Palmer Daily, 1935: Matanuska Graduation and the Birth of a Colony Newspaper
On May 15, 1935, a combined graduation ceremony took place at Matanuska schools in Alaska, which was postponed due to a Palmer school bus getting stuck in ditches. After the Superintendent grew impatient, A.R.R.C. pickups were dispatched. Mr. Troast found himself trapped in a puddle of grease, while Mr. Biggs was underneath his vehicle making adjustments to the chains. Reverend Bingle, known as the "sky-pilot," assisted with the situation and returned home at approximately 1:00 A.M. Mr. Sheeley gave the graduation speech, enabling the students to receive their diplomas. The "Palmer Daily," established by Bingle, reported local happenings using carbon paper. A photograph from the Mary Nan Gamble collection depicts a bus mired in mud near Palmer, previously operated by T.A. Smith before the Colony.
Key facts
- May 15, 1935, was graduation day for students at Palmer and Matanuska.
- The graduation exercise was held at Matanuska in conjunction with the school at that railroad city.
- The Palmer school bus got stuck in ditches, delaying the program; A.R.R.C. pickups were sent to search.
- Reverend Bingle started Palmer's first newspaper, the "Palmer Daily," to report for the colonists.
- The "Palmer Daily" was typed on carbon paper and posted on the camp bulletin board.
- The newspaper included the caveat: "if we did not get all the news we just guessed. – Columbus took a chance."
- T.A. Smith built and operated the school bus that hauled Palmer-area students to Matanuska before the Colony.
- The second sailing of the St Mihiel would bring a fleet of new school buses to Palmer.
Entities
Artists
- Reverend Bingle
- B.J. Bingle
- Jim Felton
- Mr. Troast
- Mr. Biggs
- Mr. Sheeley
- T.A. Smith
- Mary Nan Gamble
Institutions
- Palmer Daily
- A.R.R.C.
- Alaska State Library
- Palmer Historical Society
- Matanuska Experimental Station
- St Mihiel
Locations
- Palmer
- United States
- Matanuska
- Nenana River
- Minnesota
- Alaska