VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN
Entered as second class matter on Oct. 21. 1947, at the post office at
Palmer, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
A1 J. DeJulio .Publisher, Manager
.....Virginia Gallant
Subscription Rates .50c a month, $5 a year
Mailed to all points in Alaska and the United States_
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
Sacramento, California
November 26, 1952
Dear Editor:
Enclosed find clipping out of
Sunny California paper, Sacra
mento Bee. It is as cold as Alas
ka only without snow.
Came outside for winter but
am returning to Palmer for white
Christmas. Glad I made Alaska
my new home—so once again a
cheechako has turned sourdough.
What’s more, my daughter and
family are coming with me. I
have won them over with talks
and 35mm pictures. So I can set
tle down and build a future
knowing daughter and grand
children are with me.
Respectfully yours,
Sybil Balis
The following is from the clip
ping:
“The weather bureau warns it
may be cold enough tonight to
freeze water in car radiators un
less special precautions are taken.
Temperatures in the mid 20s are
forecast for the Sacramento sub
urban area. Cold weather also is
forecast for the Sierra Nevada.”
SPECIAL MASS AT
ST. MICHAEL'S
Monday, December 8, Rev.
James P. Snead of St. Michael’s
Catholic church will celebrate a
7:30 Mass on the occasion of the
Fast of the Immaculate Concep
ton. This is a holy day of obliga
tion upon which all Catholics are
required to hear Mass and is the
patronal feast of the United
States.
Several adults and young
people will receive Holy Com
munion for the first time at the
Mass.
Notice
Future sailings
are indefinite
pending settle
ment of present
labor problems.
AI n s k n
STEAMSHIP CO.
NEW BABIES
Greenwood
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Green
wood, 3rd of Knik are receiving
congratulations on the birth of a
daughter, Daphne Elizabeth. She
was born at Valley Hospital No
vember 23, weighing eight
pounds. Mr. Greenwood is em
ployed by the Evans-Jones Coal
Mine.
LEGAL NOTICE
Date: November 11, 1952
Notice for Publication
Notice is hereby given that Mil
ton Albert Hoffman entryman,
together with his witnesses Ray
mond R. Redington and James
Redington, all of Wasilla, Alaska
has submitted final proof on his
homestead entry, Anchorage Seri
al No. 017502 for the SW^iSE^
Sec. 13 T. 16 N. R. 3 W. Seward
M., containing 40 acres, and it
is now in the files of the Land
Office, Anchorage, Alaska, and if
no protest is filed in the Land Of
fice within the period of publica
tion or thirty days thereafter, said
final proof will be accepted and
final certificate issued.
VIRGIL O. SEISER, Manager
Published December 4, 11, 18, 24,
31, 1952.
Notice for Publication
Notice is hereby given that Ro
bert H. Thompson has made ap
plication for a Headquarters Site
under the Act of March 3, 1927
(44 Stat. 1364, 48 U.S.C. sec. 461)
Anchorage Serial 016778, for Lot
22. Sec. 26, T. 17 N„ R. 4 W., S.M.,
containing 5:69 acres, as shown on
supplemental plat of survey of
ficially filed 9-5-52, and it is now
in the files of the Land Office,
Anchorage, Alaska.
Any and all persons claiming
adversely any of the above-men
tioned land should file their ad
verse claims in the local land of
fice within the period of publi
cation or thirty days thereafter
or they will be barred by the pro
visions of the Statutes.
VIRGIL O. SEISER, Manager
Published December 4, 11, 18, 24,
31, 1952.
TREASURE CHEST
CHRISTMAS CARDS boxed
and singles, many with Alas
ka designs.
Machetanz’ books.—Original
paintings and drawings.
Water colors, drawings, cards
by Robert Mayokok.
JEWELRY—nugget, hematite,
ivory, jade, in earings, brace
lets, cuff links, etc. English
bone chaina cups and saucer,
ceramics, lamps, crystal etc.
Bavarian fine China dinner
ware in open stock. Fine table
linens—infant handmade soak
ers, booties, mittens, ESKIMO
SLIPPERS.
Palmer Origin
Being Compiled !
By M. D. Snodgrass
Editors Note:
The following is the first of a
series on the early history of Pal
mer, Alaska by M. D. Snodgrass, ;
long time Valley resident. Ad
ditional publications will follow
in future issues of The Frontiers
man.
PALMER. ALASKA
INCORPORATED, U. S. A.
How Come PALMER, Anyway?
While looking for a homestead
in the Matanuska Valley, two
brothers, George and Frank
White discovered a lone 80-acre
tract that originally had been
taken by John Loken. Loken had
gone as far as to dig a well to
bedrock on this tract but not
finding water he abandoned the
land and extended his holdings
a quarter mile east into Section
34, and on to the Matanuska
River bank. This was his third
attempt to find water and here
he dug the well on the first beach
above the river before annexing
this 80 acres. He built his log
house and barn thirty feet below
his farm land.
The White Brothers, old mining
prospecters from Idaho, left the
Four Corner Settlement, and
built their log cabin where the
Felton House now stands. They
dug the well, which came to be
known as the town pump, with
good water unlimited.
Prospectors going to the Moose
Creek coal fields found the White
Brothers’ cabin a natural stop
ping place. It became necessary
to build another cabin to accom
modate travelers. The second
cabin was erected twenty feet
south of their first one, and was
connected to the first by walls
and roof, and when completed,
was “White’s Roadhouse” where
good eats and warm bunk room
made it the natural Post Office.
They named it Palmer after Ma
tanuska Valley’s first white set
tler and trader, George Palmer,
who built and operated a Trading
Post on the east side of the River
some four hundred feet north of
the new Matanuska River bridge
within the “Brix Park” recently
deeded to the City of Palmer.
The White Brothers passed on
and Jim Felton purchased the
White’s homestead. Later the firm
of Ward and Felton opened a
store in connection with their
roadhouse. They petitioned the
Post Office Department to change
the name of the Post Office to
“Warton,” which was done. The
Alaska Railway Station failed to
follow suit, and thereby, through
some compromise, moved their
Railway Station a quarter mile
south to the present location. The
Post Office later followed suit
and the name “Palmer” was re
stord. A new frame building, now
occupied by the M.E.A., housed
the Post Office. Mr. Felton soon
resigned the postmastership and
built the “Felton House,” still
noted for its comfortable hospit
ality.
The south 50 acres of the Fel
ton 80 was sold to the Alaska
NOW AVAILABLE
Life, Health and Accident
Insurance
fit,jmI When 'Ifou. Qan't
Palmer Realty Inc.
Palmer, Alaska
I
lural Rehabilitation Corporation,
i non profit and benevolent cor
>oration, for an Industrial site
'or the Colony town of Palmer.
\n additional 40 acres was ch
ained from Roland Snodgrass,
:or the original Loken homestead,
ind 133 acres from M. D. Snod
grass, from the original home
;tead of Ed Duncklee. The Ro
and Snodgrass acreage was pric
ed at $25.00 per acre—about 20
icres was cut over land, the bal
mce was virgin timber suitable
for Park and for windbreak for
the town. The price was reduced
to $12.50 per acre. The 133 acre
tract from M. D. Snodgrass in
cluded all of that portion of the
Ed Dunckle quarter lying east of
the Alaska Railroad. It was pur
chased under option agreement
for use as a Community Center
under date of April 4, 1935, and
ammended on the 4th day of May,
1935, whereby my entire farm
was to be made available at the
price for which I had actually
paid the Duncklees. This was de
manded by the Agent of the Al
aska Rural Rehabilitation Cor
poration under treat that the lo
cation of the Palmer townsite
would be moved two miles south
west upon orders from Washing
ton, D.C. The original option price
was $7.00 per acre for 100 acres
of the east portion of the farm.
I signed the April 6th option
freely and without reservation,
as I realized the land would be
of real value and use to th cor
poration and to the community at
large. Visions of schools, churches,
colleges, air port, fair grounds
and a farmers’ cooperative would
be here in the Matanuska Valley,
and in safe hands for all time.
To be Continued
GRANGE TO HAVE
ANNUAL DINNER AND
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Thursday evening, December
11, women of Pioneer Grange No.
1 will be guests at an annual din
ner, complete with salads and
desserts, Bruce Graham, commit
teeman announced.
Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
in Grange Hall. Grange members
(men) have been asked to con
tact either Graham or Gene Kir
sch, committeeman for assign
ments and plans. There will be
a short business meeting follow
ing the dinner at 8 p.m., follow
ed by a Christmas party. All
members are asked to take a
gift for the party.
SODALITY TO HOLD
CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Sodality of Blessed Virgin
Mary will hold a Christmas party
at their meeting to be held De
cember 30 at the home of Mrs.
Winnie Martin at 8 p.m. There
will be an exchange of $1 gifts
and an appropriate program is
planned.
k
homemakers' News
Riverbend Club
Members of the Riverbend
domemakers’ Club met at the
lome of Mrs. Archie Moffitt No
/ember 20 at 11:30 a.m. A lovely
x>t luck dinner was served, fol
lowed by the business meeting.
\ community project and a meet
ng place for project leaders’
neetings were discussed.
Nugget Homemakers’ Novem
ber meeting was held at the home
of Erma Liebing. An exchange of
Christmas ideas was the theme
of the evening, with each mem
ber contributing, and project
leaders Hanna Burke and Fran
ces Bicknell explained the mak
ing of “Cilo-Candles,” distributing
the wax so that each member
could make a candle at home.
Margaret Schroeder showed many
attractive gift items, and Christ
mas decorations, all of which she
had made.
President Bee Madaris read a
letter from the ACCA, in appre
ciation for garments which had
been made for the children by the
Nugget Club. Guests for the even
ing were Mrs. Schroeder and
Erma Liebing’s mother, Mrs.
Eliza Rice.
The Christmas meeting for the
Nuggets will be held on Dec. 11,
at the home of Dorothy Remple,
with Marjorie Brewer as co-host
ess. There will be a gift exchange,
and Christmas music.
December Calendar
Dec. 9—Pasmasilla Club, 7:30 p.m.
home of Beverely Grover.
Dec. 11—The Nugget Club, 8 p.m.,
home of Dorothy Rempel.
Dec. 10—The Homesteaders, 7:30
p.m. home of Mrs. Bairn.
Dec. 16—Gacier View Club, home
of Evelyn Sharp.
Dec. 13—Sourdough Club, home
of Ruth Estelle.
Dec. 18—Riverbend Club, 11:30
a.m., home of Mrs. Gary La
Rose.
Dec 3—Gold Dusters, 8 p.m.,
home of Mrs. Brasee
Dec. 8—Cheechako Club, 8 p.m.,
home of Mrs. Charles Wilson.
Dec. 20—Butte Club, Butte hall
in the evening.
CHORUS TO MEET
A reminder to all interested in
the Messiah Chorus went out
thi =■ week for the first rehearsal
to be held Monday night, Decem
ber 8 at 8 p.m. in the Church of
God. William Rempel announced
this will be the only meeting of
the group before Christmas and
all interested in singing the Mes
siah are urged to attend this or
ganizational meeting. There will
be some voice trials and parts as
signed at this meeting. Books will
be available at $1.50 a copy to
all interested.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIED
BRING RESULTS
Are you getting that Christmas
shopping started? We don’t mean
to nag, but here it is December
already, and if we wait too long
the selection is not so wide—for
that very special girl, we have a
beautiful variety of fine hand
bags, both tooled and smooth
finish leather, in pouch, hitch,
hand and shoulder styles.
We also have lovely lingerie
for girls, even to eyelet-trimmed
cotton slips with hoops, and pant
ies to match. If you want a for
mal or a cocktail dress for the
Holidays now is the time to get
it. We have just received a lovely
group that range from size 9 to
20.
See you soon.
BETTY
INSURE
TODAY
One of the best plans for regu
lar saving is insurance. The
types of programs fox insured
savings are many and varied to
fit all kinds of needs.
We will be happy to talk
over these plans with you.
Stop in soon . . . there is no
obligation.
Kay Pippel Insurance
Box 221
New Wright Building
I
No need to hit the ceiling
when plumbing problems
arise. Call the plumber when
the trouble first appears as
early repair means less expen
sive repair. You can depend on
Mac's Plumbing and Heating.
MACS PLUM35MG
and HEATING
1
L & *1 Music Store
Presents
J. Winfred Curry
Playing World Famous
CONNSONATA ON THE ELECTRIC ORGAN
MONOAY - WEONESDAY & FRIDAY
9:15-9:30
KENI