Peek at the Past: A look back

in Mat-Su's history

As it appeared in the June 30, 1977, edition of the Frontiersman:

Capital Site commission begins monumental task

The newly formed Capital Site Planning Commission met for the first time last week. In attendance was Mat-Su Borough Mayor Ron Larson.

Larson termed the first informal gathering more of a "get acquainted" meeting, although commissioners did take decisive action in initiating the vast task ahead of them.

Larson expressed concern about the tight schedule the commission has to work with. In 10 months, they had to come up with a detailed plan for a new government, a new city with a population potential of 30,000 people, a new transportation system, communication facilities, public utilities and a commercial industrial and residential plan.

Borough seat

to move to Willow?

When the state capital moves to Willow, Palmer may feel pressure from the Mat-Su Borough's rural population to move the borough seat to Willow as well.

That predication was made by Palmer City Manager Bill Curtis.

"If the capital moves to Willow, you will feel the pressure to move the borough seat to Willow, too," Curtis said.

Linemen reject

MEA offer

Matanuska Electric Association's proposed wage

increase of $1.35 an hour was rejected by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers because power linemen want parity with telephone linemen in the Valley.

There was an advertisement in the Frontiersman touting the grand opening of the Valley Hotel and Caboose Bar. At the Windbreak CafŽ, you could get a burger steak, macaroni and cheese, veggies, hot roll and Jell-O salad for $3.50.

At D&A Super in Wasilla, you could buy a six-pack of RC Soda in bottles for $1.19 and a New York steak for $3.98 a pound. Tomatoes were 59 cents a pound, and four ears of corn set you back a buck.

In the classified section, a ranch-style home in Settlers Bay was listed at $68,000 and a large tri-level home with four acres of commercial frontage on the Parks Highway was listed for $181,000.