Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Palmer, Alaska

It's another beautiful day.  The sun is shining and we are off to Palmer.  We are doing a ride-share to the Palmer Visitor's Center and the l935 Colony House.  We split into two groups to visit each. 
The Colony House is an example of the houses that were built in l935 as a result of the government's New Deal to bring people from the depression areas of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota to the Matanuska region of Alaska for a new start.  202 families moved here and were given 40 acres, a house, barn and some out buildings as well as a $200 credit to Montgomery Ward Catalog for a $3,000 debt.  Most families were able to carve out a living and remain here still today.









Looking inside all the rooms brought back memories of kitchen gadgets, furniture and miscellaneous pieces that we all grew up with.  Nothing like the good old days.  Although, nobody is complaining about having computers or microwave ovens.
 















At the Visitor's Center, we were given a talk on the history of the region from the Athabascan Natives being the first inhabitants of this region.  The Russian hunters and traders started operating trading posts here then they sold off their claim to Alaska in l867 for two cents per acre for 586,400 square miles of mostly unexplored land.  There were several displays and photographs from early settled life.  This small town is named after a rugged, pre-Klondike Alaskan pioneer named George W. Palmer.  He was quite the entrepreneur involved with many different aspects of this growing community.

Outside the center was a beautiful garden with a wide variety of healthy and colorful flowers.  There also were some vegetables growing including giant cabbage.  Palmer has produced many record setting vegetables including a 64 lb. cantaloupe and a l27 lb. cabbage.















After the tours, we all went to the Cafe Inn for a very good lunch.  The building was originally built in l935 to house local workers, but is now a quaint Inn and Cafe with many old furnishings.















We drove to The Musk Ox Farm a few miles from town.  There we were given a presentation about a unique domestication project that began in l954 with a vision to provide an economic supplement to remote Alaskan communities.  We walked into the fields to view and feed them up close.  The farm currently has 65 Ox including about l3 recently born calves. 

















The rest of the day was spent enjoying the outdoors, since it was so beautiful out.  Had our Travel Briefing, Social Hour and played cards until the sun went down. 

Another great day!!!