Peek at the Past: As it appeared in the Dec. 23, 1958 Frontiersman

Potato prices hold in local markets

Potato prices on the Fairbanks and Anchorage markets for locals are holding firm, according to the Dec. 16 issue of Alaska Market News. Military use of Alaska potatoes was down, being only 83.5 percent, compared to the 1957 first quarter.

In the Matanuska area, November milk production was 11.4 percent over the 1957 production totals.

Up on the rooftop …

Up on the roof top, thump, thump, thump, down through the chimney came old St. Nick -- except that it wasn't' he, for up on the roof top was an Alaska moose.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKenzie, whose home is built into a hill along the Palmer Highway, were busy preparing to attend a Christmas party one evening last week when they suddenly heard the thumping of heavy hooves on their roof … 'twas too early for St. Nick, he wasn't due for another week … a quick survey revealed an ambitious moose trying to get into the act.

What to do … what to do? How would you get a moose off your roof? Frank finally scared him off with a rifle shot into the air.

At Hartley Motors, you could buy a 1957 Ford country sedan, with a radio and heater, for $2,295 or a 1957 Ford custom 300 for $1,895.

A two-bedroom stucco home, on a "60 foot lot two blocks west of the Post Office" was listed for $7,500.

The "No. 1 Farm Chain Saw, the new Homelite Zip," was listed for $169.50.

It "made the ideal Christmas gift," according to the advertisement. It also boasted that it "cuts 18-inch trees in 18 seconds and falls trees up to three feet."

At Koslosky's, you could buy a 25-pound bag of flour for $2.98 and a six-pack of Pepsi in the "new swirl bottle" for 49 cents.

Coffee was 83 cents a pound, while extra fancy winesap apples were only 19 cents a pound.