Well worth it

PALMER — “Palmer, Alaska: Businesses and Buildings 1897-1970” is a remarkable 300-plus-page book by Joseph and Cheryl Homme released in mid-November. It took the two of them working for three years to compile and write. Add that up, it’s six years of work and it shows.

At the November Palmer Historical Society’s monthly gathering, Joe and Cheryl presented the freshly printed book to a large, eager crowd. Joe said in introductory remarks, “We are so grateful that the business people—of old—took us on this journey” of writing the book. Both Joe and Cheryl are lifelong Alaskans who grew up in Palmer.

This is a glossy book, filled with illustrations, photographs, maps, charts, indexes and advertisements of the day. This book will end up never being stuffed in a bookcase, but will reside in a place of honor on the coffee table or kitchen table. There is an epic amount of material, well presented and thoughtfully constructed.

Palmer photographer Cecil and Anne Sanders, who publishes the Last Frontier Magazine, did the book design. All 410 black and white and color photos show sources and attributions; many are being published for the first time. There are biographical sketches of selected business owners and an inventory of more than 1,000 businesses.

The book shows a time, not so long ago, when Palmer had two major car dealerships, movie house, bowling alley, Bert’s Drug store, and Palmer Cocktail Bar, in addition to many shops, bars and offices. Many of the businesses moved around, due to fires or functions. Palmer had a major traffic light for three years in the early 60s, which evolved into the current 4-way stop at S. Alaska and Evergreen.

The back cover says it well.

“An illustrated history of Palmer’s businesses and buildings from 1897 to 1970 with locations and dates of operation. Contains an exhaustively researched inventory of the pioneering men and women who served as proprietors of early Palmer businesses. The accompanying text provides an overview of the challenges of operating a small business in the frontier days of Alaska, and chronicles the efforts by business owners to build and eventually incorporate a city.”

On Small Business Saturday, nearly everyone in downtown Palmer seemed to be carrying a copy of the book. Longtime city resident Linda Combs said “I only read a couple pages at at time. I like to really study the pictures and absorb it slowly. It’s that good.”

Indeed this book is the seminal book about old Palmer. It is factual but also antidotal and it is about the best present to be under the tree this year.

Copies are available at Fireside Books, The Alaska Picker and at the Historical Society’s gala at the Colony House Museum on Dec. 9.

Joe and Cheryl Homme have written three other books: Storybook Culture: The Art of popular Children’s Books; Retro Romance: Classic Tips for Today’s Couples; and Cures and Chaos: The Life & Times of Dr. Vincent Hume and His Impact on a Frontier Alaska Town.