Historical status stirs debate

University, borough differ on need for designation of Colony sites

December 18, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - In 1935, Palmer became the site of one of the most unusual experiments in American history: The Matanuska Valley Colony.

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration, one of the many New Deal relief agencies created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, planned the agricultural settlement. Two hundred and three families, mostly from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, invited to join the colony arrived in Palmer in the early summer of 1935.

The Mat-Su Borough is now seeking placement on the National Registry of Historic Places for two of the most prominent remaining sites from the early days of the Valley - the Experimental Farm on Trunk Road and the Agricultural Research Center in Palmer. But officials of the University of Alaska, which owns the two sites, want the borough to halt the process and allow them to manage their properties in a way they determine is in the best interest of the university.

A Dec. 5 letter from Mari Montgomery, director of land management for the University of Alaska, to borough manager John Duffy told the borough that its help wasn't needed at this time.

That letter led to the assembly postponing a resolution set for its Dec. 6 meeting, which would have authorized Borough Manager John Duffy to begin the process of seeking a federal historic preservation grant from the state of Alaska that would have paid for the application cost.

&#8220At this time we are not ready to move forward with declaring the sites as historic places,” Montgomery said. &#8220What troubles us at the university is that the borough was ready to take action without ever consulting us. No one in the Land Management office or the UAF Director of Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station had seen the borough's proposal until the day before the assembly was going to vote.”

Montgomery went on to indicate that the university is currently conducting master planning for its land and facilities in Palmer, including the two properties targeted for historical recognition.

&#8220Once we complete the master plan we will consider placing the property on the historical registry if that is what is recommended and supported by the university administration,” Montgomery said. &#8220Until then, we cannot support the borough's resolution. If National Registry nomination is recommended and supported by the university administration, we will use in-house expertise and/or hire qualified consultants to assist in the manner.”

Duffy indicated that the movement toward seeking historical recognition for the two sites originated when members of the borough's Historic Preservation Commission expressed concern that the development of the new Valley Hospital site and increased development in the Valley might negatively affect the Experimental Farm and research building. Both facilities were initially established as federal programs and are an important historical resource that has contributed greatly to the development and farming in the Valley.

Originally established in 1917 as the United States Department of Agriculture Experimental Farm, the Trunk Road location includes 260 acres of cultivated land and 800 acres of forest land that was transferred to the University of Alaska in 1931 for research or demonstration purposes, including barns, feed-storage facilities and pasture land. The Agricultural Research Center was also established as part of a USDA program in 1949 and later transferred to the university.

Borough officials believe that designating the two facilities as historic sites will help the university secure funding for rehabilitation of buildings and make other site improvements. It will also help preserve the original character of the area and its farming roots.

&#8220To thoroughly present to the public a comprehensive accounting of the history of the Valley, the role of the Experimental Farm and the Research Center needs to be accessible not only through writings and photos, but visibly and concretely accessible to the public,” Duffy said. &#8220It is hoped that a National Register nomination will encourage the university to strive to preserve the remaining buildings and structures that played such an important role in the history of the state and the Valley.”

University officials do not object to the historic designation, the timing and lack of communication is what troubled them. They said they will examine the issue when they complete a master plan for property holdings in the Mat-Su Borough.

&#8220We need to determine if it will be appropriate for the university to move forward and seek placement on the National Registry of Historic Places,” Montgomery said. &#8220Once the master plan is complete, we will be able to determine if such recognition is necessary. And if it is, we will apply for the designation ourselves.

&#8220Placement on the National Registry of Historic Places could add a considerable cost to the operation and maintenance of the facilities,” Montgomery continued. &#8220We have to consider that as part of the decision-making process if we were to move forward and seek placement on the registry.”

According to Dr. Allen Mitchell, associate director of the Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, the goal of the master plan is to determine what is the best use, if any, academically for the university's property and how it can serve meeting academic and educational needs for the next 20-30 years. When complete, the master plan will identify any surplus properties within the borough.

Both Montgomery and Mitchell indicated that the fears of development expressed by the Historical Commission were unfounded at this time.

&#8220Right now I am not aware of any plans to either eliminate or sell the two properties in question,” Montgomery said.

&#8220I understand and believe that the university recognizes the historical significance of the sites,” Mitchell said. &#8220As far as I know, the university has no plans to dispose of either location.”

After reviewing the letter from the university land management office, assembly member Bill Allen moved to postpone acting on the resolution to seek grant funding for the National Registry application until the Jan. 3 meeting of the assembly, in order to allow the borough and university to discuss the matter.

&#8220I'm confident that if we sit down and talk with them we can move ahead and will have the involvement of the university,” Allen said.

Contact Darrell L. Breese

at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.