valley Frontiersman
VOL. II. No. 10
PALMER, ALASKA, NOVEMBER 17, 1948
TEN CENTS
\
TOWN LIBRARY
TO BE CLOSED
ON DEC. I
Palmer’s library will close its
doors on Dec. 1 of this year, it
was announced this week by Mrs.
E. F. Graves, president of the Li
brary Association. Books are now
being called in and no others
will be loaned at this time.
The closing has been necessi
tated by a change of policy on
the part of the Matanuska Val
ley Farmers Co-operating Asso
ciation, the library’s landlord.
Heretofore the library has been
occupying rent-free quarters in
the Rec Hall, but effective Dec. 1,
a rental of $40 a month will be
charged.
The information was conveyed
to Mrs. Graves in a letter dated
Nov. 12. The letter, signed by
Janies Wilson, Co-op manager,
said it was necessary to take
"steps to reduce overhead costs”
and that a monthly rental of $40
would become necessary on De
cember 1.
Similarly, a rental of $25 a
month was asked on Health
Center quarters, located upstairs
in the Rec Hall.
Mrs. Graves said the library
was absolutely unable to pay
rent, and therefore must be
closed. The library board is seek
ing rent-free storage space for
its 4.000 volumes. Mrs. Graves
asks that anyone who has such
space available, communicate
with her at once.
Dairymen Meet
Tomorrow
Dairymen of the Valley meet
in special session at Room 17 of
Palmer School tomorrow evening
at 8 o’clock, to discuss plans for
the purchase of dairy and cream
ery facilities belonging to the
Matanuska Valley Farmers Co
Operating Association, it was an
nounced this week by Jack Cope.
All dairymen, whether or not
members of existing dairymen’s
organizations, are urged to be
present.
The proposal under discussion
is that tentatively offered by
Bruce Downey and Charles Bro
dersen of the Farm Home Ad
ministration during their recent
visit here. They submitted, at the
request of Valley dairymen, a
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FHA SOLICITORS FIND
CO-OP HOUSE IN ORDER
Charles Brodersen and Bruce
Downey, representatives of the
solicitor’s department of the
Farm Home Administration,
completed their work of investi
gation and inspection of the Ma
tanuska Valley Farmers Co-oper
ating Association last week, and
returned to their Washington, D.
C., office.
Called here at the request of
the board of directors of the
Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Cor
poration, the primary objective
of the FHA men’s visit was to
ascertain that the money loaned
by their organization was amply
secured and to look into the sev
eral instances where a breach of
contract had been claimed.
Before their departure, the
pair declared themselves “well
satisfied’’ as to the security of
the FHA loan. They found all the
payments were current, and that
considerable sums of money had
been paid in advance. They also
found instances where the con
tract between the FHA and MV
FCA had been breached. How
ever financial reports and state
ments were turned over to the
investigators, insurance cover
ages were discussed, and all the
clauses of the contract were
agreed upon before Brodersen
and Downey returned to the
home office.
While here, the men interview
ed about 75 members of the MV
FCA, as well as other disinterest
ed community leaders, in an ef
fort to probe the causes of dis
sension among Co-op members.
It is felt that as a result of the
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Memorial Fund
Given Hospital
For Equipment
The Hamby memorial fund,
established at the request of the
late LaMont Hamby who died of
cancer, has reached a total of
$245.50, it was announced this
week by Miss Ethel Dale, man
ager of the Valley Hospital.
She said it was the hope of
hospital doctors to use the fund
for the purchase of instruments
to aid in diagnosis and research
in the fight against cancer. It
was Mr. Hamby’s wish, who ask
ed that money which might be
used for flowers be contributed
to a special fund, that the fund
be used specifically for some
phase of cancer research.
In addition to the memorial,
the Valley Hospital recently has
received other contributions from
community residents. The Twelve
Thirty Homemaker’s club gave a
toaster and waffle iron for a hos
pital chair, and is planning still
further purchases for the kitch
en, Miss Dale said.
Other Homemaker’s clubs have
contributed services, and many
Valley farmers have given fresh
vegetables to the hospital kitch
vegetables to the hospital
kitchen.
Miss Dale expressed the deep
appreciation of herself, the hos
pital doctors and staff, for these
contributions and services, which
have helped so much in main
taining an efficiently operating
hospital.
HOTEL TO OPEN
THIS WEEKEND
The long-delayed opening of
the Matanuska Hotel is expected
to become a reality this week
end, it was announced today by
William Head. Furniture was be
ing set up in the hotel this week
under the supervision of Mr.
Head, and he said it was expect
ed that all would be readly for
the reception of guests by No
vember 20.
The hotel coffee shop and din
ing room will not be opened im
mediately. However, it is hoped
that both will be in operation by
the first of the year.
Three color schemes are being
worked out in the hotel’s rooms.
Chairs upholstered in salmon,
flame and lime compliment the
pastel walls of peach, blue and
yellow. Hollywood beds, a night
stand, a three-way lighting floor
iamp, two chairs, a combination
desk and wardrobe, drapes and
rug make up the furnishing of
each room.
The lobby will be furnished
with suites of furniture uphol
stered in taupe and wine mohair.
Fights Are Postponed
Sudden and strong attacks of
cold feet and stomach butterflies
combined to force the postpone
ment of last Saturday’s sports
night, it was announced today
by Miles Rice, committee head.
The event was to have been pre
sented under the sponsorship of
the freshman class of Palmer
High School. It may be resched
uled at a later date.
NEW BUILDING
TO HOUSE MORE
U. 5. OFFICES
On Jan. 1, 1949, Palmer’s post
office will move to new quarters
in the Neal Wright building, it
was announced this week. The
news was revealed in a letter
from F. J. Buckley, acting fourth
assistant postmaster general.
The postoffice lease will run for
a 10-year period, the letter
stated.
In addition to the postoffice
the new Wright Building will
house offices of the Soil Conser
vation Service, which has leased
a two-room suite, offices of the
U. S. Geological Survey in a
three-room suite, Alaska Com
munication System offices on the
ground floor, offices of Dr. R. E.
Garrett, and a combined insur
ance and realty office, also on
the ground floor.
The ground floor will house
the drug store, which will occu
py space running the length of
the building, as it did in the fire -
destroyed structure. The drug
store will include a fountain, pre
scription room and office, as did
the former building.
All quarters in the new build
ing have been leased, owner Neal
Wright said this week. Some ten
ants are expected to take up oc
cupancy in the very near future.
The real estate and insurance of
fice will be occupied next week,
and ACS quarters are expected
to be ready in the near future.
The building is expected to be
entirely completed by Jan. 1 at
the latest, Mr. Wright said. It is
possible that most of the offices
will be ready before that time.
Variety Store
Opens Here
Another name was added to
Palmer’s ever-growing list of
merchants recently, when Lo
berg’s Variety Store opened its
doors to customers. Doing busi
ness in a Quonset hut across
from the Valley Theatre, the
store is managed by Mrs. Lau
ritz Loberg, who waits on cus
tomers daily between the hours
of 15 a. m. and 8 p. m.
Although the current strike
has greatly curtailed Mrs. Lo
berg’s plans for the present, she
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