History of New Rockford: July 4, 2022

On the evening of Mar. 4, 1905, the Amateur Musical Club presented the following program: “Young Marshall” by Mabel House; “Cricket” by Olive Bennett; “Sleigh Ride” by Pearl Goss and Mrs. H.J. Mitchell; “Les Etoiles Dor Waltz” by Florence Schwoebel; “Love Dreams Reverie” by Celestia Kellington; and a reading, “Handel and Mendelssohn” by Minnie Syftestad. Also that evening, the regular business meeting of the Christian Endeavor was held at the Rev. and Mrs. J.R. Beebe’s house.

On March 4 and 5, Miss Jennett Earnest [Jeanette Ernest?] visited in Sheyenne.

At 11 a.m. Sunday, March 5, there were services in the German Lutheran Church. Hans Peterson spent the day as a guest of Harry Burt in Fessenden; the next day the boys returned to Phillips Academy.

The Eddy County Commission (Dailey, Dafoe, Gunvaldson) met on March 6. They voted to pay the following: $45, Mrs. A.G. Gardner, clerk, Register of Deeds’ office for Feb.; $81.25, Powers Elevator Co., coal for court house; $4.60, New Rockford Light and Water Improvement Co., lights for Feb.; $80, J.C. Brosseau, janitor for Jan. and Feb.; $2, H.W. Wilson, telephone rent for Feb.; $40.13, R.M. Kennedy, fuel for Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Cahill, county poor. They accepted the bid of Buck & Couch to furnish 300 oz. of strychnine to the county in one-third oz. bottles at $92.35 per 100 oz. They also accepted an application for a franchise by the Eddy and Western Telephone Co. to erect and operate a line along the highways in T148, R67 [Rosefield], T149, R66 [New Rockford], and T149, R67 [Munster] and an application by the Bremen Telephone Co. to erect and operate a telephone line along the highway between T148, R67 and T149, R67 and in T149, R66.

On March 6, former residents Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Biggs and Mont moved from Jamestown to Carrington, where Mr. Biggs had been appointed as the NP ticket agent. Mrs. Alice Brown and Miss Lena Greitl of Barlow visited in New Rockford. B.G. Allen came down from Knox to visit and do some business. Fred F. Allmaras returned from his visit to his old home in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. John Brahn returned to Melville after visiting Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson. That evening, Frank Parker and Andrew Johnson were initiated into the Masonic Blue Lodge by the officers of the Carrington Lodge at a meeting attended by about 70 New Rockford members, 15-20 from Carrington (including Foster County Register of Deeds, L.K. Esterbrook), and many from Sheyenne, Barlow (including Security Bank of Barlow cashier, A.E. Swanson), and other towns. P.B. Anderson, a former manager of the Powers Lumber Company in Sheyenne, attended; he lived in Minot and had been in town on business). The ceremony over, a lunch, songs, recitations, stories, and speeches lasted until almost daylight. Also that evening, Everett and Gertrude Buck hosted an entertainment in honor of former resident Mont Biggs for a few friends at the home of their parents; games were played until a late hour and then refreshments were served.

On the morning of March 7, evangelist Robert L. Jones spoke to the students of Phillips Academy at their chapel exercises. Frank Lane [Layne?] of Rushford, Minn., arrived to visit his brother John Lane [Layne?]. Mr. and Mrs. J.T. West returned from a winter at Hot Springs, Ark. Sheyenne businessman, T.R. Garnaas, was in New Rockford. H.W. Wilson went to Wimbledon on business. Miss Edythe L. Hall left for Fargo, where she would attend a business college. That afternoon, two Phillips Academy teams played baseball on the Academy grounds; a good crowd saw an unnamed team beat the “reds” 7-6. That evening, there was a “coon” show at the Opera House. The “Transcript” said, “The only thing that kept the audience in the hall was a curiosity to see just how poor the actors really could be.”

On March 8, Verne Norton returned from a winter in Iowa and would work on the Treffry Brothers’ farm southeast of town again. That evening, Miss Caroline Waters’ music class gave a recital at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Hall. Also that evening, the Misses Fena and Emelia Carlson entertained about 25 young friends at their home on the corner of Dunnell and St. Paul; the evening was spent in music and games.

On March 9, A.C. Buck sold his interest in the Central Drug Store to his partner, O.E. Couch, for nearly $10,000; Couch had been a clerk and later the junior partner for five years. [The story identifies Buck as having been with the drug store since 1883 when it was on the east side of the tracks, but that drug store (owned by Dr. W.B. Warren of Carrington and Dr. E.S. Miller of New Rockford) didn’t open until June 1884; Buck bought Warren’s interest in 1886. In 1891, he bought out Miller. By then and much earlier, the store was on North Chicago St., now 8th St. N. The partnership with Orley Couch was formed in June 1902 and the store was moved to the J.M. Patch Block, Nov.-Dec. 1902, located where the north half of the Central Pharmacy is now—2022.] D.B. Wellman visited in town between trains. William Michel of Illinois arrived to spend the summer at his uncle Peter Michel’s farm southeast of town. Charles Chamberlain came in from the east for spring farm work. Mrs. A. Herron of Harvey arrived to visit her brother J.W. Hedges, landlord of the Hotel Davies. Ben Fay left to join his father at Banff, Alberta, for the summer. That evening, the last number of the Congregational Ladies’ Social Union entertainments, the Midland Opera Quintette, appeared in the Opera House before a large crowd.

The March 10, 1905, “Transcript” mentioned the “LaMoure Chronicle,” “Fessenden Free Press,” and “Lisbon Free Press,” which had a new owner, C.E. Boyden.

A letter from Alonzo Neutzel, who was living in Indianapolis, said he was in the best of health and having a “splendid time.”

In a letter dated March 6, evangelist Robert L. Jones thanked those who helped him during his recent illness, especially Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Rager, who helped care for him in their house; the “two stout men” who carried him there from the hotel; Mrs. B.W. Rantz, who also cared for him; the “thoughtful friends who brought food; the children who brought flowers, oranges, candies, and good wishes; the friends who wrote to him; and the Carrington friends who sent him a bouquet of carnations.” Jones was able to be up and about.

Belgum’s Studio was offering for sale pictures of evangelist R.L. Jones and his assistant, singer Seth E. Gordon.

Louis Mortenson [Lewis Mortensen?] had for sale one four-year old registered thoroughbred Hereford bull (which he would also trade for other stock) and some milk cows. E.G. Fitch, late of the Independent Cash Store, had for sale one Red Cross range, one Red Cross base burner, one gasoline stove, one iron bed, one table, chairs, cupboard, refrigerator, and all other household goods. The American Gentleman Shoe could be purchased at the J.M. Mulvey Hardware.