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 2
Unknown
Adam Werner’s permanent house and barn on his homestead
Image shows Adam Werner’s permanent log house and barn on his homestead “up the hill” from his first cabin site location. A cleared field is in foreground with the house and barn in middle ground and forest behind. Mr. Werner and two horses are visible behind a fence to the right. Note on reverse: “Adam Werner. Palmer, 1917. House & barn took 4 years to finish inside and out of the house. Windows would not be shipped from Seattle. Cornelius grandad windows & 120 sheets of mettle for barn by barge. Montgomery say it is a foreign country.”
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
Adam Werner's Homestead 4
Adam Werner
Adam Werner’s homestead barn and cows
Image shows five cows standing in front of Adam Werner’s homestead barn. This was the barn he built on higher ground of the homestead when he moved from a lower area where he had initially constructed a house and other structures. This barn still stands solid ninety years after it was built.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Adam Werner's Homestead 5
Unknown
Adam and Fanny Werner’s House
Image shows the permanent log house Adam Werner built “up the hill” from his first cabin site. It took four years to build while developing other aspects of the homestead. Seen here with maturing landscape shrubs and flowers under the care of Adam’s wife, Fanny.
Matanuska Valley north of 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
Adam Werner’s Homestead 6
Unknown
Adam Werner's Homestead house and field
Image is a color summer color view of Adam Werner’s house with tilled field in front.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Cabin 1
Jackson
Log cabin
Image is a summer view of a log cabin with sod roof, high grass surrounds it with a pile of wood on the left, heavy birch forest is behind. This cabin was located east of Palmer past the Matanuska River bridge on the north side of the highway.
Palmer, Alaska
Cabin 2
Jackson
Log Cabin
Image is a winter view of a log cabin with sod roof, a pile of logs and wood are beside the cabin, birch trees behind and snow-clad mountains are behind. The prominent mountain in the view has been variously called “the Matterhorn”, Buyer’s Peak, Pilot Peak and Matanuska Peak.
Palmer, Alaska
Cabin 3
Neil Miller
Log cabin and garden
Image shows a sod-roofed log cabin atop a slight hill with garden crops on the hillside in foreground. Heavy forest forms the backdrop behind the cabin.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Cabin 5
Unknown
Ed Zorne’s homestead cabin and outhouse at the base of Lazy Mountain near Palmer
Image is of a log cabin and outhouse, identified as originally belonging to homesteader Ed Zorn. Location is on the lower slopes of Lazy Mountain east of Palmer, land later owned by Frank Clark.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Cabin 6
Unknown
Trapper’s log cabin near Palmer
Image is a summer view of a log trapper’s cabin located on the north side of Matanuska River east of Palmer. The mountain beyond has been known variously as “The Matterhorn”, “Beyers Peak”, and “Matanuska Peak”. The cabin is thought to have belonged at one time to Eugene Marsh.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Camp 7
Unknown
Tents of Temporary Camp 7 & Homestead Barn on Tract #157
Image shows six white Colony tents in a row at Camp #7. 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 as apparent in this photo.
Tract #157 North of Palmer, Alaska
Community Center 13
Hewitts Photo Shop
An easterly view from the water tower shows some temporary buildings of the Palmer community center and homestead clearings in the trees beyond.
Image is an easterly view from the water tower showing some of the temporary buildings of the Palmer community center, the end of the rail spur, and homestead clearings beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Community Center 14
Hewitts Photo Shop
View from the Palmer water tower looking south over buildings of the community center and homestead clearings beyond.
Image is a southerly view from the water tower with the powerhouse smokestack in foreground, several buildings in middle ground and the future Chugach Street clearing through homestead fields and trees in background.
Palmer, 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
Community Center 9
Unknown
Homestead clearing to soon be occupied by Matanuska Colony Community Center buildings
View of the homestead brush field that would soon be occupied by Matanuska Colony Community Center buildings.
Palmer, Alaska
Ed Duncklee 1
Unknown
Portrait of Edward A. Duncklee, Palmer area homesteader
Image is a portrait of Edward Albert Duncklee, (1872-1943) Palmer-area homesteader, taken in 1924 per note on the back. He was known to be in the Matanuska Valley in 1915, he applied for his 319 acre homestead about 1916 and received the patent on 10/9/1919. He sold his homestead land to the government for inclusion in the Matanuska Colony project of 1935.
Palmer, Alaska
Fanny Werner 1
Unknown
Formal color portrait of Fanny Werner
Image is a formal color portrait of Fanny Werner in her Hospital uniform. Following the death of her husband, Adam, Fanny continued to operate their dairy farm for a time and then took employment as a housekeeper at the Valley Hospital. She took great pride in her work at the Hospital, as she did in maintaining her Homestead.
Palmer, Alaska
Fanny Werner 2
"Creaveg"
Portrait of Fanny (Eaton) Werner
Image is a portrait of Fanny Eaton taken in England, probably shortly before she came to Alaska in 1929 and subsequently married Adam Werner in 1930.
England
Fanny Werner 3
Adam Werner
Fanny Werner In Her Homestead Garden
Image is of Fanny Werner in her garden at the Werner Homestead. The house is partially visible at left. On the photo margin is lettered “My Little Sweetheart Farmer, Adam”.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Fanny Werner 4
Unknown
Fanny Werner mowing grass in her Homestead flower garden
Image is of Fanny Werner pushing a lawnmower on her Homestead with flowers and shrubs behind. A portion of chicken wire fence and a log building are also visible behind her.
Matanuska Valley Near Palmer, Alaska
Fanny Werner 5
Unknown
Fanny Werner and buildings on her Homestead
Image is of Fanny Werner standing on a portion of her Homestead farm with a log barn building and sheds behind her
Matanuska Valley Near Palmer, Alaska
Fanny Werner 6
Unknown
Fanny Werner and buildings on her Homestead
Image is of Fanny Werner standing on a field of her Homestead farm with log barn buildings, flowers and trees behind her.
Matanuska Valley Near Palmer, Alaska
Fanny Werner 7
Unknown
Fanny Werner with her Mother & her Mother’s latest husband, Mr. Findlay
Image is of Fanny Werner on the right with her Mother, Eliza Jane (“Jenny”), and her Mother’s latest husband, Mr. Findlay. Following the death of Ed Duncklee, Jenny returned to England in 1954 where she married Mr. Findlay, then returned to visit Fanny on the Werner Homestead where this photo was taken.
Matanuska Valley near 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 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 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
Homestead & Haystacks
Hewitts Photo Shop
A homestead farm with fields of harvested hay put up in stacks to dry
This is a postcard photo of a homestead including fields in foreground with harvested hay put up in stacks. A barn and other buildings are in middle ground with scattered trees. Other fields are in far middle ground with hay stacks and heavy forest beyond. Close examination reveals two different types of haystacks in the far field and a man working there. Mount Susitna is faintly visible beyond the forest in background.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Homestead 1
Unknown
Hickey/Walters Homestead
Image shows wire fence on wooden posts in fore & middle ground. A two story log house is prominent in middle ground with another log building and pole barn beside. Two men and a woman stand in middle ground. A cleared hillside and forest fringe are in background. This is the homestead originally built by Mr. Hickey and owned by Al Walters at the time the photo was taken.
Palmer, Alaska
Homestead 2
Unknown
Men on Walters Homestead
Image shows wire fence on wooden posts in foreground with two men standing in a field of grain behind. A two story log house is evident in middle ground with the top of a pole barn at left. A cleared hillside and forest fringe are in background. This is the homestead originally built by Mr. Hickey and owned by Al Walters at the time the photo was taken. The men are identified as Al Walters at left & John Bugge at right.
Palmer, Alaska
Homestead 3
Unknown
John Bugge Homestead
Image shows pole fencing and large wood pole gate in near foreground, a log cabin with a frame addition behind in mid-foreground, another small log cabin in middle ground with fields and forest beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Homestead 4
AP Wirephoto
Homestead buildings with misinformation attached
This is a press photo issued to newspapers back in the States from the early days of the Matanuska Colony project. Information sent along with the photo is attached at left, and reads: “ PALMER, ALASKA, MAY 24—MATANUSKA’S FIRST LOG CABIN—Typical of the farm homes that will house the hundreds of government colonists in Matanuska Valley is this first log cabin built on the project. The settlers, emigrants from the Midwest, are living in a tent city temporarily.” More typical than the future Colonist’s homes, (these are actually a long-established homesteader’s cabins located in what would become downtown Palmer) is the misinformation this text represents that was so often received by folks “back home”.
Palmer, Alaska
Homestead 5
Unknown
Frank Clark’s cabin on Lazy Mt.
Image shows three men building a log house surrounded by dense forest. Men are identified as (l to r) Sam Woolcock, Frank Clark, and Horace (Frenchy) Dufore. The 166 acre Clark Homestead was located on the lower slope of Lazy Mountain above the Matanuska River east of Palmer. Clark raised sheep and sold wool.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Homestead 6
Hewitts Photo Shop
A valley homestead exhibits haystacks of the crop harvested from fields cleared from surrounding heavy forest.
Image is of a log house in a clearing of heavy forest with a cleared field in foreground and middle ground. Numerous haystacks are on the fields. A truck with no cab is parked near the house. A mower, grain binder and buck rake implements are parked on the field. New snow is on the background mountains. White chickens forage in the fields.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Homestead 7
Unknown
A homesteader's cabin stands in a clearing with additional clearing and standing forest behind. A garden plot near the cabin shows several rows of what appears to be potatoes indicating the summer is well advanced.
This summer image shows a side view of a log homestead cabin standing in a clearing with additional clearing and uncleared forest behind. A garden plot is in foreground.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Homestead 8
Anton Anderson
John Bugge's field exhibits the fall harvest of grain assembled into shocks to dry.
This view is looking east across homesteader John Bugge's west field toward the Knik Glacier valley (washed out in the photo). The foreground shows a field with many shocks of harvested grain scattered over it. At left in middle ground the buildings of Bugge's farmstead are visible. At right in background Bodenburg Butte is seen and other mountains are partially visible.
Palmer, Alaska
Homesteader at His Well
Louis Odsather
Ty Wilson, Homesteader
Image shows a man, identified as homesteader Ty Wilson, standing by his well. His log cabin is behind him with trees beyond. A small dog is nearby. Wilson's homestead was on Fairview Loop south of Wasilla.
Fairview Loop Road near Wasilla, Alaska
Homesteaders & Friends 1
Unknown
People
Image shows homesteaders Al Walters (left) & John Bugge standing with three unidentified women next to a log building. A white horse harnessed to a cart is at right, a wash tub and washboard are evident on the cabin wall.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Homesteaders & Friends 2
Louis Odsather
People by a Cabin
Image shows four men and a woman, identified from left as Louis Odsather, Mac McHenry, Nick Nichols, Ty Wilson, and Ann Wilson. They are standing in front of Wilson's homestead cabin.
On Fairview Loop South of Wasilla, Alaska
Homesteaders & Friends 3
Alma Anderson
Anton Anderson, with his two daughters and small neighbor boy, visit Homesteader John Bugge and get to pet his small calf.
A tall man in a high-crowned hat at left, identified as homesteader John Bugge, stands behind two little girls, identified as Jean and Patty Anderson, and a little boy, identified as Myles Hyland. At right is a man, identified as Anton Anderson, stooped over and apparently petting a dark-colored calf. They stand in front of a barn of large diameter logs with a large door at left and a small Dutch door standing with the upper half open at right.
Palmer, Alaska
Homesteaders & Friends 4
Anton Anderson
Alma Anderson and John Bugge, with the Anderson girls and Myles Hyland, watch "Bugge's Famous Sow" nurse piglets on Bugge's homestead.
Alma Anderson and John Bugge, with Myles Hyland and Jean & Patty Anderson watch "Bugge's Famous Sow" nurse little piglets on Bugge's homestead.
Palmer, Alaska
Homesteaders & Friends 5
Louis Odsather
Homesteader
Image shows two men, identified from left as "Mac" McHenry and Louis Odsather, standing in front of Mac's homestead cabin. Mac's homestead was south of Wasilla in vicinity of Fairview Loop. Louis Odsather was Trading Post manager for the ARRC.
Near Wasilla, Alaska
Homesteaders 1
Louis Odsather
Three People and Homestead Cabin
Image shows a man and two women, identified from left as Myrtle McNeil, Earl (Mac) McHenry, and Ann Wilson. They are standing in front of the Wilson homestead cabin. The women hold jars of preserves. A rain trough and water barrel are visible by the front door. The Wilson and McHenry homesteads were located nearby in the Fairview area south of Wasilla.
South of Wasilla, Alaska
Homesteaders 2
Don Irwin
Homesteader “Ty” Wilson
Photo is a color image of a man, identified as homesteader “Ty” Wilson standing in a gravel area with trees behind.
Near Knik, Alaska
Homesteaders 3
Don Irwin
Homesteader Ann Wilson
Photo is a color image of a woman, identified as homesteader Ann Wilson standing among bushes and flowers, a blue vehicle is partially visible behind and trees beyond. Ann and her husband “Ty” homesteaded on Fairview Loop south of Wasilla, Alaska.
Near Knik, Alaska
Homesteaders 4
Don Irwin
: Homesteaders “Ty” Wilson and “Mac” McHenry
Photo is a color image of two men, identified as homesteaders “Ty” Wilson and “Mac” McHenry at the front of a black automobile. Both men homesteaded in the Fairview Loop area south of Wasilla, Alaska. The photo was taken at Fish Creek near Knik, Alaska. Wet socks and boots in the photo may indicate they had been fishing.
Near Knik, Alaska
Homesteaders 5
Don Irwin
Homesteader “Mac” McHenry, Estella Irwin, Louis Odsather, and homesteader Ann Wilson
Photo is a color image of four people, identified as homesteader “Mac” McHenry, Estella Irwin, Louis Odsather and homesteader Ann Wilson. A black automobile is behind and fishing gear is evident. The photo was taken at Fish Creek near Knik, Alaska.
Near Knik, Alaska
Matanuska River 1
Anton Anderson
The Matanuska River floodplain is seen at low water as the mountains with interesting names are viewed beyond.
This summer view looks southeast across the floodplain of the Matanuska River to the Chugach Mountains beyond. Anderson identifies the lower "Bodenburg Butte", named after John Bodenburg who homesteaded nearby in 1918, and the taller mountain he refers to as "Ben McDuhe". This mountain, called "Thel'aay" by the local Ahtna people, and "Dnal'iy" by the indigenous Dena'ina, was named "Pioneer Peak" by official map-makers in 1939 in honor of the Matanuska Colonists who came to settle the valley below in 1935. Apparently, before that time, some locals, including Anderson, referred to it as "Ben McDuhe (Ben Macdui) after the prominent mountain in Scotland of that name.
Palmer, Alaska
McHenry's Homestead
Louis Odsather
Two Men at a Homestead Fence
Image shows two men, identified from left as "Mac" McHenry and Louis Odsather, standing at a rail fence looking over Mac's homestead grain field. A wood Plank Gate is at right. Beyond the field is unbroken forest.
South of Wasilla, Alaska
Palmer Air View 16
Hewitt's Photo Shop
Aerial view of Palmer, August 1935
Image is a black & white high oblique view including much of John Bugge’s homestead, the “Tent City” of Palmer, patches of cleared land and uncut forest. The “Wasilla road” is apparent to Bugge’s hill.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 20
Hewitts Photo Shop
A high oblique air view of Palmer taken in August, 1936 showing the the community center, commercial district and closely surrounding homesteads.
Image is a high oblique air view of Palmer in August 1936. The community center, west side commercial district and closely surrounding homesteads are shown.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 25
Hewitts Photo Shop
This air view of Palmer's initial development shows the start of a new city in the context of surrounding homestead activity that came before.
This high oblique view shows the beginning of the town of Palmer resulting from arrival of the Matanuska Colony. Numerous white tents initially housing the Colonists are visible at lower left with the warehouse, administration structures and equipment are in the center of the image. The railroad tracks with standing rail cars cuts a straight line diagonally across the image from lower left to upper right. A rail spur curves off to the left where construction is seen beginning on community buildings. John Bugge's homestead is partially visible at lower right and clearings of other nearby homesteads are evident. A large patch of spruce trees occupies the lower center section and the upper third of the image is covered with thick spruce forest. This is the same image as Palmer Air View 15 but is a better exposure and without the feature identifications in the Nichols photo.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Community Buildings 2
Jackson
East view from the water tower
Image is an easterly view from the Palmer water tower looking over the Co-op warehouses. The poultry hatchery building and chicken houses are evident. Stacks of logs and firewood are near the second warehouse and a man can be seen unloading logs from a truck. People are visible on the street and sitting on bleachers at right. Open fields surrounded by heavy forest are in middle ground with snow-clad mountains beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 10
Howard Doster
This is the right portion of a large print in the Doster Collection of this view from Bugge's Hill. The rest of the view, showing more to the right, is shown in "Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 10".
See description for image "Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 9" for the general description of this image. This view shows the right-hand portion of the larger print not captured in that previous image. The hospital and several other buildings included in the larger print are visible. A second Army photographer is also evident in the lower right corner of this photo.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 11
Unknown
The north part of Palmer and part of John Bugge's homestead are seen in spring of 1936.
This view of Palmer is taken from the "Wasilla Road" where it made the bend to climb Bugge's Hill. The early summer image shows trees in leaf, part of Bugge's field in foreground is tilled, the water tower is up with "Palmer" painted on it. Snow is gone from the valley but considerable remains at higher elevation on Lazy Mountain which occupies most of the background center of the image. Bugge's barn and other buildings are evident as is the Hyland Hotel.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 6
Jackson
Palmer as seen from Bugge's Hill
Image is an early fall easterly view of Palmer as seen from Bugge’s Hill, looking down the “Wasilla Road”. People are evident walking on the road in foreground. John Bugge’s homestead field and buildings are in middle ground. Palmer buildings are in far middle ground. Mountains with early snow are in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 8
Robinson
John Bugge’s homestead, Palmer and Chugach Mountains as viewed from Bugge’s Hill
Image is a fall view looking east from Bugge’s Hill showing John Bugge’s homestead field and buildings, the buildings of Palmer, and snow-clad mountains including Lazy Mt. and Beyers Pk. in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 9
Howard Doster
This is the left portion of a large print in the Doster Collection of this view from Bugge's Hill. The rest of the view, showing more to the right, is shown in "Palmer View From Bugge's Hill 10".
This view of the town of Palmer, taken from Bugge's hill, looks east across the harvested hay field and the buildings of John Bugge's homestead in foreground. A portion of the field is covered with scattered haystacks. Community buildings are evident in middle ground. A strip of heavy forest lies beyond with the lower slopes of the eastern mountains in background. A featureless cloud bank obscures the upper portion of the mountains. The gravel road to Wasilla is visible at the right margin with young trees growing between the road and the foreground field. The head and shoulders of an Army photographer are visible in the lower right corner of the image as he captures a similar image with his camera.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer View From Bugge’s Hill 5
Unknown
Winter view of Palmer, viewed from Bugge’s Hill with skaters on frozen pond below
Image is a winter easterly view from Bugge’s Hill across John Bugge’s homestead field with a frozen melt-water pond in foreground and several children skating. Bugge’s homestead buildings and Palmer buildings are in middle ground with snow-clad mountains in background.
Palmer, Alaska
People 14
Unknown
John Bugge & Otis Russell
Color image of two men, identified as Otis Russell (left) and homesteader John Bugge, standing in front of one of the log cabins on Bugge’s homestead at Palmer, Alaska. A modern frame building is partially visible behind.
Palmer, 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
People 56
Unknown
Members of the group of young government workers headquartered in Palmer are visiting the Wilsons at their homestead and stop to pose for a photo on the wood pile.
Four young folks variously associated with the Matanuska Colony or the Extension Service, visiting homesteaders Tye and Ann Wilson, pose for their picture atop the Wilson's stove wood pile.
Fairview Loop near Wasilla, Alaska
People 57
Unknown
Members of the group of young government workers headquartered in Palmer are visiting homesteader "Mac" McHenry at his home south of Wasilla and pose in front of his cabin.
Three young people variously associated with the Matanuska Colony Project and the Extension Service stand in front of a log cabin identified as belonging to homesteader "Mac" McHenry. An unidentified woman in a white dress is partially visible at left. All are in short sleeves on an obviously warm summer day. Several "Blazo Boxes" are apparent on the ground at right.
Fairview Loop near Wasilla, Alaska
People 7
Unknown
Fanny and Adam Werner stand together in front of their homestead home
Image shows Fanny and Adam Werner standing together in front of their log homestead home. Fox pens are partially visible at right. Heavy forest forms the backdrop behind the house.
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
People 8
Unknown
Adam and Fanny Werner
Image shows Adam and Fanny Werner standing together in front of their homestead house.
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
People 9
Unknown
Adam & Fanny Werner & daughter Violet standing in their strawberry field
Image shows homesteaders Adam and Fanny Werner and their daughter, Violet, standing in their strawberry field. Raspberry bushes and other crops are visible behind. Heavy forest forms the backdrop.
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
Road-35H-004
Alaska Road Commission
As the road proceeds toward the east end of the valley it traverses heavy spruce forest where homesteading has begun.
This winter image shows a plowed section of road through a snow-covered landscape, curving out of sight to the left in near middle ground. Heavy spruce forest forms the middle ground and near background beyond the road, typical of the much of the valley near Palmer. Snow-covered mountains forming the east end of the valley are partially visible in background. A barbed wire fence is visible at right of the road and in the middle ground where an area of forest appears to be cleared.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Road-35H-005
Alaska Road Commission
The town of Palmer is seen from the Palmer/Wasilla Road as it curves to ascend Bugge's hill west of town.
This summer image is a view of the community of Palmer seen from the road ascending Bugge's hill west of town. The road curves from foreground to the left out of sight and then becomes visible again in middle ground as it progresses toward town. Homesteader John Bugge's field, barn and other buildings are visible in middle ground. Various other structures of the town existing at the time are visible.
Palmer, Alaska
Road-35I-001
Alaska Road Commission
The forest clearing shown will accommodate road access to early day homesteads.
This summer image shows the cleared area through mostly heavy birch forest where the access road will be built to the Johansen homestead, apparently the first building seen at right, and Adam Werner's homestead seen beyond.
North of present-day Palmer, Alaska
Road-35I-002
Alaska Road Commission
A road from the "Werner Connection" road provides access to early day homesteads.
This winter image shows the road constructed from the "Werner Connection" road, (now the Palmer Fishhook Road), to the Johansen and Werner homesteads. Werner's house and barn are visible at the end of the road in background. Snow covers the ground. Mountains are slightly visible in far background.
North of present-day Palmer, Alaska
Road-35K-002
Alaska Road Commission
A springtime view of a newly constructed Trunk Road section shows a soft, rutted surface.
This image of a newly constructed gravel road, viewed looking directly up the road, shows deep ruts in the foreground and a section of corduroy construction at middle ground before the road climbs a hillside and turns left out if sight. A barbed wire fence parallels the road at right with a log gate structure apparent and four slanted poles against the fence in foreground. A cleared field and hillside are visible in far background with heavy spruce timber fringe beyond. A patch of snow in foreground is the only snow visible and may mark a now unused roadway.
Near Matanuska, Alaska
Road-35L-008
Alaska Road Commission
A straight section of route 35L runs between the railroad and an established homestead in a section between Matanuska and Palmer.
This winter scene shows the snow-covered landscape on a center line view north on a straight stretch of road route 37L identified as 5.5 miles from Matanuska on the way to Palmer. A post-and-wire fence parallels the left edge of the road enclosing a cleared field with buildings of Al Walter's homestead visible at the far end at middle ground. The railroad grade paralleling the road is seen at right with telegraph lines and poles between the railroad and the road and a railroad signal pole near the tracks. Talkeetna Mountains are faintly visible in background.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Road-35L-009
Alaska Road Commission
A straight section of route 35L runs between the railroad and an established homestead in a section between Matanuska and Palmer. The road surface is seen as native soil, subject to becoming deeply rutted mud during the rainy season.
Image is a summer centerline view looking north on a straight stretch identified as mile 4 of the Matanuska to Palmer road. At left is a post-and-wire fence paralleling the edge of the road with part of a homestead building visible beyond. The railroad line is seen at right with the telegraph line between the road and railroad. It can be seen that the road surface is composed simply of graded native soil which became axel-deep mud for vehicles with summer rains.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Road-35L-010
Alaska Road Commission
The north end of route 35L in 1929 exhibits little of the change that would mark the development of the city of Palmer in years ahead.
Image is an early springtime view north on the centerline of the Matanuska-Palmer road in the location where the town of Palmer would later develop. A man stands at the left edge of the road in foreground observing snow melt waters that have flooded over the road behind him. The elevated rail grade is apparent at right in middle ground with a small building on pilings between the road and the rails. A telegraph pole is adjacent, and a parked rail car is partially visible behind the building. The small railroad depot is visible in far middle ground next to the rail line at right across the road from the log roadhouse and other buildings of homesteader Georen O. White. The softening surface of the road exhibits recent passing of a horse-drawn vehicle.
Palmer, Alaska
Roadhouse 1
Unknown
A log roadhouse in 1935 located at the future site of the city of Palmer, Alaska
Image is of a log roadhouse that was one of the few buildings at the site chosen as the central location for the Matanuska Colony Project and future town of Palmer.
Palmer, Alaska
Store 1
Unknown
Felton’s store & post office adjacent to a homestead cabin and colony tents
Image shows a man standing on the porch of Felton’s store and post office in foreground. A large log cabin is in near middle ground with several Colony tents visible beyond. Heavy forest is the backdrop with mountains faintly visible in background. Location is the former homestead of Georen O. White reflected by the large log structure. Felton and partner, Ward, acquired the property and operated the Post Office with the community name of “Warton” until 1935 when the name was changed to “Palmer”. The Matanuska Colony “Tent City” temporarily occupied part of the property.
Palmer, Alaska
View From Bugge's Hill 9
Hewitts Photo Shop
A late summer view of Palmer from Bugge's hill shows the state of development in 1936
The image is a late summer easterly view of Palmer taken from Bugge's hill looking down the length of the "Wasilla road" at the town. Based on an assessment of what buildings are present or absent, the date is determined to be1936.
Palmer, Alaska
Werner Road
Hewitts Photo Shop
Gravel road to the Werner Homestead
Image shows a straight gravel road through heavy forest in foreground leading past tents and buildings in far middle ground with Adam Werner’s homestead buildings evident at the end. Chugach Mountains are in background.
Matanuska Valley north of Palmer, Alaska
