History of New Rockford: Dec. 28, 2020

On the morning of Sept. 28, 1903, a big dray team belonging to Bauer & Larkin ran away and bolted down Lamborn Avenue East; they lost most of their load of wood before they were stopped. Dexter Knolton of Knolton Bros., a banking firm in Freeport, Ill., came in to visit his cousins Mrs. G.W. Brownell (and her family) and Dr. F.D. Norton at the Brownell residence on Stimson Avenue West. Former resident J.H. Rodenberg came in from Los Angeles to spend a few weeks. George Pincott of the Sheyenne Valley andhardware mann L.M. Walhus of Sheyenne were down on business and to visit. Rev. J.R. Beebe was in Carrington for the State Congregational Association meeting.

On Sept. 29 Putnam came on the train to visit his parents. David C. Geiger was in to get repairs made on his threshing machine. Druggist and Mrs. Leon Galehouse were up from Carrington to visit. John Tuthill of Tiffany left for St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Paul to undergo an operation for a tumor on his neck; he returned during the week of Oct. 11-17, fully recovered from the operation. That night heavy rain delayed threshing.

From Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, the North Dakota State Fair was held in Mandan.

About 1 a.m. Sept. 30, city marshal P.H. West discovered the straw stack piled against the side of the Hotel Davies livery barn was “burning fiercely,” fanned by a northwest wind. The flames had begun to burn the lean-to on the north side of the barn. West gave the alarm to the local central telephone office, and the NRFD and just about everyone else in town turned out after telephone manager William Brueske rang every telephone in town in less than five minutes. The chemical engine did subdue the fire, but it took nearly an hour. The business section of town had been in great danger, and the “Transcript” called for some action against the “nuisance” of straw piles in the town. “Only fool luck” had saved New Rockford so far. The general feeling was that the fire had been the work of an arsonist. West had been on his rounds, coming up Villard Avenue West when he saw the fire reflected on some buildings. J.M. Mulvey and D.C. Geiger saw the flames about the same time and also turned in alarms. Because David Geiger’s threshing machine was down for repairs, he was able to be in town to fight the fire.

Fire Chief R.U. Austin was among the first on the scene. The bucket brigade did good work, aided by “a large force of husky boys on the business ends of the force pumps.” Mill man Walter McDonell handled the hose from the force pumps. One of F.C. Davies’ blooded shoats was burned to death.

It was stated that Walter Immel and Captain West had in their possession a clue which might lead to the “firebug.” Anyone who could identify the “suspicious-looking object” could contact Immel.

On Sept. 30, Otho Lathrop was in town, making collections and visiting. B.G. Arbogast returned from his business trip to Fargo. John Debildt was in on business from northeast of town. James E. Hyde returned from a business trip to Fargo and prepared to supervise threshing on his farm.

On Oct. 1, Mrs. James E. Hyde’s 83-year old mother died in Des Moines, Iowa. Mrs. August Wogelmuth and daughter and Mrs. Lunack were in shopping. Herb Losee was in town. Hans Tuffli of the Guler district and Ed Roach of eastern Wells County came in on business. Mrs. Alva Tomlinson and Mrs. George Brown went to their old home, Bancroft, Mich., to be with an ill sister. Mrs. George D. Setz, her sister Miss Maggie Morris, and their niece returned to near McHenry from New Rockford. That evening the Baptist Ladies’ Aid Society hosted a rummage sale and oyster supper which were well attended.

The Oct. 2, 1903, “Transcript” mentioned the “Bottineau Courant” and the “Kensal News.”

The Thomas Ose Hardware was preparing to install hot water heat in the F.D. Norton residence. A.J. Clure had purchased the house between Dr. F.D. Norton’s and Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Maddux’s on Stimson Ave. F.W. House had moved his jewelry business into the Babcock & Bucklin Drug Store. James Mulvey had a new sign over his tin shop door. J.H. Hohl had a farm for rent five miles west of New Rockford, with 800 acres under cultivation, 175 acres in summer fallow, and 160 acres of pasture and meadow.

A notice said that Sheyenne general merchants Evanson & Olson were going out of business. L.G. Lundin was selling his stock and was going to close his general merchandise store before the holidays. Once those closures occurred, only B. [L.B.?] Garnaas would remain as a general store owner in Sheyenne. A poor crop in the Sheyenne Valley was blamed.

The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Larson of Tiffany had a case of blood poisoning from the bite of a pet Belgian hare. Postmaster M.F. Kepner had been confined to his bed for several days by pneumonia but was improving.

Mrs. H. Dessauer, a licensed German High School teacher, would give German, French, and Spanish lessons at moderate prices. A note said that Miss J.M. VanHeesch of New Rockford was teaching at the Armstrong School northeast of Anamoose.

“The other day” a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Pattee.

A couple days early in the week saw H.F. Rodenberg, A.H. Wilson, and Bert Rounds hunting in eastern Eddy County; they brought home “all kinds of game”; ducks, prairie chickens, and geese. So far that season Master Robert Tarbell of Tiffany had shot 30 prairie chickens with his rifle.

Sometime during the week, the Tiffany Ladies’ Aid met in the “Manse,’ which was being fixed up. Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Tarbell were anticipating moving into New Rockford, where he would manage the East Side Livery Barn.

Recently a 10 lb. son was born to Mr. and Mrs. James MacLachlan of Chatham, Ontario, but formerly of New Rockford.

On Oct. 2, Mrs. Guss Gullicks took a line of millinery to Esmond to sell. Mrs. G.D. Murphy entertained the West Side Kindergarten Whist Club at the Hotel Mattson. After finishing their season, Whiteman & Prader pulled in their big threshing rig. That evening there was a large crowd at the reorganized New Rockford Orchestra (G.A. Erickson, George Fahrer, H.W. Hastings of Oberon, Mrs. H.G. Hudson, and Mrs. H.J. Mitchell) dance; Dr. C.J. McNamara and A.E. Swanson of Barlow attended. That evening a large thunderstorm hit New Rockford and vicinity, setting back threshing several days.