1 -
V I W i »
History was made 28
i’ ears ago May 0, when the
rst colonists, 298 men, wo
: -en and children from Minn
esota, arrived at the tent vil
jge ot Palmer to establish a
new home.
And within three short
months history had begun to
deal out its repetitive pattern
ci birth, death, marriage and
day-to-day living to the set
t ers in their new home, just
as it had done in the Minne
sota homes they left.
Old newspaper clippings
tell the story in graphic de
tail. Of course, the story
really began far back beyond
!
that eventful May 9. For Mr.
and Mrs. Gilford Lennon of
International Falls, Minn.,
the colony’s first honeymoon
ers, it began in April, 1935.
Mr. Lennon married his
sweetheart of five years, a
hometown school teacher, in
order that they might become
a part of the colonist venture.
The Minnesotans set sail
in the transport St. Michiel
from San Francisco on May
1, arriving in Seward on May
8. They went by train to An
chorage, where they found
most of the city had turned
out to greet their arrival, j
Shops were closed for a half j
day as friendly Anchorage
ties feted their new neigh
bors at a banquet and then
pressed gifts of food upon
them as they stepped aboard
their train to continue their
journey to Matanuska.
Arriving at their destina
tion, the colonists found tent
homes ready for them and
they set about at once the
business of beginning their
new life.
Just a few days later the
families from Minnesota were
joined by another group of
colonists from Michigan and
Wisconsin. This latter party
was more unfortunate in
their first impressions, for
they crossed paths with their
tent homes enroute and ar
rived in the Valley on a wet
and rainy day to find no shel
ter ready.
However quarters were
shared and press reports da
telined Matanuska, in those
early weeks of May, reported
“happy, contented colonists
are busy about their work.”
But colony happiness was
as fleeting as happiness any
where. By June 28 newspa
per accounts were hinting at
dissatisfactions, mismanage
ment and discontent. One
news story reported on that
date that six colony families
had requested they be re
turned to their home. A gov
ernment “troubleshooter”
was reported on his way
north to seek the roots of col
onist dissatisfaction.
The colonist who first re
ported himself settled under
his own cabin roof was Arth
ur Retallic, a former Michi
gan farmer. Mr. Retallic
moved into his Alaskan home
just before July 4, he told an
Anchorage newspaper report
er.
On July 8, tragedy struck
the settlement, when tne
year-old-son of Mr. and Mrs.
George Campbell succumbed
to bronchial complications
following an attack of the
measles.
Newspaper accounts made
much of the report of Ma
tanuska’s first birth, a little
lady. Clippings carried a de
tailed announcement of the
birth of a colt to a colony
mare, including the name of
veterinarian in charge.
When the colony's first
baby did arrive on July 23,
the event was so lightly re
garded that clipping an
nouncement did not mention
the name of the child or its
parents. Last-minute search
, among the early colonists re
| vealed the fact that the first
i baby was Monte Larsh, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Larsh.
Law and order came to
Palmer on July 19, when a
colony police force was es
tablished in the new city.
Education was a bit later, for
it was not until August 30
that Rev B J. Bingle. first,
j minister here, was to report
that the library had found
permanent quarters. How
ever it had been established
earlier, but has been evacu
ated to make room for an iso
| lation hospital.
Thought of the Week:
There was a time when a
Congressman was supposed to
know what he talked about.
VOLUME 15, NUMBER 35
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1963
TWELVE PAGES
BOROUGH HEARINGS
SATURDAY
CENTRAL SCHOOL, 2 P.M. ;
WASILLA HIGH SCHOOL !
8 P.M.
PRICE 15 CENTS
PIONEER DAYS
START TOMORROW
•Vasilla Pioneer Days will be
gin a busy weekend tomorrow
evening with the coronation
dinner at Williwaw Lodge at 8
P m., at wnicn the old-timers of
the valley will be honored.
Present at the dinner will be
J'-'.nn Alcantra, aide to Gov.
Lean, Ralph Moore, Palmer
mayor, and Jack Anderson,
president of the Greater An
chorage Chamber of Com
merce.
Saturday morning activities
wJl staid with the chuck wagon
breakfast and the air treasure
hunt at the Wasilla airport. The
latter is expected to be a thrill
ing highlight of the weekend.
There will be a pet and kid
die costume parade at 11:30
a m., and a free lunch to be
served at Playland at 1 p.m.,
where the “Reno Strip” and the
“Last Chance” saloon will be in
operation.
For the kids, there will be
a children's Field Day in the
a ternoon (Playland) and free
movies beginning at 2 p.m. in
the Wasilla community club
h -use.
Sunday events will include
a r and water exhibitions at
Wasilla Lake, a horseshoe pit
ching contest, a boat and trailer
show, an auto show, and the
drawing for the 16-foot Dor
sett Runabout at 6 p.m.
Barn Lost In
Fire at Hett Farm
Warm spring weather has
contribued to a rash of fires
ir. the Palmer area, with Henry
Hett of the Springer area losing
a barn and an outbuilding yes
terday in a fire which broke
out about noon. The Butte and
Wasilla fire departmens assist
ed the Palmer volunteers in
fighting the fire, and the Ma
tanuska Maid milk trucks also
helped by filling the tanks with
water.
Hett’s stock was saved. The
barn was ignited from sparks
from a windrow fire on the
Grover property.
PIPE BAND TO PLAY HERE
The Midnight Sun Pipe Band
of Whitehorse will play here,
but on a different Tuesday—
May 28, to be exact. Dates were
confused when arrangements
were made for the appearance
with members of the Matanus
ka Valley Lions Club.
The bagpipers will arrive on
Tuesday in time for a noon
luncheon at the Elks hall, for
which tickets may be purchas
ed from Lions Club members.
ELKS PLAN CLAM FEED
Elks and their ladies will
ervjoy a clam feed Saturday
May 25, starting at 9 p.m. in
the Elks hall.
NEW
MAYTAG
WASHERS & DRYERS
L°£ $31.29 Do„„
2 YEARS TO PAY
GOODRICH
Plumbing & Heating
PI 5-4110 Palmer
FRIDAY - SATURDAY NIGHT
MAY 24 -25
LIVE MUSIC FOUR ACES
PENNIES FROM
PIG6Y BANK GO
TO FUND DRIVE
Perhaps the most sacrificial
contribution thus far was made
to the Palmer Volunteer Fire
men's ambulance fund during
the past week when Lynn, Bar
bara, and Wayne Woods, aged
6, 5, and 3 respectively, gave
their life savings of 800 pen
nies, shaken laboriously out of
their piggy bank, to the drive.
Other contributions totalling
$750 made the week the most
successful one to date, accord
ing to chairman William Her
mann. Contributions were the
Matanuska Telephone Associa
tion, Dr. Vincent Hume. Mr.
and Mrs. Noel Woods, Myrtle
Bang, Betty Jo Riddle, Mr. and
Mrs. Ed Blom, Mr. and Mrs.
Don Caulkins, Mr. and Mrs.
Herman Boulanger, Bill Her
mann, the Palmer Church of
God, the Palmer Grange, and
the Tropical Gardens.
Howard Estelle has offered
to contribute six hours of pro
fessional landscaping services,
either as a consultant or in ac
tual labor ($30 in value) to the
fund, Hermann said. Estelle’s
idea might be taken up by
other professional or business
people, the chairman suggest
ed.
He also called attention to
the bake sale to be held at
Teeland’s Country Store in
Wasilla, proceeds from which
will go to the fund; the ACCA
food concession at the Palmer
Grand Prix on Saturday and
Sunday, with part of the pro
ceeds to go toward purchase of
the ambulance; and Lions club
activities in support of the
drive.
Class of ’63
Leaves Mark On
Palmer-and How!
Paint brushes were busy in
early morning hours of May
20, as local residents discover
ed on their way to work Mon
day morning.
The Wasilla Road-Valley
Street intersection in down
town Palmer had been visited
by gremlins, leprichauns,
spoks, “hants,” whal-have-you
—or maybe just celebrating
1963 high school seniors, with
finals behind them and the
great wide wonderful world
before them.
Armed with buckets of white
paint and either a very steady
lettering hand or three-foot
high stencils, the kids left their
mark for posterity smack in
the middle of main street pav
ing—“Class of 1963,”
A couple of irate calls to the
police department were met
with singular indifference—
the young folks had gone thr
ough channels and gotten per
mission for the paint job from
city manager Winston Gil
christ.
Proof that they had nothing
to hide is evident—they sign
ed their names. Halfway into
the next block yet.
POPPY GIRL MAKES FIRST SALE
POPPY GiRL MICKEY ANN ZABORAC offers the first 1963
American Legion Auxiliary Poppy to Mayor Ralph Moore.
Mickey Ann is the granddaughter of Mrs. Agnes Zaborac
who is Poppy Chairman for the Department of Alaska.
Poppies will be sold on Palmer streets on May 25.
Dean Ray to Speak
At Commencement
Commencement exercises will
be held Friday, May 24, at 8
p.m. in Central school auditor
ium for 39 graduating seniors
of the class of 1963. The group
is the smallest to graduate here
in several years.
GLEE ELLEN CASLER
PAUL DAVID MARTIN
Dr. Charles K. Ray, dean of
the college of behavioral
sciences and education at the
University of Alaska, will de
liver the Comencement ad
dress, his subject to be "Edu
cation Designed for the Fu
ture.”
Awards will be presented by
R. C. Carter. Palmer schools
superintendent. Walter Ward,
high school principal, will pre
sent the class to George Ed
Smith, president of the school
board, and Lew Hanks, school
board clerk, who will award the
diplomas.
The valedictory address,
“The World Youth,” will be de
livered by Glee Ellen Casler,
who has maintained the high
est grade average in the class
(Continued on page 8)
KENNETH FOSTER
DIES IN OREGON
Kenneth T. Foster, one of
the 1935 Matanuska Valley col
onists, died Monday, May 20, in
Brookings, Oregon at the age
of 57.
Foster, who farmed in his
original colony location south
of Palmer until 1959, has since
then maintained a summer
residence at Big Lake, he and
his wife Marian spending their
winters in Brookings.
Besides his widow, he is
survived by three daughters,
Mrs. Peggy Olson of Sitka, Mrs.
Evelyn M;elke of Palmer, and
Mrs. Deloris Midkiff of Scotts
dale, Ariz.; also nine grand
children.
He was born in Wisconsin on
Dec. 8, 1905.
Mrs. Mielke left yesterday for
Brookings, where funeral ser
vices were held today for her
father.
HEARINGS ON
BOROUGHS TO
BE HERE MAY 25
The first of three public
hearings in the Anchorage area
to consider the proposed Cap
tain Cook borough will be held
tomorrow. May 24, at 7:30 p.m.
in Sydney Lawrence auditor
ium in Anchorage, according
to Ronald Cease, director of the
Local Affairs Agency.
The second meeting of the
Boundaries Commission will be
in Palmer on Saturday, May 25,
at 2 p.m. in Central school
auditorium, and the third at
the Wasilla high school at 3
p.m. on May 25.
The Local Affairs Agency
has received petitions carrying
the signatures of over 600 Dis
trict 7 voters, requesting the
formation of a Matanuska-Su
sitna borough with boundarie:
including all of the Seventl
! Election District, also the are:
drained by streams emptying
into Cook Inlet up to and in
S eluding the Kustatan River.
The petitions were the result
' of meetings held in Palmer
Wasilla, Big Lake, and Willow
f and signatures were collectec
within a week through the ef
forts of the Palmer City Coun
cil. the Palmer Businessman’s
Association, the Wasilla Busi
i nessmen’s Association, and Ro
| bert Vroman, chairman of the
! original Matanuska - Susitna
j borough committee,
i The petitioners stated that
I they feel that the boundaries
described above encompass an
economic unit, meeting the
criteria required under t lie
borough law.
Another point of view has
been outlined in a letter sent
to the Local Affairs Agency by
a group of District 7 residents
who feel that the boundaries ot
the election district do not
meet the requirements of the
borough law, and who have
requested that the boundaries
of the Captain Cook borough
be expanded to include Dis
trict 7.
COCHRAN SERVICES
TO BE MONDAY
Funeral services for G. Frank
Cochran, 32, will be held Mon
day, May 27, at 2 p.m, at the
Wasilla Presbyterian Church,
with the Rev. Claude Klaver
officiating.
Cochran died early Tuesday
as a result of injuries received
when his car struck a horse
on the Wasilla-Big Lake Road
late Monday.
Two passengers in the car at
the time of the accient, Mrs.
Mary Batchelor and her daugh
ter, Ava Kohler, received minor
injuries.
Cochran is survived by his
father, Eugene Cochran of
Wasilla; a sister, Mrs. Ruby
Kirk, of Wasilla; and two bro
thers, James of San Antonio,
Texas, and John, stationed
with the U. S. Navy at Mira
mar, California.
Arangements are being hand
led by the Palmer Funeral
Chapel.
Horse Show, Parade
Round Out Events
Matanuska Valley colonists
of 1935. traditionally honored
during the Colony Days events
in Palmer, will find the whiz
zing sports cars on the mile
long paved track within the
city limits of Palmer this
weekend a far cry from muddy
streets of the tent city which
awaited them on a rainy night
; 28 years ago.
The colonists will be honor
; guests at the parade which
will open festivities at 12 noor
on Saturday, May 25, and will
view the entries from the
judges' stand at the Alaskr
Railroad depot.
A1 Brooks, parade chairman
, 1 asked that parade units assem
| j ble at Central school at 11 a.n
( j on Saturday Eugene Kirsc
, j will be in charge. The chair
’ j man issued a last-mir.ute pie
I to all businessmen to get :
decorated auto or some kinc
of display into the parade, a 1 sc
to decorate the windows of the
j establishments lining the route
1 in a Colony Day theme.
To appear in the parade will
! be sports cars, a hand and pos
sibility a drill team from. El
mendorf Air Force Base, the
Palmer high school band,
horsemen, kids on decorated
bicycles, clowns of all ages.
Youngsters are urged to dec
orate their bikes and bring
them to Central school Satur
day at 11 a.m. for entry in the
parade. If enough enter, there
wil he awards for the best-dec
orated bicycle.
Parade entries will be judg
ed under several classifications
—commercial entries, fraternal
entries, bicycles, clowns, and
two classifications for horse
men. individual and group.
Sports car racing events will
be held on both Saturday and
Sunday, with motorcycle races
and drag exhibitions included
in the program. Some confu
sion has been created by the
fact that the racing program
lists racing events between 12
and 1 p.m., which is parade
time. It was pointed out that
| the Saturday racing events
would be moved up to allow
for the parade, with race events
running later than listed on
the Saturday program.
. I The endurance ride from An
- chorage to Palmer, which will
. j kick off the horse showT events.
i ; will leave from the Baldwin
- Seed Company at the intersec -
i j tion of Boniface Road and the
i Glenn highway instead cf the
Hillside apartments, as pre
1 viously planned.
There has also been a change
, in the program for the horse
j show. Feature horse races will
I be held on Sunday before the
. afternoon gymkhana events.
TICKETS FOR HORSE
SHOW ON SALE HERE
Tickets for the horse show
on Colony Days, May 25 and
26, are on sale in the main
street stores in Palmer, it was
announced yesterday. There
will be a $1 admission charge
i that entitles the holder of the
ticket to attendance both days.
Riders may pay their entry fees
at Thrifty Variety today and
‘ tomorrow.
Bond Election For
Sewer System Called
j Voters of the city of Palmer
j will be asked to accept or re
! ject a proposal for the issuance
j of general obligation bonds in
j a special election to be held in
j the council chambers at the
Palmer city hall on June 12.
Polls will be open between 8
a.m. and 8 p.m.
The election was authorized
by an ordinance passed by the
1 Palmer city council at a special
! meeting on May 21.
If the issue is approved.
I bonds will be issued in an
: amount not to exceed $798,000,
the funds to be used for the
construction of a sanitary sew
er system in the city of Palm
ier. Work would include im
provements and extensions to
I the present sewer system and
the construction of lagoons. A
portion of the funds would be
used to purchase the existing
sewer system and to either
purchase or construct an out
| fall. The bonds would bear in
\ terest at a rate not to exceed
I six per cent per year.
Figures on what the cost of
the proposed system will be to
the individual taxpayer will be
available shortly, city manager
Winston Gilchrist said.
In order to vote in the elec
tion, voters must be taxpayers,
with their names appearing on
the last tax assessment roll.
They will be required to regis
ter in the office of the city
:lerk, where registration books
(Continued on page 8)
FLOWERS
for
MEMORIAL DAY
Maud's Flowers
PI 5-4056