Palmer Origin
Being Compiled
By M D. Snodgrass
PALMER, ALASKA
INCORPORATED, U.S.A.
How Come PALMER, Anyway?
The following is ihe conclu
sion of an article by M. D.
Snodgrass on ihe History of
Palmer’s Origin:
The full impact of the coming
of the Colony developed rapidly
as the rush of survey work got
under way by the first of April,
1935. A small work train of box
cars, fitted for sleeping, eating
and office headquarters, was
shunted on the side track at Pal
mer station. Survey parties were
put to work on the 40-acre farm
tracts, camps and roads. Camp
site No. 1 was established where
the Clair Patten farm now is, two
miles down the Palmer branch of
the Alaska Railroad. The pur
chase of a number of patented
homesteads at prices ranging
from five to seven dollars per
acre for virgin timber lands, de
pending upon the location and
distance from Palmer. All vacant
land within the Public Domain
in this area was withdrawn by
Executive Order of the Presdent.
Later much of it was sold direct
to G. I.’s. or as additional acreage
to colony tracts.
Daily arrival of laborers from
all Alaska were seeking employ
ment. Tent camps sprang up
everywhere. Some 500 or more
transeients were shipped from
camps in California, to help clear
Colony tracts and build colonist
homes. The first contingent ar
rived but a few days before the
first boat load of Colonists. Very
few of this group of men were
capable of using an axe, or skilled
in any trade, a few cat-men,
truck drivers, and many who
knew little about setting up a
camp. At camp No. 1 it required
several weeks time to complete
their own. Few of these transients
men were available to help the
colonists clear their building sites
tvhen they arrived.
The first train load of Colonists
arrived early in May amid con
fusion everywhere. Very few
tents were set up and ready for
them. Hastily, groups were form
ed to set up kitchen tents at the
north end of the Felton field near
their store. Reverend B. J. Bingle
set up his tent headquarters and
typed out the first news bulletin.
Every available carpenter and
laborer was set to work building
floors and frames for the Colon
ist tent city. The 14-acre field
was converted to a tent city. The
<A.R.R.C. headquarters were in
4
HAND TOOLED
LEATHER PURSES
in all sizes, shapes
and colors
MANY OTHER
HOLIDAY GIFT ITEMS
T & T SOURDOUGH
Gift Counter
I tents where cement buildings of
i Steve Ward, A1 King, and the
Shamrock Bakery and Lounge
now stand. Frame bunk houses
16x50 feet,'mess tents, cook tents,
and a large tent-warehouse were
next. Tent hospital, tents for the
Doctors and nurses just east of
the J. J. Bugge farm buildings
followed. A community tent for
church services and Sunday
school went up and was later
converted into a hospital tent.
General Manager Don Irwin,
and his family, occupied the Dun
cklee farm house that first season.
Ralph Horton’s restaurant and
rooming house occupied his pres
ent location. Koslosky’s general
store occupied the middle of the
block, with Sally’s Cafe housed in
one end. Next a fountain and
bakery were built, now occupied
by the Cold Storage. Mrs. Dun
cklee built small apartments
which were later converted to
the Rendezvous. Bert’s Drug store
occupied the corner it occupies
today.
Across the Railroad track the
Matanuska Valley Farmer’s Co
operative Association’s general
shop, power plant, trading post,
creamery, warehouse, cold stor
age, potato and vegetable storage,
| community center and recreation
hall, gymnasium and school,
churches, valley lodge, hospital
and Co-Op homes were built. Fair
grounds and air port were gradu
aly added. Some natural park and
play grounds remain. The head
quarters for the M.V.F.C.A. and
the University Extension Service
are there. And last, but not least,
the U. S. Seventh Regional Agri
cultural Research Administration
Laboratory and staff houses, the
fore-runner of greater progress
in agricultural development in
Alaska. This puts scientific agri
culture on a par with the states,
and definitely points towards the
location of an Alaskan Agricul
ture College in the near future.
20 MILLION DOLLARS
FOR ALASKA ROADS
The Alaska Road Commission
probably will spend about 20 mil
lion dollars on the Territorial
highway system next year, ac
cording to A. F. Ghiglione, com
missioner.
The majority of the sum would
go toward finishing the paving
program for through roads, of
which about 620 miles are com
pleted and 440 miles remain for |
completion in the next two years, I
Ghiglione said.
Carpenters, Remember!
Carpenters Local 2251
NO MEETING DEC. 24
Meets 2nd and 41h Wednesday
Each Month
NORTHERN
NEON
CORP.
SIGNS
Trucks, Cars Lettered
Manufacturers of
Neon Signs, Marquees,
Store Fronts and Tube
Lighting
540 Barrow - Dial 43734
ANCHORAGE. ALASKA
Motor-in-Service
GENERAL REPAIRS - WELDING
GAS & OIL
Harry Duff
Phone 65 J11
Bert Duff
BIG GOAL FIELD
FOUND NEAR HOMER
The Geological Survey reported
reecntly that more than 64 mil
lion tons of subbituminous coal
in beds more than three feet thick
are present within five miles of
tidewater in the Homer district,
Kenai coal field..
The survey announced release
of a preliminary report on coal
investigations in the Homer dis
trict made in 1950 and 1951 by E.
H. Cobb, one of the geologists.
Subbituminous is a low grade coal
which can be used for fuel.
Cobb said “data is inadequate
at this time to calculate reserves
for the rest of the district.” He
said field work was focused on
reconnaisance of relatively ihac
cessible areas in the Horrier dis
trict and on measurement, trac
*««<«««« «<■««■<«
A RMEN TO VOTE
ON CLUB BY-LAWS
By-laws for the proposed flying '
club within the Matanuska Air- j
mens’ Association will be voted j
on at the regular club meeting to
be held Thursday night, Decem
ber 18 in the Co-Op club room
at 8 p.m.
All airmen in the Valley are
invited to attend the meeting.
Movies will follow the busine*
meeting.
ing and sampling of individual
coal beds.
He said the coal occurs in many
beds, all less than eight feet
thick. In the northern part of the
district the coal beds are more
widely separated and thinner.
Copies of the report have been
placed on open file in Anchorage,
Juneau and Fairbanks.
*<«<«««<«<<«««<■**
QwU&tmaA. ^bUuieb
DECEMBER 25 — 2 to 6 P.M.
FRIENDS AND PATRONS INVITED
FRONTIER BAR & CAFE
V
-»»-> > > »>-> ■> > >
RONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS
DO YOU HAVE A
FINANCIAL PRODLEM?
etk Mkit over.
We at the Valley Bank have nothing to sell
but our services and goodwill. Through the
past years we have made many grateful
friends among those who have come to us
for advice and help with their financial
problems. We urge you too, to take ad
vantage of our services.
MATANUSKA VALLEY BANK
Palmer, Alaska
OPEN FRIDAY EVENINGS B—8 P.M.
DAILY 10 A.M. — 3 P.M.
A better buy because . ..
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LOWER OPERATION AND
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Better Buy
Now!
Kirk's Sales and Service
Palmer, Alaska — Authorized Dealer for the Matanuska Valley — Phone 76
•vn* mt nr & wr m «