Creator
Ruth Estelle & Family
Time Period
1917-1970
Entries
87

Estelle Collection

Richard Estelle
Palmer Museum of History and Art
Open Finding Aid
About the​​​ 
Estelle Collection

Ruth (DeArmond) Estelle arrived in Palmer in 1936 as the Extension Service "District Home Demonstration Agent" to assist the women and children of the Valley in adjusting to Alaska living and generally to help them improve their lives. Planning nutritious family meals, canning salmon and smoking moose meat, cutting patterns and sewing clothes, gardening, and a wide array of 4-H projects were all activities of which she provided instruction and assistance. Ruth was very involved with the social life of the new community and recorded many aspects of that life with her camera. The collection includes 430 images gathered by Ruth, as well as photos contributed by other members of the family.

Thumbnails
List
Image shows the McKeen Motorized Rail Car, locally called the "Brill car" or "Brill Train", on the Palmer siding. This car ran daily between Palmer and Anchorage for several years, hauling passengers and freight.
Image shows a side view of a pickup truck with several children standing in the back facing the camera. One girl holds a large paper star. A sign on the side of the truck shows the 4-H clover leaf symbol and text: "4H CLUBS-IN-VALLEYS: 5, ENROLLMENT: 85". A spare tire is prominently mounted on the side of the truck. The driver, identified as Howard Estelle, and passenger, identified as Ruth DeArmond, are visible in the truck cab.
Image shows a group of young girls standing together in front of a wooden building. The group is identified as "Colony Kids" making up a 4-H Club. A white tent is visible in the background. One adult, identified as Mrs. Ring, is in the back row, center. Some others are identified as: Genevieve Ring, June Lentz, Jean Mae Sandvik, June France Leila Peterson, Lucille Ring, Jean Kindgren, Pat Hemmer, and Pat Ring.
Image shows a group of young girls and two women seated on logs in a wooden setting. One girl, identified as Genevieve Ring, is standing and appears to be leading the group in some activity. Two women are seated with the group, identified as Ruth Peck on the left and Ruth DeArmond on the right of the photo.
Image shows four girls and one women in white dresses sitting on the porch of a log cabin, each appears to be stitching a piece of cloth. The group is collectively identified as the Butte 4-H Sewing Club and individually identified from left as: Barbara Falk, Lila Peterson, Dorothy Newville, Patty Hemmer, and the woman is identified as Lila Newville, the club leader.
Image shows the north side of the log Butte Community Hall with lumber and clearing debris in foreground and Pioneer Peak in background.
Image is a winter view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract#157 near Bodenburg Butte and having originally belonged to Colonists Lawrence and Grace Dreghorn. The barn exhibits evidence of early stages of collapse. A smaller structure, possibly a chicken coop, is apparent at left and a pick-up truck is parked in foreground. Pioneer Peak is the backdrop.
Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right and a concrete upright silo is behind at left.
Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right, Talkeetna Mountains evident in background.
Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right, part of another smaller log structure, perhaps a chicken coop, is at left, and a concrete upright silo is behind at left.
Image is a fall view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse. Portions of other buildings are evident adjacent and nearby, Beyers Peak is in background. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number one of three documenting the collapse of this barn.
Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse. A portion of an attached concrete block building is evident at left. Bodenburg Butte is behind. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number two in a series of three documenting the collapse of this barn.
Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn is in final stages of collapse. A portion of an attached concrete block building is evident at left and Chugach Mountains are in background. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number three in a series of three documenting the collapse of this barn.
Image is of an old log hay barn, two bays with a drive-through in between. The pitched roof is partly covered with sheet metal with several pieces missing, exposing the log stringers underneath. The side of the left bay is also covered with sheet metal. A doorway is visible on the interior wall of the right bay and a window hole is apparent on the north wall of the right bay. Low brush is in foreground, broadleef trees and part of a field are behind the barn.
Image is a winter scene of a log cabin in foreground with snow on the ground and roof. A rail frame fence is adjacent with mixed birch and spruce forest behind. Mountains form the near backdrop with a conical peak prominent, variously identified over the years as "The Matterhorn", Beyers Peak, and Matanuska Peak. Other photos in the collection indicate the fenced area was probably fox pens. An associated cache was located in front of the cabin closer to the Matanuska River, The road that developed between Palmer and the Bodenburg Butte area passed between the cabin and cache. The cabin is believed to have belonged to Eugene Marsh.
Image is a summer view of a log trapper’s cabin located on the north side of Matanuska River east of Palmer. The mountain beyond has been known variously as “The Matterhorn”, “Beyers Peak”, and “Matanuska Peak”. The cabin is thought to have belonged at one time to Eugene Marsh.
Image is a winter view looking north along the snow-covered Palmer to Anchorage road about a mile east of the Matanuska River bridge. Shown is a log cabin, fox pens, and another small structure on the north side of the road and a cache on the south side. Heavy birch and spruce forest is the backdrop of the clearing with snow-covered Talkeetna Mountains visible in background beyond the cleared roadway.
Image shows a man standing in foreground near the mouth of a mine tunnel structure. Rail tracks used by mine cars accessing the tunnel are evident. Lumber and logs are stacked nearby. In middle ground a train with several passenger cars is apparent on the flat land below, as well as numerous large and small buildings. Power poles are evident near the train and at the mine mouth. The community is located on the Chickaloon River floodplain with steep bluffs rising on both sides topped with heavy forest. Mountains are faintly visible in background.
Image shows a springtime view of several Native burial houses in foreground, a log Russian Orthodox church in middle ground, trees and snow-clad mountains beyond.
Image is a summer view of the west side of the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church in Palmer as seen from S. Denali St. The associated Manse is visible at right.
Image is a summer view of the Pastor’s residence, or “Manse”, associated with the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church in Palmer.
Image shows a young woman, identified as Colonist Manila Bay Yohn, watering her small spruce trees and strawberries planted in front of her temporary tent home. Her tent is prominent behind her and another tent is visible beyond.
Image is a black & white view of a Matanuska Colony barn under construction. The lower portion, constructed of spruce logs, is essentially complete with two corner air shafts to the upper hay mow in place. Several men are visible preparing to construct the hay mow floor and roof using dimension lumber. The cupola, ready to be installed as ventilation at the peak of the roof, is visible on the ground at left.
Press photo image shows several dairy cows gathered in front of a typical Colony chicken house and another building. Two Colony barns are prominent behind the other buildings. Heavy forest and Lazy Mountain are visible beyond under a partly cloudy sky.
Image is of the Colony barn on tract #152, original to Ferber Bailey and then Howard Estelle. Shown on its final location after having been moved to allow highway construction through Bailey Hill. Several young cows are evident penned near the barn and hay stacks are seen at left of the barn for winter feed.
Image shows a Colony farmstead on tract#169 located on the Fishhook Road north of Palmer. In foreground is a potato field with several people harvesting. A Colony barn, house and other outbuildings are evident. A field of haystacks is to the right with heavy woods behind. Snow-clad mountains form the background.
Image is an easterly winter view of a horse standing in a field in foreground, a colony house, barn and other buildings in middle ground and prominent snow-clad mountains beyond.
Image shows a Colony farmstead of house, barn and outbuildings in middle ground framed by trees and brush in foreground. Talkeetna mountains form the background. Note on the reverse indicates the location is 25 miles west of Palmer. The name "Mrs. Amos Landis" is also written on the back.
Image shows a group of dairy cows in a field in foreground, a Colony barn and other buildings near a group of trees in middle ground with snow-clad mountains in background. This farm is located on Colony tract #169 bordering the Palmer-Fishhook road north of Palmer.
Image is a low oblique summer view of Ingolf and Agnes Sandvik’s Colony farmstead at the base of Bodenburg Butte south of Palmer. People are visible in the yard. Pioneer Peak, with remnant snow at elevation, forms the backdrop.
Image is a late summer easterly view of a green hay field in foreground with an orange Colony barn and other farm buildings on Colony tract #169 in middle ground. Another Colony barn on tract #112 is visible beyond. Patches of uncut forest are apparent. Lazy Mountain and Beyers Peak, dusted with new snow, are in background with clouds overhead.
Image is a summer view of the Colony barn and outbuildings of Ray & Edna Rebarchek on Tract #52 south of Palmer. Included are two smaller log structures and two concrete silos are visible. A gas pump is in foreground. A Ford pickup, two tractors and a hay baler are evident.
Image shows the Rebarchek farmstead including the house, barn, outbuildings, two tractors, mower, tedder and hay bailer.
Image is a northeasterly view from Scott Road showing numerous hay stacks in foreground, a colony barn under construction, a tent, and a log house in middle ground. Spruce and cottonwood trees form the forest behind the buildings, part of Lazy Mountain is visible beyond.
Image is a winter scene of a log home in a forest setting with snow on the ground and icicles hanging from the eves of the house. The house is identified as that of Colonists Joe & Albertina Sieber on Colony tract #182. The icicles and apparent melted snow on the roof indicate inadequate insulation, characteristic of many Colony houses.
Image is a summer view of the Colony house of Ray & Edna Rebarchek on Tract #52 south of Palmer. The smaller log structure at right is the well house, later to contain a sauna. The house as shown has been modified over the years from its original construction with a significant addition and obvious metal roofing and stucco covering the logs. Windbreak trees are north and east of the house.
Image is a summer view of the west side of Ray & Edna Rebarchek’s Colony house on Tract #52 south of Palmer. The smaller log structure is the well house, later to include a sauna. The house as shown has been modified over the years from its original construction with a significant addition and obvious metal roofing and stucco covering the logs. A Ford pickup is parked in the yard and a gas pump is apparent in foreground. Windbreak trees are apparent behind the house.
Image is of a two-story log house, identified as belonging to Colonists Joe & Albertina Sieber. Taken in the spring of 1936, it shows piles of lumber still in the yard, logs and construction debris remaining in the foreground. Cold frames have been added to the south side of the house. Spruce & birch forest forms the background.
Image shows the farmstead of original Colonists Joseph & Blanche Puhl on tract #99 north of Palmer. Subsequently owned by Colonists Neil & Margaret Miller, this photo was taken sometime in the mid 1960's when ownership passed to Dexter & Percilla (Miller) Bacon. The distinctive round-roofed Colony barn is shown moved closer to the original log home. A small greenhouse is apparent. A large commercial garden is evident in foreground. Yard trees are near the house and heavy forest forms the background.
This is a slightly enhanced press photo. Image shows teacher Lorinda Ward seated at a kitchen table piled with books and two small boys seated next to her doing their school work. The boys are not identified. The setting is in a newly-constructed Colony log home.
Image shows a man kneeling at a tree stump and placing explosives under it in preparation for blowing it up. Two other men stand watching. The man on the left is identified as Matanuska Colony camp superintendent George Moland. A narrow road and heavy forest are in middle ground beyond. The front part of a car is visible on the road at right.
Image shows a group of ten young native men and women students on a sunny day sitting on a boardwalk next to a white frame building. All are nicely dressed, two are holding guitars. Electric lines overhead, power pole, two other buildings and trees are in background.
Image shows large white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School in middle ground. A wire fence with wooden gate is in foreground, railroad tracks and depot building just beyond. Forest and mountains in background. Power poles and lines are evident.
Image shows a low oblique view of a group of large and small white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School in middle ground. A wire fence with wooden gate is in foreground, railroad tracks and two flatcars next to an offloading platform just beyond. Forest and mountains in background. Power poles and lines are evident.
Image shows railroad tracks in foreground and an adjacent open-sided roofed building with a sign on it identifying EKLUTNA. A person is visible inside the building. Large white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School are in middle ground. A cottonwood tree is obvious next to the foreground building. Forest and mountains in background. Power lines are evident overhead.
Image is of a group of children, assumed to be students, standing next to the Eklutna Native Industrial School rail station.
Image shows the main barn, pole barn and cows of the Eklutna Vocational School plus a couple of other smaller buildings. Railroad tracks and a power pole are prominent in foreground. Heavy forest forms the backdrop.
Image shows grain being harvested on the Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm. Grain bundles formed into shocks are in foreground. A cat tractor is pulling a grain binder, cutting standing grain in the field at middle ground. One man is on the tractor, another rides the binder. Bundles of cut grain are evident on the ground in middle ground and additional shocks are visible in far middle ground. A hillside with a road cut and trees is in background with mountain tops visible beyond.
Image is a black & white view of Loren T. Oldroyd, Agricultural Extension Director with the University of Alaska, inspecting hot frames on Colonist Walt Pippel’s farm. The hot frames, filled with soil and planted early in the spring, were covered with window glass panels to capture and retain solar radiation to warm the soil and get a head start on the growing season.
Image shows several log buildings and two larger framed barns in middle ground with a fenced field in foreground beside a gravel road partially visible at near left. Heavy forest forms the backdrop behind the buildings and mountains are faintly visible in far background. White lettering across the lower portion of the photo indicate this was the farm of A.A. Shonbeck near Palmer taken in 1935.
Image shows a springtime scene of ewes and new-born lambs inside a pole fence on Frank Clark's Matanuska Valley farm. A log chicken house is in middle ground with heavy forest beyond. Clark summered his flock on the slopes of Lazy Mountain east of Palmer.
Image shows a crew of farmers, soldiers and women operating a potato digger machine on a Colony farm. Farmstead buildings are in background, including a barn, house and outbuildings. Heavy forest is in background.
Image shows a prepared field with a cat tractor pulling a grain drill and cultipacker in middle ground. One man drives the tractor while another rides the grain drill. A dust cloud rises from the machinery. Heavy forest is at the edge of the field in background. Information with the photo identifies this as Matanuska Colonist Gilford Lemon planting oats and peas for cattle feed on his farm on tract #128, June 6, 1936.
Image shows two men (one perhaps a soldier) in foreground plowing a field with a single bottom hand plow pulled behind a team of two horses. Several cows are evident on unplowed fields in middle ground. A stump row of trees cleared from the fields is apparent in far middle ground. Heavy forest borders the fields in background with snow-clad mountains beyond.
This is a postcard photo of a homestead including fields in foreground with harvested hay put up in stacks. A barn and other buildings are in middle ground with scattered trees. Other fields are in far middle ground with hay stacks and heavy forest beyond. Close examination reveals two different types of haystacks in the far field and a man working there. Mount Susitna is faintly visible beyond the forest in background.
Image is of the south and east sides of Hyland's Hotel in Palmer. Painted white with dark trim, it stands next to another building behind to the west. A free-standing sign in front identifies it as "Hyland's Hotel". A 1940 era four-door car is parked near the front door.
Image is a southeasterly view from Bailey Hill, north of Palmer, toward the Knik River valley. Chugach Mountains are in background. Middle ground is heavy forest. Barely visible through the trees is a road section before it curves 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 public access to this favorite viewpoint.
Image shows a portion of an open sided shed with an overhead sign identifying it as Palmer's "FARMERS' MARKET" located near the northwest corner of the Quad at the intersection of Evergreen Ave. and Valley Way. Three booths are visible. At the center booth stands Ruth Estelle and her daughter Beth with bags of potatoes on display for sale and other items laid out on a bench. An unidentified woman is partly visible in the booth at right. At left stands an unidentified woman holding a bag of Estelle's potatoes and a young woman stands next to her. At far left stands Tom Moyer, the manager of the market.
Image is a northeast view of Matanuska townsite. Railroad tracks are in immediate foreground, numerous tents and buildings are in middle ground with trees and mountains beyond. Numerous signs are visible on buildings and several people are evident.
Image is a low oblique aerial view across farm land of the “Springer System” south of Palmer in the foreground, across the Matanuska River in middle ground, and up the Knik River valley to the Knik Glacier. The Bodenburg Butte is visible at right. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.
Image is an easterly low oblique aerial view across farm land southwest of Palmer, including Matanuska and the Matanuska Experiment Farm, across the Matanuska River to the mountains beyond. Bodenburg Butte is visible. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.
Image is a northerly low oblique aerial view across farm land south of Palmer, including the City of Palmer and the Matanuska River to the Talkeetna Mountains beyond. Farms and forest clearing patterns, crop patterns and roads are apparent.
Image shows a woman, identified as Miss Pearl Williams, Red Cross Nurse, in a cart pulled by a white horse, on a gravel road. Two automobiles are on the road behind the cart. Trees and clearing slash are visible in background.
Image shows a woman, identified as Miss Pearl Williams, Red Cross Nurse, in a cart pulled by a white horse. A log House, identified as the home of colonists Joe and Blanch Puhl, is in the background. A tent is also visible.
Image is a high oblique summer view of Palmer, Alaska looking northeast across the town to the Matanuska River and the base of Lazy Mountain. Local homesteads and other clearings within heavy forest are apparent as are roads, streets and community buildings.
Image is a black & white high oblique view including much of John Bugge’s homestead, the “Tent City” of Palmer, patches of cleared land and uncut forest. The “Wasilla road” is apparent to Bugge’s hill.
Image is a southerly oblique aerial view showing a cluster of tents at the Palmer townsite adjacent to the railroad line with patches of forest and fields in the foreground. Dense forest and the Matanuska River are in middle ground and snow-clad mountains are beyond.
Image is an oblique southeasterly summer view across Palmer and the Matanuska River to Knik Glacier and snow-clad mountains beyond.
Image shows a white, two-story house in middle ground with a white picket gate and gate post arch holding a sign "Palmer House Rooms" in foreground. The "S"s on the sign are printed backwards. A man is walking on the path towards the house. Owned by Jim Felton, this was the most available lodging in the local area prior to the coming of the Matanuska Colony. Rooms reputedly contained two or more beds to accommodate all travelers, typical of Alaska roadhouses in the day.
Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues. Signs identify businesses shown as The Warf Restaurant, City Craft Station, The Valley Sun, Valley Frontiersman, and Estelle’s Flowers and Gifts. Part of the building occupied at the time by Allen & Peterson is visible at right.
Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues and a partial view of a building on the south side of West Evergreen Ave. A sign identifies a business shown as The Gold Nugget… south of West Evergreen. Fronting on South Alaska Street are the Chase Lounge, The Warf Restaurant, City Craft Station, The Valley Sun, and Valley Frontiersman.
Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues and on the north side of West Dahlia Avenue. Signs identify businesses as Estelle’s Flowers & Gifts, Allen & Peterson, First Interstate Bank, and Koslosky’s Department Store containing an Insurance office and a Liquor Store. A portion of the Valley Hotel is also visible.
Image shows an easterly winter view of Palmer taken from Bugge's hill. John Bugge's homestead field is in foreground with fence along the "Wasilla road". Buildings are evident in middle ground and people can be seen walking in the street. Scaffolding is still in place on the school building and the water tower is not yet erected. Steam rises from the power house and white smoke comes from a railroad engine. A strip of forest is in far middle ground and mountains dominate beyond.
Image shows a group of young women, all "Colony Kids" identified from left to right as Diana Reitan, unknown, unknown, Dorothy Sheely, Genevieve Ring, unknown, and unknown, standing in front of a vehicle, identified as the hospital "Nurses Car" and ambulance which was part of the Palmer Fourth-of-July parade. Colony Tents and the Hospital building are in the background. One girl holds a 48-star flag.
Image shows three men standing together in foreground looking at something at hand. They are identified as Fr. Bernard R. Hubbard, Leo B. Jacobs, and Fr. Merrill Sulzman. Three women stand next to the men and others are visible beyond. A train car stands directly behind the people. Father Hubbard was famously known as the "Glacier Priest", Jacobs was the Colony architect, and Father Sulzman was the Catholic priest for Palmer.
Miss Ruth Peck, Extension Service Home Demonstration Leader for Alaska (left), and Ruth DeArmond, District Home Demonstration Agent for the Matanuska Valley, sit at an office desk, probably in Miss DeArmond's office in Palmer. A 4-H poster hangs on the wall beyond.
Four young folks variously associated with the Matanuska Colony or the Extension Service, visiting homesteaders Tye and Ann Wilson, pose for their picture atop the Wilson's stove wood pile.
Three young people variously associated with the Matanuska Colony Project and the Extension Service stand in front of a log cabin identified as belonging to homesteader "Mac" McHenry. An unidentified woman in a white dress is partially visible at left. All are in short sleeves on an obviously warm summer day. Several "Blazo Boxes" are apparent on the ground at right.
Image shows the southeast view of the community Powerhouse, exterior construction partially complete with smokestack partly installed. Construction material is visible in foreground.
Information associated with this photo identifies it as an Alaska Railroad gas car and two flat trailers on the rails at Chickaloon station in that coal mining community at the north end of the Matanuska branch rail line. Behind the vehicle are several small buildings at the base of a steep, bare slope topped by trees.
Miss Ruth Peck, dressed in a white dress, stands for her picture before an elderberry bush and spruce tree, probably in Juneau, Alaska. An inclined road and walkway are directly behind her. Buildings, assumed to be part of Juneau, can be seen further behind and below. Water is visible beyond, assumed to be Gastineau Channel, with additional buildings on the far shore, assumed to be part of Douglass, with snow-capped mountains as the backdrop.
This is a slightly modified press photo. Image shows a cat tractor and men in foreground with some sort of sled structure behind the tractor. Other men are working at a sawmill under a shelter roof in near middle ground. A large pile of spruce logs is behind the mill and birch trees are on the hill beyond. Information with the photo indicates there are approximately 2,500 logs in the pile, enough to build 25 new Colony homes.
Image shows several soldiers preparing the roof of a large building for installation of roofing paper. The building is an additional warehouse facility at the Farmer's Matanuska Co-op. The Palmer water tower is prominent in middle ground, with fuel storage tanks, a small building and a railroad tank car adjacent. Two pump houses on the water supply line from the north are visible in middle ground, as is a large unidentified machine. In far middle ground is a field with many small hay stacks backed by heavy forest. Mountains are faintly visible in background.
This is a slightly enhanced press photo. Image shows transient laborers constructing tents to house arriving Matanuska Colonists at the Palmer town site. Two tent platforms are in foreground, men are constructing a tent frame in middle ground with several completed tents nearby. Snow-clad mountains are in background under scattered clouds.
Image shows Matanuska Colonist Walt Pippel inspecting his cucumber plants through a window in his new hothouse on his Colony farm, tract #106, north of Palmer, Alaska.
Image shows a winter scene of an unidentified woman clad in a fur parka walking in the driveway of a large log house. Deep snow is evident. Snow-clad mountains are in background. The house was once the site of the Davis Children's Home.
Image is of women in the Butte Homemakers Club, circa 1936, posing during one of their summer club meetings at one of their Colony homes south of Bodenberg Butte visible in the background.
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Image shows the McKeen Motorized Rail Car, locally called the "Brill car" or "Brill Train", on the Palmer siding. This car ran daily between Palmer and Anchorage for several years, hauling passengers and freight.
Title

"Brill Car"

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

Railroad Car

Description

Image shows the McKeen Motorized Rail Car, locally called the "Brill car" or "Brill Train", on the Palmer siding. This car ran daily between Palmer and Anchorage for several years, hauling passengers and freight.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a side view of a pickup truck with several children standing in the back facing the camera. One girl holds a large paper star. A sign on the side of the truck shows the 4-H clover leaf symbol and text: "4H CLUBS-IN-VALLEYS: 5, ENROLLMENT: 85". A spare tire is prominently mounted on the side of the truck. The driver, identified as Howard Estelle, and passenger, identified as Ruth DeArmond, are visible in the truck cab.
Title

4-H Club Float 1

Creator

Hewitt's Photo Shop, Anchorage

Subject

4-H People

Description

Image shows a side view of a pickup truck with several children standing in the back facing the camera. One girl holds a large paper star. A sign on the side of the truck shows the 4-H clover leaf symbol and text: "4H CLUBS-IN-VALLEYS: 5, ENROLLMENT: 85". A spare tire is prominently mounted on the side of the truck. The driver, identified as Howard Estelle, and passenger, identified as Ruth DeArmond, are visible in the truck cab.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a group of young girls standing together in front of a wooden building. The group is identified as "Colony Kids" making up a 4-H Club. A white tent is visible in the background. One adult, identified as Mrs. Ring, is in the back row, center. Some others are identified as: Genevieve Ring, June Lentz, Jean Mae Sandvik, June France Leila Peterson, Lucille Ring, Jean Kindgren, Pat Hemmer, and Pat Ring.
Title

4-H Club Girls

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

People

Description

Image shows a group of young girls standing together in front of a wooden building. The group is identified as "Colony Kids" making up a 4-H Club. A white tent is visible in the background. One adult, identified as Mrs. Ring, is in the back row, center. Some others are identified as: Genevieve Ring, June Lentz, Jean Mae Sandvik, June France Leila Peterson, Lucille Ring, Jean Kindgren, Pat Hemmer, and Pat Ring.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a group of young girls and two women seated on logs in a wooden setting. One girl, identified as Genevieve Ring, is standing and appears to be leading the group in some activity. Two women are seated with the group, identified as Ruth Peck on the left and Ruth DeArmond on the right of the photo.
Title

4-H Club Meeting

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

People

Description

Image shows a group of young girls and two women seated on logs in a wooden setting. One girl, identified as Genevieve Ring, is standing and appears to be leading the group in some activity. Two women are seated with the group, identified as Ruth Peck on the left and Ruth DeArmond on the right of the photo.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows four girls and one women in white dresses sitting on the porch of a log cabin, each appears to be stitching a piece of cloth. The group is collectively identified as the Butte 4-H Sewing Club and individually identified from left as: Barbara Falk, Lila Peterson, Dorothy Newville, Patty Hemmer, and the woman is identified as Lila Newville, the club leader.
Title

4-H Sewing Club

Creator

Ruth (DeArmond) Estelle

Subject

People

Description

Image shows four girls and one women in white dresses sitting on the porch of a log cabin, each appears to be stitching a piece of cloth. The group is collectively identified as the Butte 4-H Sewing Club and individually identified from left as: Barbara Falk, Lila Peterson, Dorothy Newville, Patty Hemmer, and the woman is identified as Lila Newville, the club leader.

Location

Bodenburg Butte Area, Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows the north side of the log Butte Community Hall with lumber and clearing debris in foreground and Pioneer Peak in background.
Title

Butte Community Hall 3

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

Building

Description

Image shows the north side of the log Butte Community Hall with lumber and clearing debris in foreground and Pioneer Peak in background.

Location

Bodenburg Butte Area of Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image is a winter view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract#157 near Bodenburg Butte and having originally belonged to Colonists Lawrence and Grace Dreghorn. The barn exhibits evidence of early stages of collapse. A smaller structure, possibly a chicken coop, is apparent at left and a pick-up truck is parked in foreground. Pioneer Peak is the backdrop.
Title

Bygone Barn 1

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Colony barn in state of collapse

Description

Image is a winter view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract#157 near Bodenburg Butte and having originally belonged to Colonists Lawrence and Grace Dreghorn. The barn exhibits evidence of early stages of collapse. A smaller structure, possibly a chicken coop, is apparent at left and a pick-up truck is parked in foreground. Pioneer Peak is the backdrop.

Location

Bodenburg Butte, Matanuska Valley

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right and a concrete upright silo is behind at left.
Title

Bygone Barn 2

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Colony barn in state of collapse

Description

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right and a concrete upright silo is behind at left.

Location

North of Palmer, Alaska

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right, Talkeetna Mountains evident in background.
Title

Bygone Barn 3

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Colony barn in state of collapse

Description

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right, Talkeetna Mountains evident in background.

Location

North of Palmer, Alaska

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right, part of another smaller log structure, perhaps a chicken coop, is at left, and a concrete upright silo is behind at left.
Title

Bygone Barn 4

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Colony barn in state of collapse

Description

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #134 north of Palmer, having originally belonged to Colonists Oscar and Elvi Kerttula. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse and came down in 2006. A smaller attached structure, perhaps a milking parlor, is at right, part of another smaller log structure, perhaps a chicken coop, is at left, and a concrete upright silo is behind at left.

Location

North of Palmer, Alaska

Image is a fall view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse. Portions of other buildings are evident adjacent and nearby, Beyers Peak is in background. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number one of three documenting the collapse of this barn.
Title

Bygone Barn 5

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Colony barn in state of collapse

Description

Image is a fall view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse. Portions of other buildings are evident adjacent and nearby, Beyers Peak is in background. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number one of three documenting the collapse of this barn.

Location

Near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse. A portion of an attached concrete block building is evident at left. Bodenburg Butte is behind. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number two in a series of three documenting the collapse of this barn.
Title

Bygone Barn 6

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Colony barn in state of collapse

Description

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn exhibits significance evidence of advanced stages of collapse. A portion of an attached concrete block building is evident at left. Bodenburg Butte is behind. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number two in a series of three documenting the collapse of this barn.

Location

Near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn is in final stages of collapse. A portion of an attached concrete block building is evident at left and Chugach Mountains are in background. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number three in a series of three documenting the collapse of this barn.
Title

Bygone Barn 7

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Colony barn in state of collapse

Description

Image is a summer view of a Colony Barn, identified as located on Tract #194 near Bodenburg Butte, having originally belonged to Colonists Lloyd and Dorothy Bell. The barn is in final stages of collapse. A portion of an attached concrete block building is evident at left and Chugach Mountains are in background. This farm, located at the corner of Bodenburg Loop Road and Doc. McKinley Ave., was later owned by dentist Lee McKinley prior to the later demise of the barn. This photo is number three in a series of three documenting the collapse of this barn.

Location

Near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska

Image is of an old log hay barn, two bays with a drive-through in between. The pitched roof is partly covered with sheet metal with several pieces missing, exposing the log stringers underneath. The side of the left bay is also covered with sheet metal. A doorway is visible on the interior wall of the right bay and a window hole is apparent on the north wall of the right bay. Low brush is in foreground, broadleef trees and part of a field are behind the barn.
Title

Bygone Barn 8

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

The old log hay barn, with several large holes in the roof, stands unused and falling into disrepair.

Description

Image is of an old log hay barn, two bays with a drive-through in between. The pitched roof is partly covered with sheet metal with several pieces missing, exposing the log stringers underneath. The side of the left bay is also covered with sheet metal. A doorway is visible on the interior wall of the right bay and a window hole is apparent on the north wall of the right bay. Low brush is in foreground, broadleef trees and part of a field are behind the barn.

Location

Beside Fishhook Road north of Palmer, Alaska

Image is a winter scene of a log cabin in foreground with snow on the ground and roof. A rail frame fence is adjacent with mixed birch and spruce forest behind. Mountains form the near backdrop with a conical peak prominent, variously identified over the years as "The Matterhorn", Beyers Peak, and Matanuska Peak. Other photos in the collection indicate the fenced area was probably fox pens. An associated cache was located in front of the cabin closer to the Matanuska River, The road that developed between Palmer and the Bodenburg Butte area passed between the cabin and cache. The cabin is believed to have belonged to Eugene Marsh.
Title

Cabin 4

Creator

Ordway

Subject

Building

Description

Image is a winter scene of a log cabin in foreground with snow on the ground and roof. A rail frame fence is adjacent with mixed birch and spruce forest behind. Mountains form the near backdrop with a conical peak prominent, variously identified over the years as "The Matterhorn", Beyers Peak, and Matanuska Peak. Other photos in the collection indicate the fenced area was probably fox pens. An associated cache was located in front of the cabin closer to the Matanuska River, The road that developed between Palmer and the Bodenburg Butte area passed between the cabin and cache. The cabin is believed to have belonged to Eugene Marsh.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a summer view of a log trapper’s cabin located on the north side of Matanuska River east of Palmer. The mountain beyond has been known variously as “The Matterhorn”, “Beyers Peak”, and “Matanuska Peak”. The cabin is thought to have belonged at one time to Eugene Marsh.
Title

Cabin 6

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Trapper’s log cabin near Palmer

Description

Image is a summer view of a log trapper’s cabin located on the north side of Matanuska River east of Palmer. The mountain beyond has been known variously as “The Matterhorn”, “Beyers Peak”, and “Matanuska Peak”. The cabin is thought to have belonged at one time to Eugene Marsh.

Location

Near Palmer, Alaska

Image is a winter view looking north along the snow-covered Palmer to Anchorage road about a mile east of the Matanuska River bridge. Shown is a log cabin, fox pens, and another small structure on the north side of the road and a cache on the south side. Heavy birch and spruce forest is the backdrop of the clearing with snow-covered Talkeetna Mountains visible in background beyond the cleared roadway.
Title

Cabin 7

Creator

Ruth DeArmond

Subject

Trapper’s cabin & Cache along the Palmer to Anchorage road near Palmer

Description

Image is a winter view looking north along the snow-covered Palmer to Anchorage road about a mile east of the Matanuska River bridge. Shown is a log cabin, fox pens, and another small structure on the north side of the road and a cache on the south side. Heavy birch and spruce forest is the backdrop of the clearing with snow-covered Talkeetna Mountains visible in background beyond the cleared roadway.

Location

Near Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a man standing in foreground near the mouth of a mine tunnel structure. Rail tracks used by mine cars accessing the tunnel are evident. Lumber and logs are stacked nearby. In middle ground a train with several passenger cars is apparent on the flat land below, as well as numerous large and small buildings. Power poles are evident near the train and at the mine mouth. The community is located on the Chickaloon River floodplain with steep bluffs rising on both sides topped with heavy forest. Mountains are faintly visible in background.
Title

Chickaloon Coal Mines

Creator

Keystone View Company

Subject

View of Chickaloon coal mining community

Description

Image shows a man standing in foreground near the mouth of a mine tunnel structure. Rail tracks used by mine cars accessing the tunnel are evident. Lumber and logs are stacked nearby. In middle ground a train with several passenger cars is apparent on the flat land below, as well as numerous large and small buildings. Power poles are evident near the train and at the mine mouth. The community is located on the Chickaloon River floodplain with steep bluffs rising on both sides topped with heavy forest. Mountains are faintly visible in background.

Location

Chickaloon, Alaska

Image shows a springtime view of several Native burial houses in foreground, a log Russian Orthodox church in middle ground, trees and snow-clad mountains beyond.
Title

Church 14

Creator

2nd Mapping Squadron, U.S. Army Air Force

Subject

Eklutna Russian Orthodox church and burial houses

Description

Image shows a springtime view of several Native burial houses in foreground, a log Russian Orthodox church in middle ground, trees and snow-clad mountains beyond.

Location

Eklutna, Alaska

Image is a summer view of the west side of the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church in Palmer as seen from S. Denali St. The associated Manse is visible at right.
Title

Church 17

Creator

Unknown

Subject

United Protestant Church in Palmer

Description

Image is a summer view of the west side of the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church in Palmer as seen from S. Denali St. The associated Manse is visible at right.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a summer view of the Pastor’s residence, or “Manse”, associated with the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church in Palmer.
Title

Church 18

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Pastor’s Residence, or Manse, United Protestant Church in Palmer

Description

Image is a summer view of the Pastor’s residence, or “Manse”, associated with the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church in Palmer.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a young woman, identified as Colonist Manila Bay Yohn, watering her small spruce trees and strawberries planted in front of her temporary tent home. Her tent is prominent behind her and another tent is visible beyond.
Title

Colonist Watering Her Temporary Garden

Creator

Associated Press

Subject

Colonist Manila Bay Yohn is watering her plants in front of her tent.

Description

Image shows a young woman, identified as Colonist Manila Bay Yohn, watering her small spruce trees and strawberries planted in front of her temporary tent home. Her tent is prominent behind her and another tent is visible beyond.

Location

Camp #10 near the Butte--Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image is a black & white view of a Matanuska Colony barn under construction. The lower portion, constructed of spruce logs, is essentially complete with two corner air shafts to the upper hay mow in place. Several men are visible preparing to construct the hay mow floor and roof using dimension lumber. The cupola, ready to be installed as ventilation at the peak of the roof, is visible on the ground at left.
Title

Colony Barn Under Construction 1

Creator

Ruth DeArmond

Subject

Colony Barn Under Construction

Description

Image is a black & white view of a Matanuska Colony barn under construction. The lower portion, constructed of spruce logs, is essentially complete with two corner air shafts to the upper hay mow in place. Several men are visible preparing to construct the hay mow floor and roof using dimension lumber. The cupola, ready to be installed as ventilation at the peak of the roof, is visible on the ground at left.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Press photo image shows several dairy cows gathered in front of a typical Colony chicken house and another building. Two Colony barns are prominent behind the other buildings. Heavy forest and Lazy Mountain are visible beyond under a partly cloudy sky.
Title

Colony Barns 1

Creator

Unknown press photo

Subject

Two Colony barns on a dairy farm.

Description

Press photo image shows several dairy cows gathered in front of a typical Colony chicken house and another building. Two Colony barns are prominent behind the other buildings. Heavy forest and Lazy Mountain are visible beyond under a partly cloudy sky.

Location

Matanuska Valley south of Palmer, Alaska

Image is of the Colony barn on tract #152, original to Ferber Bailey and then Howard Estelle. Shown on its final location after having been moved to allow highway construction through Bailey Hill. Several young cows are evident penned near the barn and hay stacks are seen at left of the barn for winter feed.
Title

Colony Barns 4

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

A Colony barn stands on the Estelle family farm with several young cows penned close by and stacks of hay visible.

Description

Image is of the Colony barn on tract #152, original to Ferber Bailey and then Howard Estelle. Shown on its final location after having been moved to allow highway construction through Bailey Hill. Several young cows are evident penned near the barn and hay stacks are seen at left of the barn for winter feed.

Location

Palmer Alaska

Image shows a Colony farmstead on tract#169 located on the Fishhook Road north of Palmer. In foreground is a potato field with several people harvesting. A Colony barn, house and other outbuildings are evident. A field of haystacks is to the right with heavy woods behind. Snow-clad mountains form the background.
Title

Colony Farm 1

Creator

Hewitt's

Subject

Matanuska Colony Farm

Description

Image shows a Colony farmstead on tract#169 located on the Fishhook Road north of Palmer. In foreground is a potato field with several people harvesting. A Colony barn, house and other outbuildings are evident. A field of haystacks is to the right with heavy woods behind. Snow-clad mountains form the background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is an easterly winter view of a horse standing in a field in foreground, a colony house, barn and other buildings in middle ground and prominent snow-clad mountains beyond.
Title

Colony Farm 11

Creator

Brickley

Subject

Colony Farmstead

Description

Image is an easterly winter view of a horse standing in a field in foreground, a colony house, barn and other buildings in middle ground and prominent snow-clad mountains beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a Colony farmstead of house, barn and outbuildings in middle ground framed by trees and brush in foreground. Talkeetna mountains form the background. Note on the reverse indicates the location is 25 miles west of Palmer. The name "Mrs. Amos Landis" is also written on the back.
Title

Colony Farm 15

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Matanuska Colony farmstead

Description

Image shows a Colony farmstead of house, barn and outbuildings in middle ground framed by trees and brush in foreground. Talkeetna mountains form the background. Note on the reverse indicates the location is 25 miles west of Palmer. The name "Mrs. Amos Landis" is also written on the back.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows a group of dairy cows in a field in foreground, a Colony barn and other buildings near a group of trees in middle ground with snow-clad mountains in background. This farm is located on Colony tract #169 bordering the Palmer-Fishhook road north of Palmer.
Title

Colony Farm 2

Creator

Brickley

Subject

Dairy cows in a field of a Colony farm

Description

Image shows a group of dairy cows in a field in foreground, a Colony barn and other buildings near a group of trees in middle ground with snow-clad mountains in background. This farm is located on Colony tract #169 bordering the Palmer-Fishhook road north of Palmer.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a low oblique summer view of Ingolf and Agnes Sandvik’s Colony farmstead at the base of Bodenburg Butte south of Palmer. People are visible in the yard. Pioneer Peak, with remnant snow at elevation, forms the backdrop.
Title

Colony Farm 23

Creator

Unknown

Subject

View of Sandvik’s Colony farm near Bodenburg Butte with Pioneer Peak beyond

Description

Image is a low oblique summer view of Ingolf and Agnes Sandvik’s Colony farmstead at the base of Bodenburg Butte south of Palmer. People are visible in the yard. Pioneer Peak, with remnant snow at elevation, forms the backdrop.

Location

Matanuska Valley near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska

Image is a late summer easterly view of a green hay field in foreground with an orange Colony barn and other farm buildings on Colony tract #169 in middle ground. Another Colony barn on tract #112 is visible beyond. Patches of uncut forest are apparent. Lazy Mountain and Beyers Peak, dusted with new snow, are in background with clouds overhead.
Title

Colony Farm 25

Creator

Union Oil Company

Subject

View of the Arvid & Edith Johnson Colony farm on Palmer Fishhook Road

Description

Image is a late summer easterly view of a green hay field in foreground with an orange Colony barn and other farm buildings on Colony tract #169 in middle ground. Another Colony barn on tract #112 is visible beyond. Patches of uncut forest are apparent. Lazy Mountain and Beyers Peak, dusted with new snow, are in background with clouds overhead.

Location

Near Palmer, Alaska

Image is a summer view of the Colony barn and outbuildings of Ray & Edna Rebarchek on Tract #52 south of Palmer. Included are two smaller log structures and two concrete silos are visible. A gas pump is in foreground. A Ford pickup, two tractors and a hay baler are evident.
Title

Colony Farm 26

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Ray & Edna Rebarchek’s Colony Farm on Tract #52

Description

Image is a summer view of the Colony barn and outbuildings of Ray & Edna Rebarchek on Tract #52 south of Palmer. Included are two smaller log structures and two concrete silos are visible. A gas pump is in foreground. A Ford pickup, two tractors and a hay baler are evident.

Location

South of Palmer, Alaska

Image shows the Rebarchek farmstead including the house, barn, outbuildings, two tractors, mower, tedder and hay bailer.
Title

Colony Farm 27

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Rebarchek farmstead house, barn and farm equipment.

Description

Image shows the Rebarchek farmstead including the house, barn, outbuildings, two tractors, mower, tedder and hay bailer.

Location

On Rebarchek Road south of Palmer, Alaska

Image is a northeasterly view from Scott Road showing numerous hay stacks in foreground, a colony barn under construction, a tent, and a log house in middle ground. Spruce and cottonwood trees form the forest behind the buildings, part of Lazy Mountain is visible beyond.
Title

Colony Farm 4

Creator

Associated Press photo, photographer unknown

Subject

Colony farmstead

Description

Image is a northeasterly view from Scott Road showing numerous hay stacks in foreground, a colony barn under construction, a tent, and a log house in middle ground. Spruce and cottonwood trees form the forest behind the buildings, part of Lazy Mountain is visible beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a winter scene of a log home in a forest setting with snow on the ground and icicles hanging from the eves of the house. The house is identified as that of Colonists Joe & Albertina Sieber on Colony tract #182. The icicles and apparent melted snow on the roof indicate inadequate insulation, characteristic of many Colony houses.
Title

Colony Home 1

Creator

Associated Press

Subject

Log Colony home in winter setting

Description

Image is a winter scene of a log home in a forest setting with snow on the ground and icicles hanging from the eves of the house. The house is identified as that of Colonists Joe & Albertina Sieber on Colony tract #182. The icicles and apparent melted snow on the roof indicate inadequate insulation, characteristic of many Colony houses.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image is a summer view of the Colony house of Ray & Edna Rebarchek on Tract #52 south of Palmer. The smaller log structure at right is the well house, later to contain a sauna. The house as shown has been modified over the years from its original construction with a significant addition and obvious metal roofing and stucco covering the logs. Windbreak trees are north and east of the house.
Title

Colony Home 31

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Ray & Edna Rebarchek’s Colony Home on Tract #52

Description

Image is a summer view of the Colony house of Ray & Edna Rebarchek on Tract #52 south of Palmer. The smaller log structure at right is the well house, later to contain a sauna. The house as shown has been modified over the years from its original construction with a significant addition and obvious metal roofing and stucco covering the logs. Windbreak trees are north and east of the house.

Location

Rebarchek Road south of Palmer, Alaska

Image is a summer view of the west side of Ray & Edna Rebarchek’s Colony house on Tract #52 south of Palmer. The smaller log structure is the well house, later to include a sauna. The house as shown has been modified over the years from its original construction with a significant addition and obvious metal roofing and stucco covering the logs. A Ford pickup is parked in the yard and a gas pump is apparent in foreground. Windbreak trees are apparent behind the house.
Title

Colony Home 32

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Ray & Edna Rebarchek’s Colony Home on Tract #52

Description

Image is a summer view of the west side of Ray & Edna Rebarchek’s Colony house on Tract #52 south of Palmer. The smaller log structure is the well house, later to include a sauna. The house as shown has been modified over the years from its original construction with a significant addition and obvious metal roofing and stucco covering the logs. A Ford pickup is parked in the yard and a gas pump is apparent in foreground. Windbreak trees are apparent behind the house.

Location

Rebarchek Road south of Palmer, Alaska

Image is of a two-story log house, identified as belonging to Colonists Joe & Albertina Sieber. Taken in the spring of 1936, it shows piles of lumber still in the yard, logs and construction debris remaining in the foreground. Cold frames have been added to the south side of the house. Spruce & birch forest forms the background.
Title

Colony Home 36

Creator

Unknown

Subject

An early spring view of a two-story log house with lumber, logs and other construction debris on the grounds. Cold frames have been added to the south side of the house.

Description

Image is of a two-story log house, identified as belonging to Colonists Joe & Albertina Sieber. Taken in the spring of 1936, it shows piles of lumber still in the yard, logs and construction debris remaining in the foreground. Cold frames have been added to the south side of the house. Spruce & birch forest forms the background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows the farmstead of original Colonists Joseph & Blanche Puhl on tract #99 north of Palmer. Subsequently owned by Colonists Neil & Margaret Miller, this photo was taken sometime in the mid 1960's when ownership passed to Dexter & Percilla (Miller) Bacon. The distinctive round-roofed Colony barn is shown moved closer to the original log home. A small greenhouse is apparent. A large commercial garden is evident in foreground. Yard trees are near the house and heavy forest forms the background.
Title

Colony Home 4

Creator

Historic American Building Survey

Subject

Original Colony farmstead circa 1965

Description

Image shows the farmstead of original Colonists Joseph & Blanche Puhl on tract #99 north of Palmer. Subsequently owned by Colonists Neil & Margaret Miller, this photo was taken sometime in the mid 1960's when ownership passed to Dexter & Percilla (Miller) Bacon. The distinctive round-roofed Colony barn is shown moved closer to the original log home. A small greenhouse is apparent. A large commercial garden is evident in foreground. Yard trees are near the house and heavy forest forms the background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

This is a slightly enhanced press photo. Image shows teacher Lorinda Ward seated at a kitchen table piled with books and two small boys seated next to her doing their school work. The boys are not identified. The setting is in a newly-constructed Colony log home.
Title

Colony kids home school

Creator

Associated Press

Subject

Teacher and Colony children doing school work at home

Description

This is a slightly enhanced press photo. Image shows teacher Lorinda Ward seated at a kitchen table piled with books and two small boys seated next to her doing their school work. The boys are not identified. The setting is in a newly-constructed Colony log home.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows a man kneeling at a tree stump and placing explosives under it in preparation for blowing it up. Two other men stand watching. The man on the left is identified as Matanuska Colony camp superintendent George Moland. A narrow road and heavy forest are in middle ground beyond. The front part of a car is visible on the road at right.
Title

Dynamiting Stumps

Creator

Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation

Subject

Three men are preparing to blow up a tree stump.

Description

Image shows a man kneeling at a tree stump and placing explosives under it in preparation for blowing it up. Two other men stand watching. The man on the left is identified as Matanuska Colony camp superintendent George Moland. A narrow road and heavy forest are in middle ground beyond. The front part of a car is visible on the road at right.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows a group of ten young native men and women students on a sunny day sitting on a boardwalk next to a white frame building. All are nicely dressed, two are holding guitars. Electric lines overhead, power pole, two other buildings and trees are in background.
Title

Eklutna Vocational School 2

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

People

Description

Image shows a group of ten young native men and women students on a sunny day sitting on a boardwalk next to a white frame building. All are nicely dressed, two are holding guitars. Electric lines overhead, power pole, two other buildings and trees are in background.

Location

Eklutna, Alaska

Image shows large white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School in middle ground. A wire fence with wooden gate is in foreground, railroad tracks and depot building just beyond. Forest and mountains in background. Power poles and lines are evident.
Title

Eklutna Vocational School 3

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

Buildings

Description

Image shows large white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School in middle ground. A wire fence with wooden gate is in foreground, railroad tracks and depot building just beyond. Forest and mountains in background. Power poles and lines are evident.

Location

Near Eklutna Village, Alaska

Image shows a low oblique view of a group of large and small white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School in middle ground. A wire fence with wooden gate is in foreground, railroad tracks and two flatcars next to an offloading platform just beyond. Forest and mountains in background. Power poles and lines are evident.
Title

Eklutna Vocational School 4

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

Buildings

Description

Image shows a low oblique view of a group of large and small white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School in middle ground. A wire fence with wooden gate is in foreground, railroad tracks and two flatcars next to an offloading platform just beyond. Forest and mountains in background. Power poles and lines are evident.

Location

Near Eklutna Village, Alaska

Image shows railroad tracks in foreground and an adjacent open-sided roofed building with a sign on it identifying EKLUTNA. A person is visible inside the building. Large white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School are in middle ground. A cottonwood tree is obvious next to the foreground building. Forest and mountains in background. Power lines are evident overhead.
Title

Eklutna Vocational School 5

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

Buildings

Description

Image shows railroad tracks in foreground and an adjacent open-sided roofed building with a sign on it identifying EKLUTNA. A person is visible inside the building. Large white buildings of the Eklutna Vocational School are in middle ground. A cottonwood tree is obvious next to the foreground building. Forest and mountains in background. Power lines are evident overhead.

Location

Near Eklutna Village, Alaska

Image is of a group of children, assumed to be students, standing next to the Eklutna Native Industrial School rail station.
Title

Eklutna Vocational School 6

Creator

Air Corps, U.S. Army

Subject

Students of the Eklutna Native Industrial School

Description

Image is of a group of children, assumed to be students, standing next to the Eklutna Native Industrial School rail station.

Location

Eklutna, Alaska

Image shows the main barn, pole barn and cows of the Eklutna Vocational School plus a couple of other smaller buildings. Railroad tracks and a power pole are prominent in foreground. Heavy forest forms the backdrop.
Title

Eklutna Vocational School 7

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

Eklutna school barns & cows

Description

Image shows the main barn, pole barn and cows of the Eklutna Vocational School plus a couple of other smaller buildings. Railroad tracks and a power pole are prominent in foreground. Heavy forest forms the backdrop.

Location

Eklutna, Alaska

Image shows grain being harvested on the Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm. Grain bundles formed into shocks are in foreground. A cat tractor is pulling a grain binder, cutting standing grain in the field at middle ground. One man is on the tractor, another rides the binder. Bundles of cut grain are evident on the ground in middle ground and additional shocks are visible in far middle ground. A hillside with a road cut and trees is in background with mountain tops visible beyond.
Title

Experiment Farm 16

Creator

International News Press

Subject

Harvesting grain with a cat tractor and grain binder

Description

Image shows grain being harvested on the Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm. Grain bundles formed into shocks are in foreground. A cat tractor is pulling a grain binder, cutting standing grain in the field at middle ground. One man is on the tractor, another rides the binder. Bundles of cut grain are evident on the ground in middle ground and additional shocks are visible in far middle ground. A hillside with a road cut and trees is in background with mountain tops visible beyond.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Image is a black & white view of Loren T. Oldroyd, Agricultural Extension Director with the University of Alaska, inspecting hot frames on Colonist Walt Pippel’s farm. The hot frames, filled with soil and planted early in the spring, were covered with window glass panels to capture and retain solar radiation to warm the soil and get a head start on the growing season.
Title

Farm 11

Creator

Ruth DeArmond

Subject

Hot beds on Walt Pippel farm

Description

Image is a black & white view of Loren T. Oldroyd, Agricultural Extension Director with the University of Alaska, inspecting hot frames on Colonist Walt Pippel’s farm. The hot frames, filled with soil and planted early in the spring, were covered with window glass panels to capture and retain solar radiation to warm the soil and get a head start on the growing season.

Location

Near Palmer, Alaska

Image shows several log buildings and two larger framed barns in middle ground with a fenced field in foreground beside a gravel road partially visible at near left. Heavy forest forms the backdrop behind the buildings and mountains are faintly visible in far background. White lettering across the lower portion of the photo indicate this was the farm of A.A. Shonbeck near Palmer taken in 1935.
Title

Farm 20

Creator

Berts

Subject

A.A. Shonbeck's farmstead buildings near Palmer in 1935.

Description

Image shows several log buildings and two larger framed barns in middle ground with a fenced field in foreground beside a gravel road partially visible at near left. Heavy forest forms the backdrop behind the buildings and mountains are faintly visible in far background. White lettering across the lower portion of the photo indicate this was the farm of A.A. Shonbeck near Palmer taken in 1935.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a springtime scene of ewes and new-born lambs inside a pole fence on Frank Clark's Matanuska Valley farm. A log chicken house is in middle ground with heavy forest beyond. Clark summered his flock on the slopes of Lazy Mountain east of Palmer.
Title

Farm 4

Creator

Associated Press photo

Subject

Ewes and new-born lambs on the Clark farm.

Description

Image shows a springtime scene of ewes and new-born lambs inside a pole fence on Frank Clark's Matanuska Valley farm. A log chicken house is in middle ground with heavy forest beyond. Clark summered his flock on the slopes of Lazy Mountain east of Palmer.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows a crew of farmers, soldiers and women operating a potato digger machine on a Colony farm. Farmstead buildings are in background, including a barn, house and outbuildings. Heavy forest is in background.
Title

Farming 17

Creator

Associated Press

Subject

A crew of workers operates a potato digger on a Colony farm.

Description

Image shows a crew of farmers, soldiers and women operating a potato digger machine on a Colony farm. Farmstead buildings are in background, including a barn, house and outbuildings. Heavy forest is in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows a prepared field with a cat tractor pulling a grain drill and cultipacker in middle ground. One man drives the tractor while another rides the grain drill. A dust cloud rises from the machinery. Heavy forest is at the edge of the field in background. Information with the photo identifies this as Matanuska Colonist Gilford Lemon planting oats and peas for cattle feed on his farm on tract #128, June 6, 1936.
Title

Farming 7

Creator

Associated Press

Subject

Colony farmer spring planting grain with machinery

Description

Image shows a prepared field with a cat tractor pulling a grain drill and cultipacker in middle ground. One man drives the tractor while another rides the grain drill. A dust cloud rises from the machinery. Heavy forest is at the edge of the field in background. Information with the photo identifies this as Matanuska Colonist Gilford Lemon planting oats and peas for cattle feed on his farm on tract #128, June 6, 1936.

Location

Tract #128 Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows two men (one perhaps a soldier) in foreground plowing a field with a single bottom hand plow pulled behind a team of two horses. Several cows are evident on unplowed fields in middle ground. A stump row of trees cleared from the fields is apparent in far middle ground. Heavy forest borders the fields in background with snow-clad mountains beyond.
Title

Farming 8

Creator

Worald Wild Press

Subject

Spring plowing with a two-horse team

Description

Image shows two men (one perhaps a soldier) in foreground plowing a field with a single bottom hand plow pulled behind a team of two horses. Several cows are evident on unplowed fields in middle ground. A stump row of trees cleared from the fields is apparent in far middle ground. Heavy forest borders the fields in background with snow-clad mountains beyond.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

This is a postcard photo of a homestead including fields in foreground with harvested hay put up in stacks. A barn and other buildings are in middle ground with scattered trees. Other fields are in far middle ground with hay stacks and heavy forest beyond. Close examination reveals two different types of haystacks in the far field and a man working there. Mount Susitna is faintly visible beyond the forest in background.
Title

Homestead & Haystacks

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

A homestead farm with fields of harvested hay put up in stacks to dry

Description

This is a postcard photo of a homestead including fields in foreground with harvested hay put up in stacks. A barn and other buildings are in middle ground with scattered trees. Other fields are in far middle ground with hay stacks and heavy forest beyond. Close examination reveals two different types of haystacks in the far field and a man working there. Mount Susitna is faintly visible beyond the forest in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image is of the south and east sides of Hyland's Hotel in Palmer. Painted white with dark trim, it stands next to another building behind to the west. A free-standing sign in front identifies it as "Hyland's Hotel". A 1940 era four-door car is parked near the front door.
Title

Hotel 1

Creator

Trachers (Frachers ?) Photos

Subject

The Hyland Hotel in Palmer stands as it appeared circa the 1940's.

Description

Image is of the south and east sides of Hyland's Hotel in Palmer. Painted white with dark trim, it stands next to another building behind to the west. A free-standing sign in front identifies it as "Hyland's Hotel". A 1940 era four-door car is parked near the front door.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a southeasterly view from Bailey Hill, north of Palmer, toward the Knik River valley. Chugach Mountains are in background. Middle ground is heavy forest. Barely visible through the trees is a road section before it curves 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 public access to this favorite viewpoint.
Title

Inspiration Point 3

Creator

Ordway

Subject

View of the Chugach Mountains and Matanuska & Knik valleys from Bailey Hill

Description

Image is a southeasterly view from Bailey Hill, north of Palmer, toward the Knik River valley. Chugach Mountains are in background. Middle ground is heavy forest. Barely visible through the trees is a road section before it curves 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 public access to this favorite viewpoint.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a portion of an open sided shed with an overhead sign identifying it as Palmer's "FARMERS' MARKET" located near the northwest corner of the Quad at the intersection of Evergreen Ave. and Valley Way. Three booths are visible. At the center booth stands Ruth Estelle and her daughter Beth with bags of potatoes on display for sale and other items laid out on a bench. An unidentified woman is partly visible in the booth at right. At left stands an unidentified woman holding a bag of Estelle's potatoes and a young woman stands next to her. At far left stands Tom Moyer, the manager of the market.
Title

Market 1

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

A local area farm family is seen with produce for sale at Palmer's weekend Farmers' Market.

Description

Image shows a portion of an open sided shed with an overhead sign identifying it as Palmer's "FARMERS' MARKET" located near the northwest corner of the Quad at the intersection of Evergreen Ave. and Valley Way. Three booths are visible. At the center booth stands Ruth Estelle and her daughter Beth with bags of potatoes on display for sale and other items laid out on a bench. An unidentified woman is partly visible in the booth at right. At left stands an unidentified woman holding a bag of Estelle's potatoes and a young woman stands next to her. At far left stands Tom Moyer, the manager of the market.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a northeast view of Matanuska townsite. Railroad tracks are in immediate foreground, numerous tents and buildings are in middle ground with trees and mountains beyond. Numerous signs are visible on buildings and several people are evident.
Title

Matanuska Townsite 1

Creator

Subject

Matanuska townsite buildings

Description

Image is a northeast view of Matanuska townsite. Railroad tracks are in immediate foreground, numerous tents and buildings are in middle ground with trees and mountains beyond. Numerous signs are visible on buildings and several people are evident.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Image is a low oblique aerial view across farm land of the “Springer System” south of Palmer in the foreground, across the Matanuska River in middle ground, and up the Knik River valley to the Knik Glacier. The Bodenburg Butte is visible at right. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.
Title

Matanuska Valley Air View 1

Creator

Johnston

Subject

Aerial oblique view across the farm land south of Palmer, across the Matanuska River & up the Knik River valley

Description

Image is a low oblique aerial view across farm land of the “Springer System” south of Palmer in the foreground, across the Matanuska River in middle ground, and up the Knik River valley to the Knik Glacier. The Bodenburg Butte is visible at right. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image is an easterly low oblique aerial view across farm land southwest of Palmer, including Matanuska and the Matanuska Experiment Farm, across the Matanuska River to the mountains beyond. Bodenburg Butte is visible. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.
Title

Matanuska Valley Air View 2

Creator

Johnston

Subject

Aerial oblique view across farm land southwest of Palmer, including Matanuska and the Matanuska Experiment Farm, across the Matanuska River to the mountains beyond

Description

Image is an easterly low oblique aerial view across farm land southwest of Palmer, including Matanuska and the Matanuska Experiment Farm, across the Matanuska River to the mountains beyond. Bodenburg Butte is visible. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image is a northerly low oblique aerial view across farm land south of Palmer, including the City of Palmer and the Matanuska River to the Talkeetna Mountains beyond. Farms and forest clearing patterns, crop patterns and roads are apparent.
Title

Matanuska Valley Air View 3

Creator

Robinson

Subject

Aerial oblique view across farm land south of Palmer, including the City of Palmer, the Matanuska River and the Talkeetna Mountains in background.

Description

Image is a northerly low oblique aerial view across farm land south of Palmer, including the City of Palmer and the Matanuska River to the Talkeetna Mountains beyond. Farms and forest clearing patterns, crop patterns and roads are apparent.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows a woman, identified as Miss Pearl Williams, Red Cross Nurse, in a cart pulled by a white horse, on a gravel road. Two automobiles are on the road behind the cart. Trees and clearing slash are visible in background.
Title

Nurse 3

Creator

Ruth DeArmond

Subject

Red Cross Nurse, Miss Pearl Williams, maker her rounds in a horse cart.

Description

Image shows a woman, identified as Miss Pearl Williams, Red Cross Nurse, in a cart pulled by a white horse, on a gravel road. Two automobiles are on the road behind the cart. Trees and clearing slash are visible in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows a woman, identified as Miss Pearl Williams, Red Cross Nurse, in a cart pulled by a white horse. A log House, identified as the home of colonists Joe and Blanch Puhl, is in the background. A tent is also visible.
Title

Nurse 4

Creator

Ruth DeArmond

Subject

Rec Cross Nurse, Miss Pearl Williams, making her rounds throughout the Matanuska Valley by horse cart.

Description

Image shows a woman, identified as Miss Pearl Williams, Red Cross Nurse, in a cart pulled by a white horse. A log House, identified as the home of colonists Joe and Blanch Puhl, is in the background. A tent is also visible.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image is a high oblique summer view of Palmer, Alaska looking northeast across the town to the Matanuska River and the base of Lazy Mountain. Local homesteads and other clearings within heavy forest are apparent as are roads, streets and community buildings.
Title

Palmer Air View 14

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Aerial view of Palmer in the 1940’s

Description

Image is a high oblique summer view of Palmer, Alaska looking northeast across the town to the Matanuska River and the base of Lazy Mountain. Local homesteads and other clearings within heavy forest are apparent as are roads, streets and community buildings.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a black & white high oblique view including much of John Bugge’s homestead, the “Tent City” of Palmer, patches of cleared land and uncut forest. The “Wasilla road” is apparent to Bugge’s hill.
Title

Palmer Air View 16

Creator

Hewitt's Photo Shop

Subject

Aerial view of Palmer, August 1935

Description

Image is a black & white high oblique view including much of John Bugge’s homestead, the “Tent City” of Palmer, patches of cleared land and uncut forest. The “Wasilla road” is apparent to Bugge’s hill.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a southerly oblique aerial view showing a cluster of tents at the Palmer townsite adjacent to the railroad line with patches of forest and fields in the foreground. Dense forest and the Matanuska River are in middle ground and snow-clad mountains are beyond.
Title

Palmer Air View 4

Creator

Associated Press

Subject

Aerial view of Palmer's "Tent City"

Description

Image is a southerly oblique aerial view showing a cluster of tents at the Palmer townsite adjacent to the railroad line with patches of forest and fields in the foreground. Dense forest and the Matanuska River are in middle ground and snow-clad mountains are beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is an oblique southeasterly summer view across Palmer and the Matanuska River to Knik Glacier and snow-clad mountains beyond.
Title

Palmer Air View 6

Creator

Jack B. Anderson

Subject

Color aerial oblique view across Palmer and Matanuska River to Knik Glacier and mountains.

Description

Image is an oblique southeasterly summer view across Palmer and the Matanuska River to Knik Glacier and snow-clad mountains beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a white, two-story house in middle ground with a white picket gate and gate post arch holding a sign "Palmer House Rooms" in foreground. The "S"s on the sign are printed backwards. A man is walking on the path towards the house. Owned by Jim Felton, this was the most available lodging in the local area prior to the coming of the Matanuska Colony. Rooms reputedly contained two or more beds to accommodate all travelers, typical of Alaska roadhouses in the day.
Title

Palmer House

Creator

WP (ACME) press photo, photographer unknown

Subject

"Palmer House" rooming house

Description

Image shows a white, two-story house in middle ground with a white picket gate and gate post arch holding a sign "Palmer House Rooms" in foreground. The "S"s on the sign are printed backwards. A man is walking on the path towards the house. Owned by Jim Felton, this was the most available lodging in the local area prior to the coming of the Matanuska Colony. Rooms reputedly contained two or more beds to accommodate all travelers, typical of Alaska roadhouses in the day.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues. Signs identify businesses shown as The Warf Restaurant, City Craft Station, The Valley Sun, Valley Frontiersman, and Estelle’s Flowers and Gifts. Part of the building occupied at the time by Allen & Peterson is visible at right.
Title

Palmer Street 45

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Estelle’s Flowers & Gifts and other businesses on S. Alaska Street

Description

Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues. Signs identify businesses shown as The Warf Restaurant, City Craft Station, The Valley Sun, Valley Frontiersman, and Estelle’s Flowers and Gifts. Part of the building occupied at the time by Allen & Peterson is visible at right.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues and a partial view of a building on the south side of West Evergreen Ave. A sign identifies a business shown as The Gold Nugget… south of West Evergreen. Fronting on South Alaska Street are the Chase Lounge, The Warf Restaurant, City Craft Station, The Valley Sun, and Valley Frontiersman.
Title

Palmer Street 46

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Buildings and businesses at S. Alaska St. & W. Evergreen Ave. in Palmer

Description

Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues and a partial view of a building on the south side of West Evergreen Ave. A sign identifies a business shown as The Gold Nugget… south of West Evergreen. Fronting on South Alaska Street are the Chase Lounge, The Warf Restaurant, City Craft Station, The Valley Sun, and Valley Frontiersman.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues and on the north side of West Dahlia Avenue. Signs identify businesses as Estelle’s Flowers & Gifts, Allen & Peterson, First Interstate Bank, and Koslosky’s Department Store containing an Insurance office and a Liquor Store. A portion of the Valley Hotel is also visible.
Title

Palmer Street 47

Creator

Richard Estelle

Subject

Buildings and businesses on S. Alaska St. in Palmer

Description

Image is a street view of businesses on the west side of South Alaska Way located between West Evergreen and West Dahlia Avenues and on the north side of West Dahlia Avenue. Signs identify businesses as Estelle’s Flowers & Gifts, Allen & Peterson, First Interstate Bank, and Koslosky’s Department Store containing an Insurance office and a Liquor Store. A portion of the Valley Hotel is also visible.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows an easterly winter view of Palmer taken from Bugge's hill. John Bugge's homestead field is in foreground with fence along the "Wasilla road". Buildings are evident in middle ground and people can be seen walking in the street. Scaffolding is still in place on the school building and the water tower is not yet erected. Steam rises from the power house and white smoke comes from a railroad engine. A strip of forest is in far middle ground and mountains dominate beyond.
Title

Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 2

Creator

Ordway

Subject

Winter view of Palmer from Bugge's hill.

Description

Image shows an easterly winter view of Palmer taken from Bugge's hill. John Bugge's homestead field is in foreground with fence along the "Wasilla road". Buildings are evident in middle ground and people can be seen walking in the street. Scaffolding is still in place on the school building and the water tower is not yet erected. Steam rises from the power house and white smoke comes from a railroad engine. A strip of forest is in far middle ground and mountains dominate beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a group of young women, all "Colony Kids" identified from left to right as Diana Reitan, unknown, unknown, Dorothy Sheely, Genevieve Ring, unknown, and unknown, standing in front of a vehicle, identified as the hospital "Nurses Car" and ambulance which was part of the Palmer Fourth-of-July parade. Colony Tents and the Hospital building are in the background. One girl holds a 48-star flag.
Title

People 26

Creator

Ruth Estelle

Subject

People

Description

Image shows a group of young women, all "Colony Kids" identified from left to right as Diana Reitan, unknown, unknown, Dorothy Sheely, Genevieve Ring, unknown, and unknown, standing in front of a vehicle, identified as the hospital "Nurses Car" and ambulance which was part of the Palmer Fourth-of-July parade. Colony Tents and the Hospital building are in the background. One girl holds a 48-star flag.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows three men standing together in foreground looking at something at hand. They are identified as Fr. Bernard R. Hubbard, Leo B. Jacobs, and Fr. Merrill Sulzman. Three women stand next to the men and others are visible beyond. A train car stands directly behind the people. Father Hubbard was famously known as the "Glacier Priest", Jacobs was the Colony architect, and Father Sulzman was the Catholic priest for Palmer.
Title

People 40

Creator

Wide World Photos, Inc/Minneopolis Star press

Subject

Three men and others at the Palmer train station

Description

Image shows three men standing together in foreground looking at something at hand. They are identified as Fr. Bernard R. Hubbard, Leo B. Jacobs, and Fr. Merrill Sulzman. Three women stand next to the men and others are visible beyond. A train car stands directly behind the people. Father Hubbard was famously known as the "Glacier Priest", Jacobs was the Colony architect, and Father Sulzman was the Catholic priest for Palmer.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Miss Ruth Peck, Extension Service Home Demonstration Leader for Alaska (left), and Ruth DeArmond, District Home Demonstration Agent for the Matanuska Valley, sit at an office desk, probably in Miss DeArmond's office in Palmer. A 4-H poster hangs on the wall beyond.
Title

People 53

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Miss Ruth Peck and Miss Ruth DeArmond, Extension Service Home Demonstration agents serving the people of Alaska, confer at an office desk.

Description

Miss Ruth Peck, Extension Service Home Demonstration Leader for Alaska (left), and Ruth DeArmond, District Home Demonstration Agent for the Matanuska Valley, sit at an office desk, probably in Miss DeArmond's office in Palmer. A 4-H poster hangs on the wall beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Four young folks variously associated with the Matanuska Colony or the Extension Service, visiting homesteaders Tye and Ann Wilson, pose for their picture atop the Wilson's stove wood pile.
Title

People 56

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Members of the group of young government workers headquartered in Palmer are visiting the Wilsons at their homestead and stop to pose for a photo on the wood pile.

Description

Four young folks variously associated with the Matanuska Colony or the Extension Service, visiting homesteaders Tye and Ann Wilson, pose for their picture atop the Wilson's stove wood pile.

Location

Fairview Loop near Wasilla, Alaska

Three young people variously associated with the Matanuska Colony Project and the Extension Service stand in front of a log cabin identified as belonging to homesteader "Mac" McHenry. An unidentified woman in a white dress is partially visible at left. All are in short sleeves on an obviously warm summer day. Several "Blazo Boxes" are apparent on the ground at right.
Title

People 57

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Members of the group of young government workers headquartered in Palmer are visiting homesteader "Mac" McHenry at his home south of Wasilla and pose in front of his cabin.

Description

Three young people variously associated with the Matanuska Colony Project and the Extension Service stand in front of a log cabin identified as belonging to homesteader "Mac" McHenry. An unidentified woman in a white dress is partially visible at left. All are in short sleeves on an obviously warm summer day. Several "Blazo Boxes" are apparent on the ground at right.

Location

Fairview Loop near Wasilla, Alaska

Image shows the southeast view of the community Powerhouse, exterior construction partially complete with smokestack partly installed. Construction material is visible in foreground.
Title

Powerhouse 1

Creator

Hewitt's Photo Shop

Subject

Building

Description

Image shows the southeast view of the community Powerhouse, exterior construction partially complete with smokestack partly installed. Construction material is visible in foreground.

Location

Community Center, Palmer, Alaska

Information associated with this photo identifies it as an Alaska Railroad gas car and two flat trailers on the rails at Chickaloon station in that coal mining community at the north end of the Matanuska branch rail line. Behind the vehicle are several small buildings at the base of a steep, bare slope topped by trees.
Title

Railroad Gas Car

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Alaska Railroad gas car

Description

Information associated with this photo identifies it as an Alaska Railroad gas car and two flat trailers on the rails at Chickaloon station in that coal mining community at the north end of the Matanuska branch rail line. Behind the vehicle are several small buildings at the base of a steep, bare slope topped by trees.

Location

Chickaloon, Alaska

Miss Ruth Peck, dressed in a white dress, stands for her picture before an elderberry bush and spruce tree, probably in Juneau, Alaska. An inclined road and walkway are directly behind her. Buildings, assumed to be part of Juneau, can be seen further behind and below. Water is visible beyond, assumed to be Gastineau Channel, with additional buildings on the far shore, assumed to be part of Douglass, with snow-capped mountains as the backdrop.
Title

Ruth Peck

Creator

Ruth DeArmond

Subject

Miss Ruth Peck, dressed in a white dress, stands for he picture on a sunny day in Juneau, Alaska.

Description

Miss Ruth Peck, dressed in a white dress, stands for her picture before an elderberry bush and spruce tree, probably in Juneau, Alaska. An inclined road and walkway are directly behind her. Buildings, assumed to be part of Juneau, can be seen further behind and below. Water is visible beyond, assumed to be Gastineau Channel, with additional buildings on the far shore, assumed to be part of Douglass, with snow-capped mountains as the backdrop.

Location

Assumed to be Juneau, Alaska

This is a slightly modified press photo. Image shows a cat tractor and men in foreground with some sort of sled structure behind the tractor. Other men are working at a sawmill under a shelter roof in near middle ground. A large pile of spruce logs is behind the mill and birch trees are on the hill beyond. Information with the photo indicates there are approximately 2,500 logs in the pile, enough to build 25 new Colony homes.
Title

Sawmill 1

Creator

Arville Schaleben

Subject

Sawmill and house logs

Description

This is a slightly modified press photo. Image shows a cat tractor and men in foreground with some sort of sled structure behind the tractor. Other men are working at a sawmill under a shelter roof in near middle ground. A large pile of spruce logs is behind the mill and birch trees are on the hill beyond. Information with the photo indicates there are approximately 2,500 logs in the pile, enough to build 25 new Colony homes.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Image shows several soldiers preparing the roof of a large building for installation of roofing paper. The building is an additional warehouse facility at the Farmer's Matanuska Co-op. The Palmer water tower is prominent in middle ground, with fuel storage tanks, a small building and a railroad tank car adjacent. Two pump houses on the water supply line from the north are visible in middle ground, as is a large unidentified machine. In far middle ground is a field with many small hay stacks backed by heavy forest. Mountains are faintly visible in background.
Title

Soldiers Constructing Co-op Roof

Creator

Associated Press

Subject

Soldiers constructing Matanuska Co-op roof

Description

Image shows several soldiers preparing the roof of a large building for installation of roofing paper. The building is an additional warehouse facility at the Farmer's Matanuska Co-op. The Palmer water tower is prominent in middle ground, with fuel storage tanks, a small building and a railroad tank car adjacent. Two pump houses on the water supply line from the north are visible in middle ground, as is a large unidentified machine. In far middle ground is a field with many small hay stacks backed by heavy forest. Mountains are faintly visible in background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

This is a slightly enhanced press photo. Image shows transient laborers constructing tents to house arriving Matanuska Colonists at the Palmer town site. Two tent platforms are in foreground, men are constructing a tent frame in middle ground with several completed tents nearby. Snow-clad mountains are in background under scattered clouds.
Title

Tent City Construction

Creator

Ariville Schaleben

Subject

Laborers are erecting tents at the Palmer town site

Description

This is a slightly enhanced press photo. Image shows transient laborers constructing tents to house arriving Matanuska Colonists at the Palmer town site. Two tent platforms are in foreground, men are constructing a tent frame in middle ground with several completed tents nearby. Snow-clad mountains are in background under scattered clouds.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Image shows Matanuska Colonist Walt Pippel inspecting his cucumber plants through a window in his new hothouse on his Colony farm, tract #106, north of Palmer, Alaska.
Title

Walt Pippel 1

Creator

ACME Newspicture, Inc.

Subject

Colonist Walt Pippel inspecting his cucumber plants

Description

Image shows Matanuska Colonist Walt Pippel inspecting his cucumber plants through a window in his new hothouse on his Colony farm, tract #106, north of Palmer, Alaska.

Location

Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska

Image shows a winter scene of an unidentified woman clad in a fur parka walking in the driveway of a large log house. Deep snow is evident. Snow-clad mountains are in background. The house was once the site of the Davis Children's Home.
Title

Woman on a winter walk

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Woman walking in the snow

Description

Image shows a winter scene of an unidentified woman clad in a fur parka walking in the driveway of a large log house. Deep snow is evident. Snow-clad mountains are in background. The house was once the site of the Davis Children's Home.

Location

Matanuska Valley south of Palmer, Alaska

Image is of women in the Butte Homemakers Club, circa 1936, posing during one of their summer club meetings at one of their Colony homes south of Bodenberg Butte visible in the background.
Title

Women 1

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Butte Homemakers Club women pose standing in a field adjacent to one of their Colony homes with Bodenberg Butte in the background.

Description

Image is of women in the Butte Homemakers Club, circa 1936, posing during one of their summer club meetings at one of their Colony homes south of Bodenberg Butte visible in the background.

Location

Bodenberg Butte, Alaska

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