Public invited to Palmer Historical Society meeting Jan. 15

PALMER — The public is invited to join the Palmer Historical Society at 7 p.m., Jan. 15 at the Palmer Library to hear a presentation from Dan Renshaw about the origins of the Alaska Railroad.

Renshaw will share information about the developments, dramatic events and friendships broken that changed state history.

He is the owner of Gold Cord Mine, just above Independence Mine, and is a second-generation miner in Hatcher Pass who has amazing amounts of knowledge on mountains, weather, mines in the area and Alaska History.

Renshaw said he doesn’t usually like to play “what if,” but just for this discussion, think about what if:

• Incumbent President William Howard Taff had been elected Nov.5, 1912, instead of Woodrow Wilson?

• Would the Alaska Railroad be the Copper River and Northwestern Railway from Cordova to Fairbanks?

• Would Anchorage exist?

• If here wasn’t an Anchorage, would there be a Palmer?