History of New Rockford: March 30, 2020

About 7 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, 1903, a fire burned down the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Axtle Johnson nine miles southeast of New Rockford. The men in the house had started a fire in the kitchen range and then went to the barn to take care of the stock. Shortly thereafter, a sister of Mrs. Burton Hulbert smelled smoke, got out of bed, and discovered the kitchen in flames. The only escape for her and three children was through the kitchen, so she broke a window and the four of them crawled out and ran 200 feet to the barn in their night clothes. No clothing and no household goods were saved. The property was insured by the St. Paul Fire & Marine Co. Mrs. Johnson was absent, being in Fargo, where she was undergoing a course of treatment at the Magnetic Institute for rheumatism.

On the morning of Sunday, Feb. 15, it was 50 below. Miss Nettie [?] went to Oberon to visit; she returned the next day. That evening there was a lecture in the Congregational Church on “The Life of Abraham Lincoln” by attorney R.P. Allison, with a collection taken for the Freedman’s Aid Society; there was a large attendance.

On the morning of Feb. 16, it hit 55 below and then the mercury froze. P.J. Boyle came in on business from his farm near McHenry. Barlow druggist O.A. Burger was up on business and to visit. Peter Prader and George M. Pike went to the Retail Grocers’ Association meeting in Fargo; Pike returned on Feb. 24 after being elected as a director of the organization. Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Gage left for their new Minnesota home. Mrs. P.J. Lorig’s father went back to Minnesota after a visit of several days. That evening H.G. Hudson and George Fahrer became First Degree Masons.

From Feb. 16 to Feb. 23, J.M. Mulvey was in Fargo for the State Hardware Dealers meeting and other things.

On Feb. 17, Joseph Dutee was in from eastern Eddy County on business; Miss Carrie Dutee was also in town. Gilbert Bymoen came in from his farm northwest of town. William Milne, Jr., was in New Rockford. That evening there was a supper and dance at the Hotel Mattson which was well attended.

On Feb. 18, Alonzo Neutzel came in from his Lake Coe home in spite of the cold weather which gave him “a frosted nose.” Jacob Roffler left for two weeks in the Twin Cities; he returned on March 4. Nick Lies went to the Twin Cities for medical treatment. That afternoon William G. Milne and Mamie Clark were married at the home of Mrs. George Clark northeast of New Rockford by Rev. E.P. Johnston or Johnson of Rolla. The couple would live on the “old homestead” until the spring at which time they would move into the house being built by Milne on his farm.

On the morning of Feb. 19, the seven-month-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Noack died; [there is a record (B7-L35) of a “Baby Noack” as being in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, but no record of a gravesite]. Dr. Charles McNamara of Barlow came up to assist Dr. MacLachlan with an operation. H.P. Halverson came down from the Sheyenne Valley and Gus Wolgemuth came in from eastern Eddy County on business. J.W. Young and W.G. Carter were in from their Tiffany farms. Mark Hulbert was in town. Mrs. Murphy left for her home in Minnesota after visiting her son Dr. G.D. Murphy and his wife for some time. That evening there was an Early Settlers’ Grand Ball in the Opera House; a large crowd, including John Cain of Esmond, Dr. C.J. McNamara of Barlow, and Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Thomson attended. Brown Hotel owner George A. Brown served a midnight lunch, after which dancing continued until a late [early?] hour. Also that evening New Rockford druggist C.H. Babcock and Sheyenne doctor William Bartley went to Carrington to help initiate some 7th Degree Masons, including E.S. Severtson and J.E. Bennett of New Rockford. They returned the next day.

The Feb. 20, 1903, “Transcript” carried an ad for the Powers Elevator Company, A.H. Wilson, mgr. Coal, wood, feed, lumber, and all kinds of building material. [A later ad included lime, cement, brick, lath, and shingles.]

A letter dated Feb. 12 from San Diego written by C.J. Maddux said that his son Charles had suffered a relapse.

A notice said that C.W. Jarvis, furrier, would cease his business of cleaning, pressing, and tanning furs on Dec. 1, 1903.

Contractor Charles Culp had added the following to his Lamborn Avenue shop: a 2½ h.p. Webber gasoline engine, a turning lathe, a mortising and moulding machine, and a band saw. H.G. Hudson was having a new front put on the old post office building and would move in as soon as possible.

Lawyer M.T. O’Connor was able to be up and around after four weeks of the grip (flu). Jacob Allmaras had recovered from his recent illness (bronchitis). Veterinary surgeon J.C. Whiteman had completely recovered from his recent illness and was back at work in his new office over Prader & Goss’s general store.

Early in the week Elmer Dinnetz came in on business, and Charles Turner was in from Washington Lake. During the week R.P. Allison was in Esmond on business. For a couple days that week Knox elevator man F.G. Haver was in town.

Butcher Keller’s house and ice house were completed in Barlow.

On Feb. 20, Fred Lahue returned from a couple weeks in Kansas City and other Missouri towns. Charles Goss returned from a year in California. William Brueske, manager of the local telephone company, went to Carrington to meet his wife and family who came in on the Soo Line from Wimbledon the next day; he brought them to New Rockford, along with his brother, who had accompanied them and planned to stay a week. A Modern Woodmen of America Lodge was started in Barlow with nineteen charter members. That evening a “shadow social” at Mrs. Annie Oliver’s raised “a neat sum” for the Epworth League of the Methodist Church.

On the evenings of Feb. 20, 21, and 23, the Kline-Burrows Company performed in the Opera House; a dance followed the final performance.

On Feb. 21, Jess College, E.D.J. Miller, Frank Greitl, and Carl Blomquist, all of Barlow, were in New Rockford; Blomquist took in the Kline-Burrows show that evening. Frank Graham came in from Tiffany. Anton Haas from the Superior district, Gus Guessbacher and John Schaefer from Tiffany, and Hans Tuffli were in on business. Major F.O. Getchell was down from Ft. Totten. S.P. Pisel and Peter Crane were in town. Horace Courtemanche came in from his farm northwest of town. Erick Lindstrom returned from a business trip to Denhoff. That evening a 10-lb. daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wintworth Magee of Tiffany.

That evening (or that of Feb. 28) Knute Bymoen, who farmed northwest of New Rockford, and Minnie Sylling, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Sylling of Wells County, were married by Rev. H.H. Frost in the Sheyenne parsonage.