a.m. Any entries
received after that time will be
marked “Not in competition.”
New exhibit tables will be com
pleted before fair time and all
flower growers are urged to make
en.nes at the fair. There are cash
prizes for a very large number
of flowers and plants in five
classified groups.
“Watch for frost,” Mrs. Hosier
warned exhibitors. “If it appears
that there may be a frost, cover
your plants and blooms and save
them for the fair.”
FRONTIER CAFE
TO CHANGE HANDS
The sale of the Frontier Cafe,
one of Palmer’s oldest eating
spots, was announced this week
by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Camp
bell who with Mr. and Mrs. E. M.
Campbell of Salt Lake City made
the purchase from Mrs. Maurine
Barton.
The elder Campbells are par
ents of Howard Campbell and
have been visiting in Palmer for
about a week. They intend to
make a brief visit back to Utah
to settle business interests there
and upon their return will assist
in the restaurant operations.
The Howard Campbells are
Veil-known in the Valley. Eva
has cooked in several eating es
tablishments in the area and is
known for her good food. The
couple have three children and
make their home in Palmer.
STREET CONDITIONS
DISCUSSED AT
COUNCIL MEETING
Ray Lancaster, city fire chief,
appeared at the city council meet
ing Tuesday night, August 25 and
asked council members to re
quest the water system contractor
to put gravel in front of the en
trance to the fire truck storage
space. He reported that he was
told the trucks would have to
remain out of the garage only a
matter of four or five hours but
that they had been out for three
days because he was afraid of
S getting them stuck in the mud.
APW inspector, Ray Mathews
,said he thought it had been taken
i care of but would see that gravel
was supplied so the trucks could
be moved back to the garage
A1 King, who operates Pa'mer
Automotive, asked council mem
bers how much longer his place
of business was going to be block
ed off. He told the members that
the ditches were opened last Fri
day and because they remained
in that condition, he had lost his
entire week-end trade in gaso
j sales. The only way into the
garage was through a field at
the back of his place of business.
In answer to Mr. King’s report,
Mathews said he realized he
(King) and other business houses
were inconvenienced. It is too
bad the contractor was not able
to complete laying the line on
Valley and Colony streets on
Saturday, to permit testing and
backfilling on Sunday, he said,
and reported ^he contractor had
had some bad duck during that
time when one of his employees
proved inefficient. He told Mr.
King the contractor hoped to have
the ditch filled Tuesday night.
Mathews then told Mayor
Hagen and council members he
would like to discuss the charges
of improper back filling with
omeone with specific information
on it. Council members cited
spots in the city where detours
iare bad, where ditches are set
tling and areas where ditches
have been open for two or three
weeks. In answer Mathews said
it has not been possible to back
fill the ten inch line because all
ditches must remain open until
I a water test can be made. Air
tests on this size line are danger
ous and I will not make them, he
stated. Once the ten inch loop is
completed, tests will be done and
ditches will then be backfilled,
he said.
TWO MORE QUALIFY
IN QUEEN CONTEST
Grace McGiboney and Leona
Lucas, valley queen contestants,
qualified for final judging this
week when they turned in the
required 250 ticket sales. Miss
McGiboney is being sponsored by
the Matanuska Hotel and Sham
rock Lounge and Miss Lucas by
the Palmer Elks lodge.
Three contestants have, now
qualified, Mary Louise Moore,
Matanuska Airmens association
candidate having qualified a
week ago. These girls, along with
additional candidates who are
expected to qualify before Sep
tember 5, will be honored at the
Coronation Ball to be held in
the Palmer school gymnasium
Saturday evening, September 5.
Also present at the ball will be
the Tanana Valley queen, Miss
Ann Koonz, her princess, Miss
Connie Miller and their escorts.
These girls were elected to their
stations at the annual Tanana
Valley fair held August 20, 21,
22 and 23 and will be guests of
the local Fair association during
their visit September 5, 6 and 7.
New Telephone System
More service and better
grades of service will soon be
available to Palmer telephone
users. Requests for new tele
phones or changes in present
service should be made at the
office of the City Clerk before
September 4, 1953 to expedite
completion of the telephone
system.
ROOFING COMPLETE
ON NEW HOSPITAL
Visitors to the site of the new
Valley Presbyterian Hospital will
perhaps be amazed at the rapid
advancement being made. Work
men this week completed roof
ing the entire structure and this
morning started the placement
of windows, which will be ther
mo-pane, throughout. Carpenters
are busy in all wings, plumbers
are installing pipes and rooms are
begining to take shape.
Entering through the double
dpor front entrance, the public
health office will be at the
immediate right. Located on
the south side of the building,
the space will have an abun
dance of light from large
picture-type windows. Visitors
wailing room, the conference
room and utility room follow in
that order across the adjoining
wall. Crossing the eight-foot
corridor one finds what will be
the business office and the hos
pital administrator's office.
The laboratory, x-ray room
and dark room are in one group
for fast and easy handling.
The west wing will be de
voted to the stainless steel,
completely modern kitchen,
complete with walk-in freezer
and cooler. Steam tables, two
electric stoves and an electric
dish washer will all add to the
efficiency of the kitchen work
area. Dining rooms and lounge
will face toward the present
hospital in this wing.
The nurse’s station, located in
the center of the hospital, af
fords the nurse on duty a com
plete view of the four corridors
leading into the wings. The hos
pital has been constructed on the
new plan of the cross shaped
building to facilitate and ease
work.
All corridors are of eight-foot
width with rounded corners at
intersections for easy handling
of stretchers. The emergency
room may be reached without
going through the front en
trance. The emerency entrance
is located toward the rear of
the building with a concrete en
trance ramp buili up to the
door. The emergency room will
be completely furnished for all
type emergencies, including sur
gery and oxygen work.
Contruction of the new hospital
.is being done by the C. R. Foss
Company of Anchorage with
Harold Moline as construction
foreman.
ALASKA STEAM TO
CONTINUE THROUGH
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
The Alaska Steamship Com
pany, through R. C. Rose, general
passenger agent, in Seattle, yes
terday announced the passenger
ship schedule through the month
of October with the S. S. Baranof
scheduled from Seattle on Octo
ber 8 and the S. S. Denali October
15, both ships operating each two
weeks thereafter through Octo
ber on the same schedule as last
winter.
Extension of service beyond
the first of November depends
on studies now being made, it
was reported.
Celebration lo Draw ,
Scattered Colonists
Back to Valley
Several direct replies to invi
tations to attend the first reunion
of original colonists at the Colony
Day celebrations to be held Sep
tember 6, on the second day of
the Matanuska Valley Fair have
been received according to Pat
Hemmer, chairman.
Many pictures have been re
ceived, he said, and will be on
display, under glass, during the
celebration, along with a replica
of the original “tent homes” of
the early colonists. The tent wilL
be complete with the type fur
nishings used at that time. Cots
will be set up and Mrs. Neil Mil
ler, colony secretary, will exhibit
complete minutes from the or
ganization of the colony. There
will also be pictures and clipp
ings from old newspapers, includ
ing pictures of the first houses
in the colony.
Several agencies have indicated
their intention to contribute to
ward making this “Colony Day”
a big success. There will be
prizes for the largest family in at
tendance, the oldest couple and
the youngest child. The Alaska
Rural Rehabilitation Corperation
and other groups have signified
their intentions of assisting,
Hemmer said.
Registration will take place at
the headquarters tent, not only
for the original colonists and
their families but also for those
visiting the exhibit. The display
will be of interest not only to
the colonists themselves Hemmer
said, but also to those who have
wondered how things were done
back in 1935.
One of the highlights of the re
union will be the re-enacting of
the corner stone laying at the
Palmer school, and the re-acting
of the original drawing for col
ony tracts. The history of the
original colonists is buried in a
monument in the front of the
present Palmer school, where
ceremonies will take place in
charge of Don Irwin, who con
ducted the original drawings.
Rev. Bert Bingle has indicated
he will be present for the cele
bration and is expected to take
part in the many planned activ
ities.
FIRE CHIEF REQUESTS
HOME OWNERS
CHECK CHIMNEYS
Fire Chief Ray Lancaster this
week requested home owners to
check and clean chimney flues
in anticipation of the colder
weather coming soon. “Especially
those using oil,” he emphasized.
Dirty chimney flues have
caused a large majority of win
ter fires, he pointed out. Sparks
flying from a clogged chimney
this past year started what could
have been a disasterous fire in
the business section. “Clean them
now, while the weather is good
and while the roofs are clear of
snow,” Chief Lancaster urged.
CITY SOON TO BE
ONLY WATER SUPPLIER
City water users this week
were urged to prepare their
service lines, prepatory to
hook-up on the city system
when completed. Because of
the acute water shortage in
the present Co-Op system, no
water will be furnished by the
Co-Op to city users when the
new city system is completed
and put in operation. The only
exception to this will be in re
mote or isolated cases where
the city is not or can not offer
service to the user.
DANCING
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