Alaska Stories

Remember the name and the picture on the milk carton of the young lady on ice skates with the fur-trimmed parka?

That was as much a part of your life in Anchorage as Gilman’s bread or going to see a movie at the 4th Avenue Theatre.

Most of us had a carton of Matanuska Maid milk on the table at breakfast. And we all remember that the young lady on the carton was known as the Matanuska Maid.

The dairy got its start in around 1935 as a cooperative created by the colonists who put together the town of Palmer, Alaska.

In its first year, the co-op sold 5,458 pounds of butter and 26,000 eggs.

By the 1940s, they were producing more than $1 million dollars in annual sales.

A 1935 Colony Farm

The photo above shows the Raymond Rebarchek farm.

Hey, we need a Name!

Pictured above is Dorothy Ann Sheely Bush in 1993, she was the school girl who won the dairy naming contest. Also pictured is her mom Charlotte Sheely with Dorothy in 1935.

The Matanuska colony decided, in 1935, that the dairy cooperative should have a name.

A contest was held, and an interesting thing happened.

Dorothy Ann Sheely, a local high school student, came up with the chosen name. Instead of Matanuska “Made”, she came up with Matanuska “Maid”. Her prize was $25. And that was a nice sum in 1935.

BONUS

In 1960, Matanuska Maid wanted a name for the young lady ice skater featured on their dairy products.

Mrs. John Secora of Anchorage came up with the name, “Anuska” which was the contest winner.

Notice that Anuska is Matanuska without the “Mat”.

Yes, You Can Share this Edition

It’s so easy to share this edition of Alaska Stories with your friends or family or even co-workers… And when you do, they will be so happy that they will write a hit song about you that will make you famous… Well, it could happen.

Click on the following link:

Thanks for reading, and listening to Alaska Stories. This post is public, so feel free to share it.

A TV Weather Girl and the Matanuska Maid

In the photo above is Phyllis Hayes.

Before Theda Comstock stood behind the KENI-TV channel 2 weather map, astonishing everyone with her ability to write backwards (it was really a camera trick), Phyllis Hayes was presenting the nightly TV weather.

But Phyllis had another fun personality.

Everyone in Anchorage, and throughout Alaska, wanted to see “Anuska”, the Matanuska Maid in person. So, the dairy chose Phyllis and some other delightful ladies, to dress up in the famous fur-trimmed outfit and meet all those eager Matanuska Maid fans at gatherings, events, and parades all over Alaska.

A Fun Memory

When Mary of Alaska Stories was a young girl in Anchorage, she used to sit at the breakfast table with her seven brothers and sisters. As they enjoyed their hot or cold cereal, they would read what was on the Matanuska Maid milk carton and scrape off the wax with their thumbnail. Then they would rotate the carton, scrape wax from the other side, then the other, then… well, you get the picture.

Did you enjoy reading cereal boxes and milk cartons at breakfast? Do you still read them?

Matanuska Maid

Like so many things we remember in Anchorage, the 4th Avenue Theatre, Gilman’s Bakery and even KTVA channel 11, Anchorage’s first TV station, they are all gone now.

And Anuska, our favorite Matanuska Maid, has hung up her ice skates for good. Our favorite dairy that began in 1935, has delivered its last quart of milk.

For our purposes here at Alaska Stories, it doesn’t matter why it’s gone, only that we still have the memories.

For so many years, like Gilman’s bread, the 4th Avenue Theatre or KTVA channel 11, Matanuska Maid was ours… and we loved it.

From our North Stars (that’s you)

From our podcast about the Alaska Gold Rush

Avril wrote:

“I always find out something new even though I lived there for 12 years. It's truly amazing how these gold rush people lived in tents and survived.”

Jeanne shared this:

“My maternal grandfather was one of those who left Skagway for Whitehorse to look for gold and his sister, my great aunt, was a “dancehall girl” during the gold rush.

My grandfather didn't strike it rich, but moved to Juneau, where he married, and my mother was born. My aunt “retired” to the Bay Area for the rest of her life.

Reading your story reminded me of what my mother told me. I never had the opportunity to know either my grandfather or aunt. Just heard the stories.”

Tom had this memory:

“In the late 1970s while living in Juneau, my brother and brother-in-law from Anchorage decided we would hike the Chilkoot Trail. After meeting in Skagway, we decided to walk the 9 miles to the trailhead (Dyea) rather than wait for a ride.

Climbing the steps with a full pack with only minimal provisions was tough, making us realize what the prospectors endured. There was a Mountie stationed at the top as we crossed into Canada. After spending a night at a cabin, we made it to Lake Bennett and enjoyed lunch and a train ride on the White Pass & Yukon RR back to Skagway.”

Connect with Us

Great memories of Matanuska Maid.

Now are you hungry for some breakfast cereal in a bowl full of Matanuska Maid milk? We are.

Do you have a comment? You can reach us by replying to this email.

Or, you can Contact Us to say, “I loved the Matanuska Maid Dairy.”

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska Stories