History of New Rockford: May 24, 2021

On Feb. 11, 1904, a real estate transaction in the Charles J. Maddux law office saw Edgar College sell a quarter of land, just over the Foster County line, to John A. Dolle of Jackson, Minn., but formerly of the New Rockford area, for $2400; the acreage adjoined land already owned by Mr. Dolle. Joseph Dutee was in from eastern Eddy County. F.N. Chaffee came up from Carrington on business. Rev. Fred Culp returned to Carrington after visiting his nephew Charles Culp and his family. Nellie O’Connor went back to Bismarck after a visit with her parents Mr. and Mrs. M.T. O’Connor. That evening, the Pioneer Dancing Club held a Valentine’s Day dance.

The Feb. 12, 1904, “Transcript” said that the community was full of talk of incorporating the town. What would New Rockford gain from incorporation? “Sewerage? No. Waterworks? No. Licensed pigs [blind pigs]? No. All agree as to the above answers. Better Sidewalks? Yes. All agree that we should have better sidewalks.” However, for all but about two weeks of the year, the sidewalks New Rockford had were good enough for the people who used them. A conservative estimate would be that new sidewalks would cost between $1600 and $2000, and the burden of that cost would be felt by the property owners. After that, the taxpayers would have to shoulder the burden of $1000 to $1600 per year to administer the sidewalks and publish the ordinances.

Some homeowners simply could not pay the new taxes. Would such taxes induce any industry to move into New Rockford? Also incorporation would open the door to ever more divisive political campaigns for mayor and alderman, leaving the city fractured socially. “These are points to be considered, and it is up to the people.”

School Notes: Gertrude Kunkel, formerly of Fessenden, joined the third grade that week; Pearl Anderson was back in school after a week’s absence due to illness; Wanda Keime returned to school on Feb. 9 after a month’s visit in Steele; Willie Dresser and Edna Stanton had been absent from the fifth grade; Marjorie Withey had been absent (illness) from the sixth grade; May Young was still sick; her place had been taken by Mrs. Carr; the general history class had taken up Modern History; the Algebra class would take up involution and evolution in the coming week; in the music examination the previous month, Lydia Hylton and Mabel House of the Intermediate room each had 100%; Iva Dutcher and Helen Kepner each had 98%, and Carl Lauch had 91% in the Second Primary room; in the Grammar room, Alberta Borthwick had 98% and Celestia Kellington had 93%; in the high school it was Minnie Syftestad 99%, Gertrude Buck 99%, and Hazel Hall 93%.

John Noxon and S. Oglesby, owners of the local telephone company, were in town looking over their business. Laura A. Reams was the central operator.

Crain & Losee, who farmed in the Tiffany country and raised thoroughbred cattle, had a registered Shorthorn bull, who had given both men narrow escapes and had been getting more and more vicious and unpredictable; finally, they had to have William Haskins and James Hamilton come out from New Rockford and kill the animal.

Former resident druggist, Charles O’Connell, was living in Detroit, Mich., and was employed at a wholesale drug company.

Mrs. Frederick Skidmore from Tiffany had been caring for Mrs. H.C. Dunham of McHenry, who was seriously ill.

The previous week Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Rantz received a box of Indiana-grown walnuts and hickory nuts from friends in their old home town. Dennis O’Connell returned from his job as a grain buyer on the Great Northern Railway line.

A couple of weeks prior, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bollingberg’s four-year old son had been quite ill; Dr. MacLachlan diagnosed it as “grip” [flu]; the boy was recovering. Dr. J.C. Whiteman, the veterinarian, went to Twist on professional business.

On Feb. 12, the school Literary Society presented a Lincoln’s Day program. F.S. Dunham shipped three carloads of cattle and hogs to the South St. Paul market; John McVay accompanied the animals. Donald Niven shipped over 2000 lbs. of dressed hogs to the Minot market. William Chapman visited with his cousin Alice (Mrs. J.W.) Rager for a few hours. Major F.O. Getchell of Ft. Totten visited in Sheyenne. Mrs. J. Newton Moore left for a week’s visit in the Twin Cities, before going to Bismarck, where she and her husband would live. That evening a “dime social” was held in the Congregational Church, with proceeds going to the Children’s Home in Fargo. That evening at the Sheyenne home of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Richter, the “Clay Pipe Gang” (a secret club), was organized. Members were the Misses Floy and Jet Richter; Minnie Jensen; Florence, Issie, and Maggie McFarland; and Messrs. A.H. Johnson; T.R. and M.A. Quam; N.K. Mattson; and N.B. and O.B. Garnaas. Their next meeting was held at A.H. Johnson’s on the evening of Feb. 19. Also that evening, a Masquerade Ball was held at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Studebaker west of town. A large number of young people attended and many did not get home until dawn.

On Feb. 13 the blustery weather did not keep John Wren from southeast of New Rockford, Rudolph Indergaard from Plainview, or Martin Anderson from coming to town on business. S. Oglesby, one of the proprietors of the local telephone exchange, left for his home in Wimbledon after several days in New Rockford.

On Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Methodist Church, R.P. Allison spoke on “Abraham Lincoln” during the morning service; Presiding Elder of the Minot District, Rev. J.G. Moore, preached in the evening. The ladies’ and men’s quartets provided special music at both services.

On Feb. 15, E.E. Starks purchased the bowling alley from Daniel Labhardt. J.W. Richter was down from Sheyenne. Mrs. Peter Prader’s mother and sister arrived from eastern Wells County to visit her and her family for a few weeks. Mrs. A.D. Tomlinson went to Sheyenne to visit Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Stedman and others; she returned on Feb. 27. Mr. and Mrs. John Swanson left to visit relatives in Rugby for a few weeks; she returned on March 1. John Noxon returned to Valley City after making arrangements to hook the local telephone exchange in with the long distance company, as soon as the necessary transmitters and receivers were installed. That evening, a Masquerade Ball, with a very large crowd, was held in the Opera House; a supper was served at midnight in the Hotel Brown after which dancing resumed until the wee small hours. Best Costume prizes went to Mrs. S.R. Herbeson for the ladies and Ollie Ott for the gentlemen. Someone accidentally “swapped” shawls with Miss Trainor at the Ball; the two shawls could be exchanged at her room in the Hotel Mattson. Also that evening, Otho Lathrop, up from Fargo, became a Third Degree Mason and H.G. Hudson became a Second Degree Mason.

From Feb. 15 to 18, H.F. Rodenberg was in the Twin Cities on a merchandise-buying trip for Rodenberg & Schwoebel. Dentist F.D. Norton was in Leeds practicing his profession.