Peek at the Past: A look back in Mat-Su's history

As it appeared in the March 21, 1957 Frontiersman

Board terminates

hospital contract

The Presbyterian Board of National Missions gave notice at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Valley Hospital Association March 15 to terminate the present contract with the association for cooperation in the operation of Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Palmer.

The relationship between the mission board and the association began in June, 1950, on the invitation of the association.

Since then, the board has contributed $232,000 to the new hospital building.

The church board's decision to terminate the contract was the result of a vote to accept a contribution from the Liquor Dealers Association.

The mission board requested the donation not be accepted because of the Presbyterian Church's official stance on liquor and gambling.

Road restrictions starting

Road restrictions on some Alaska highways were announced by the Territorial Police office.

Starting at noon on March 23, on the Glenn Highway between Palmer and Anchorage the speed limit will be 35 mph.

All roads in the Matanuska Valley will be under the same restrictions.

These speeds will be enforced by the local Territorial Police.

Community backing needed to help

beautify Palmer

The job of beautifying Palmer isn't as big as it sounds, Izabelle Woolcock said. "Our town is small and if we all get together we can whip this in one season," she said.

Mrs. Woolcock is the treasurer of the Palmer Garden Club. She said she hopes to level vacant lots and plant grass, clean up and paint properties, and she suggested paint dealers might tie in a special sale on paint during this time.

In the classified section, you could buy a small modern home in north Palmer, furnished, for $8,500 or a three-room home, partially furnished, for $4,000. City lots in Palmer were going for $25 a month.

At Koslosky's, apples were 18 cents a pound, local cabbage was only five cents a pound and 25 pounds of flour was $2.89.