PEEK AT THE PAST: June 7, 1962

Here’s what made news in the Mat-Su 48 years ago, from the June 7, 1962, issue of The Frontiersman:

Palmer voters OK home rule

In what was reported as a light city election turnout, Palmer residents voted 80-67 in favor of becoming a home-rule city.

The 147 ballots election officials report were cast is significantly fewer than the 240 cast in the regular October election. The last presidential election drew 492 voters to the polls.

By adopting a home-rule charter, the city now has a city council-manager form of government with a paid manager to be appointed by council.

Girls are state champs

The Palmer Girls’ Junior Bowling Team made the front page by winning the state championship in the senior division of the American Junior Bowling Congress’ annual tournament. The Palmer team won the state title and finished 69th overall in the nation competing against 943 teams in its division.

Early pioneer lost

One of the area’s early pioneers, William D. Lawrence, died June 6 at Valley Presbyterian Hospital. He was born Nov. 7, 1878, and was 83 at the time of his death.

Although he made Wasilla his home for the last 10 years of his life, Lawrence was a homesteader in the Elmendorf area and worked for the Alaska Railroad for 20 years.

He had been retired for 22 years.

Valley a disaster area

The Farmers Home Administration has designated the Matanuska Valley a disaster area and eligible to receive emergency aid to replace permanent brome grass acreage that was winter-killed.

The news was brought back to the Valley by the state’s congressional delegation, and means that farmers can get 70 percent federal assistance in land preparation, seed purchase, fertilization and seeding. An original estimate that 75 percent of the brome grass had been winter-killed has been downgraded, local officials report.

The possibility of limited feed supplies from heavy grazing could pose a major problem for area dairy farmers.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in June 1952 you could:

• Eat all the hot dogs you can at Koslosky’s for 9-cents each.

• Buy two boxes of raisins for 59 cents.

• Enjoy grilled T-bone steaks for $1.59 a pound.

• Buy Spam for 49 cents at Piggly Wiggly.

• Purchase specially printed business forms from The Frontiersman, which proclaimed, “We have a business form for every form of business.”