History of New Rockford: April 25, 2022

The Dec. 23, 1904, “Transcript” School Notes indicated where the teachers would spend the holidays: Miss Carolyn Trainor was going to Manfred, N.D., with her sister Miss Sarah Trainor. Miss Edith M. Schmidt would spend the holidays at her Jamestown home. Miss Belle Hutchinson would remain in New Rockford. Miss Anna B. Weiss would go to Crystal, N.D., and Miss Lillian Lund would go to her home in Kindred.

The previous week, Miss Jeanette Ernst came down from Belcourt for the holidays in New Rockford and Sheyenne; she was visiting Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Greely. Mr. and Mrs. Archie Brownlee left to visit his old home in Missouri; it was her first trip there. Mrs. Agnes Ewals “and the boys” left for a four to six weeks’ visit with relatives and friends in Wisconsin.

Also the previous week, twins (a boy and a girl) were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Rud of Plainview, southeast of town. Grandpa S.O. Lee and Great Grandpa Peter Larson were “frisking around like two-year olds.”

On Dec. 23, Mr. and Mrs. Olof Lundquist left to spend Christmas with her parents in Valley City. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Culp went to Maddock for Christmas with her mother and brother.

On Dec. 24, Miss Francis Thomson came in from Dickinson for the holidays with her parents; she was accompanied by her friend Miss Benedict. Miss Nellie Weeks came up from Fargo for the holidays with her mother. Miss Ruth Reutenik came down from Esmond for Christmas with her father, Rev. N. Reutenik; she went back on Dec. 26. Homer Allison, editor of the “Esmond Bee,” came for Christmas with his parents Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Allison and returned to Esmond; he traveled on the same two days and on the same trains as Miss Reutenik. Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Allison and the twins of Esmond were also spending Christmas with his family. Miss Elsie Keime came in from Leal, N.D., to spend the holidays with her mother, May Keime. Mr. and Mrs. S.G. Severtson of Sheyenne and Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Severtson went to Minneapolis for a Christmas with friends. Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Rantz went to Sheyenne for Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. F. Putnam. Mrs. R.T. Muir went to Cando for the holidays with relatives.

On Christmas Eve, a Christmas tree celebration was held in the Methodist Church, which was decorated by Mesdames Treffry, Logue, Healey, Beer, and Kennedy, assisted by Messrs. Logue, Clauser, Healey, and Treffry. The children gave recitations under the direction of Mrs. Learn; Mrs. Hugh Carr led the music numbers; Mrs. Woodward and Mrs. Smith created the drill called “Oddest. Quaintest. Queerest.” The tree itself was laden with gifts, and Santa Claus was a hit with the children. The Congregational Church also had a Christmas Tree program with recitations by the children; a jovial Santa Claus made his appearance.

From Dec. 24 to 28, Principal R.T. Muir was in Velva on business. From Dec. 24 to 29, Dr. and Mrs. G.D. Murphy were in St. Paul celebrating the holidays with friends.

On Christmas Day, the Central office of the telephone company was open only from 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., so the staff could enjoy Christmas. Lloyd Whiteman came down from Sheyenne. Will F. Steinweg was up from Carrington for Christmas with his sister, Mrs. H.F. Rodenberg, and family; another brother Rudolph Steinweg of Casselton was also visiting.

On Dec. 26, Prader & Goss began a sale at and below cost of their $30,000 inventory of clothing, shoes, fur goods, dry goods, hats, caps, mittens, furnishing goods, underwear, hardware, buggies, wagons, and farm machinery. That evening, A.W. Johnson and Miss Carolyn Waters provided the music at a masquerade ball in Sheyenne. There was a small attendance at the Christmas exercises in the Baptist Church that evening due to the inclement weather; some of the participants were forced to remain at home.

On Dec. 26 and 27, a “baby blizzard” dumped “quite an amount of snow” on the community. From Dec. 26 to 29, Father W.A. Gallahue was in Minnewaukan.

On Dec. 27, Miss Eleanor VanDuzer came down from Rolla to visit friends. That evening, the newly elected officers of the Century Lodge, A.F. and A. M., were installed: Worshipful Master, J.E. Bennett; Senior Warden, W.C. Dresser; Junior Warden, W.E. Radtke; Treasurer, A.G. Gardner; Secretary, P.J. Braman; Senior Deacon, George M. Pike; Junior Deacon, W.C. Schwoebel; Senior Steward, F.E. Reed; Junior Steward, Nathan Stanton; Sentinel, W.O. Baird.

In a joint installation that evening, the Eastern Star Lodge also installed their new officers: Worthy Matron, Mrs. W.C. Schwoebel; Worthy Patron, C.H. Babcock; Assistant Matron, Mrs. George M. Pike; Conductress, Mrs. J.C. Smith; Assistant Conductress, Mrs. C.J. Maddux; Secretary, Miss Margaret Morris; Treasurer, Mrs. W.C. Beardsley; Ada, Mrs. R.R. Woodward; Ruth, Mrs. J.W. Rager; Esther, Mrs. W.E. Radtke; Martha, Mrs. C.H. Babcock; Electa, Mrs. W.O. Baird; Warder, Mrs. Peter Prader; Marshal, Mrs. E.S. Severtson; Chaplain, Mrs. J.R. Beebe; Sentinel, W.O. Baird; Organist, Mrs. H.J. Mitchell.

After the ceremonies in the Masonic Hall, the ladies of the Eastern Star served “an elegant banquet,” followed by music and songs.

Also that evening, as Mr. Hope Crawford, a local jokester, was trudging down the street, pulling a red sled half-filled with groceries, Mrs. Viola Woodward asked for a ride. She got on the back of the sled and away they went, until Crawford spotted a bare patch of sidewalk in front of the Bank of New Rockford and headed for it. Arriving at the bare spot, the sled stopped, but Mrs. Woodward did not: she pitched forward right onto the groceries, breaking a dozen eggs, some of which got on her clothing. The “Transcript” called it “An Omelet Ride.”

On Dec. 28, Miss Birdie Gullicks came up from Enderlin to visit Mr. and Mrs. Guss Gullicks. H.M. Carr came in from eastern Eddy County on business and to visit. A.J. Ford and Laverne Goodrich left for a visit with relatives and friends in New York State. Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Brownell left for Butte, Mont., where he had some business interests; they would then go on to the West Coast; he was still in Butte around Jan. 6, confined to his room by illness. Dr. William Bartley and A.H. Johnson were down from Sheyenne for a meeting of the Commandery Lodge [Knights Templar] that evening.

On Dec. 28 and 29, Asa Hylton was visiting in Carrington.

On Dec. 29, Master Percy Getchell came down from Sheyenne to visit Master John Smith. J.A. McCrum was in from Tiffany for a visit and to do some business. A.L. Spraker [sp?] was in from near Tiffany on business. Mrs. Brown went to Devils Lake to visit Mrs. George Woodward. Mr. and Mrs. S.N. Putnam went to Fargo for the meeting of the North Dakota Education Association; from there they continued to Grand Forks, where Mrs. Putnam would remain to finish her work at UND; Mr. Putnam returned to New Rockford on Jan. 2. That evening Mr. and Mrs. Claude Phelps of Carrington were shopping in New Rockford. Walter Schmid of Sheyenne came down for the well-attended dance that evening at the Opera House.