Berts

Estelle Collection

Spring 1936

This early springtime view, taken from atop a rail car, looks northwest showing some of the buildings of the developing commercial district west of the tracks. The railroad tracks are visible paralleling the extreme right image border. A line of telegraph poles and wire parallel the tracks at left and a gravel street runs parallel to the left of the poles from left foreground to right middle ground. Set back to the left from the street in middle ground are several buildings that would soon house important commercial businesses on Palmer's main street. The first of these at left has a false front with a large sign over the door identifying it as Bert's Drugstore. Split firewood is stacked against the south outside wall. Kosloskys store is the next retail building in line to the right, proclaimed by large white letters on the south wall and a sign on the false front facing the street. Next door on the right is another building with a false front sporting "Sally's Cafe" over the right half. Horton's two-story building stands next in line to the right with its water tower obvious behind. Many other small buildings and tents are partially visible behind the ones mentioned. Several cars are parked in front of the foreground buildings and several people are visible as well. Beyond the buildings is a strip of forest covering the bench lands in far middle ground. A white house centered at the crest of the top bench appears to be that of Colonist Ferber Bailey after whom "Bailey Hill" would later take its name. Snow-covered Talkeetna Mountains are obvious across the background of the image. Considerable remnant snow is apparent in foreground and among the buildings.

Palmer, Alaska

Digital image

Palmer@5x-Est