WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?
PHS has received two requests for assistance from our members' collective memory banks. This is a great opportunity for us to help preserve chapters in Palmer's history and to assist people who care about that history! CAN YOU HELP?

The Palmer Police Department, which was established in 1951 (the year that Palmer was Incorporated), will be observing their '50 Year Anniversary' of service to the community this autumn. Their history is being diligently researched and documented by PPD Detective Kelly Turney in conjunction with the occasion. Detective Turney has spoken to a number of former officers, staffers, City employees and other residents and has heard both humorous and other anecdotes of department procedure and small-town activity. If you have pictures, newspaper clippings, or any other information or artifacts of any kind that would add to this effort, do call Kelly at 746-9410 (or e-mail him at kturney@palmerpolice.com). You will enjoy talking to him, he undertakes the task with care and responsibility.

While revitalizing the 1935 original Trading Post building, later known as the Recreation "Rec" Hall, and still later as Deb's Family Store, property owner DeLena Johnson has asked if PHS could recall or help locate the various people who have worked in the building, what offices, business, and community activities took place there, etc. in order that she can create a "Time Line" of the building's history for it's "Grand Re-Opening". Jot down your recollections and LET'S HELP DELENA! Things are happening in Palmer, including this important restoration within our Historic District!

IN THE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
It's JULY, and for PHS it is POT LUCK PICNIC TIME! The day will be Sunday, July l5 ..... the TIME will be 2:00 p.m ..... and thanks to their kind invitation, our hosts will be Carol Strouse and Hugh Trumps at their home.

Picnic attendees will enjoy this historical and pastoral location. It is a Colonist farm site, Tract No. 91.with four original buildings remaining. The family of William and Neville Hynek and their four children, from Michigan, were the first to make it their home in 1935.

Carol and Hugh are supplying hamburgers and hot dogs along with the "fixings" and also hot baked beans! Traditionally, pot luck picnics generate a delightful repast, and this likely will not be an exception! You may wish to bring your favorite beverage along with your pot luck delectable. Plates, silverware, cups etc. will be provided, and Carol said the coffeepot will be on.

The garage will provide rain cover if necessary. For more information; or Gerry at 745-3703.

HERE'S TO PICNICS! SEE YOU THERE!

COLONY DAYS
Visitors to the COLONY HOUSE MUSEUM enjoyed "open house" on Saturday, June 9 during Colony Days week­end. Museum kudos to all "helping hands" and "refreshment elves" for adding to our community hospitality for the day!. .. John Stuart, Kay Love, JoAnn Utt, Carol Strouse, Roy Hoskins, Sharon Benson,
David Mathews, Barb Thomas, producer Paul Hill arriving with a plate of cookies, all enjoyed with tasty"Matanuska Maid Milk Punch", a perennial favorite for the day. You are the ones who make it all happen! (Sincere apologies for any omitted names.)

Alaska Far Away
It was a beautiful weekend on June 10th and 11th when, several hundred local movie goers, specially invited by the producers, settled in with anticipation to enjoy the documentary pre-screening of II Alaska Far A way" .

Joan Juster and Paul Hill, producers of the film, were "in house" to share the occasion, a highlight to their many years of work toward the completion of this Matanuska Colony documentary film project.

Also returning to celebrate the occasion was long-time Valley historian and documentary visionary, Colonist grandson Jim Fox, who has played a role since the project's inception.

The sun shone as the 750-plus movie attendees arrived, many of whom were Colonist family members and all of whom were eager to see first-hand the retelling of this seventy-two year old chapter of Matanuska Valley history.

The Rasmusen Foundation saluted the Colonist attendees with a reception at the Colony High School on June 10, and the following evening honored this history laden film effort with a reception at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art in downtown Anchorage prior to the film's Anchorage showing.The Rasmusen Foundation, a major benefactor in Alaska, has provided generous support toward the completion of the "Alaska Far Away" project.

Juster Hill Productions will now seek the proper venue or national exposure in order to present this great human interest story for the enjoyment of a broad national audience. They expect to have DVD copies produced and available by the end of this year. You may write them at:

JUSTER HILL PRODUCTIONS
P. O. Box 471034
San Francisco, CA 94147-1034

More Adventure Next Month!
Plans are in the works for PHS to enjoy an evening's adventure with the Sutton Historical Society in August, according to PHS program guru Ralph Hulbert.

Ralph and his program cohort Chuck Logsdon will have more information and direction about our Sutton sojourn available at our picnic on July 15. OR. .... you can call anyone of your PHS Board members after this week.

Mark your calendar now to save the third Wednesday of August...that's August IS ... for more complete plans. It's possible that we will set up some kind of car pooling or caravanning. Gathering time is yet to be determined, also possible brown bag or other picnic plans. But we will have all that sorted out for the evening SOON!