History of New Rockford: June 14, 2021

On the night of March 1, 1904, a heavy snow began to fall and it continued all of March 2, giving New Rockford more snow than it had had all winter. The storm stopped all trains that day, and on the morning of March 3, a snow plow came up from Jamestown to clear the tracks. Then the wind kicked up on the morning of March 4, filled in the cuts with snow, and both the northbound and the southbound trains got stuck in the hills north of New Rockford.

On March 3, Chris Jensen returned from Iowa, where he had gone early the previous fall. Mrs. A.J. Ford returned from a three-months’ trip to New York State; she had left on Dec. 3. Former Oberon resident, William McGeoch, left for his home in Stavely, Alberta, after visiting his daughter Mrs. F.G. Haver and her family, and Miss Gertrude McGeoch, for about a week. That evening, the West Side Kindergarten Whist Club members met in the parlors of the Hotel Mattson, where Mrs. Sarah Bacon acted as hostess.

The March 4, 1904, “Transcript” mentioned the “Finley Beacon.”

A letter from Jay Mulvey said he was getting along fine at Columbia University in Portland, Ore.

In School Notes, Mr. Goss visited the Intermediate room on March 2, and Rev. T.H. Green visited the lower grades on March 4. Mrs. Hugh Carr had been teaching in the Primary room during the week, and would continue to the end of the school year, because Lucy Slocum had resigned and left New Rockford on March 1 for her claim near Esmond.

Dr. Gillett of St. Paul notified Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Kennedy that their son Harold, his patient, had another attack of erysipelas. Mrs. Charles MacLachlan was recovering from an operation she’d had the previous week. George Treffry, who’d had an operation for gallstones at St. Thomas Hospital, Marshalltown, Iowa, on Jan. 27, had recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital and stay in a private residence.

On March 4, F.N. Chaffee of Carrington was in New Rockford on business. A.J. Clure returned from a week in Minneapolis, where he went to consult about the severe attack of appendicitis he had the previous fall [September], but the doctor did not recommend an operation at the present time. Ed Winters returned from his old home in Wisconsin. That afternoon, Laura Reames and Sarah West went to Barlow to attend a ball that evening.

On March 4 and 5, painter John Anderson was in Barlow on business.

On March 5, a 12½ lb. daughter was born to Morris postmaster and Mrs. D.D. Dailey. Fred F. Allmaras and Fred Zimmerman, Jr., came in from southwest of town, and John Wren came in from Plainview. Mrs. Mark Hulbert, and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Michel, were in shopping. Herb Losee came in from Tiffany to do some business and to visit, as did Jacob Kehler from north of Cathay, and O.R. Pomranke from northeast of town. Joseph Christ was in from the Superior district on business. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson, Sr., came in from Tiffany to visit. Miss Hilda Johnson came in to visit. School student Kenneth Cole took the southbound train.

March 5, 6, and 7, saw spring-like weather, but the temperature dropped on the last night and cold gripped New Rockford the rest of the week.

On Sunday, March 6, Bishop Mann of Fargo conducted morning and evening Episcopal services in the Baptist Church. Former resident J.C. Smith drove over from McHenry and returned the next day after doing some business.

On March 7, farmer Peter Lansverk, general merchant Charles Evenson of Evenson & Olson, elevator man A.H. Johnson, O.P. Oleson of Oleson & Walhus hardware, S.A. Olsness, and L.B. Garnaas were all down from Sheyenne on business. Lambert VanLith, from southwest of town, and George Pincott, who traveled from his ranch, came in for spring supplies. Henry O. Hendrickson and James B. Dafoe of Sheyenne were in on business and to visit. Joseph Dutee was in from eastern Eddy County on business, as were postmaster Halvor Erickson of Eden, Irv Sprecher and M. Cler of Tiffany, and W.S. McFadden of McHenry. B.H. Hersey came in from the Tiffany Flats and attended the Masonic meeting that evening. Mr. and Mrs. J.A. McCauley arrived to live in New Rockford, where he would be the manager of the Dakota Elevator. Mrs. E.A. Gammell went to Carrington for a few days’ visit. Walter Immel, who had worked for almost two years in H.G. Hudson’s confectionery, left for Fessenden, where he had purchased an interest in the Nels Lindgren fruit, confectionery, and news business. The new firm would be called Lindgren & Immel. Lumberman A.H. Wilson left for an extended trip to the Pacific Coast, where he would look for a place to settle; a letter a week or so later said he was “much pleased” with Oregon. That afternoon, E.S. Severtson, J.E. Bennett, C.H. Babcock, and F.D. Norton went from Sheyenne to Devils Lake “via the stage route,” to attend a meeting of the Masons; they returned on the afternoon of March 9.

On March 7 and 8, George A. Lovell and John T. West were in from eastern Eddy County. On March 7 to 9, Madge Canning was in Valley City visiting friends.

On March 8, Dr. C.J. McNamara was up from Barlow. Bert Rounds returned from a couple of months in Iowa. Iver Olson came down from the Sheyenne Valley. Attorney R.P. Allison went to Esmond on legal business. Elizabeth Trainor went to Minot for a visit, and to Velva to see her brother; she returned on March 15. That afternoon, Mrs. Ed Starks had the high score at “Ladies’ Day” at the bowling alley. That evening, Mr. and Mrs. R.R. Woodward entertained a group of their friends in their home on Lamborn Ave.; they played “Pit” [a fast-paced card game developed by Parker Bros. in 1904]. That evening, R.M. Kennedy was working in his woodyard when he ran a spike into his foot, causing a painful wound that laid him up a couple of days. Also that evening, the two-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gregory broke his right arm; Dr. Murphy set it.

From March 8 to 10, Mrs. O.B. Stedman of Sheyenne visited Mrs. J.L. Kinnaird.

The Eddy County Commission met on March 9 and 10. On the March 10, they paid $106.79 to S. McDowell for coal and wood for the courthouse; $1.25 to A.G. Gardner, recording deed; $45, Mrs. A.G. Gardner, register of deeds’ clerk, February; $4.90, New Rockford Light & Water Co., lights for February; $7.30, Powers Elevator Co., coal for S.M. Krider, temporary relief; $40, W.C. Hayes, janitor salary for February; $2, Noxon & Oglesby, rent for February telephone; $7.61, Anton Jensen, supplies to Mrs. George Horn, county poor; $43.05, R.M. Kennedy, coal for Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Cahill, and Mrs. Molineaux, county poor; $174, Dr. G.D. Murphy, medical attendance to Richard Molineaux, county poor.

Bids were received to furnish strychnine to Eddy County from Buck & Couch, 95½ cents per ounce; Babcock & Bucklin, 93½ cents per ounce. The latter bid was accepted.