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

As it appeared in the Frontiersman, 50 years ago:

ACS takes over local

long distance service

Maynard Sands told the City Council last night that the contract between Matanuska Valley Telephone Company and the Alaska Communications System had been discontinued.

Under the contract, which has been in effect since July of 1949 when ACS took over the Alaska Railroad telephone lines, the local telephone company was to make collections from its customers for long distance service over the ACS communications facilities.

Sands told the council that termination of the contract will mean no discontinuation of long distance service for most of the customers. For those who have already established credit with ACS for telegraph services and for those who now establish credit, long distance calls will merely be plugged in to the local ACS board.

Chamber of Commerce urges 10 p.m. curfew

for youths under 18

Through its representative, Betty Mears, the Chamber of Commerce last night urged the City Council to consider a 10 p.m. curfew for all youths under 18 in Palmer.

The recommendation came as a result of a report by the Chamber's committee on youth problems and was approved by Chamber members at their regular noon meeting yesterday.

If you were in the market for new appliances in 1952, you could take advantage of a big sale at Koslosky's Department Store. A 12-cubic-foot freezer was $354, a 9-cubic-foot refrigerator was $249 and a new chrome dinette set, with four chairs and a table, retailed for $97.

In the classifieds, you could buy seven Heifers plus three tons of hay for $1,200. If you were looking for a house, there was a two-room home, completely furnished with running water, a shower on a 50-foot-by-150-foot lot for only $3,000.