Irvin Plitt was a photographer who settled in the Palmer area in the late 1940's and operated photo-related businesses in the town through mid 1955, including the Palmer Photographic Center and the Palmer Drug Store. The collection includes 74 images including numerous local residents, soldiers, fishing related facilities at Goose Bay, and Palmer main street businesses.
Bert’s Drug Fire
Unknown
Bert’s Drugstore on Fire
Image shows a crowd of people in foreground facing a burning building, flames & smoke exit doors and windows while two men hose water on the flames.
Palmer, Alaska
Boat Launch Facility
Unknown Army Photographer
Army Site
Image shows a small boat launch facility at the army R&R camp at Goose Bay. A wooden skiff with outboard motor and several barrels are in foreground at the base of a bluff. Stairs and slide rails rise from the beach to the top of the bluff. The fish drying rack is visible on top of the bluff. Three soldiers are evident: one at the bottom of the stairs holding a camera is identified as Irv Plitt, one is at the top of the stairs & one is by the drying rack viewing the bay through a telescope identified as having been captured from the Japanese at Atu Island. Soil and gravel stratigraphy of the bluff is evident below the drying rack.
Goose Bay, Alaska
Boys On The Hay Wagon
Unknown, probably Irv Plitt
Children
Image is a summer scene showing six small boys sitting on a farm hay wagon with shrubs and forest beyond.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Church 12
Unknown
Eklutna Russian Orthodox Church
Image is of the old log church at Eklutna Village, facing the front entry. Prominent is the bell tower over the entry porch. Scattered trees adjacent and snow-clad mountains beyond.
Eklutna, Alaska
Church 4
Unknown, possibly Irv Plitt
Palmer Lutheran Church
Image is of the front (west side) of the log Lutheran church with grass expanse in front and birch trees beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Church 5
Unknown, possibly Irv Plitt
Palmer Lutheran Church
Image is of the front (west side) of the Palmer Lutheran log church with birch trees in foreground and a mountain beyond. A sign is visible in the left foreground and a plaque is visible on the church wall.
Palmer, Alaska
Church 9
Unknown
Funeral setting in Palmer Protest Church
Image is of the interior of the Palmer Protestant Church, unoccupied pews in foreground, a closed casket in front with floral bouquets prominent.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 14
Unknown
Matanuska Colony Farms
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.
Matanuska Valley Near Bodenburg Butte
Colony Farm 3
Unknown-Possibly Irv Plitt
Two Women & Child and Colony Farmstead
Image shows two women and small child standing in a garden with a Colony farmstead behind them and forest beyond.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 2
Irv Plitt
Grain Harvest on Valley Farm
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Fish Drying Rack 1
Unknown, Possibly Irv Plitt
Army Site
Image shows a fish smoking & drying rack established by the Army at Goose Bay on Cook Inlet. A stack of split firewood is in near foreground in front of the drying rack holding a large number of hanging salmon. A canvas tarp covers part of the structure. A Quanset Hut is visible behind the rack with forest beyond.
Goose Bay, Cook Inlet, Alaska
Fish Drying Rack 2
Unknown Army Photographer
Army Site
Note on reverse of photo indicates the image shows soldiers Irv Plitt (left) and another identified as “Glass”, standing next to the salmon drying facility at Goose Bay and viewing the bay through a Japanese telescope captured at Atu Island.
Goose Bay, Alaska
House 2
Unknown, Possibly Irv Plitt
Matanuska Colonist House & Outbuildings
Image shows a white house and white outbuildings including two small chicken houses and a small greenhouse. Several white chickens are apparent and milk cans are next to the outbuilding near the house. A bicycle and sawbuck are in the foreground, a field in middle ground with forest and mountains visible beyond. This appears to be another view of House#1.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
House 3
Unknown, Possibly Irv Plitt
Matanuska Colonist House
Image shows an early spring view of a log house with entry porch, a car parked next to the porch, a small doghouse next to the porch, an uncovered greenhouse in foreground, forest and snow-clad mountains beyond. This appears to be the south side of House#4.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
House 4
Unknown, Possibly Irv Plitt
Matanuska Colony House
Image is a summer view of a log house with a gate post and rail fence in foreground. A woman appears to stand behind the gate post. An outbuilding and part of a car are visible in middle ground, trees and mountains are evident beyond. This appears to be the north side of House#3.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
House 5
Unknown, Possibly Irv Plitt
Matanuska Colony House
Image is an early spring view of a house with snow patches in the yard. A small boy is playing in the snow. A pickup truck is parked next to the house, an outbuilding is in the middle ground with trees and snow-clad Pioneer Peak beyond. This appears to be a later view of House#4.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
House 6
Unknown
House, Log House, Snow, Woman
Image is a winter view of a log house with a woman standing in the entry porch area, forest is visible beyond.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
House 7
Unknown
Matanuska Colony House and Outbuilding
Image shows a white house and small white outbuilding with a greenhouse attached, clothesline posts adjacent, tilled ground in foreground, forest and mountains in background.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Lazy Mountain Outing
Unknown
Woman & Children on Lazy Mountain Trail
Image shows a summer view of a woman and seven small children standing at the trail near the foot of Lazy Mountain. The slope up the mountain to the peak is prominent in back ground, a portion of a cabin is evident in middle ground. Portions of the trail across the cleared field are evident.
Lazy Mountain Near Palmer, Alaska
Matanuska Railroad Station 1
Unknown (Possibly Plitt)
Matanuska Railroad Station
Image shows the track-side view of the Matanuska depot building looking south, with a semaphore signal pole on the left, both wood and concrete dock in foreground, a baggage cart, and a flower box with strings attached to the wall to support climbing flowers. No flowers are evident.
Matanuska, Alaska
Palmer Air View 5
Unknown
Aerial view of Palmer
Image is an east-facing aerial oblique of Palmer and surrounding area including John Bugge’s homestead, the Palmer airport, Matanuska River and mountains beyond, including Lazy Mountain.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Depot 6
Unknown
Palmer Railroad Depot
Image shows the Palmer railroad depot viewed from the southwest corner, including railroad tracks in foreground, an ARRC pickup truck, a railroad semaphore signal, part of the Palmer water tower, power poles, and smoke from the powerhouse. On the dock is a man moving a freight cart, a loaded freight cart, and several milk cans. Rail cars are on the siding behind the depot and mountains are partly visible in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Depot 7
Unknown-Possibly Irv Plitt
Palmer Railroad Depot & Koslosky’s Store
Image shows the south end of the Palmer railroad depot and Koslosky’s department store across the street beyond. Automobiles parked in front of Koslosky’s are partly visible. The Valley Hotel under construction next to the store is partially visible. The hotel was constructed in 1946-47 & opened in 1948. Evidence of its partial completion identifies the photo date as probably 1947.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Street 3
Unknown
Downtown Palmer Buildings & Automobiles
Image is of downtown Palmer storefronts and automobiles parked in front on a snow-covered street. Business signs are visable.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Street 4
Unknown, Probably Irv Plitt
Downtown Palmer Buildings & Business Signs
Image is of downtown Palmer storefronts and an automobile parked in front. Business signs are prominent for a Market, Barber Shop & Palmer Photographic Center.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Street 5
Unknown-Possibly Irv Plitt
Downtown Palmer Buildings & Business Signs
Color image shows storefront “Palmer Photo Art” & “Johnson’s Barber Shop” with a car parked in front, snow on ground & car.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Street 6
Unknown-possibly Irv Plitt
Matanuska Valley Bank
The image shows a summer view of the northern end of Koslosky’s Department Store occupied by Matanuska Valley Bank with the bank signs in the windows. A truck is parked in front of the bank. A workman is visible standing on a ladder at the top story window of the Valley Hotel at right.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Street 7
Unknown-Possibly Irv Plitt
Palmer Drug Store Excavation
Image shows a springtime scene of excavation for construction of the Palmer Drug Store with a pile of gravel in foreground & a “cat” in the hole pushing out more. The Valley Hotel is prominent across the street. Cars & trucks are parked along the street. A man is on the “cat” and another is walking in the street. Houses & a Quonset Hut are visible in middle ground with forest and snow-laced Talkeetna Mountains beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Street 8
Unknown-Possibly Irv Plitt
Palmer Drug Store Construction
Image shows a concrete block basement, brick chimney & basement floor joists in foreground, a gravel pile and street beyond. The Matanuska Valley Bank in Koslosky’s building and the Valley Hotel are prominent across the street. Two cars & a pickup are parked along the street.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Street 9
Unknown
Palmer, Alaska
Image is a street scene of downtown Palmer businesses with vehicles parked in front. Numerous signs are evident and a variety of vehicles. Gravel street in foreground, snow-clad mountains in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 4
Unknown
Palmer, Alaska
Image shows the town of Palmer viewed from Bugge’s Hill looking east. Gravel road bed and trees in foreground, snow-capped mountains with clouds overhead in background. Lazy Mountain and Byer’s Peak are evident. This photo was probably taken the same day as the one coded Man@1-Plt in the Plitt collection.
Palmer, Alaska
Sign Truck
Unknown, probably Irv Plitt
Palmer Sign Company Truck
Image shows a pick-up truck with words painted on the cab, side door and tail gate advertising signs and the Palmer Sign Co. Three buildings are partially visible in middle ground with forest and mountains faintly visible beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Vern Brickley, Photographer
Probably Irv Plitt
Man
Image is of an army photographer setting up his view camera. Location is atop homesteader John Bugge’s hill with fields and forest land in foreground and middle ground. Mountains beyond. Camera is oriented for photographing the town of Palmer. This photo was likely taken on the day three Army photographers: Irv Plitt, Howard Doster and Vern Brickley, came up to the valley from their base at Elmendorf Field near Anchorage to capture photos of the area.
Palmer, Alaska
“Alaska Railroad at Palmer”
Unknown
Train Engine In Palmer, Alaska
Image is of Alaska Railroad engine #554, blowing black smoke, on tracks in central Palmer with ARRC staff housing and the "Dorm" in middle ground beyond. Forest and mountains in background.
Palmer, Alaska
“Beyer’s Peak, Alaska”
Unknown-Possibly Irv Plitt
Two People Atop A Mountain Viewing Other Mountains
Summer view of two people perched atop a rock facing away from the camera toward rugged mountains to the south. Two cans and a water bottle on the rock suggest a repast. Prominent is the mountain known at the time as Beyer’s Peak, latter shown on maps as Matanuska Peak. While the name on the photo is spelled “Buyer’s”, research indicates that the name originated in reference to Herman Edward Beyer, thought to be the first person documented to have climbed the peak in 1942.
Chugach Mountains Near Palmer, Alaska
“Palmer School Bldg. Matanuska Valley-B-7”
Unknown
Palmer School Building
Image is a summer view of the west side of the Palmer school building with three trees in foreground and the flag pole evident.
Palmer, Alaska
