History of New Rockford: January 22, 2018

On May 28, 1901, Gilbert, the nine-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ole G. Golson, was ruled insane by the Eddy County Insanity Board and taken to the asylum in Jamestown. Miss Ottlie Pottner arrived from Minneapolis to visit her uncles, the Pottner brothers, southwest of New Rockford. B.F. Onstott came in from his cattle ranch in eastern Eddy County. E.L. Green and A.W. Harky came over from McHenry. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kermott were down from Sheyenne to shop. Mrs. A.D. Tomlinson and Mrs. May M. Keime went to Leeds as delegates to the WCTU convention; Mrs. Tomlinson would then went on to Bottineau to visit her son Alva and his wife for three weeks. That evening the New Rockford Band played six songs from the bandstand.

 The New Rockford Schools closed on May 29. That afternoon there was a program in the high school room. An audience of eighty-three who saw “…the best ever given in this city….” Addresses were given by Rev. J.B. Beebe, Principal E.R. Thomas, and School Board President W.C. Beardsley. The high school room displayed the year’s work done by all departments.

 That evening the high school students presented the three-act farce “The Balloon” on the third floor of the school to a “crowded house.” Admission was twenty-five cents, but thirty-five cents for reserved seats, with proceeds ($31.70 is what they needed) going to purchase reference books for the library. In the cast were Beatrice Austin, Mont Biggs, Hattie Davidson, George Dunham, Addie Haugh, Ray Hester, Pearl Rantz, John Schmid, Perry Stanton, and Guy Thompson. Prof. I. Warren Postlewaite of the Fessenden Schools attended the closing exercises.

 The following were promoted:

 To the ninth grade—Ralph Beebe, Mont Biggs, Blanche Brownell, Stella Pike

 To the tenth grade—Vada Aultman, Hattie Davidson, John Schmid, Perry Stanton

 To the eleventh grade—Edith Angliss, Beatrice Austin, George Dunham, Ida Clure, Ray Hester, Guy Thompson

 There were twenty-seven students in the seventh grade, but only three—Lorrie Ireland, Hilda Johnson, and Vera Keime—were promoted to the eighth grade. The seventh grade was the only class to have any of its members suspended during the school year.

 On that day Carrington farm machinery dealer S.J. Doyle was in New Rockford. Carrington veterinarian Swank was in town on business. Frank Parker was in from eastern Eddy County; D.B. Wellman, Charles Hensel, and Peter Hanson were down from Sheyenne; John G. Johns was over from Cathay; and farmer Pat Byron was up from Barlow. L.J. Brown went to Fargo to consult an eye specialist.

 On May 29 to 30, the 8th annual meeting of the Mary Allen West District Union of the WCTU met at Leeds. May M. Keime of New Rockford responded to the addresses of welcome. New Rockford residents elected were Mrs. Alice M. Rager, recording secretary, and Mrs. A.D. Tomlinson, treasurer.

 On May 30 Nils Gunvaldson was down from the Sheyenne Valley. H.S. Ballard, Henry Lake, and G.A. Fitz came over from McHenry. Intermediate teacher Miss Blanche A. Burleigh left for her home in Luverne, MN.

 On that day the Early Settlers’ Association met in the court house. Vice President Thomas Turner called the meeting to order. Also present were A.M. Greely, secretary; S.N. Putnam, treasurer; and the Executive Committee, H.M. Clark, H.J. Mitchell, and A.G. Gardner. They set June 20 as the day of the annual summer picnic and meeting, with no oration, just a day of sport at Roberts’ Grove. Admission was a quarter for men sixteen and over, and free for ladies and children. Committees selected were Finance—A.G. Gardner, H.J. Mitchell, S.N. Putnam; Grounds—J.A. McCrum, Thomas Turner, J.W. Stoddard; Entertainment—W.C. Beardsley, Mrs. H.J. Mitchell, Mrs. W.A. Cornish, Mrs. S.W. Bailey, Miss Helen Schmid; Dance—John Schaefer, R.R. Woodward, Herb Losee; Sports—Dr. Charles MacLachlan, George Setz, F.L. Kermott, A.J. Clure. Thirty dollars was voted for the committees’ use, and there was a vote to hire the Woodmen Band to play from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 The May 31, 1901, “Transcript” reported that iceman George Stitzel would build a larger ice house that fall. Stitzel, as the street commissioner, was credited for fixing the walkway across St. Paul Street between the depot and the “Provost” office.

A “Little Mother’s Club” had been organized with Edith Campbell, president; Harta Dinnetz, vice president; Fena Carlson, secretary; and Hilda Dinnetz, treasurer. There were about eight members who would learn about housekeeping.

 A.C. Buck had his drug store re-shingled that week. Lloyd Whiteman was painting the H. Peoples’ store. A new tennis court was being laid out on the old tennis court grounds south of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Kinnaird.

 Fred G. Haver had been named a deputy game warden for Eddy County. O.H. Couch, formerly of Buck’s drug store, was in the College of Pharmacy in Minneapolis.

 On May 31 A.W. Blasky was in from eastern Eddy County, as were Miss Catherine Collins and Thor Ness. Magnus Anderson and Andrew Anderson were over from the McHenry area. Dr. Hamilton and his son came up from Carrington. Oscar Bauer and his sister Ethel Bauer went to Bowdon to make improvements and hold down their claims; they returned June 10. That evening the Carrington Band was scheduled to play a concert, but did not show up, so the New Rockford Band played instead.

 The district court jurors were dismissed on May 31 and court was adjourned; it reconvened at 10 a.m. June 4, Judge Lander presiding. Cases included John Wilder vs. David Henry, decision for plaintiff represented by J.A. Manly; C.J. Maddux represented Henry; R.A. Wenzin vs. David Henry, disposition by agreement; Solverson vs. Deering Harvester Co. saw a judgment for the dissolution of injunction and the awarding of property to the defendant; P.M. Mattson was the plaintiff’s attorney and C.J. Maddux represented the defendant; State of North Dakota vs. Leonard; injunction was affirmed for one year; Mattson stood for the state with Manly for the defendant. The Eddy County contested election cases were tried, but the decision was reversed. Judge Lander ruled that although the election booths were not “regularly arranged,” there was no fraud. That finding sustained the Sheyenne election board and left intact the Republican win in the precinct. P.M. Mattson’s disbarment case was tried and was reversed. The court adjourned on June 6 and the judge and the visiting attorneys caught the southbound train.

 On the morning of June 1, J.L. Prader, Jr., and Miss Helen Schmid drove to Jamestown for a week’s visit. Miss Schmid also visited the Jamestown Schools. Prader went to Courtenay and returned on the evening of June 6. Miss Schmid returned June 8. R.U. Austin returned from Fargo, where he had undergone treatment for his inflammatory rheumatism at the Magnetic Institute. He claimed to feel like a two-year old. That afternoon and evening the Ladies Social Union of the Congregational Church served ice cream in the park. Visitors in New Rockford included Mr. and Mrs. Fred Nieman, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Albright (shopping), J.G. Daley, J.R. Craig (business), and Sidney Hewes of Tiffany (shopping). L.J. Brown returned from a business trip to Fargo. That evening Dennis O’Connell visited in Carrington. Also that evening Pearl Rantz and Merritt Lathrop were married by Rev. J.R. Beebe at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Rantz. The next evening they left for their farm home.