History of New Rockford: Jan. 6, 2020

On Dec. 8, 1902, William Milne Jr. came down from the Sheyenne Valley to visit and do business. W.V. Stine, who had spent part of the summer in the area, and V.F. Snyder, who had edited the “Bowdon Guardian” for the previous four months for Steve Lewis, but who had resigned, left for the Pacific Coast. Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Anderson left for LaGrande, Ore., where they would probably live. Peter Schafer left for a vacation in his old home of Germany.

That evening Mrs. W.C. Schwoebel and Mrs. Peter Prader joined the Eastern Star Lodge.

On Dec. 8 and 9, George F. Putnam was in town. On Dec. 8 to 10, Rev. J.R. Beebe was in Fargo at a meeting of the Home Missionary Society.

The Eddy County Commission met on Dec. 8 to 10.

On Dec. 8, the Commissioners voted to pay $5 to H.A. Buffington for burying a dead horse; $2.50 to Robert E. Miller for cleaning an outhouse; $3.25 to Charles F. Culp for work on the court house; $2 to the Noxon-Oglesby Telephone Company; $30 to W.C. Hayes as court house janitor.

On Dec. 9 they voted to pay $375 to the Fargo Bridge Co. for bridge work; $96.70 to R.M. Kennedy for coal for the court house.

On Dec. 10, they voted to pay Olof Lundquist $2.50 for jail repairs.

On Dec. 9, the Congregational Ladies’ Social Union held their annual fair at Brown’s Opera House. Needlework was sold; dinner and supper were served. The dinner menu included roast turkey and chicken, cranberry sauce, ham, baked beans, mashed potatoes, white bread, pickles, salads, three kinds of pie – lemon, apple, mince – cheese, coffee, and tea. The supper menu was scalloped potatoes, cold meats, baked beans, brown bread, fresh rolls, salads, pickles, jellies, assorted cakes, coffee and tea. Admission was 25 cents. It was considered a success with a good crowd and “everything sold well.” About $235 was added to the treasury. After the fair a number of cooking utensils were left in the hall of the depot; they could be picked up from Mrs. W.E. Biggs.

That day, Ed Wright was in from Tiffany. Hannon Martin, who had been a grain buyer on the Soo Line during the fall, returned to New Rockford. Katie (Mrs. Thomas) Turner came up from Barlow to visit friends. E.M. Stitzel and son Walter left for Dixon, Ill., where they would spend the winter. Dr. and Mrs. Charles MacLachlan went to Jamestown, where he attended a meeting of the Asylum Board. Miss Helen Oliver went to Barlow to visit relatives for a week. Mrs. R.M. Kennedy left for her old home in New York State for two months. That evening James Graham was in from eastern Eddy County to visit and do business. About 20 young people enjoyed themselves at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Monahan south of town; there was a lunch at midnight.

On Dec. 9 and 10, O.E. Nash was down from Sheyenne on business and to visit. From Dec. 9 to 11, Chris Ragseth was over from Harvey to visit.

At 2 p.m. Dec. 10 Frank Bloss, who was well-known in the New Rockford area, and Myrtle Hunt of Oxford, Wis., were married in the Sykeston parsonage of Rev. G.S. Boscom; they would live on their ranch southeast of Bowdon.

On Dec. 10, H.A. Berge left for his old home in Madison, S.D., after selling his New Rockford Cigar Shop to Charles Lyman and George Ellis. After visiting Madison, Berge would leave for the Pacific Coast for his health. Ellis, who had been working for Berge, would take charge of the shop, Lyman & Ellis.

In the early morning of Dec. 10, it was minus 32. It snowed that day. William Steinbach received word that his father Jacob Steinbach, 74, had died in Tacoma, Wash., that morning from asthma. The older Steinbach had lived in Eddy County from 1882 to 1895. Charles Hutchinson held a sale at his farm 11 miles east of New Rockford. Frank Ponto of Sheyenne was down on business. Carrington attorney Charles Craven came up from Carrington on legal business. Marsh Chamberlain came in on business from his large stock farm northeast of town. Lorne Ireland left for his old home Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. Peter Dodds went to Seaforth, Ontario, for a visit. Drayman E.H. Martin went to his former home in Ontario for a couple weeks. Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Schwoebel left for a short visit to Fountain City, Wis., and a longer one in Oil City, Penn. That evening elevator man J.T. Wiltsie came up from Barlow on business.

That evening the AOUW (Workmen) Lodge elected A.G. Gardner, Master Workman; R.M. Kennedy, Foreman; M.F. Kepner, Overseer; J.M. Rager, Receiver; P.J. Braman, Recorder; W.C. Hayes, Guide; Andrew Johnson, Jr., Inside Watch; E.H. Martin, Outside Watch. Deputy Grand Master Workman H.W. Johnston presided over the installation ceremonies for Andrew Johnson Jr., and E.H. Martin.

That evening there was a dance in the Opera House with music by Ole Dahler, violin; Chris Ragseth, clarinet; Lou Smith, cornet; George Fahrer, slide trombone; Mrs. H.J. Mitchell and Mrs. H.G. Hudson, piano.

From Dec., 10 to 12, Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Severtson were in Minneapolis.

On Dec. 11, C.M. Culver, advance agent for the Dodge Fisk Concert Specialty Company, was in town arranging for a Jan. 31 appearance. Andrew Ohrner returned from a trip to Fargo and northern Minnesota. Mrs. Fred Lee of Fargo arrived to visit Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Allison. J.L. Pisel returned with his bride from Roxbury, Kan., to live on the farm northwest of town. In shopping were Mr. and Mrs. Martin Endres and Mrs. Peter Schafer. Charles Hatch was in town, as were Col. Seth Bailey, B.W. Hersey, and Irv Sprecher on business. L.A. Arbogast was in from Duluth to check on his elevator. Mr. and Mrs. James Robinson of Brinsmade passed through town on the southbound train to Jamestown. Fred Lahue left for a winter in Kansas City, Mo. H. Peoples was on a business trip “down the line.” Mrs. W.O. Baird went to Barlow to see if there was any interest in organizing a Degree of Honor Lodge. Six members of the West Side Kindergarten Whist Club, including Mrs. Bacon, drove to Barlow for the Social Union Fair. That evening Dan and Will Ducke were in from Larrabee. That evening around 20 friends came to Orley Couch’s residence on Lamborn Avenue West and surprised him with a 22nd birthday party. There were music, games, and light refreshments. Also that evening friends of Rev. and Mrs. C.F. Sewry surprised them with a “pound” party at the Methodist parsonage. The preacher had been out on some ministerial duties when the friends arrived and stocked the pantry and cellar with flour, meat, sugar, teas, coffees and canned goods Many of the young people brought cash gifts. Mrs. Sewry gave each guest a cup of coffee, cream and cake. After the Reverend arrived, there were music and singing.