Adam Werner 1
Unknown
Homesteader Adam Werner holding shocks of grain
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.
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
Adam Werner 2
Unknown
Adam Werner at his first home site
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.
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
Adam Werner's Homestead 1
Unknown
Werner’s First Cabin Site on His Homestead
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.”
Matanuska Valley near Palmer, Alaska
Adam Werner’s Homestead 3
Unknown
Adam Werner’s Homestead
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.
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
Bygone Barn 8
Richard Estelle
The old log hay barn, with several large holes in the roof, stands unused and falling into disrepair.
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.
Beside Fishhook Road north of Palmer, Alaska
Cabbages 1
Unknown
Helen Stenvall holds two large cabbages grown by Max Sherrod of Palmer
Image shows a woman, identified as Helen Stenvall, posing with two large cabbages grown by Max Sherrod of Palmer.
Palmer, Alaska
Cabbages 2
Unknown
Harold Sherrod holds one of Max Sherrod’s cabbages
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Cabbages 3
Bob Munford
A truckload of giant cabbages grown by Colonist Ray Rebarchek sits on display in downtown Palmer
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Camp 9 Cows 1
Unknown
Colonist Bill Ising visits the cows of Camp 9. Cow at right is being milked.
Colonist Bill Ising visits the cows belonging to residents of Camp 9 at milking time. Cow at right is being milked.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Carrots Exposed
Tom Day, USDA Soil Conservation Service
Farming
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.
Two miles north of Palmer, Alaska
Colonist's & Horses
Unnown
Allen Frederick & Bill Ising stand with their new teams of horses harnessed and ready to work
Colonist's Allen Frederick & Bill Ising stand with their new teams of horses
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Barns 1
Unknown press photo
Two Colony barns on a dairy farm.
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.
Matanuska Valley south of Palmer, Alaska
Colony Barns 4
Richard Estelle
A Colony barn stands on the Estelle family farm with several young cows penned close by and stacks of hay visible.
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.
Palmer Alaska
Colony Farm 1
Hewitt's
Matanuska Colony Farm
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 10
Thomas Kodagraph
Pippel Colony Farm
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 11
Brickley
Colony Farmstead
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 13
Howard Doster, Army Photographer
Farm
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.
Matanuska Valley South of 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 16
Unknown
Colony farm of Joe & Blanche Puhl
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 17
Howard Doster, Army Photographer
Matanuska Colony Farmstead
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.
On Springer Road System South of Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 18
Thomas Kodagraph
A Colony farmstead house, barn and outbuildings with haystacks and fence in foreground
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farm 19
Hewitts
Colony home and outbuildings of Walt & Melva Pippel
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 2
Brickley
Dairy cows in a field of a Colony farm
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 20
Unknown
Colony farm and fields of harvested grain in shocks at the base of Bodenburg Butte
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.
Matanuska Valley, 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 Farm 22
A. Eide
Farmstead of Colonists Ferber & Ruth Bailey, Tract 152
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 23
Unknown
View of Sandvik’s Colony farm near Bodenburg Butte with Pioneer Peak beyond
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.
Matanuska Valley near Bodenburg Butte, Alaska
Colony Farm 24
Mel Anderson
Colony farm along Palmer Fishhook Road north of Palmer
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
Near of Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 25
Union Oil Company
View of the Arvid & Edith Johnson Colony farm on Palmer Fishhook Road
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.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 26
Unknown
Ray & Edna Rebarchek’s Colony Farm on Tract #52
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.
South of Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 28
Clarence Sjodin
"Jr." Sjodin and his dog stand in the snow on the Sjodin farmstead with the Colony barn and chicken coop behind.
Image shows "Jr." Sjodin and his dog in a winter scene in the Sjodin farmstead with the barn and chicken coop behind.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 30
Unknown
Winter view of a Colony farmstead
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farm 31
Unknown
Frederick family house and barn are built and land clearing has begun in earnest
Image shows the Frederick house and barn are built and land clearing has begun in earnest
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farm 32
Unknown
Some cleared land and buildings developed on his farm before Allen Frederick left the Matanuska Colony
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
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farm 33
Hewitts Photo Shop
Summer view of the Pippel Colony farmstead including the house, wellhouse and barn
View is of the Colony farmstead of Walt & Melva Pippel showing the house, wellhouse, barn and part of a field.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 34
Hewitts Photo Shop
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.
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 35
Hewitts Photo Shop
Early spring plants are shown in cold frames with a vintage truck nearby used to haul water to them.
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 36
Hewitts Photo Shop
Several people stand at left viewing the cold frames and water truck on the Pippel farm.
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 37
Hewitts Photo Shop
A woman and two young boys standing bent over in a large cabbage field as if harvesting.
Summer overview of a cabbage field with a woman and two young boys working in it bent over as if harvesting.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 38
Hewitts Photo Shop
View of a Colony farmstead with log house and colony barn with distinctive "barrel vault" roof.
Image is a summer view of a log house with white trim in foreground and a colony barn with a "barrel vault" roof beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 39
Hewitts Photo Shop
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.
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.
South of Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 4
Associated Press photo, photographer unknown
Colony farmstead
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 40
Des Moines Sunday Register
Cows and chickens populate the farmyard in front of a Colony barn and house. Snow on the mountain beyond indicates that winter is approaching.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farm 41
Hewitts Photo Shop
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.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farm 42
Hewitts Photo Shop
Grass has recently been cut and place in haystacks to dry at an established Matanuska Colony farmstead.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farm 43
Millers
The image shows the location and condition of the chicken coop and barn on tract #99 when Millers lived there, before the barn was moved closer to the house in 1948.
This photo shows the barn and chicken coop on tract #99 sometime between 1946 and 1958. The chicken coop in foreground, a log structure now cladded in white boards, shows an unpainted addition to the entry at left. The four windows on the south side appear to be covered but with the frames still apparent. In front is a high enclosure of chicken wire framed with poles and containing several brown chickens from the coop by way of the small doorway and ramp visible at ground level. Behind the coop the upper part of the "Barrel Vault" barn is visible above the coop as well as a small portion of the log barn base at left. In front of the chicken enclosure at left is a tall power pole with the top out of the picture but with power lines leading to both the coop and the barn. The ground in near foreground appears to be a harvested potato patch. Far middle ground behind the barn shows the cleared face of the upper bench topped with leafless trees.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 44
Unknown
Development of the Puhl family farmstead shows considerable progress with acreage cleared of trees, the house constructed, barn construction almost complete and a hay crop harvested and put up in stacks to cure.
This tinted photo shows a view of the Puhl Colony farmstead on tract #99 in the fall of 1936. The view, looking toward the northwest, shows the south side and east end of the log home in middle ground and the white "Barrel Vault"-roofed barn under construction behind it to the left. The original Colony tent is partially visible behind the house at right. In foreground and middle ground at left are numerous field haystacks from the recent harvest. The right side of the image shows heavy birch forest in middle ground. At left, the bench behind the barn shows recent clearing with brush piles ready to burn. Heavy forest forms the backdrop beyond the upper bench. A few scattered birch trees remain at left foreground and in the yard by the house.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 5
Tom Day, USDA Soil Conservation Service
Farm
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."
Two Miles South of Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 6
Neil Miller
Farm
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.
Tract #99 Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farm 7
Unknown
Farms
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.
One mile north of Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farms 1
Hewitts Photo Shop
Air view of colony farms as forest clearing begins
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Farms 2
Unknown
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.
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.
Palmer, 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 49
Millers
After the Puhl family left, the Millers purchased this Colony farm in 1946.
This summer photo is of the south wall and east end of the log home in near middle ground constructed by the Puhl Colony family on tract #99. Three windows and a door, trimmed in white, show in the south wall and three windows are visible in the east end. A porch structure is partially visible at left on the west end. The ground in foreground is bare, with row stakes indicating a garden area. A flagpole and American flag are prominent in the center of the image in foreground. At extreme right is a log chicken coop behind three birch trees.
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Kids 13
Hewitts Photo Shop
A young boy shows his 4-H project calf at the fair.
"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".
Palmer, Alaska
Colony Kids 17
Hewitts Photo Shop
Two colonist's sons, Jim and Bob Pippel, stand in a field of head-high grain in the Matanuska Valley.
Two young boys stand in a field of head-high grain in the Matanuska Valley.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Colony Kids 6
Unknown
Marian Frederick and pets, Colony barn in backround
Marian Frederick plays with pets, Frederick barn in background
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Community Center 2
Anton Anderson
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.
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.
Palmer, Alasaka
Eklutna Vocational School 7
Ruth Estelle
Eklutna school barns & cows
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.
Eklutna, Alaska
Experiment Farm 12
Unknown
Building Haystacks
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 14
Unknown
Hogs
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 15
Unknown
Man & Hogs
Image shows Experiment Farm director M.D. Snodgrass standing in a fenced enclosure with three Hampshire hogs. A forested hill is in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 17
Hewitt's Photo Shop
Experiment Farm
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Experiment Farm 18
“ACME” News Photos
Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 19
Don Irwin
Harvesting grain with a grain binder & two-horse team
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 20
Unknown
Digging Potatoes
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 21
Unknown
Digging Potatoes
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 22
Unknown
Cultipacking With A Horse Team
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 30
Hewitts
Matanuska Experiment Farm
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 34
Don Irwin
People in a field at Matanuska Experiment Farm.
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 39
Howard Doster
Springtime at the Experiment Farm appears quiet as preparations are made for a busy summer.
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 40
Hitchen
Hay and grain harvest is seen at the Experiment Farm.
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 41
Hitchen
Hay and grain harvest is seen at the Experiment Farm.
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 6
Unknown
Haystacks
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.
Matanuska, Alaska
Fair 6
Hewitts Photo Shop
Image displays grains and fodder crops at the 1936 Matanuska Valley Fair
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Fair 7
Hewitts Photo Shop
The Wasilla 4-H Club exhibit at the 1936 Matanuska Valley Fair shows grains and other vegetables produced by club members.
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Fanny Werner at the Fair 1
Unknown
Fanny Werner and her Food Canning Entry at the Fair
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.”
Palmer, Alaska
Farm 1
Unknown
Harvested Grain
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 10
Brickley
M. D. Snodgrass farm on the edge of Palmer
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Farm 11
Ruth DeArmond
Hot beds on Walt Pippel farm
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.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Farm 12
Unknown
Farm scene with log house, pasture land and cows
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 13
Jackson
Farm field of shocks of grain covered with snow
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.
South of Palmer, Alaska
Farm 14
Unknown but probably Jackson
Farm field of hay stacks in winter
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.
South of Palmer, Alaska
Farm 15
Cliff Marcus
Havemeister Colony farm on tract # 167
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 16
Des Moines Sunday Register
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.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 17
Hewitts Photo Shop
Shocks of newly harvested grain dot a field south of Palmer while new snow caps the Talkeetna Mountains to the north.
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Farm 18
Hewitts Photo Shop
Grain harvest has begun on fields south of Palmer in this August view.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 19
Hewitts Photo Shop
A grain field has been harvested and the crop formed into shocks while additional fields beyond are yet to be cut.
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.
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
Farm 20
Berts
A.A. Shonbeck's farmstead buildings near Palmer in 1935.
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Farm 21
Hitchen
Buildings of an unidentified Matanuska Valley farmstead await the coming winter after harvest is complete.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 22
Hitchen
A small group of dairy cows search out early spring grass on a Matanuska Valley farm.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 23
Hitchen
A Valley homestead exhibits evidence of fall harvest as new snow begins to cover surrounding mountains.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 24
Margaret Miller
Cleared trees and other evidence of farm development show progress in carving a farm from the native land.
This photo shows a portion of the Miller's Colony farm in the second year of development. In near foreground are several goats on cleared land. A rough gravel road crosses the image in middle ground. Immediately beyond the road is a small flat cleared area at right with a pile of logs on it at far right. In middle ground is a small hill at left center with a partly cleared ridge running to the right. On the far edge of the road are two stacks of cordwood ready to be hauled away, probably to be sold to the Colony Corporation. Next to the stacked cordwood is parked an old car. This may be the used Ford sedan the Millers purchased the previous October that Margaret mentions in her letter to her folks in Wisconsin.
Tract #155 north of Palmer, Alaska
Farm 25
Millers
Part of the Colony era farmstead on tract #99 is shown during the time Millers lived there.
This fall image shows the north wall and a portion of the east end of the log house at left foreground built by Matanuska Colonists Joe and Blanch Puhl in 1935 and purchased by Neil and Margaret Miller in 1946. To the right of the house stands the wellhouse with its east and north walls clad in white siding, a window in the east side and wood stacked against the north end. Two sawhorses stand before the wellhouse. Above the wellhouse is seen a tall power pole with wires leading to the house, wellhouse and barn, and sporting a yard light near the top. Four young leafless birch trees, planted by the Puhl's, line the driveway from near left diagonally toward the wellhouse. Gently rising grain fields are visible in background with the peak of the neighboring Colony house just visible above the crest of the hill. A thin line of heavy forest lines the crest of the hill in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Farm 26
Millers
Part of the Colony era farmstead on tract #99 is shown during the time Millers lived there.
This fall view looks northwest past clothesline support poles in foreground to the south end of the wellhouse in near middle ground and to the Colony barn in left center middle ground. At close left of the wellhouse are three oil barrels, one on its side likely supplying fuel to the stove in the wellhouse indicated by the apparent chimney. The barn, painted white above the first story logs, exhibits the unusual "barrel vault" roof structure rather than the usual gambrel roof of the typical Colony barn. Behind the barn in near background is seen the cleared face of the bluff below the upper field. A line of heavy forest is visible in background beyond that field. At far right background, through branches of a sapling in foreground, can be seen the house and barn of Colonists Ferber and Ruth Bailey up atop "Bailey Hill".
Palmer, Alaska
Farm 3
Howard Doster, Army Photographer
Farm
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 4
Associated Press photo
Ewes and new-born lambs on the Clark farm.
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.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farm 5
Cliff Marcus USDA Soil Conservation Service
Farming
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.
Palmer, Alaska
Farm 6
Cliff Marcus, USDA Soil Conservation Service
Farm
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."
Bodenburg Butte, Matanuska Valley, Alaska
