History of New Rockford: Oct. 9, 2020

A notice in the July 31, 1903, “Transcript” from Swanson Bros. [John and Sam], the Cash Store: “We now make our bow to the purchasing public of New Rockford and Eddy county, and as an introduction, we desire to state that new goods are arriving on every train and our store will be stocked up with the very best line of General Merchandise ever shown in this city with prices as low as consistent with GOOD GOODS. Give Us a Call Soon.” The brothers were successors to R.R. Woodward and their store was probably on Villard [now Central] Ave. [present site of the Latte Lobby], probably on lot 15, block 17.

Early in the week B.W. Rantz was ill. The burns that fuel dealer R.M. Kennedy had suffered in the gasoline engine explosion three weeks prior had mostly healed, except for those to his right hand which he carried in a sling.

A notice said that because the meters had not arrived, there would be a delay in turning on the gas lights; the light in the gas house was working, however, and could be observed by the public.

The new Catholic Church at Tiffany was going up. The Greenfield Church was being painted by Mr. Arveskaug of Sheyenne in anticipation of its dedication on Sunday, August 2. Col. D.H. Ellsworth was painting the Swanson Bros. store. J.W. Perry had almost completed the mill dam at the “riffles” east of town.

On July 31, B.G. Arbogast returned from his business trip to Fargo. Peter Carlson and Maurice Oliver, both of Sheyenne, and John Setz were in New Rockford. Alec Lawson of eastern Eddy County was in on business. Former resident Dr. E.S. Miller of Flagstaff, Arizona Territory, arrived to visit his sister and her husband, Alice and J.W. Rager; he left on August 17. Sumner Buck came in from Minneapolis to visit his cousin A.C. Buck and family. Mr. and Mrs. G.F. Broeger were over from Bowdon; she was the former Ella Swayne. The Clure Implement Co. received an Avery threshing machine for George Treffry; the separator was 40x72 with a self-feeder, weigher and blower attached; the engine was 30 h.p.

On August 1, F.C. Davies brought his brother-in-law, Fred Buesing of Tripoli, Iowa, into the Hotel Davies business under the name Davies & Buesing. A.R. Colter from east of New Rockford, Martin Anderson, and James Hobbs were in on business. J.H. Olsen came up from Carrington to see his brother A.C. Olsen of the “Transcript.” Real estate agent D.R. Streeter returned from Wahpeton and some Minnesota cities. Richard Halverson of Henning, Minn., stopped off on his way to Esmond to visit his friend P.H. West and family. Albert West and Guy Thompson went to Fargo, where they would remain until NDAC opened for the fall term. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Stoddard left for Yellowstone Park, where they would stay four to five days, and then visit former Eddy County residents Robert Walden and family in British Columbia, Will Ruttle in Seattle, and Will Maw in Snohomish, then proceed down the Pacific Coast, until they reached San Francisco, where they would attend the National GAR meeting. On their way home they would stop in Denver to visit her sister and in St. Louis to see his brother. James A. Manly went to Carrington on legal business.

On Sunday, August 2, the Greenfield Church in rural Sheyenne was dedicated by Rev. Gronlid of Elon, Iowa. That afternoon at the Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Richter farm in a 12-inning game it was New Plainview 6; “Used-to-be” Plainview 6. The latter team’s players hadn’t played in three years. The game was called when the “old pitcher” hurt his right arm, with an agreement to finish the game the next Sunday. [No results of that game, if played, are available.]

County Superintendent Grace B. Putnam visited in Sheyenne between trains. Steve Patterson left for McHenry, where he would have charge of the Great Western Elevator. Mrs. George A. Brown went to Jamestown to attend the Carnival.

From August 3 to 6, R.P. Allison was in Esmond on legal business, and O.E. Couch was at the State Druggists’ Convention in Fargo.

On the morning of August 4, there was “another fine rain.” Miss Emma Swanson came up from Fargo to work in her brothers’ general merchandise store. Freeman Shoemaker was in from Tiffany, and J.M. Shannon was over from McHenry. Eddie Anderson came in from Plainview on business. Mrs. L.C. Swanson arrived from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, to visit her sons John and Sam of the Swanson Bros. general store; she returned to her Fargo home on September 19. Mrs. R.M. Kennedy returned from Moorhead, where her little son Harold was still in the hospital; he’d had a bad week after erysipelas infected his leg. George Pincott had lost several head of cattle to blackleg, so that day veterinary surgeon J.C. Whiteman vaccinated 611 head in six hours on the Pincott ranch. Dobson Reams went to Jamestown to attend the Carnival. Mrs. J.T. Miller and two sons left for their home in Spirit Lake, Iowa, after visiting her sister Mrs. A.J. Clure and family.

That evening an attempt was made to steal two “very valuable horses” at the Jacob Valer farm southwest of town. Miss Emma D. Owen, who was teaching the summer term at a nearby school, was occupying the farm house. Just after nightfall, Miss Owen saw “two rather suspicious-looking characters” go into the barn. She grabbed “her trusty revolver,” lit a lantern, and ran to the barn, where she caught two men in the act of leading a horse outside. She pointed the revolver at one of the men and told him he had three minutes in which “to make himself scarce.” The two men fled. She told authorities she would be able to recognize one of them.

On August 5, Martin Walsh came in to have his binder repaired. George Pincott was down from his Sheyenne Valley ranch on business. John Layne of Rushford, Minn., arrived to visit his uncle James A. Manly and family for two weeks.

On August 5-7, A.W. Dewey, Jamestown photographer, was supposed to be at his New Rockford gallery, but because of the Carnival in Jamestown, he postponed the dates to August 10 to 12.

On August 6, Mr. and Mrs. James Fox of Arcade or Sandusky, N.Y., arrived to visit Mr. and Mrs. John Collins, their brother- and sister-in-law; they returned home on September 7. Mrs. Marguerite Mahon of Mitchell, Ontario, and Miss LaBelle Mahon of Langdon arrived to visit their cousin J.L. Kinnaird and family. Elevator man James Lahart was in New Rockford on business. Mr. and Mrs. James MacLachlan returned to their former home, Chatham, Ontario, to spend the fall and winter. That evening the New Rockford Camp 2214 of the Modern Woodmen held a meeting, W.C. Radtke, Venerable Consul. Also that evening J.C. Smith and Dr. Robert MacLachlan came over from McHenry and did some business the next day. Barlow bank cashier A.E. Swenson and Will F. Steinweg of Carrington attended the dance that evening at the Opera House in New Rockford. A large crowd danced to the music of Ole Dahler, violin; Gus Erickson, cornet; George Fahrer, trombone; Mesdames H.J. Mitchell and H.G. Hudson, piano.