PEEK AT THE PAST: Nov. 18, 1971

Here’s what made news 41 years ago, from the Nov. 18, 1971, issue of The Frontiersman.

Voters to decide on fire hall

A special election will be held in the Wasilla Fire Service Area to consider bonding for a $150,000 public safety building. The facility would be paid for through a tax levy on residents in the area, which includes a nine-mile diameter circle around the city.

The primary purpose of the building would to be a fire hall and ambulance area; however, it could also allow for uses such as first aid classroom space. Originally, the proposal called for a community service building in hopes that funding could come from civic center legislation through the state.

If approved, the building would be constructed in the 1972 building season.

Growth happens

Unofficial results of the city of Palmer’s census are near completion and have found that 1,216 people live in city limits. There are still about 20 units to be counted and the census takers will return to the outstanding units tonight. Anyone not already counted is asked to contact city hall.

The 1,216 residents represent a 6.65 percent increase over the 1,140 reported from the 1970 U.S. Census.

New phone exchange cut in

Maybe you didn’t notice the Wasilla telephone change last Thursday, but a quadrupled number of available open lines had to have made a difference. MTA crews for the switchover didn’t seem too concerned with that sort of statistic.

All the work, as much as possible, included testing and switching new equipment leading up to a 10 p.m. launch.

Although prior to the 10 p.m. switch there was just one caller on the line, afterward there were plenty, prompting MTA officials to guess that maybe everybody just wanted to see if it would really work. It did.

It cost what?

According to advertisements in The Frontiersman, in November 1971 you could:

• Celebrate Thanksgiving with a big bird; 45 cents a pound for turkeys.

• Get four cans of mixed vegetables for $1.

• Snack on caramel apples, two for 25 cents.

• Stay at the Wayside Inn for $10 a night.