Matanuska Valley Fair
Founded in 1936
The Matanuska Valley Fair
was founded in Palmer in the
Fall of 1936 with donations and
sale of voting stock in the organ
ization starting the fair on the
road to its present status.
M. D. Snodgrass, who was this
year voted unanimously “honor
ary board member,” was the as
sociation’s first president. Other
offices that first year were fill
ed by Joe T. Flakne, vice-presi
dent; Ruth D’Armond now Mrs.
Howard Estelle), secretary; Luth
v er Weeda, treasurer and Ross
Sheely, board member.
Donations and the sale of vot
ing stock in the organization
started the first Valley Fair on
the road. Land was purchased at
a reduced rate from the Alaska
Rural Rehabilitation Cooperation,
who also gave two buildings to
the fair association for its use.
Created primarily to actively
assist agriculture and industry,
fair officials are, even today—
during its 13th annual fair—guid
ed by this original interest. The
fair has been classified as the
“show window” of agricultural
progress in Alaska.
Officers and directors of the
association receive no pay. Dur
ing fair-season, a manager is hir
ed by board members and paid
:for his services for a period of
•two to three months.
No dividends are declared. The
association’s by-laws (referring
to 1951 changes) provide that all
proceeds each year be turned
back into improvements of the
fair. For the 1953 Matanuska Val
ley Fair, matching funds, amount
ing to $2,145.00 were obtained
from the territory as the result of
legislature passed this year pro
viding these funds for Territor
ial fairs.
Much of this money received
this year has gone into ground
and building improvements, in
cluding the construction of a
grand stand, enlargement of the
rr
race track, and improvements on
exhibition buildings.
The present board of directors
are Alba Brooks, president;
Thomas Lepak, vice-president,
Rusty Dow, secretary, Jean O’
Neill, treasurer; John King, Hen
ning Blunck and Eugene Kirsch.
Kirsch is also this year’s fair
manager. Honorary board mem
ber M. D. Snodgrass is advertis
ing manager.
Junior Sodality
Has Slumber Party
Members of the junior Sodality
of St. Michael’s Catholic Church
held a slumber party at the
Henning Blunck home on August
25. Mrs. Blunck was assisted by
Mrs. Hugh Johnson.
“We had lots of fun playing
games in the barn, roasting wein
ers over the kitchen stove (be
cause of the rain) and singing
songs before bedtime,” the girls
reported. In the morning sour
dough hot cakes were served for
breakfast and following a trea
sure hunt in the barn and addi
tional games, the girls left for
home.
Those attending were: Judy
Mrak, Carol Hartung, Barbara,
Sharon and Bonnie Bernath,
Margaret and Barbara Johnson,
Susan Harrington, Phoebe Mar
tin, Carmel Lee Mohan and Mary
Ratliff.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Meetings at home of
E. R. Moore, Minister.
(First house right side on 2nd
Butte Rd.)
Meeting Every Sunday 10 a.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME
1
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PHONE 47J4
COMMUNITY
CALENDAR
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 3
AMERICAN LEGION & AUXIL
IARY, Legion Bldg., 8 p.m.
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 4
SQUARE DANCE GROUP,
Moose Hall, 8 p.m.
AAAS COOK INLET CHAPTER,
Arctic Health Center, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 5
13 th ANNUAL MATANUSKA
VALLEY FAIR OPENS, 10:00
a.m.
CORONATION BALL, Palmer
school auditorium, 9:00 p.m.
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 6
COLONY DAY OBSERVATION
at Matanuska Valley Fair.
MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 7
LABOR DAY
LAST DAY MATANUSKA VAL
LEY FAIR.
FIREWORKS DISPLAY DUR
ING EVENING
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 8
PALMER SCHOOL RECON
VENES—all grades
WELL BABY CLINIC, Health
Center, 2-4 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING,
Clerk’s office, 7:30 p.m.
MOOSE & WOMEN OF THE
MOOSE, Moose Hall, 8 p.m.
BOY SCOUTS, United Protestant
Church, 7 p.m.
ALTAR & ROSARY SOCIETY,
St. Michael’s basement, 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
CARPENTERS’ LOCAL, Carpen
ters’ Hall, 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
NORTHLAND PIONEER GRAN
GE, Grange Hall, 8 p.m.
ORDER YOUR JEWELRY
and have your
JEWELRY REPAIRS
done by a
Manufacturing Jeweler
28 years experience
at Jewelry Bench
We Make
JEWELRY REPAIRING
OUR SPECIALTY
NICK G00SCHIN
DIAMONDS RESET
WATCH REPAIRS
GUARANTEED
342 Fourth Ave.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
NEW GRANDSTAND
READY FOR FAIR
Fair-goers this year will be able
to view the horse races, fireworks
and many other ring events in
comfort. Construction of a new
grandstand at the fair grounds
was completed this week.
Approximately $4,000 was ear
marked for the new structure
which is 36 feet in depth by 45
feet in heighth, with a seating
capacity of 400. Board members
announced this new structure is
only one half as large as intended
and next year they hope to add a
similar section, doubling the
capacity. At that time it is hoped
there will be enough funds to
roof-over the entire structure and
construct concession booths at
the rear of the grandstand, facing
the midway. These booths will be
ten feet wide and as high as
clearance will permit. Space will
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FRIDAY SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 4 — 5
Shows: 7:15 and 9:00 p.m.
(No Sat. Mat. until Sept 1
WEDNESDAY —THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 2 — 3
SHOWS 7:15 and 9 P.M.
SUNDAY — MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 6 — 7
Show 7:15 and 9 P.M.
Sun. Mat. 2:00 p.m..
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CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES
TO THE 1953 MATANUSKA VALLEY FAIR
BE SURE TO TAKE ALONG
Wherever you travel, always use safe,
low-cost Traveler's checks . . . They're
accepted everywhere ... at home or
abroad. If lost you get all your money
back. No one can cash them without your
signature.
MATANUSKA VALLEY BANK
Palmer, Alaska
OPEN FRIDAY EVENINGS 6—8 P.M.
DAILY 10 A.M. — 3 P.M.
»->■»»-> ■>>■> ■> > -»> -> »-> -> -> -> -> -> ->->»»>>
be rented at a nominal fee, board
members plan.
Admission to the grandstand
will be by ticket purchase only,
at $1.00 for adults and 25 cents
for children, with no admission
permitted on the race track or in
the center field to any spectators.
Lynn O. Hollist, of the Uni
versity Extension Service, and
his father, William Hollist were
Valley visitors this week. The
elder Mr. Hollist is affiliated with
the Federal Reserve Land Bank
Corsages for the
Queen Coronation Ball
Saturday Sept. 5
MATANUSKA VALLEY
GARDENS
MAUD HOSLER
Mrs. Doris Boyd and daughter
Christine are visiting at the home
of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Har
old Moore.
in Idaho Falls and is visiting his
son.
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
ACCOUNTING FORMS
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Everythin g
for the Office
Expert Office
Machine Repairs
COMMERCIAL
STATIONERS
Rnd Bldg., Qpp. Federal Bldg.
Dial 30515—Anchorage, Alaska
Attention A.R.R.C.
Water Users
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE A.R.R.C.
water lines by the City of Palmer,
City water will be available to users
of these lines when inspection has
been made of the plumbing in each
house to safeguard the City system
against contamination. Applications
for inspection must be made prior to
September 10, 1953 at the office of
the City Clerk.
Signed ALFRED V. HAGEN
Mayor, City of Palmer
Attest: E. Barry
City Clerk
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