Palmer, 1936
Washing in Tent City
Early Colonist house
Pictured at the top of this section are scenes from the early colonization of the Matanuska Valley. Th pictures are auth®""
tic and depict various degrees of life in the early days of Palmer when a home was a tent and families were
early morning until late night preparing themselves to become competent and prosperous farmers of the fertile Matanu
Valley.
Pictured also is Palmer today. It has grown from the few and scattered houses of 1935 to a modern f'cst-class
citv with many new and modern buildings and homes. In addition to construction of two new schools and a new p ,
two modern apartment houses have been built in recent years—the Pioneer Apartments and the Christensen Apartments,
the Matanuska Electric Association has a modern administration building in the center of the city; the Alaska 3r'£u
Experiment Station has a large and modern laboratory and office building located just off the business sec ion o e _« y»
a big exposition building was completed by the Matanuska Valley Fair Association last yeor and a modern elementa /
grade school was added to the school system a year ago.
In addition, scores of new and beautiful hemes have been built. As the Matanuska Valley has grown, so has the City of
Palmer. Located in the heart of the valley, the city, as the hub of activity, has instated a deep-well water sys em
to none in the Territory. Negotiations are now under way by the Matanuska Telephone Association tor the installatio
of a valley-wide, modern, dial telephone system that will serve approximately 1,000 members.
The early predictions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt may be seen in fulfillment throughout the A.aianuska Va..e/.
Paae e>f2Q*v&04ed by the frUlowitUf PudUi&bi fyiftmi
COBB’S CAFE
CLARA’S VARIETY
MATANUSKA HOTEL
B ETTYS’
VALLEY GROCERY
SHAMROCK LOUNGE
PEARL WHITE LAUNDRY
PALMER BAKING COMPANY
PIGGLY WIGGLY STORE
MATANUSKA VALLEY FARMERS
COOPERATING ASSOCIATION
BURT’S DRUG STORE
KIRK’S SALES & SERVICE
MQTGR-IN SERVICE
VALLEY CLEANERS
PALMER DRUG
MATANUSXA VALLEY BANK
GRASSER’S HARDWARE
ALASKA RURAL REHABILITATION
CORPORATION
VALLEY THEATRE
TOST’S SERVICE
WHITE SPOT CAFE
NORTH PALMER STORE
PALMER BAR - Bob & Kutn
T & T SOURDOUGH BAR
KOSLGSKY’S DEPARTMENT STORE
PALMER SHEET METAL
KETCHIKAN SPRUCE MILLS
TOGS ’N’ SEAMS
MAG’S PLUMBING & HEATING
MATANUSKA ELECTRIC ASSN.
HARTLEY MOTORS, INC.
PIPPEL INSURANCE AGENCY
VALLEY REALTY
NORM’S SUPER SERVICE