"Red" Bunting is a long-time resident of the Matanuska Valley who spent some winter months in Arizona. While visiting a flea market there he came upon a vendor offering old photos for sale. Red recognized one album as filled with photos of the Palmer area. Though the vendor had no information about the photos, who took them or how they happened to be so far from home, Red purchased the album and gave a collection of seventy-seven photos from the album to the Museum.
Cabin 1
Jackson
Log cabin
Image is a summer view of a log cabin with sod roof, high grass surrounds it with a pile of wood on the left, heavy birch forest is behind. This cabin was located east of Palmer past the Matanuska River bridge on the north side of the highway.
Palmer, Alaska
Cabin 2
Jackson
Log Cabin
Image is a winter view of a log cabin with sod roof, a pile of logs and wood are beside the cabin, birch trees behind and snow-clad mountains are behind. The prominent mountain in the view has been variously called “the Matterhorn”, Buyer’s Peak, Pilot Peak and Matanuska Peak.
Palmer, Alaska
Cache 1
Jackson
Trapper's cache
Image is of a log trapper’s cache.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Church 15
Jackson
Old Russian Church at Eklutna
Image is of the old log Russian Orthodox Church at Eklutna. Scattered trees are visible, other buildings are partially visible beyond the church as are snow-clad mountains.
Eklutna, Alaska
Colony Farm 7
Unknown
Farms
View is of a Colony farmstead, identified as that of Colonists Walter & Melva Pippel on tract #106. Open fields planted with various vegetables are prominent in foreground with the farmstead house and barn in middle ground. A touring car is prominent on the road passing through the property in the middle ground. Rooftops of the adjacent farmstead's barn and house on tract #112 are visible beyond. Trees border fields in middle and background with Talkeetna Mountains in far background.
One mile north of Palmer, Alaska
Echo Lake
Unknown, possibly "Jackson" inferred from other photos in the collection
Palmer-Matanuska Road
Image shows a view to the East looking across Echo Lake with trees in foreground, a roadway on the right and around the right side of the lake. An automobile is visible on the road in middle ground. Mountains are in background, including the top of Bodenburg Butte and part of Pioneer Peak.
Echo Lake south of Palmer, Alaska
Eureka Road House
Unknown
Roadhouse, Building
Image shows a winter view of a log building approximately 15' x 30' in size with snow piled around it. A woman in an apron stands in the open doorway smoking a cigarette. A large sign on the exterior gable end wall reads: "EUREKA ROAD HOUSE MEALS LUNCHES OIL-GAS". A smaller sign on the wall between the door and window advertises "Rainier Pale Special Export Beer". Two chimney pipes are visible as is a tall antenna pole and wire. Another building (tent?) is partially visible to the side. Snow covered hills and evergreen trees are apparent in background.
Mile 128 on Glenn Highway, north of Palmer, Alaska
Experiment Farm 28
Jackson
Wheat harvest at the Matanuska Experiment Farm
Image is a fall westerly view across the lower fields of the Experiment Farm showing a small house and greenhouse at the base of the hill and shocks of grain in the fields. Trunk Road is evident as it ascends the hill and a small building is evident in the field on the top bench. Heavy forest boarders the fields in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 29
Jackson
Matanuska Experiment Farm
Image is an easterly view of the Matanuska/Wasilla road leading past fields to the Experiment Farm complex. The barns and houses are at center middle ground and a small house and greenhouse are evident at the base of the hill to the right. Heavy forest is behind the complex and mountains are in the background under cloudy skies.
Matanuska, Alaska
Farm 7
Unknown
Matanuska Valley farmstead
Image is a southerly view of a two-story log house in center middle ground with another building at right. A single lane road is in foreground with wood posts and hog wire fence on both sides. Stump piles are visible at left. Snow-clad mountains are in background.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 8
Jackson
Haystacks in a field
Image is a northerly view of a hay field with many haystacks in foreground and middle ground. A house and other buildings are visible in far middle ground. Heavy forest surround the field with Talkeetna Mountains in the background.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farming 3
Jackson
Harvesting wheat
Image is an easterly view of a wheat field being harvested with a Cat tractor and grain binder. A partially harvested field with bundles on the ground is prominent. A fenced road and electric line is at left and a farmstead with a Colony barn and other buildings is visible in far middle ground. Snow-clad mountains are in background.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farming 4
Unknown
Threshing grain
Image shows several men threshing grain. Two men at right unload a truck into the threshing machine. One man in center tends the sack receiving the grain while the machine boom above blows the straw onto a large pile at left. A mixed forest forms the backdrop.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Glenn Highway
Unknown
Glenn Highway along Matanuska River near King Mountain
Image shows a shot-rock road, identified as Glenn Highway, with a steep rock cliff at the right and the Matanuska River running parallel at the left. A conical-shaped snow-clad mountain, identified as King Mountain, is prominent in middle ground with heavily forested foothills. Other snow-clad mountains are visible in background.
Chickaloon, Alaska
Inspiration Point 1
Unknown
View of Matanuska & Knik valleys from Bailey Hill
Image is a southeasterly view from Bailey Hill, north of Palmer, toward the Knik River valley. The Knik Glacier is visible in the background with mountains on both sides. Middle ground is heavy forest. In foreground is a small field and a road section showing the curve in alignment necessary to ascend Bailey Hill, ultimately arriving at the point from which this photo was taken. This was the only point on the road providing this expansive view of the Valley, thus the local name “Inspiration Point”, and a popular stop for photographs. The road, which ultimately became Glenn Highway, was later straightened to cut through Bailey Hill, eliminating this section. A horse is apparent in foreground.
Palmer, Alaska
Lake George 1
Unknown
Icebergs on Lake George
Image is of a man carrying a tripod and movie camera standing in front of a large iceberg on the shore of a lake, identified as Lake George in the Knik River valley. Other icebergs are visible in the lake beyond with mountains in background. The photo was taken while the lake was full of water, prior to its summer break-out through the Knik Glacier. This glacial lake outburst flood, or “jokulhlaup”, occurred annually until 1967.
Knik River Valley, Alaska
Lake George 2
Unknown
Ice calving from Knik Glacier
Image is of a large wall of ice breaking (calving) from the face of Knik Glacier as the high water level from Lake George erodes the glacier ice dam, ultimately breaking through to release its waters in a flood down the Knik River. This glacial lake outburst flood, or “jokulhlaup”, occurred annually, flooding river-side residents and the early community of Matanuska, until 1967 when the glacier ceased to advance to form the dam.
Knik River Valley, Alaska
Palmer Community Buildings 2
Jackson
East view from the water tower
Image is an easterly view from the Palmer water tower looking over the Co-op warehouses. The poultry hatchery building and chicken houses are evident. Stacks of logs and firewood are near the second warehouse and a man can be seen unloading logs from a truck. People are visible on the street and sitting on bleachers at right. Open fields surrounded by heavy forest are in middle ground with snow-clad mountains beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 6
Jackson
Palmer as seen from Bugge's Hill
Image is an early fall easterly view of Palmer as seen from Bugge’s Hill, looking down the “Wasilla Road”. People are evident walking on the road in foreground. John Bugge’s homestead field and buildings are in middle ground. Palmer buildings are in far middle ground. Mountains with early snow are in background.
Palmer, Alaska
