History of New Rockford: Oct. 14, 2019

The Sept. 26, 1902, “New Rockford Transcript” mentioned the “Minot Optic” and the “Denhoff Voice.”

“Fresh milch cow wanted at once. W.G. Carter.” An ad—“D. Labhardt Shoemaking and Repairing shop opposite Manly’s Law Office.” Another ad:“East Side Bakery—fresh bread, pies and cakes.” P.C. Peterson of Barlow sold Kenmare coal, the best grades of soft coal and hard coal.

An item said that S.J. Bell of Devils Lake was the manager of the Flax Belt circuit of opera houses which would bring traveling attractions to Mayville, Northwood, Larimore, Inkster, Park River, Milton, Langdon, Michigan City, Lakota, Edmore, Devils Lake, Cando, Churchs Ferry, Leeds, York, Willow City, Bottineau, Souris, Granville, Minot, Harvey, Fessenden, Carrington and New Rockford [and possibly one more] during the coming winter.

Rev. E.E. Sanders had purchased the “Oberon Reporter” after a throat problem had forced him to give up the ministry. New Rockford attorney R.P. Allison had purchased the “Esmond Bee”; his sons Homer and Robert would manage the newspaper.

During the week a new showcase was installed in the Babcock & Bucklin Drug Store; the owners also installed a street lamp in front of their building. The telephone company was putting up poles and wire near New Rockford and would finish in town in a few days. Logan & Farley had erected a street light in front of their Chicago Street restaurant.

George Brown’s new Opera House was nearing completion. It was described as having “…a fine floor, a well-built stage.” “An elegant steel ceiling” was still to be added. The next day’s train was bringing in “a magnificent drop-curtain” which would be ready for the first performance of “Don’t Tell My Wife” on the evening of Sept. 29. The building would have steam heat and “good lighting.” 

On Sept. 26, John A. Dolle left for his home in Jackson, Minn., after looking over his farm southeast of town; he was the general freight and passenger agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad [the Milwaukee Road] in Jackson.

On Sept. 27, the steam heating plants for the Hotel Brown, Hotel Mattson, and the J.M. Patch Block arrived; the Noxon Bros. of Valley City would install them.

At 2 p.m. Sept. 27, the Republican Legislative Convention in Carrington nominated J.D. Carroll of Washington Lake for the North Dakota State Senate and Matt Mattson of Eddy County and F.N. Chaffee of Foster County for the North Dakota State House. Appointed to the Legislative Central Committee from Eddy County were S. Nelson, Fred Dutee, William Morris, and as committeeman-at-large F.C. Davies. On that day (or Sept. 20) a 10 lb. son was born to Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Oliver. Between trains, railroad mail clerk E.G. Allison was up from Jamestown to visit his parents. Martin Anderson came in from Plainview. Philip Ackerman was in from his eastern Wells County farm. Mike Greitl came up on business from his Barlow farm. Miss Catherine Stewart was up from Carrington to visit. The night was very dark and he was traveling at a high rate of speed. About a mile south of town, they met Andy McVey, also driving very fast. The carriages collided and McVey’s struck Monahan a glancing blow to his left side, just below the “short ribs.” Taken into town, Monahan was examined by doctors who discovered a serious rupture. By Oct. 3, Monahan was recovering well. [However, in May 1904, he was rushed to Minneapolis where he was diagnosed with a ruptured diaphragm and other complications, results of the accident, and faced a series of operations.] Holter and McVey were shaken up; both carriages were destroyed.

On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 28, the New Rockford Methodist Church reopened; there was a special song service that evening with a large congregation. Carrington druggist Leon Galehouse and bank cashier W.L. Bennett were in New Rockford, as were Misses Kathryn and Nell Sheehy, John Arnold, and W.G. Steinweg. Bank cashier W.H. Neimeyer and general merchant R.J. Howden drove over from McHenry. Mrs. E.S. Severtson and Miss Lucia Nelson drove to Carrington.

On Sept. 29, the Democratic Legislative Convention in Carrington nominated Iver Vick of Sheyenne for the North Dakota State Senate and for the State House Axtle Johnson of rural New Rockford and Martin Murphy of Foster County. Christ C. Hanson was in from Plainview. W.A. Young was in town. Stephen Walsh came in from Tiffany on business. Attorney M.T. O’Connor went to Bismarck for a few days. Mrs. Richard Cahill and children left to join Mr. Cahill in Esmond. That evening Rev. M.P. Burns preached in the Methodist Church. Rain that evening and the next morning brought threshing crews into town, so the hotels and restaurants did a great business.

On the evenings of Sept. 29 and 30, “Don’t Tell My Wife” and “Under Two Flags” were presented [in the new Opera House?] by the Evans Company and played to packed houses.

On Sept. 30, the Monarch Elevator at Esmond burned, the third elevator in that town destroyed by fire in five days. Peter Johnson, the Standard Oil man from Carrington, was seen on the streets of New Rockford with his green wagon. Blacksmith J.A. McCrum was in from Tiffany on business. Sheriff J.E. Bennett returned from ten days at his old home, Boone, Iowa, accompanied by his young son Clarence, who had been there for some time for medical treatment; the boy’s health was “much better.” Miss Etta Schwoebel, who had been visiting Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Radtke that summer, was called home to Fountain City, Wisc., by the illness of her mother. Miss Martha Zimmerman went to Barlow for a lengthy stay with her sister Mrs. Fred Hanson and family; in her absence Miss Bella Graham would fill her position at the Hotel Mattson. Homer Allison went to Esmond to assume the managership of the “Esmond Bee.” He would be assisted by his brother R.L. Allison, who was already there. That night William Starke’s separator burned; the cause was unknown. Also a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O’Connor of western Eddy County.

On Oct. 1, the partnership between Nathan Flater and Nathan Stanton (Flater & Stanton) general blacksmiths was dissolved, with Stanton taking over the business. Mrs. G.D. Murphy arrived to join her husband Dr. Murphy. “Scotty” Knable was in on business. H.A. Wheeler, a representative of Rand McNally, was in town. Nathan Flater and his son Harry left to visit his old home Blemheim, Ontario, Canada; they would also visit Detroit and some other cities. After their return to New Rockford, they would go to California and the Pacific Coast with Mrs. Flater, who had remained behind. That evening George Brown’s Opera House opened with a dancing party; music was provided by John Oard, violin; A.C. Buck, cornet; George Fahrer, slide trombone; Mesdames Mitchell and Hudson, piano.

On Oct. 2, Burton Hulbert left for Washington, D.C. for the GAR encampment, as did James Davidson, who was accompanied by his daughter Miss Nellie. At 2 p.m. the ladies of the Episcopal Guild met at Alice (Mrs. J.W.) Rager’s. That afternoon there was an auction of cattle by Dr. MacLachlan and Burdick at the doctor’s farm three miles east of New Rockford.