Title

Adam Werner 1

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Homesteader Adam Werner holding shocks of grain

Description

Image shows Homesteader Adam Werner standing in his field holding two shocks of grain. A pole with insulators attached stands beside him and a small log building is partially visible behind. Lazy mountain is in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Adam Werner 2

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Adam Werner at his first home site

Description

Image shows homesteader Adam Werner in his strawberry patch in front of his cabin located at its first location on his homestead “down the hill”. Cleared land surrounds the cabin with heavy forest beyond.

Location

Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Adam Werner's Homestead 1

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Werner’s First Cabin Site on His Homestead

Description

Image shows a wood slat fence in foreground, a strawberry patch, a log house, well, and two other log buildings in a large clearing with partly cleared forest on hills beyond. Note on the reverse: “Adams first house, 1914, when he homesteaded, where his cat could open the door. There were more small wild animals around then up until about 1925. He moved up here [to the present home location] because the wind blew to much down his chimney & snow drifty to much getting out to the road or trail he made. Eventually became a strawberry patch. Torn down 1931, some [logs and other material] brought up here.”

Location

Matanuska Valley near Palmer, Alaska

Title

Adam Werner’s Homestead 3

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Adam Werner’s Homestead

Description

Image shows a tilled field in foreground, a log house, barn, chicken house, fox pens, a hay stack and another small building in middle ground with heavy forest behind.

Location

Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska

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

Title

Cabbages 1

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Helen Stenvall holds two large cabbages grown by Max Sherrod of Palmer

Description

Image shows a woman, identified as Helen Stenvall, posing with two large cabbages grown by Max Sherrod of Palmer.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Cabbages 2

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Harold Sherrod holds one of Max Sherrod’s cabbages

Description

This is a summer color image of a man, identified as Harold Sherrod, holding one of the cabbages grown by his brother, Max Sherrod, at Palmer, Alaska. Max & Dorothy Sherrod’s house is behind.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Cabbages 3

Creator

Bob Munford

Subject

A truckload of giant cabbages grown by Colonist Ray Rebarchek sits on display in downtown Palmer

Description

Image is a summer view of a pickup loaded with giant cabbages parked in downtown Palmer. Location is at the corner of S. Alaska St. and W. Dogwood Ave. in front of a sign indicating occupants of the building out of sight to the left. The cabbages were grown by Colonist Ray Rebarchek on his farm south of Palmer. For several years Rebarchek and Max Sherrod competed actively to see who could grow the biggest cabbage for display at the Valley Fair in September.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Camp 9 Cows 1

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Colonist Bill Ising visits the cows of Camp 9. Cow at right is being milked.

Description

Colonist Bill Ising visits the cows belonging to residents of Camp 9 at milking time. Cow at right is being milked.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Carrots Exposed

Creator

Tom Day, USDA Soil Conservation Service

Subject

Farming

Description

Image shows a winter scene of several carrots in foreground sticking up from the soil indicating wind eroded the soil from around them. A black hat is nest to the carrots for scale. A typical Colony barn is in background across a barren field. Patches of snow are evident in the background.Farm identified as that of Al Saxton.

Location

Two miles north of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colonist's & Horses

Creator

Unnown

Subject

Allen Frederick & Bill Ising stand with their new teams of horses harnessed and ready to work

Description

Colonist's Allen Frederick & Bill Ising stand with their new teams of horses

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

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

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

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

Title

Colony Farm 10

Creator

Thomas Kodagraph

Subject

Pippel Colony Farm

Description

Image is a late summer view of a colony barn, well house and house with heavy cottonwood and birch forest beyond. A field of vegetables is at right with evidence that some crops have been harvested. The front of a truck is visible next to the barn. A horse is lying on the ground at right foreground. The farmstead is identified as that of Colonists Walt and Melva Pippel on tract #106 near Palmer, Alaska.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

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

Title

Colony Farm 13

Creator

Howard Doster, Army Photographer

Subject

Farm

Description

Image shows a Colony log house and typical Colony barn, a cow in foreground behind a barbed wire fence, two cars next to the house, trees and Pioneer Peak in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley South of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 14

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Matanuska Colony Farms

Description

Image is a low oblique showing a Matanuska Colony farmstead in foreground and another in middle ground, fields of shocked grain, and snow-capped Pioneer Peak in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley Near Bodenburg Butte

Title

Colony Farm 16

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Colony farm of Joe & Blanche Puhl

Description

Image is a late summer view of a Colony log home, a barn under construction, and harvested hay stacked on stakes to dry in foreground. Scattered birch and cottonwood trees are in foreground and middle ground with heavy forest as the backdrop.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 17

Creator

Howard Doster, Army Photographer

Subject

Matanuska Colony Farmstead

Description

Image is of a log house in the middle ground with a typical Colony barn partially visible behind. In foreground is a fence with a log arch and rails adjacent to a gravel road. Bodenburg Butte is visible in the background as is Pioneer Peak with adjacent clouds.

Location

On Springer Road System South of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 18

Creator

Thomas Kodagraph

Subject

A Colony farmstead house, barn and outbuildings with haystacks and fence in foreground

Description

Image is of a Colony farmstead showing the house, barn and outbuildings in middle ground with a fence and numerous haystacks in foreground. Birch and spruce forest forms the backdrop.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 19

Creator

Hewitts

Subject

Colony home and outbuildings of Walt & Melva Pippel

Description

Image is of Colonists Walt and Melva Pippel’s frame house and two outbuildings. Row crops are in foreground and beyond the buildings. A wood pile is apparent. A road is visible beyond the house, this being the Fishhook Road leading at left to Hatcher Pass and the gold mines. Beyond the road is a heavily forested ridge formed of wind-blown soil from the Matanuska River unseen just beyond. The Glenn Highway was later located on this ridge.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

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

Title

Colony Farm 20

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Colony farm and fields of harvested grain in shocks at the base of Bodenburg Butte

Description

Image is a fall view across fields of harvested and shocked grain to a Colony farmstead, identified as belonging to Colonists Ingolf and Agnes Sandvik. Bodenbutg Butte rises prominently to the left and other mountains to the right.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 21

Creator

Ruth Bailey

Subject

View of Chris Anderson’s Colony farmstead and snow plow clearing the highway on Bailey Hill north of Palmer

Description

Image is a winter scene of the Chris Anderson Colony farmstead, tract #113, as viewed from the Bailey farmstead, tract #152. A snow plow is visibly clearing snow from the main road leading north from Palmer as it crests Bailey Hill and passes between the two farms.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 22

Creator

A. Eide

Subject

Farmstead of Colonists Ferber & Ruth Bailey, Tract 152

Description

Image is a summer view of a Matanuska Colony house, barn and outbuildings, identified as belonging to Colonists Ferber and Ruth Bailey on tract #152 located on the northern outskirts of Palmer. The foreground is a harvested grain field partially disked. The barn would later be moved forward past the house to allow the Glenn Highway to be straightened by cutting through “Bailey Hill” at the location where the barn is shown in this photo.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

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

Title

Colony Farm 24

Creator

Mel Anderson

Subject

Colony farm along Palmer Fishhook Road north of Palmer

Description

Image is an easterly view of a red barn and other outbuildings of a Matanuska Colony farmstead located on tract #169 along the Palmer Fishhook Road north of Palmer. Snow-clad mountains form the prominent background

Location

Near of Palmer, Alaska

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

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

Title

Colony Farm 28

Creator

Clarence Sjodin

Subject

"Jr." Sjodin and his dog stand in the snow on the Sjodin farmstead with the Colony barn and chicken coop behind.

Description

Image shows "Jr." Sjodin and his dog in a winter scene in the Sjodin farmstead with the barn and chicken coop behind.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 30

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Winter view of a Colony farmstead

Description

Winter view is of a colony farmstead, identified as that of the Allen Frederick family, including a colony house, barn and several outbuildings, with a backdrop of snow-clad mountains and trees. Snow on the ground.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 31

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Frederick family house and barn are built and land clearing has begun in earnest

Description

Image shows the Frederick house and barn are built and land clearing has begun in earnest

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 32

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Some cleared land and buildings developed on his farm before Allen Frederick left the Matanuska Colony

Description

Image shows the barn and some other buildings plus some of the cleared land illustrating some of the work accomplished by Allen Frederick before he left the farm in 1940

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 33

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Summer view of the Pippel Colony farmstead including the house, wellhouse and barn

Description

View is of the Colony farmstead of Walt & Melva Pippel showing the house, wellhouse, barn and part of a field.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 34

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Early spring view of cold frames in foreground with a truck parked behind them with barrels on the back for hauling water to the plant in the cold frames. A small clearing beyond awaits planting.

Description

Cold frame covers are evident in foreground, a vintage truck with water barrels on the back is just beyond the cold frames. A small field is beyond with a fringe of trees in background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 35

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Early spring plants are shown in cold frames with a vintage truck nearby used to haul water to them.

Description

Image is a spring view across several cold frames with the covers raised to show plants growing below. A truck with water barrels on the back is at the side with an unplanted clearing beyond. Heavy brushy forest is the background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 36

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Several people stand at left viewing the cold frames and water truck on the Pippel farm.

Description

Image is a springtime view across a cleared field to a low hillside where several cold frames with white covers are installed. A truck, with water barrels evident on the back, is parked nearby. Several people stand at left.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 37

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

A woman and two young boys standing bent over in a large cabbage field as if harvesting.

Description

Summer overview of a cabbage field with a woman and two young boys working in it bent over as if harvesting.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 38

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

View of a Colony farmstead with log house and colony barn with distinctive "barrel vault" roof.

Description

Image is a summer view of a log house with white trim in foreground and a colony barn with a "barrel vault" roof beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 39

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

A colony house, two small outbuildings and an exposed water pump sit on bare ground as the beginning of a farmstead while new snow covers tops of nearby mountains indicate the summer construction seas is fast coming to an end.

Description

A new colony "Cottage", appearing externally complete, along with two other small buildings, an exposed pitcher pump and some scattered lumber, sits on bare ground next to the road to Matanuska and the railroad tracks south of Palmer. Pioneer Peak with new snow on top is in background.

Location

South of Palmer, Alaska

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

Title

Colony Farm 40

Creator

Des Moines Sunday Register

Subject

Cows and chickens populate the farmyard in front of a Colony barn and house. Snow on the mountain beyond indicates that winter is approaching.

Description

Image is of a barnyard with cows and chickens in foreground, a Colony barn and shed in middle ground, a white frame Colony house beyond, and Pioneer Peak with new snow on top in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 41

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

This late summer view shows crops growing on the Pipple farm with root piles as evidence of newly-cleared land preparing additional acreage ready to farm.

Description

Image shows the house, wellhouse and barn of Colonists Walter & Melva Pippel. Planted crops are in middle ground and root piles of newly-cleared ground in front. A field and uncut trees are in near background and mountains are visible in far background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 42

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Grass has recently been cut and place in haystacks to dry at an established Matanuska Colony farmstead.

Description

The central feature of the image is a white Colony "Cottage" with outbuildings behind at left. Haystacks of recently cut hay are in foreground. Trees are visible at right behind the house and heavy forest is apparent in middle background. Snowless mountains rise steeply in background. Byers Peak (Matanuska Peak) is prominent.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 5

Creator

Tom Day, USDA Soil Conservation Service

Subject

Farm

Description

Image shows a wire fence in foreground, numerous high tree stumps with several cows intermingled in the middle ground. Two typical Colony barns and other buildings are beyond with Bodenburg Butte and other mountains and forest in background. Caption: "Cows in stump pasture. One of the steps in land clearing."

Location

Two Miles South of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 6

Creator

Neil Miller

Subject

Farm

Description

Image is an easterly view across a partially harvested grain field with uncut grain and harvested grain shocks in the foreground, a Colony house and barn in middle ground with heavy forest behind. Mountains form the backdrop.

Location

Tract #99 Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farm 7

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Farms

Description

View is of a Colony farmstead, identified as that of Colonists Walter & Melva Pippel on tract #106. Open fields planted with various vegetables are prominent in foreground with the farmstead house and barn in middle ground. A touring car is prominent on the road passing through the property in the middle ground. Rooftops of the adjacent farmstead's barn and house on tract #112 are visible beyond. Trees border fields in middle and background with Talkeetna Mountains in far background.

Location

One mile north of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Farms 1

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Air view of colony farms as forest clearing begins

Description

Image is an oblique aerial view of six Colony farmsteads in 1936 showing the buildings constructed to date, progress being made in clearing the dense forest in which they are located and land beginning to be tilled.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Farms 2

Creator

Unknown

Subject

The Sjodin Colony farmstead on Scott Road is shown in foreground at left, the Hesse Colony farmhouse is at right. Buildings of the Puhl and Ekert Colony families are visible in mid-background beyond.

Description

Image is of four Colony farms located along Scott Road on the north side of Palmer. Shown in foreground is the Sjodin farm on tract #98 with the Hesse buildings to the right and the Phuhl and Ekert farm buildings in mid-background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Home 25

Creator

Ruth Bailey

Subject

Colony home of Ferber & Ruth Bailey and cabbage field

Description

Image shows several rows of cabbages in foreground with a two-story white house on the hill at middle ground, identified as the home of Colonists Ferber & Ruth Bailey, located on Tract # 152. Part of the pump house building is visible behind the house with trees beyond.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Kids 13

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

A young boy shows his 4-H project calf at the fair.

Description

"Colony Kid" Adelbert "Bubs" Ring shows his 4-H project calf at the first Matanuska Valley Fair in Palmer. A white blanket over the calf's back identifies them as part of the "Midnight Sun 4-H Club".

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Colony Kids 17

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Two colonist's sons, Jim and Bob Pippel, stand in a field of head-high grain in the Matanuska Valley.

Description

Two young boys stand in a field of head-high grain in the Matanuska Valley.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Colony Kids 6

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Marian Frederick and pets, Colony barn in backround

Description

Marian Frederick plays with pets, Frederick barn in background

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Community Center 2

Creator

Anton Anderson

Subject

Southeasterly view over the Co-op warehouse and creamery, including the new schoolhouse and gym. Preparations for celebrating the first Matanuska Valley Fair are evident with streetside booths, a baseball field and livestock barns visible.

Description

Oblique view looking southeast over the Co-op warehouse, creamery, the schoolhouse and gym. Preparations for celebrating the first Matanuska Valley Fair are evident with streetside booths, baseball field and livestock barns erected across the road at left. Homestead clearing and hay field in background.

Location

Palmer, Alasaka

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

Title

Experiment Farm 12

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Building Haystacks

Description

Image shows two men in a field of harvested hay in the foreground, lifting loose hay with pitchforks to place it over upright wooden stakes to form haystacks. A harvested grain field is just beyond with grain shocks evident. Fences, pasture land and trees are in far middle ground.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 14

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Hogs

Description

Image shows several Hampshire hogs and piglets in a stubble field with buildings of the Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm in far middle ground and forest beyond and mountains in background. A man is evident walking in the field in middle ground.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 15

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Man & Hogs

Description

Image shows Experiment Farm director M.D. Snodgrass standing in a fenced enclosure with three Hampshire hogs. A forested hill is in background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 17

Creator

Hewitt's Photo Shop

Subject

Experiment Farm

Description

Image is a high oblique west oriented overview of the Matanuska Experiment Farm and surrounding landscape. Land clearing patterns are obvious. Several small independent farmsteads are visible in small forest clearings. Lakes and roads are visible.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 18

Creator

“ACME” News Photos

Subject

Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm

Description

Image shows the Matanuska Experiment Farm buildings in middle ground, a field of harvested & shocked grain in foreground, forest behind the buildings and snow-topped Pioneer Peak prominent in background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 19

Creator

Don Irwin

Subject

Harvesting grain with a grain binder & two-horse team

Description

Image depicts a man riding a grain binder pulled by a two horse team with grain shocks in the foreground, buildings of the Matanuska Experiment Farm in near background, with Pioneer Peak & other Chugach Mountains beyond.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 20

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Digging Potatoes

Description

Image shows a partially harvested potato field with three men digging potatoes by hand using long-handled forks. Two rows of dug potatoes and several wooden tote boxes are evident in the foreground. A hay field with several haystacks is in middle ground and a bluff and forest are in background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 21

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Digging Potatoes

Description

Image shows a partially harvested potato field with a man digging potatoes by hand using a long-handled fork. Two rows of dug potatoes and an old truck are evident in the foreground. A harvested hay field with several haystacks is in middle ground and a bluff and forest are in background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 22

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Cultipacking With A Horse Team

Description

Image shows a man riding a cultipacker machine drawn by a team of two white horses in a field of tilled ground on the Matanuska Experiment Farm. A forest is in background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 30

Creator

Hewitts

Subject

Matanuska Experiment Farm

Description

Image shows a grass field in foreground, the barn, silos and associated buildings of the Experiment Farm in middle ground, forest behind and part of Pioneer Peak in background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 34

Creator

Don Irwin

Subject

People in a field at Matanuska Experiment Farm.

Description

This image shows two unidentified women and Father Merrill Sulzman, Palmer Catholic priest, standing in a bean field in front of the barn and other buildings of the Matanuska Experiment Farm near Matanuska, Alaska. They appear to be in the process of picking beans.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 39

Creator

Howard Doster

Subject

Springtime at the Experiment Farm appears quiet as preparations are made for a busy summer.

Description

This image, taken from the bench northwest of the Matanuska Experiment Farm, looks across open fields in foreground at the farm buildings in middle ground. To the right in far middle ground, two Colony barns and a house are visible on Colony tract #32. Pioneer Peak and Eklutna River Valley are apparent in background. Remnant snow is obvious on the mountain peaks.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 40

Creator

Hitchen

Subject

Hay and grain harvest is seen at the Experiment Farm.

Description

This black & white image looks southeast over the greenhouse and head house in foreground on the lower bench of the farm below the main building complex. A smaller building is near the house at far left. In middle ground a field of hay is harvested and placed on numerous vertical stakes scattered around the field to dry. Another field of grain at left has been harvested and the bundles have been formed into shocks to dry. A strip of heavy forest projects from the left in near background with a Colony farmstead visible in a clearing at center. Mountains of the Chugach Range form the background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 41

Creator

Hitchen

Subject

Hay and grain harvest is seen at the Experiment Farm.

Description

This black & white image looks down from one of the benches on the Experiment Farm at the flat crop land below. In foreground is a fenced portion sectioned into small parcels with a small hut in each (perhaps hog farrowing pens?). In middle ground are partially harvested hay fields at left with scattered haystacks, and at right are partially harvested grain fields with scattered grain shocks evident. Heavy timber at far middle ground define the field edge at left and the face of the bench land at right. A cleared section of the bench is visible in center background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Experiment Farm 6

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Haystacks

Description

Image shows a man standing in a field of harvested hay formed in haystacks in stakes in the foreground, trees in middle ground and mountains in background.

Location

Matanuska, Alaska

Title

Fair 6

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Image displays grains and fodder crops at the 1936 Matanuska Valley Fair

Description

Sample bunches of grain stalks stand on a table in a display at the 1936 Matanuska Valley Fair of grains and fodder plants grown in the region. Field peas and other fodder plants lie on the table.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Fair 7

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

The Wasilla 4-H Club exhibit at the 1936 Matanuska Valley Fair shows grains and other vegetables produced by club members.

Description

A display at the 1936 Matanuska Valley Fair with grain and forage crop samples hanging on the wall surrounding a sign identifying it as an exhibit by the Wasilla 4-H Club. Other product samples are displayed on two tables in front.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Fanny Werner at the Fair 1

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Fanny Werner and her Food Canning Entry at the Fair

Description

Note typed on the reverse: “Prize winning exhibit of canned products displayed by Mrs. Adam Werner, Palmer, Alaska at the Matanuska Valley Farmer’s Fair, August 30-31 and September 1, 1947. Mrs. Werner, a resident of Palmer since 1929 and mother of three 4-H members, displayed 43 quarts homegrown food including beef, sheep, sausage, fish, vegetables, berries, apples, jellies, mushrooms, dried herbs, butter, milk, cheese and vegetable confections. Her garden contains 18 varieties of herbs.”

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Farm 1

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Harvested Grain

Description

Image shows a field of harvested grain formed into shocks, a man stands beside a shock in middle ground, buildings are at the base of a bluff in far middle ground with forest beyond.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 10

Creator

Brickley

Subject

M. D. Snodgrass farm on the edge of Palmer

Description

Image is of a field of harvested and shocked grain in foreground with a log house and Colony-style barn and other buildings in middle ground. A fringe of trees frame the farmstead with Lazy Mountain in background. This farm belonged to M. D. Snodgrass who was instrumental in establishing the Matanuska Experiment Farm and in recruiting farmers from the states to come to Alaska to farm. He was also a supporter of the Matanuska Colony project and later made part of his farm land available for growth of the city of Palmer.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

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

Title

Farm 12

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Farm scene with log house, pasture land and cows

Description

Image is of a farm scene with a log house partially visible behind small trees, fenced pasture land with a herd of cows in middle ground and rolling hills beyond. Specific location is not determined.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 13

Creator

Jackson

Subject

Farm field of shocks of grain covered with snow

Description

Image shows a field of harvested grain formed into shocks to dry and not removed from the field before an early snowfall covered them. Pioneer Peak is prominent in background. Grain left late into winter in this way tended to reduce the quality of the feed somewhat and often fell victim to predation by moose wintering in the valley.

Location

South of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Farm 14

Creator

Unknown but probably Jackson

Subject

Farm field of hay stacks in winter

Description

Image shows a snow-covered field of harvested hay formed into stacks, mostly on vertical stakes. One larger stack is seen near the center of the field. Lazy Mountain and Buyer’s Peak are in background. Field is identified as located on the east side of the road and railroad tracks across from the Thuma Farm south of Palmer in 1939.

Location

South of Palmer, Alaska

Title

Farm 15

Creator

Cliff Marcus

Subject

Havemeister Colony farm on tract # 167

Description

Image is of the farmstead of Colonists Arnold and Emmy Havemeister on tract # 167 along East Bogard Road between Palmer and Wasilla. A typical Colony barn and other outbuildings are evident. Dairy cows are visible in the pasture and feed lot. Snow-capped Chugach Mountains are in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 16

Creator

Des Moines Sunday Register

Subject

The view is of an apparent Colony farmstead at the far end of a field cleared from the surrrounding forest. Mountains at the east end of Matanuska Valley are evident in background under dramatic clouds.

Description

Image is a brown tint news photo of a wide easterly view across a farm field with an apparent Colony farmstead at the far end. A starkly white road leads past the field. Heavy forest surrounds the scene with the mountains at the east end of Matanuska Valley in the background. Dramatic clouds are overhead.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 17

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Shocks of newly harvested grain dot a field south of Palmer while new snow caps the Talkeetna Mountains to the north.

Description

The image is a northerly view across a field of harvested grain formed into shocks to dry. Evidence of the town of Palmer is seen through intervening trees at the far end of the field. New snow caps the mountains in the background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Farm 18

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

Grain harvest has begun on fields south of Palmer in this August view.

Description

This landscape view looks northeasterly across grain fields, some of which have been harvested and the shocks are visible. An east-west lane is at the right leading to the Matanuska Road that runs horizontally across the image and parallel to the railroad track which is not visible. The east-west road continues on past the railroad tracks into heavy forest in the distance. The eastern mountains of the valley rise abruptly to form the backdrop of the image. Byers Peak (Matanuska Peak) is prominent.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 19

Creator

Hewitts Photo Shop

Subject

A grain field has been harvested and the crop formed into shocks while additional fields beyond are yet to be cut.

Description

A scene of grain fields and mountains in the Matanuska Valley. A large foreground field has been harvested and the grain bundles have been gathered into shocks to dry. Irregular fields beyond are yet to be cut. Heavy tree cover form the irregular edges of the fields. Pioneer Peak is prominent at right in near background with Chugach Mountains at the east end of the valley visible in far background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 2

Creator

Irv Plitt

Subject

Grain Harvest on Valley Farm

Description

Image shows a partially cut grain field with a grain binder machine in foreground and several shocks of grain. Buildings of a farmstead are visible in middle ground with forest and snow-capped mountains beyond. Lazy Mountain and Beyer’s Peak are evident.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

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

Title

Farm 21

Creator

Hitchen

Subject

Buildings of an unidentified Matanuska Valley farmstead await the coming winter after harvest is complete.

Description

This black & white fall photo shows a Matanuska Valley farmstead as seen from a gravel road partially visible running diagonally across the image at left foreground. A barbed wire fence parallels the road from right to left beyond the road ditch with a power pole in line at right. A field of grain stubble rises gently across the middle ground with the farmstead buildings arranged across the brow of the low hill. A white single-story house with peaked roof and attic window is at far left. A smaller dark building (wellhouse?) is close by to the right. Farther to the right is a small, fenced enclosure including two small structures, likely small animal barns. At far right is a low shed partially visible beyond a large two-story barn. The barn is longer than wide and not of the typical "Colony Barn" style. A fringe of mostly deciduous trees is visible behind the buildings at the left half of the image.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 22

Creator

Hitchen

Subject

A small group of dairy cows search out early spring grass on a Matanuska Valley farm.

Description

This photo shows several brown and white (Guernsey?) cows behind a barbed wire fence grazing an early spring pasture. A fringe of mixed spruce and leafless birch trees define the hilly foreground pasture. Another cleared rolling field is visible in middle ground with heavy mixed forest beyond. The still heavily snow-covered Talkeetna Mountains are prominent in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 23

Creator

Hitchen

Subject

A Valley homestead exhibits evidence of fall harvest as new snow begins to cover surrounding mountains.

Description

This color image shows a farm in the "Four Corners" area of the Valley. The location commonly known as "Four Corners" was where the Trunk Road, connecting Matanuska and the Experiment Farm with the gold mines to the north, crossed the road between Palmer and Wasilla. At one time there was a building at that location serving as dance hall and convenient gathering spot for folks of the surrounding area. This photo displays one of the homesteads in that area. In the near foreground, occupying almost half of the image, is an area of disturbed soil, likely a recently harvested field of potatoes. Across the center of the image in middle ground is a narrow view of a large grain field with harvested grain formed into shocks to dry. At left in this field are several small buildings and fences. Beyond the grain field is a narrow strip of heavy forest stretching across the image on the face of raised bench land. In the background stand heavily snow-covered Pioneer Peak and other Chugach Mountains in late afternoon sun.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 3

Creator

Howard Doster, Army Photographer

Subject

Farm

Description

Image shows an early fall scene of a field of several rows of potatoes with grain field beside it. Some of the grain had been cut, bundled and shocked. Buildings are visible at the far end of the field with dense forest surrounding all. High mountains are in background with early snow on top and white clouds above. Doster was apparently traveling in the company of Erv Plitt, another Army photographer, who took a similar photo at the same time from the far side of the grain field at right. That image is in our Plitt Collection and shown on this site as Farm 2.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

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

Title

Farm 5

Creator

Cliff Marcus USDA Soil Conservation Service

Subject

Farming

Description

Image shows a tractor pulling a grain binder in a grain field, cutting and bundling the grain, identified as barley. The foreground exhibits stubble where the grain had been cut, with numerous harvested bundles on the ground. One man is on the tractor, another on the binder at the edge of the uncut grain beyond. Roof tops of several buildings are visible beyond the grain field. Heavy forest is in background with clouds above. Location is identified as Art Thompson's farm on Scott Road just north of Palmer.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Farm 6

Creator

Cliff Marcus, USDA Soil Conservation Service

Subject

Farm

Description

Image shows a summer season fenced in foreground with a farmstead in middle ground at the base of Bodenburg Butte. Mountains are in background. Caption: "Leonard William's farm. Brome fields with Bodenburg Butte in background."

Location

Bodenburg Butte, Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 7

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Matanuska Valley farmstead

Description

Image is a southerly view of a two-story log house in center middle ground with another building at right. A single lane road is in foreground with wood posts and hog wire fence on both sides. Stump piles are visible at left. Snow-clad mountains are in background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 8

Creator

Jackson

Subject

Haystacks in a field

Description

Image is a northerly view of a hay field with many haystacks in foreground and middle ground. A house and other buildings are visible in far middle ground. Heavy forest surround the field with Talkeetna Mountains in the background.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farm 9

Creator

Hewitts Photo

Subject

Farmstead buildings with harvested grain in foreground and mountains in background

Description

Image shows a farmstead with a barn not of the typical Colony style, with shocked grain in foreground and heavy forest beyond. Mountains are in background with Mt. Marcus Baker in the Knik River Valley visible.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farming 12

Creator

Unknown

Subject

A tractor pulls a grain drill and cultipacker, planting newly cleared ground

Description

Image is a summer view of two men planting a grain crop. One man is driving an early model Farmall tractor pulling a grain drill and cultipacker on a newly cleared field. Another man, identified as Ferber Bailey, is riding on the grain drill. A windrow of burned stumps is at the field edge with birch and spruce forest behind.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Title

Farming 14

Creator

T.H. Day USDA Soil Conservation Service

Subject

Farming

Description

Image shows a man, identified as Max Sharrod, digging potatoes with his Ford tractor pulling a potato digger on his farm in north Palmer. Sharrod's house is visible behind two large cottonwood trees and a grain field is visible in middle ground. Trees, Talkeetna mountains and clouds are in the background.

Location

Palmer, Alaska

Title

Farming 15

Creator

Unknown

Subject

Two men hand picking recently dug potatoes

Description

Image is of two men, likely soldiers on leave from Fort Richardson in Anchorage, hand picking potatoes. The potatoes have been mechanically dug and are lying on the ground. The men place the potatoes in wire baskets, visible next to them, which are then emptied into burlap bags, also visible behind them. The filled bags will then be collected and hauled to the farm root cellar for storage and later processing. Off duty soldiers often provided an important labor force to area farmers during the critical harvest time before the onset of winter.

Location

Matanuska Valley, Alaska

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