History of New Rockford: Oct. 22, 2018

On Jan. 3, 1902, T.J. Backstad, Isaac Hanson, K.P. Skaalen, Ole A. Hegna, and J.J. Anderson came over from Freeborn. That evening Miss Addie Haugh entertained some young friends at her Lamborn East residence with music, games and midnight refreshments. Also that evening the New Rockford Band met with Prof. Ole Dahlen of Sheyenne, who was going to move to New Rockford. The members were Ole Dahlen, leader and Eb clarinet; Laurence Prader and E.M. Myhra, Bb clarinet; A.C. Buck, first Bb cornet; Monte Biggs and Ralph Beebe, second Bb cornet; A.C. Olsen, solo alto; W.E. Radtke, first tenor; B.T. Fay, second tenor; George Fahrer, slide trombone; A.J. Clure, baritone; J.T. Wiltsie, tuba; H.J. Mitchell, snare drum; George Norton, bass drum. The band set practices for Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The first practice was on the evening of Jan. 8 and all the members were present.

On Jan. 4, Mr. and Mrs. William Miller returned from the holidays with their relatives in Lancaster, Ohio. Veterinarian Dr. F.W. Tompkins of Oberon made a professional call in New Rockford.

On Jan. 4 and 5, Dr. Charles MacLachlan and druggist Orley Couch drove to Ft. Totten and returned.

On Sunday, Jan. 5, there was a Service of Song at the Methodist Church, led by a male quartet. A.P. Lies of Cathay registered at the Mattson Hotel.

On Jan. 6, Joe Weddle, manager of Dr. MacLachlan’s farm east of New Rockford, came into town. At the Eddy County Commission meeting that day, W.C. Schwoebel was appointed as a County Commissioner for a year.

On Jan. 7, the Eddy County Commission reorganized road districts 5, 8 and 12, and created road districts 22, 23 and 24. The Commissioners then appointed the following as road supervisors: District 1. Thor Hollom; 2. Gabriel Guessbacker; 3. J.M. Shannon; 4. C.H. Ruland; 5. Axtle Johnson; 6. James Davidson; 7. John Nystrom; 8. Joseph Christ; 9. L.J. Doyle; 10. L. Wigmosta; 11. N.C. Gunvaldson; 12. John Guler; 13. John W. Aldred; 14. James Hobbs; 15. Axel R. Erickson; 16. Ole Hegna; 17. Martin Walsh; 18. Steve Walsh; 19. James Graham; 20. Hans Pederson; 21. H.R. Davis; 22. Theodore Doyen; 23. John Wren; 24. H.B. Johnson.

On the morning of Jan. 7, a mastoid operation on little Paul Kunkel was successful. Dr. J. Ross McKenzie came up from Carrington to assist. Isaac Studebaker was in New Rockford, as was Nils Gunvaldson from northwest of town and Klem Moe and William Starke on business. Homer Allison went to Jamestown. O.W. West left for his Bowbells homestead to live there permanently. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Whetham. That evening the MWA (Woodmen) Lodge installed new officers: E.R. Davidson, Venerable Consul; W.C. Dresser, Worthy Advisor; R.R. Woodward, Banker; Peter Prader, Clerk; R.E. Miller, Watchman; John T. Olson, Sentry; W.E. Radtke, Manager, three years; D.Y. Stanton, Band Manager. Peter P. Hallquist attended.

From Jan. 7 to 9, Guss Gullicks was in town, and R.P. Allison was in Jamestown on legal business, accompanied by his wife.

On Jan. 8, D.D. Daley and P.H. Harrington came in from eastern Eddy County on business. Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Lathrop came in from Tiffany. Peter Johnson, the Standard Oil man, came up from Carrington. After receiving a petition to build a bridge north of Sheyenne, the Eddy County Commissioners went to that town to see about a site. J.F. Dembiczki of Lidgerwood, N.D., was in New Rockford to start a bowling alley; he leased a portion of the East Side Bakery and was going to put up a 50 foot addition.

On the evening of Jan. 8, the Degree of Honor installed the following new officers in Ohrner’s Hall: Mrs. Mary M. Bennett, Past Chief of Honor; Mrs. Nellie E. Buck, Chief of Honor; Miss Verena Schmid, Lady of Honor; Mrs. Beatrice Larkin, Chief of Ceremonies; Miss Maggie Morris, Recorder; Pearl Severtson [she apparently replaced Mrs. W.C. Beardsley], Financier; Mrs. Mary Baird, Receiver; Mrs. Alice M. Rager, Usher; Miss Lou Fertig, Inside Watch; Miss Helen M. Davis, Outside Watch; Miss Addie Haugh, Organist; Mrs. Anna Greely, Delegate to the Grand Lodge; Mrs. Mary M. Bennett, alternate to the Grand Lodge; Mrs. Viola Woodward, Trustee (three years).

The AOUW Lodge held a joint installation of officers with the Degree of Honor. Their new officers were R.U. Austin, Master Workman; A.G. Gardner, Foreman; R.M. Kennedy, Overseer; J.G. Dailey, Guide; P.J. Braman, Recorder; E.S. Severtson, Financier; J.W. Rager, Receiver; P.J. Butler, Inside Watch; Anton Haas, Outside Watch.

The orchestra then preceded the members and guests to the Hotel Davies dining room for dancing until midnight, after which they went back to the Hall for a banquet supervised by James Hamilton. After the meal there was more dancing for a couple hours.

Mr. and Mrs. James B. Dafoe of the Sheyenne Valley attended the installations, as did Mrs. S.E. Nelson, attorney R.A. Bill and daughter Elizabeth, Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Chafee and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Cruchet, Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Hunt, Mrs. Jane McCoy, Mrs. F.N. Chaffee, all of Carrington, as well as members of the Barlow AOUW Lodge.

At 8 p.m., Rev. D.H. Clarkson conducted Episcopal services in the Baptist Church.

On Jan. 9, William Cornish was in from Tiffany on business. Toller M. Huff left for Alberta, Canada, for a couple weeks’ visit; he was accompanied by his brother-in-law from Nebraska. The Eddy County Commission agreed to a petition by D.B. Wellman and others to furnish material for a bridge on the Sheyenne River between sections 4 and 5, T150, R66 [Gates Township], if the residents of Sheyenne would build it. That evening Georgia Harper of the New East Lynne Company played to a crowded house with “…one of the best entertainments ever held in this city.” She played the role of Lady Isobel.

The Jan. 10, 1902, “Transcript” stated that with one week excepted, the temperature hadn’t been below 20 degrees above all winter.

A notice: Strayed, Nov. 6, one red muley steer, one-year old, from George E. Fugina’s farm three and a half miles west of New Rockford.

It was announced that Miss Minnie Halvorson of Valley City would be the new assistant principal of the New Rockford Schools; she replaced Miss Phoebe Dixon.

The Eddy County Early Settlers’ Association reported having $50.04 in the bank.

L. Maude McKnight was the editor of the “Cathay Bee.” Former resident J.C. Smith, manager of the Lahart Elevator in McHenry, had built a house there. Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Clark reported that they had stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona Territory, to see former resident Dr. E.S. Miller on their way to California for the winter.