Peek at the Past

Here’s what made news in the Mat-Su 59 years ago, from the Feb. 21, 1952, issue of The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman:

Palmer district offered $203,000 for new school

Palmer Independent School District has been made an out-of-the-blue offer by the U.S. government to provide more than $203,000 for a new school. There are few strings attached, including the money must be used for minimum school construction, which includes space for classrooms, but no fancy attachments like a gymnasium.

The funds do not have to be matched by the local school district, but cannot be used as matching funds themselves for other projects, like meeting the district’s obligation for building the new high school.

What the funding can be used for is to help build a new primary school with three or four classrooms.

Moose invasion brings thrills, hazards

The annual migration of moose into the Valley from the snow-covered hills has made the area a place of thrills and hazards over the past several weeks.

The influx of the large animals has been unusually noticeable following heavy snowfall in late January. Old timers say that more and more moose are finding the Valley a lucrative winter vacation spot. Hay, grain and frozen cabbage heads left in the fields make for good foraging.

Palmer treading financial water

The first financial audit of Palmer’s books show the city sitting on a surplus of $14,000 accumulated over a five-month period. Total cash collected by the city from Sept. 20, 1951, to Feb. 20, 1952, was just more than $30,000, including $27,000 from city sales tax revenues.

During the report, it was learned that the city is paying $75 a month in interest alone for a recently purchased road grader. With $11,000 still outstanding to be paid over the next 18 months, some council members were in favor of using the surplus to pay off the grader and save 18 months worth of interest payments. In the end, it was felt that would leave the city treasury too low, instead working out an arrangement that would pay off the equipment faster to save more than $700 in interest.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in February 1952 you could:

• Catch Randolf Scott’s newest flick, “Man in the Saddle,” at the Valley Theatre.

• Find tons of jackets and small shirts on the $5 bargain rack at the Trading Post.

• Find a great deal on a Sunbeam Mixmaster for $37.50 (nationally advertised at $46.50) at Koslosky’s Department Store.

• Buy a new electric hot water heater for $135.