That darn Train Depot

Palmer’s Train Depot building, right in the middle of town, is often the best place to be. This fortuitous location has been discussed many times over and its value is strengthened weekly with more and more events.

So Many Flavors—Originally it was a train station built in the 1930s. Since that time, funerals, memorial services, weddings, anniversaries, dances, dance lessons, Fight night, religious services, public hearings, public informational meetings, proms, birthday parties, toddler story times, chamber of commerce, club meetings, open mics, markets, art shows, recreational equipment swaps, choruses, musical group gatherings, library activities, and even voting are part and parcel of the Palmer Train Depot building’s important functions. This building has heard so many plans and dreams and conversations…truly if the depot walls could talk, tales would definitely be told.

Creativity and Transformation and Chairs—Despite the different end result, the depot set up process is the same. One reserves it through the city. One pays the small fee. One picks up the key. And then the magic happens. Usually a few people start the transformation of the depot into a meeting room, musical stage, festive dance floor, quilt show, dinner theater, fashion runway, church lecture hall, stadium seating, or market niches stalls. The event runs its course and the the reverse process begins or reconstructing the Palmer Train Depot back to its original shape.

We are pretty well trained to know that after a public event, everyone takes their chair back to the chair stacking area. And those chairs have held some pretty heavy bodies over the years. In fact the cushions are rather squashed down under the weight of hundreds of events per year. Decades ago the chairs were metal folding chairs with the initials, “cop” stenciled on the backs of each chair. If you were a newcomer, you would walk into the depot and think every chair was reserved for the police or “cop.” Actually it took a while to realize that “cop” stood for City of Palmer.

So Many Events—There have honestly been thousands of events at the depot and it has been remodeled several times usually as a voluntary service of a community group or organization along with assistance and maintenance from the city. If there was a beacon in Palmer for Freedom of Speech, it would likely be the Palmer Depot because of the randomness of users. Sometimes you will see folks in costume, prom dresses, sketchy dance skirts, fur hats, tea skirts, gauzy white veils, religious regalia, suit and tie, scarves and feathers, pioneer outfits, scottish skirts, wrestler singlets, tuxedos, white gauzy veils and Elegant Recycled costumes.

Last Tuesday at The Palmer Depot—was packed twice for the debut of Palmer’s Author Eowyn Ivey and her newly published book, “Black Woods, Blue Sky.” It seemed as if everyone knew Eowyn as a former Frontiersman reporter, school child, parent, and or major author. She shared stories with the audience about the book’s evolution, her life, and the uniquely wonderful viewpoint of her characters.

Last Friday at The Palmer Depot—was sold out for the debut of the Mat-Su Sentinel's inaugural storytelling evening. Over 200 people gathered together to hear iconic valley tales. Speakers were from Willow, Palmer, Wasilla, Chickaloon, Butte, and places in-between. It was a beautiful collection of Valley geography, perspectives, faith, challenges, and journeys. Stories are what connects community and this evening of storytelling proved its worth over and over again. This isn’t the first storytelling event in the valley. Palmer Untold Stories and story stages have happened in conjunction with the museum, churches, and our Palmer radio station in the past several years. The organizer of the evening was Mat Su Sentinel Founder and editor Amy Bushatz, a talented communicator and supporter of civic engagement. Everyone agrees this needs to happen again and again.

Last Saturday at The Palmer Depot— was transformed into the Valley Quilters Guild which is a gentle group of enthusiastic fiber artists and quilters meeting monthly.

This Weekend at The Palmer Depot—will become a fashion runway for the annual wearable art event, which garners fans from all over the state. Amazing creations are modeled and performance art is at its best.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222