COLONY DAY
PROGRAM PAGE 11
Balley Ilsrontiergman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
VOL. 5. NO. 37.
PALMER. ALASKA. FRIDAY. MAY 25. 1951.
PRICE ’Oc
PRIimER PLANS 'BIG TOUIR’ CflliORy DHR
TT:§'
MARCH OF PROGRESS
1778—Matanuska Valley, discovered by Capt.
James King, an adventurous lieutenant sail
ing under Capt. Japnes Cook, led a land party
from Knik Arm into the Matanuska Valley.
1898—Gold discovered in the Talkeetna Moun
tains. Adventurers and prospectors stam
peded into the Valley but left, discouraged.
In 1906 a lode was opened in Talkeetna and
miners again followed the lure.
1916—The Alaska Railroad built a line into the
Valley, not for gold but for coal.
1932—The idea for the Matanuska Farm Colony
was born in the depression-hit United States.
Delegate to Congress from Alaska, Anthony
J. Dimond, general manager of the Alaska
Railroad, Otto F. Ohlson, were summoned by
Federal Emergency Relief Administration
officials to discuss plans for adding Alaska
to the states and areas to aid in rehabilitat
ing 132,000 destitute farm families.
1934, FALL—The Matanuska colony is born!
President Franklin D. Roosevelt instructed
Federal Emergency Relief Administrator
Harry Hopkins to prepare to send farm fami
lies to Alaska for resettlement.
1935, SPRING—Don L. Irwin selected first gen
eral manager of colonization project. In
May, he notified Washington he had picked
the Palmer siding as site for model colony.
1935, MAY 11—First of 200 families arrive at
Palmer.
1951, MARCH 1—Judge George W. Folta signs
order calling for election at Palmer on April
10 on matter of incorporation as first class
city. ,
1951, APRIL 10—Results of election: 254 for,
113 against incorporation. Passed by a mar
gin of 9 votes.
1951, APRIL 30—Judge Anthony J. Dimond signs
order declaring Palmer an incorporated city
of the first class.
1951, MAY 3—First Council meeting elects Carl
V. Meier first mayor of Palmer.
THOUSANDS EXPECTED FOR
COLONY DAY CELEBRATION
Colony Day celebration for the famous Maianuska Valley is
Sunday, with all the color and gayety an Alaskan city can provide.
Behind all the gala events is the history which could happen
only in America.
From the few brave log cabins of the earliest days, built by
"the original settlers", to the modern business houses which now
mark the main street of a newly incorporated city, which Colonists
helped to carve, the people of Palmer are putting on a welcome
show to thousands of visitors.
Incoming Caravans
Special train and busses from
, Anchorage will bring an attend
ance multiplied by hundreds of
private cars and a number of air
planes. Servicemen and con
* struction workers will increase
- the throngs who saw last year’s
Colony day celebration and are
coming back for another day in
a town noted for its hospitality.
In preparation, the merchants
and people of Palmer have beau
tified and “slicked up” their city
(Continued on Page 15)
ISIL *°^N, N°^f CIT*T~fi?cieen years ago whlle Colonists—braying a new life, a new land—
arrived in Palmer from the Midwest States, workers rushed to set up tents which would shelter
families until they could draw for homesites and build cabins or houses. Upper photo shows
rush construction. Some could not stand the rigors of the first years and went back Outside.
But some stayed, built businesses, and finally old and newcomers voted April 10. 1951. to incor
porate the City of Palmer. First mayor, Carl Meier, elected by the first cou U. here issues one
£*“•*“* Proclamations—for Poppy Day. Mrs. Dana Niemann. Poppy d chairman, pins the
„*** on„ mayor. Mrs. Ann Demming, American Legion Auxiliary president, lakes the mayor's
token . Early Colony photos official ARRC. lower photo by Guyriak.
WMmsxiZ.
Memorial Day services will
be held at the graves of Mai
anuska Valley servicemen at
10:30 a.m. next Wednesday, in
the Palmer cemetery.
American Legion Post No. 15
—Chaplain,, Ray Lancanster—
will conduct the services for
the men with whom they (or
their sons) trained or fought
together in World War I. or
World War II, or the tragic i
Korean chapter. I
Firing squad from Ft. Rich*
ardson will fire the salute for i
the honored dead—the boys
who went out grim but laugh* 1
ing to do a job—for all of us. I
Water Emergency Laid On Line
In City Council Agreements
and the foatanuska Valley Farm
ers’ Cooperative Assn., represent
ed by Carl Rasmussen, still are
haggling over water details. But
both admit “We want more water
now,” and the city has offered
the Co-Op a contract.
“This is an emergency and we
must have water. If we must drill
wells or put in our own system,
let’s do it now,” said one mem
ber.
Meanwhile equipment for start
mg <x icmpuiaiy nne was on me
site where a creek is to be tapped
to connect with the Co-Op’s pres
ent line.
Allegations were made at the
council meeting Thursday night
that Rasmussen had “changed at
titude” and “reversed his stand”
on his former verbal agreement
with the council, that the Co-Op
would finance the construction of
the additional 2,700-foot supply
line and set the water rates.
Report from the committee on
(Continued on Page 15)