valley Frontiersman
VOL. II.
PALMER, ALASKA SEPTEMBER 1, 1949
No. 39
Biggest Fair Opens Sat.
Vital Airport
Business Will Be
Discussed Friday
Important business, which may
lead to the dissolution of the
Palmer Airport Association, will
be discussed at the group’s gen
eral meeting tomorrow night,
Rolland Snodgrass announced
today. Among the matters to be
considered is the possible dis
bandment of the organization,
for which there may no longer
be a need, he said.
The Airport Association’s mem
bership is scheduled to meet in
the former library at 8 p. m. to
morrow night. In order to con
duct business, there must be at
least 25 members present. A
member is defined as anyone who
has made a financial contribu
tion to the Association.
Mr. Snodgrass listed four mat
ters of business which should be
discussed tomorrow. They are:
(1) Authorization to purchase
additional land from Harold
Thuma to complete the length
ening of the north-south run
way.
(2) Authorization to trade cer
(Continued on Page 6)
Plane Crack-up
At Local Port
Injures Two
Melvin Gibbons of Kent, Wash.,
and Arnold Starsky of Missoula,
Mont., were critically injured in
a small plane crash at Palmer
airport early last Sunday eve
ning. Dr. R. E. Garrett, Valley
Phypsician, said both men suf
fered “multiple fractures, con
cussions and other injuries.”
The accident occurred shortly
after the tandem-seated Taylor
craft took off from the east-west
runway, en route to Anchorage.
Less Green of Green’s Flying
Service, who witnessed the crash
and who helped rescue the ship’s
occupants, said the plane stalled
on a steep climbing turn and
plummeted to earth from tree
top level. There was some wind
over the field at the time, but
it was not responsible for the
crash, Mr. Green said.
The ship nosed straight down
and smashed into the stump row
beside the main runway. The pi
lot was crumpled against the in
strument board; His passenger
was crushed against the pilot’s
(Continued on Page 3)
PROGRAM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
MINER’S DAY — SPORTSMEN’S DAY
10:00 A.M.—Boys’ softball same at ball diamond.
12:00 noon—Anchorage train arrives.
1:00 P.M.—One-act play in Building 12.
1:00 P.M.—Air cab tours of Valley begin from ticket booth at the
main entrance.
2:00 P.M.—Rolling-pin throwing contest for women (Nylons for
prizes)
Territorial small bore shoot opens at range south of
fair grounds.
Better Baby contest in Building 12.
Livestock judging begins.
2:30 P.M.—Softball game at ball diamond.
3:00 P.M.—Greased pig contest.
3:30 P.M.—One-act play in Building 12.
4:00 P.M.—Opening day ceremony on Midway.
5:00 P.M.—Jitney dance in Building 12.
7:00 P.M.—Hammond organ concert by Mary Baird Stoeckle in
Building 12.
9:00 P.M.—One-act play in Building 12.
9:30 P.M.—Drawing for gate prize at Information Booth.
10:00 P.M.—Farmers’ Ball begins at Palmer Gymnasium. (Drass in
ginghams and jeans. Prize for most typical men’s
and women’s costume).
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DAY
AMERICAN LEGION DAY
10:00 A.M.—Territorial shoot resumes at rifle range south of fair
grounds.
Air and cab tours of Valley begin from ticket booth at
main entrance.
Track and field events at ball diamond.
11:00 A.M.—United church services in Palmer Gymnasium.
12:00 noon—Anchorage train arrives.
1:00 p.m.—4-H Club demonstrations begin in Building 4.
1:30 P.M.—Horseshoe pitching contest.
Colored slides of Valley dairy industry in Building 7.
Softball game at ball diamond.
3:30 P.M.—Jay-Cee convention delegation arrives from Anchorage.
4:00 P.M.—Jitney dance in Building 12.
0:30 P.M.—Jitterbug contest in Building 12.
7:00 P.M.—770 Air Force Band concert in Palmer Gymnasium.
7:30 P.M.—Jay-Cee banquet in Lutheran Church basement.
9:30 P.M.—Drawing for gate prize at Information Booth.
10:00 P.M.—Anchorage train leaves.
Trappers and Miners Ball begins in Palmer Gymnasium.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
UNION DAY — (Carpenters of Palmer, Hosts)
ANCHORAGE DAY
10:00 A.M.—Territorial shoot resumes at rifle range south of fair
grounds.
Air and cab tour of Valley begin from ticket booth at
main entrance.
10:30 A.M.—Horseshoe pitching contest at ball diamond.
11:00 A.M.—Women’s races at track.
1:30 P.M.—Junior All-Star softball game at ball diamond.
One-act play in Building 12.
2:00 P.M.—Children’s races.
2:30 P.M.—Second round of Junior All-Star softball game at ball
diamond.
3:00 P.M.—Hardrock drilling contest.
One-act play in Building 12.
4:00 P.M.—Jitney dance in Building 12.
7:00 P.M.—Presentation of awards at Information Booth for:
Best 4-H Club display (club).
Best 4-H Club Display (individual).
Best dairy cow.
Best department head.
Best rifle team.
Best individual marksman.
7:30 P.M.—Queen and Talent Show in Gymnasium. (Style show
sponsored by Colonial Dress Shop, Betty Faris, the
Hollywood Shop, Welch’s, Mary Bock, Carol’s and
Variety Vogues.
9:30 P.M.—Drawing for gate prize at Information Booth.
10:00 P.M.—Anchorage train leaves.
Queen’s Ball begins (formal).
11:00 P.M.—Coronation Ceremonies.
11:30 P.M.—Announcement of winner in best fanner contest.
12:00 midnight—Grand prize drawing.
12 BUILDINGS
ARE NEEDED FOR
YEAR’S EXHIBITS
It will take twelve buildings
and a cabin annex to house the
exhibits and displays at this
year’s Matanuska Valley Fair,
Manager Charles Dillon an
nounced this week. Two perma
nent buildings, two large Quon
set huts, a poultry house, a barn,
and several smaller Quonsets
were getting finishing touches
today in preparation for the Val
ley’s ninth and largest annual
Fair.
Mr. Dillon announced that ex
hibits would be housed in the
following order, beginning with
the Administration Building near
the entrance and continuing in
rotation in a horse-shoe pattern
to end with a Quonset hut near
the entrance:
Building One (Administration)
will contain the flower show, the
fine arts exhibit and the public
dihing room, where Valley wo
men’s organizations will serve
meals during the three-day
Fair period.
Building Two has 36 feet al
lotted to a hobbycraft display,
with the remainder devoted to
needlecraft.
Building Three will have 36
feet of space for dressmaking, 18
feet for the thrift department,
36 feet for home canning and the
balance allotted to cooking.
(Space is divided on either side
of a center aisle.)
Building Four is the 4-H Club
exhibit hut. It will contain a
center aisle of club booths, side
shelves set aside for individual
4-H Club members’ competitive
displays, and will provide space
for 4-H demonstrations at one
end.
Building Five is the poultry
shed.
Building Six is the livestock
barn, where cattle, sheep, pigs
and horses will be displayed.
The cabin annex, set out to the
left from the exhibition line, is
to house a special exhibit plan
ned by the Matanuska Valley
Sportsmen. Animal specimens, a
mineral collection, wild life pic
tures, a tank of live fish, and
possibly a display of camping
and hunting equipment, are
planned for this building.
Building Seven, the Quonset
directly across from the livestock
barn, is the Dairy Building. A
model milking parlor will be set
(Continued on Page 8)