History of New Rockford: July 11, 2022

The March 10, 1905, “Transcript” stated that O.W. Bauer had retired from the Independent Dray Line and his partner A.J. Larkin had taken over ownership. Bauer was going to concentrate his attention on buying grain for the Farmers’ Elevator. A Dissolution of Partnership Notice was dated March 1.

Roy Greitl of Barlow would assist at Nathan Stanton’s blacksmith shop during the summer. D.B. Wellman of Eddy County had been appointed as a State Inspector of Weights and Measures.

Mrs. James E. Hyde had recovered from her appendectomy and the complications following her appendicitis to the point she was able to sit up.

The Northern Pacific Railway had notified its section foremen that they would no longer have to pay rent for staying in the section houses.

The previous week, Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Miller arrived from Wahpeton for the summer; he was a representative of the J.I. Case Threshing Co. and would make New Rockford his headquarters.

On March 10, Clyde Starks of Plainfield, Wisc., arrived to spend the summer with his uncle Ed Starks and family. Mrs. John Dutee came in from eastern Eddy County to visit for a few days. That evening, the farce comedy “Josiah’s Courtship,” directed by teacher Miss Anastacia Hennessy, was presented in the Guler School by a cast made up of Christ Guler, Peter Guler, John Guler, Stephen Guler, Mike Hilbert, William Perry, Mrs. Peter Michel, Anastacia Hennessy, Mrs. John Guler, and Mary Guler. Tickets were sold at the door and refreshments were served. All proceeds went to the school library. The production “was not as well attended as had been hoped….”

On the evening of March 11, “a free show” was given in the Tiffany school house. At 8 o’clock in the evening, Presiding Elder Rev. J.G. Moore chaired the second quarterly conference business meeting in the Methodist Church. Also at 8 p.m., the New Rockford school gave an entertainment in the Opera House to benefit the library and to purchase a few pictures. Admission was 50 cents for reserved seats; 35 cents for general admission; school children, free. The following program was presented: a dumb-bell drill directed by Miss Edith M. Schmidt, 16 boys and girls; a scarf drill directed by Miss Anna B. Weiss, 12 girls; a wreath drill directed by Miss Belle Hutchinson, 16 girls; “The Brownie Song,” by 15 boys directed by Miss Schmidt; a Minuet by 12 girls directed by Miss Lillian Lund; Club-swinging by 12 boys directed by Miss Weiss; May Pole drill, 12 girls directed by Miss Carolyn Trainor; a play “Parson Poor’s Donation Party,” 15 boys and girls directed by Miss Lund. There was a large audience and receipts amounted to $86.80. The “Transcript” did comment on the rattling of “bones” in the back of the hall by some “young gentlemen” during the program. While they may have found that the display showed their “smartness,” to the average person it was just a “childish trick” and “rather annoying.” The paper hoped the boys who were known were thoroughly ashamed of their actions.

At 11 a.m. Sunday, March 12, Rev. J.G. Moore preached and administered the sacrament at the Methodist Church.

On March 13, Magnus Carlson and Louis [Lewis?] Mortensen from near Barlow were up on business. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Garvin were in shopping. Mrs. W.E. Biggs came up from Carrington to visit; she returned on March 15. Fred H. Dutee of eastern Eddy County came in for a few days of business and visiting, as did H.M. Price. J.M. Shannon came over from near McHenry to visit for a few days. Major F.O. Getchell and Dr. William Bartley of Sheyenne were down on professional business and to visit. H.O. Buckhout brought to New Rockford a bay Percheron stallion, weighing two thousand lbs. At 8 p.m., Rev. E.W. Burleson of Jamestown led an Episcopal service in the Methodist Church. H.G. Hudson received the Red Cross Degree in the Commandery Lodge [Knights Templar].

Two reports dated March 14 showed the following: The Bank of New Rockford, Ernest S. Severtson, cashier, had resources (assets) of $180,065.08, up $7770.08 from the $172,294.28 of Jan. 11. Checking accounts amounted to $91,701.71, down $860.74 from the $92,562.45, of Jan. 11. The March 14 statement of the First National Bank of New Rockford, James E. Hyde, cashier, showed resources (assets) of $83,685.50, down $1265.94 from the $84,951.44 of Jan. 11. Checking accounts were $19,400.91, down $3001.24 from the $22,402.15 of Jan. 11.

At 10 a.m. March 14, Frank R. Graham sold at public auction (F.C. Davies and W.M. Chamberlain, auctioneers) at his residence on the Culver Ranch one mile north of Tiffany the following: 11 heavy work horses, 40 head of cattle, all his farm machinery, and around a thousand bushels of oats, barley, and speltz. A free lunch was served at noon. Mrs. James E. Hyde returned from Fargo, where she had been in a hospital since early February. John Sween of the Sheyenne Valley was in New Rockford; he was looking for some horses that had strayed. Thomas Bollingberg was in from his farm in the Twist neighborhood on business. Fred Zimmerman was in from southwest of town. Lars D. Tweet returned from two months in Wisconsin and other eastern points. Herman Olson came back from a winter at his old home in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Crain and daughter and Mr. and Mrs. D.Y. Stanton and Miss Mamie returned from New York State. Miss Margaret Steinweg returned to Leonard, N.D., after two months visiting her sister, Mrs. H.F. Rodenberg. That evening, Grand Worthy matron Mrs. Curry of Dickinson, N.D., inspected the Ionic Chapter #29, Order of the Eastern Star. The initiation of Mrs. P.J. Braman was followed by a banquet at the Hotel Mattson with 85 covers. Afterward, a “social smoker” was held for one to two hours in the lodge room. Sheyenne members of the Lodge that attended were Mrs. S.G. Severtson and Mrs. F.O. Getchell.

On March 15, F.S. Dunham returned from a business trip to the Twin Cities. M.S. Jacobson of Minnesota arrived with a carload of heavy work horses for sale.

At 10 a.m. March 16, Gus Larson sold at public auction (F.C. Davies, auctioneer) at his farm 14 miles northwest of New Rockford the following: nine work horses, one driving team, one yearling colt, five milch cows, 20 yearling calves, four sets of work harness, one set of driving harness, one saddle, one double buggy, one road cart, his farm equipment, his household furniture, and 100 chickens. A free lunch was served at noon.

On that day, Laverne Goodrich returned from a visit to his old home in New York State. George A. Lovell came in from eastern Eddy County for a few days of business and visiting. John T. West was in on business. J.E. Bennett left for a week’s visit with his mother in Boone, Iowa; he returned on March 23. Frank Parker of the Prader & Goss general store left for the Twin Cities and Wisconsin for business and pleasure; he returned on March 29.