Ferber and Ruth Bailey, and two young children, from Lena, WI were original Colonists drawing tract 152 on what became known as "Bailey Hill" just north of Palmer. Photos in their collection include members of the Bailey family as it grew, their Colony farm buildings, as well as other people and activities associated with the early days of the Matanuska Colony Project.
Big Wheel 1
Unknown
An army “Big Wheel” overland train parked beside the railroad track in downtown Palmer
Image is of an Army “Big Wheel” overland train parked beside the railroad track in downtown Palmer. An Army truck is backed up to the cab of the train. The date is yet to be determined.
Palmer, Alaska
Big Wheel 2
Unknown
An army “Big Wheel” overland train parked beside the railroad track in downtown Palmer
Image is of an Army “Big Wheel” overland train parked beside the railroad track in downtown Palmer. A fork lift is in front of the vehicle’s cab and appears to be lifting a man up to clean the cab’s windows. The date is yet to be determined.
Palmer, Alaska
Big Wheel 3
Unknown
An army “Big Wheel” overland train parked beside the railroad track in downtown Palmer
Image is of an Army “Big Wheel” overland train parked beside the railroad track in downtown Palmer. The theater building is visible beyond the railroad tracks to the right. Date of the photo is yet to be determined.
Palmer, Alaska
Bridge 3
Ruth Bailey
Knik River Bridge under construction
Image is a winter view of the Knik River Bridge under construction showing a derrick on the wooden platform ready to hoist steel girders into place. Pioneer Peak mountainside is the backdrop.
Knik River south of Palmer, Alaska
Camp 7 Girls
Ruth Bailey
The three Miller girls holding Nona Fay Bailey at Colonist Camp 7
Image is a summer view of four girls, identified as Mary Miller holding baby Nona Fay Bailey, Priscilla Miller in center, and Janell Miller at right. Nona Fay was the daughter of Colonists Ferber & Ruth Bailey. The other three were daughters of Colonists Neil and Margaret Miller. They are standing in front of one of the tents located at the temporary Colonist camp #7 north of Palmer, Alaska.
Camp 7 north of Palmer, Alaska
Camp 7 Tents
Ruth Bailey
Tents of Temporary Camp 7
Image shows six white Colony tents in a row at Camp #7. A small child stands in the path at right. Camp 7 was located on Tract #157 drawn by Albert Fredericks along the Fishhook Road north of Palmer, Alaska. This tract was located on what had apparently previously been part of a homestead with buildings and some land already cleared.
North of Palmer, Alaska
Church 16
Harry Wolfe, Architect
Architect’s rendering of the new Catholic Church to be built in Palmer.
Image is of the architect’s rendering of the new St. Michael’s Catholic Church to be built in Palmer, Alaska to serve the increase in population associated with the Matanuska Colony project.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Buildings 1
Ruth Bailey
Colony Pump House, Garage & Barn of Ferber & Ruth Bailey
Image is a winter, easterly view, of the barn, garage and pump house of Colonists Ferber & Ruth Bailey, located on Tract # 152. A two-story hexagonal tower at the back of the pump house is identified as the water tank enclosure. The barn is at its original location before it was moved to make way for the highway construction cut straitening the Glen Highway up Bailey Hill.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Buildings 2
Ruth Bailey
Colony Pump House & Barn of Ferber & Ruth Bailey
Image is a winter scene of a small white, single story building in foreground, identified as the pump house of Colonists Ferber & Ruth Bailey, located on Tract # 152. A two-story hexagonal tower at the back of the pump house is identified as the water tank enclosure. Part of the barn is visible behind the pump house at its original location before it was moved to make way for the highway construction cut straitening the Glen Highway up Bailey Hill.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Family 2
Unknown
Ferber & Ruth Bailey family
Image is of the Ferber & Ruth Bailey family taken next to their Colony house in summer of 1940. Children are identified as Ferber Gene, Nona Fay, Janice, David and Ardith.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 21
Ruth Bailey
View of Chris Anderson’s Colony farmstead and snow plow clearing the highway on Bailey Hill north of Palmer
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Fishing Crew
Unknown
Men associated with the Matanuska Colony pose with salmon they have caught.
Image is a summer view of seven men gathered around the back of a pickup truck. A man at left, identified as Colonist Chris Anderson, is holding two salmon in his hands. Additional salmon are visible in the back of the truck. Rev. Bert Bingle leans against the truck next to Anderson. Young Gene Bailey stands front and center.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Home 33
Unknown
Colonist’s new log home and the tent that served as temporary living quarters while the house was being built
Image is of a newly-constructed Colony log home beside a Colony tent that furnished temporary quarters to the family while the house was being built. Logs and lumber are in foreground and heavy forest is behind.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Home 34
Unknown
Colonist’s new log home and the tent that served as temporary living quarters while the house was being built
Image is of a newly-constructed Colony log home in a forest setting. A Colony tent that furnished temporary quarters to the family while the house was being built is visible behind the house. Cloths hang on a clothesline and heavy forest is close behind.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Home 25
Ruth Bailey
Colony home of Ferber & Ruth Bailey and cabbage field
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Home 26
Unknown
Two men with a caterpillar tractor readying a Colony house to be moved to a new location
Image is of a log Colony house being readied to be moved. One man, identified as colonist Ferber Bailey, operates a caterpillar tractor while an unidentified man assists in placing transport beams under the house. Over the years since the Matanuska Colony houses were constructed in 1935, many have been moved from their original locations as farms were consolidated and as housing was needed in Palmer or elsewhere throughout the valley.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Home 27
Unknown
Two men on a caterpillar tractor with a Colony house ready to be moved to a new location
Image is of a log Colony house ready to be moved. One man, identified as Ferber Bailey, stands on a caterpillar tractor while an unidentified man sits at the controls. Support beams and wheels are visible under the house. Over the years since the Matanuska Colony houses were constructed in 1935, many have been moved from their original locations as farms were consolidated and as housing was needed in Palmer or elsewhere throughout the valley.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Home 28
Unknown
A house is being pulled down the road by a caterpillar tractor. A man is walking on the road toward the house
Image is of a log Colony house being pulled down the narrow road by a caterpillar tractor while a man, observing the progress, walks toward the house. Fields and forest are visible in background. Over the years since the Matanuska Colony houses were constructed in 1935, many have been moved from their original locations as farms were consolidated and as housing was needed in Palmer or elsewhere throughout the valley.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Kids 3
Ruth Bailey
Gene Bailey & Jerry Yohn show white snowshoe rabbits they brought home from hunting
Image is of Colonist children Gene Bailey (left) and Jerry Yohn exhibiting snowshoe rabbits (varying hares) that their hunting will contribute to the family dinner tables.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony School Bus 2
Unknown
Colony School Bus
Image is a winter view of one of four school busses operated by the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation in administration of the Matanuska Colony Project.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Community Center 1
Hewitts Photo Shop
Two horses in the Palmer Community Center
Image is a fall or spring view of two harnessed horses in the Palmer Community Center taking a break from their labors. Colony buildings, including the “Dorm” and staff houses are visible in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Farming 12
Unknown
A tractor pulls a grain drill and cultipacker, planting newly cleared ground
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farming 15
Unknown
Two men hand picking recently dug potatoes
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farming 13
Unknown
: A tractor pulls a grain drill and cultipacker planting grain on a Colony farm with barn, house and outbuildings in background.
Image is of a Colony farmstead with a steel-wheeled tractor pulling a grain drill and cultipacker in the field in foreground. A Colony house, barn and outbuildings are in the background. One man is driving the tractor with another, identified as Ferber Bailey, riding on the packer behind the drill.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farming 16
Unknown
Colonist Walt Pippel showing freshly-dug potatoes
Image is of Colonist Walt Pippel displaying freshly-dug potatoes
Palmer, Alaska
Ferber Bailey 1
Unknown
Ferber (Ferb) Bailey stands in the doorway of a house.
Image is of Colonist Ferber Bailey standing in the doorway of a house.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Firewood Harvest 1
Ruth Bailey
A man stands atop a sled loaded with logs for firewood being pulled by two horses near the Bailey barn.
Image is a winter scene of a man standing atop a sled loaded with firewood logs and being pulled by two horses, identified as “Rock” and “Riley”. A portion of the Bailey barn is visible showing the logs before they were covered with horizontal lap siding boards.
Palmer, Alaska
Frenchy 2
Unknown
George Bellefontaine stands for his photograph.
A young man, identified as George "Frenchy" Bellefontaine, dressed in a dark suit, striped tie, black shoes and light-colored hat, stands with hands on hips for his formal photograph beside a wicker chair in front of a painted backdrop.
Unknown
Grace Anderson 1
Unknown
Colonist Grace Anderson sits at her loom, made by her husband, Chris
Image is of Colonist Grace Anderson sitting at her loom where she weaves scarves and other small items. The loom was made for her by her husband, Chris Anderson.
Palmer, Alaska
Haystacks 4
Ruth Bailey
A large stack of hay bales with horses feeding at the edge
Image is of a tall stack of hay bales with four horses feeding at the edge. Behind the hay is a stack of filled bags, mostly covered with tarps. A grain drill is partially visible at left. A caption accompanying the photo is “Hay Shipped From Seattle at $60 a Ton”. That cost would be equivalent to approximately $1,140 per ton in 2020 dollars.
Palmer, Alaska
Inspiration Point 2
Bert's
View of the Chugach Mountains and Matanuska & Knik valleys from Bailey Hill
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 and a road section showing the curve in alignment necessary to ascend Bailey Hill, ultimately arriving at the point from which this photo was taken. This was the only point on the road providing this expansive view of the Valley, thus the local name “Inspiration Point”, and a popular stop for photographs. The road, which ultimately became Glenn Highway, was later straightened to cut through Bailey Hill, eliminating this section. In foreground is a two-wheel dirt track showing where some drivers turned from the road to dive over the steep hill, cut across the field below, and arrive back at the road as visible in this picture, thus cutting off the longer route down the hill.
Palmer, Alaska
Jack Hermon
Ruth Bailey
Railroad Detective, thought to be Colonist Jack Hermon, providing law enforcement within the Matanuska Colony.
Image is of a man, thought to be Colonist Jack Hermon, posing with his railroad detective badge, hand gun & night watchman’s clock. The family album containing this photo mistakenly identified the man as Don Irwin, Matanuska Colony manager. Irwin, in his book concerning the Colony, "The Colorful Matanuska Valley", discusses theft problems connected with the project and identifies Hermon as the man appointed as Deputy Railroad Detective with authority to deal with law enforcement. Irwin writes, “Hermon was an ex-Marine and tough. He could be found at most any hour checking on the camp and making his rounds in the warehouse and storage areas.”
Palmer, Alaska
Land Clearing 2
Unknown
Ferber Bailey clearing ground with his caterpillar tractor
Image shows a man, identified as Colonist Ferber Bailey, operating a caterpillar tractor, clearing brush and grass
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Land Clearing 3
Unknown
Ferber Bailey clearing ground with his caterpillar tractor
Image shows a man, identified as Colonist Ferber Bailey, operating a caterpillar tractor, clearing brush and trees. Heavy spruce, birch and alder forest beyond.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Little Susitna Lodge 1
Unknown
Two men and a pickup truck stand in front of the Little Susitna Lodge in 1960
Image is of a portion of a large white building, identified as the Little Susitna Lodge, with two men standing in front. The man on the left is identified as Bill Betts. A pickup truck is partially visible in front as well. A “Hamm’s Beer” sign is evident on the building wall. This establishment, on the road to numerous gold mines in the mountains nearby, had a history of burning down several times and being re-built to operate under various business names including “Little Su Roadhouse”, “Fishhook Inn”, “Little Susitna Lodge” and “Mother Load Lodge”. It burned again April 17, 2015.
Little Susitna Valley North of Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Depot 3
Unknown
Palmer Railroad Depot
Image is a winter scene showing the southwest view of the Palmer railroad depot. Exterior construction appears essentially complete but some scaffolding still in place and construction material still about. Windows are covered on the inside possibly indicating interior work still in progress. Photo probably taken winter of 1936-37. Black smoke issues from an unidentified smoke stack.
Palmer, Alaska
People 19
Ruth Bailey
Colonist Ferber Bailey and daughter Nona Fay show cabbages grown on the Bailey farm
Image is of Colonist Ferber Bailey and daughter Nona Fay in a vegetable patch showing off cabbages grown on the Bailey farm on Tract #152 near Palmer. Chugach Mountains are faintly visible in background.
Palmer, Alaska
People 20
Unknown
The Ferber Bailey and Harry Campbell families with luggage at the Green Bay, Wisconsin train depot on their way to the Matanuska Colony project in Alaska.
This is a press photo of two families selected to take part in the Matanuska Colony Project as they arrive at the Green Bay, Wisconsin train depot on their journey to Alaska. They are identified as, left to right: Ferber Bailey holding his ten month old daughter, Nona Fay; Gene Bailey; and Ruth Bailey. Theodora Campbell and husband, Harry Campbell are at right.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
People 21
Ruth Bailey
Colonist Ferber Bailey and son Gene, show cabbages and grain grown on the Bailey farm
Image is of Colonist Ferber Bailey and son Gene in a grain field showing off cabbages grown on the Bailey farm on Tract #152 near Palmer. Chugach Mountains are faintly visible in background.
Palmer, Alaska
People 22
Unknown
Ferber & Ruth Bailey, with son Gene, in Wisconsin in 1930
Image is of the Bailey family—Ferber, Ruth, and son Gene. Photo taken in Wisconsin five years prior to moving to Alaska as part of the Matanuska Colony Project in 1935. They are standing in front of a late model car with a tarpaper house behind. For many of the Colonists the move to Alaska presented a dramatic change in social norms and life styles. Considering the adornment of suit coat and tie evident in this photo, perhaps none more so than for Ferb Bailey.
Wisconsin
People 23
Unknown
Ferber Bailey & Walt Pippel Families in the back of a truck enjoying an outing at the south end of the Knik River Bridge.
Image is of the Bailey and Pippel families in the back of a truck with Walt Pippel and Ferb Bailey standing alongside. They are identified as being on a picnic outing at the south end of the new Knik River Bridge south of Palmer. This location apparently became a “destination” for many in the Palmer area shortly after the bridge opened in the fall of 1936. Several collections in the museum from different sources contain photos of people and their automobiles here at the southerly approach to the bridge.
Knik River south of Palmer, Alaska
People 46
Unknown
John Tully stands next to a display of animal pelts assumed to be results of his trapping success.
Trapper John Tully stands beside a truck displaying pelts of lynx, fox, coyote, otter, and ermine hanging from its side and two sets of moose antlers at his feet. He holds a rifle.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
People 47
Unknown
John Tully stands facing the camera in front of a field of grain next to a small girl identified as Nona Bailey.
Homesteader John Tully stands before a grain field beside a small girl identified as Nona Bailey.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Powerhouse 3
Unknown
Powerhouse building in Palmer’s Community Center
Image shows the powerhouse and part of the warehouse at right in the Palmer Community Center with snow on the ground. Thought to be winter of 1935-36.
Palmer, Alaska
Rail Car School 4
Unknown
Railroad car on the Palmer siding used as a school
Image is a winter view of the rail car used as a classroom for Palmer’s 1st & 2nd grades during the 1935-36 school year while the new Palmer school was under construction.
Palmer, Alaska
Sawmill 6
Unknown
A sawmill complex located near Bodenburg Butte
Image is a summer view of a sawmill complex of buildings, logs, sawdust and scraps of wood, identified as “Arnt and Bailey’s Camp”. Location is identified as near Bodenburg Butte and Camp 10. A Caterpillar tractor is also visible.
Near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska
Sawmill 7
"C.G.S."
A sawmill complex located near Bodenburg Butte
Image is summer view of a sawmill, identified as “Arnt and Bailey’s Mill”, with a roof over the mill, and logs staged to be cut. Location is identified as near Bodenburg Butte and Camp 10.
Near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska
Sawmill 8
"C.G.S."
A sawmill with large piles of lumber located near Camp 10 and Bodenburg Butte
Image is a summer view of a sawmill, possibly the “Arnt and Bailey’s Mill”, with a roof over the mill, stacks of sawn lumber, and a large slab pile. A truck is visible in foreground. Two men are visible. Location is identified as near Bodenburg Butte and Camp 10.
Near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska
Shorty Kircher
Unknown
Emil “Shorty” Kircher, Co-op machinist
Image is of a man, identified as Emil “Shorty” Kircher, standing in front of the Co-op Garage in Palmer. “Shorty”, as he was commonly known, was a German immigrant who, with his brother, acquired a homestead west of Palmer. After the coming of the Matanuska Colony, he took a job as mechanic and machinist at the Co-op Garage and was known to be highly skilled and well regarded.
Palmer, Alaska
Tractors 1
Hewitts Photo Shop
Newly arrived Caterpillar tractors for the Matanuska Colony Project are being prepared for service
Image is of a number of Caterpillar tractors, newly arrived in Palmer for use associated with the Matanuska Colony Project. Men are visible inspecting and servicing the tractors to get them ready to be put to work.
Palmer, Alaska
Vic Yohn 1
Unknown
Colonist Vic Yohn pauses with his mule from harrowing ground for spring planting.
Image is of Colonist Victor Yohn pausing with his mule from harrowing ground in preparation for spring planting. Original Colonists Victor, and Manila Bay Yohn drew tract #164 near Bodenburg Butte for their new farm.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Water Tower 1
Hewitts Photo Shop
Early water tower erected to support the Matanuska Colony Project in Palmer
Image is of a water tank atop a four-legged pole tower to provide water under pressure to Matanuska Colony Project facilities in Palmer prior to construction of the permanent water tower in 1936.
Palmer, Alaska
