History of New Rockford: Oct. 3, 2022

The May 26, 1905, “Transcript” said that several very large pickerel had recently been taken from the James River.

The previous week H.W. Hastings, a musician who had played with the New Rockford Orchestra in 1903 and 1904, died at his home in Oberon. Also that week several New Rockford businessmen worked on the race track and ball park west of town to get them in shape.

On May 26, Herman Olson came in on business. William Erdelbrock was in to do business and to visit. Rev. and Mrs. C.F. Sewrey and son Paul were over from Harvey to visit; they were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Frost, old friends of Mr. and Mrs. George Treffry. They returned to Harvey on May 30, telling friends they planned on leaving June 15 to visit their old home in Ontario, Canada, for the first time in four years. Dr. Charles MacLachlan returned from the 18th annual North Dakota State Medical Association convention in Grand Forks, where he was elected vice president. That evening the Zoller-Wood Homestead #318 of the American Yeomen Lodge met. Also that evening Frank Graham and Erick Lindstrom were given the 1st Degree in Masonry at a meeting of the Blue Lodge.

On May 27, Miss Olive Saunders came in from Sheldon, visited Mrs. James E. Hyde, and left for her home in Oberon on May 29.

Beginning on Sunday, May 28, Rev. S.F. Beer, assisted by Rev. K.B. Alexander, held a series of revival meetings at the Columbia School. At 11 o’clock that morning there were Union Memorial Services in Brown’s Opera House; a large choir provided special music. Accompanied by “Carrington Independent” editor Albert Estabrook, Miss Sarah West was up from Carrington, visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. P.H. West. A horse kicked Guss Gullicks in the face, severing part of his nose. Dr. Murphy was called several hours later and sewed the piece back on with 10 stitches; it appeared there would be a bad scar. Having recovered from a recent illness, Rev. C.F. Choate held services in the Baptist Church that evening.

At 3:30 p.m. that Sunday, Fessenden and New Rockford played baseball at New Rockford in the West End Ball Park; “Carrington Independent” editor Albert Estabrook attended. Fessenden won 5-0. The New Rockford batting order was Egbert, cf; Lane, c; Mendenhall, ss, 2 hits, 1 was a double; Treffry, lf; Davies, 1b; McAuley, 3b, 1 hit; Engberg, 2b, 1 hit; Plasic, rf, 2 hits; Waller, p. The attendance was around 300.

On May 28 and 29, Matron Fannie Phelps of Phillips Academy visited in Carrington.

On May 29, John Edinger of the Kiner area was in on business and to visit. Elmer Dinnetz, the traveling representative of the W.S. Rawleigh Medical Company, was in town. Percy Wiltsie joined his uncle in Carrington to work on a crew remodeling an elevator; he had finished the repair work on the Sutherland Elevator. Hugh Peoples was in McHenry on business. At 8 p.m. Rev. E.W. Burleson, rector of the Grace Church in Jamestown, conducted Episcopal services in the Methodist Church. That evening a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Larkin. That evening Darwin Griffith, the 2-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Griffith who resided on the former Lawrence Prader farm south of town, was playing in the stable yard when four heavy farm horses ran through the yard, knocking the little boy down. All four horses “passed over him,” but he suffered only minor bruises.

Two reports dated May 29 showed the following: The Bank of New Rockford, Ernest S. Severtson, cashier, had resources (assets) of $189,832.66, up $9,767.58 from the $180,065.08 of March 14. Checking accounts amounted to $84,573.74, down $7,127.97 from the $91,701.71 of March 14.

The First National Bank of New Rockford, James E. Hyde, cashier, showed resources (assets) of $85,853.32, up $2,167.82 from the $83,685.50 of March 14. Checking accounts were $19,126.30, down $274.61 from the $19,400.91 of March 14.

May 30 was Decoration Day. In the morning Esmond stopped off to play the Phillips Academy team and won 10-8. Dr. C.J. McNamara came up from Barlow to see the game. The Academy lineup and their hits were Rowe, 2b, 1; Treffry, lf, 1; Lane, 3b/c, 2; Mendenhall, c/p, 3; Engberg, rf/3b, 1; Beebe, cf, 1; Davies, 1b, 1; Carlson, ss, 1; Waller, p, 0; Hylton, rf, 2; The McHenry baseball team was supposed to come over for a game that afternoon, but did not show up for the second time that season. The “Transcript” was not pleased; however, a game was played between the Phillips Academy team, 12, and a “pick-up” team, 11. For the Academy Mendenhall was the coach, Beebe had two singles, and Treffry chased down two long fly balls in the 9th inning. Another item stated that barber W.T. Buck, Frank Reed, Miss Lillian Lund, Mr. and Mrs. M.R. Fritz, William Farley, Earl Starks, and E.M. Stitzel went to Carrington to see the Carrington-Esmond baseball game. Granville Egbert from New Rockford was the Carrington centerfielder. Barlow businessman O.B. Tausen was in town. Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Frost returned to Harvey after visiting Mr. and Mrs. George Treffry. Mrs. Silas Hylton left to visit her old home in Virginia; she returned on August 3.

On May 31, Cy Ruland was in town. Erwin Forbes was in on business; he had finished seeding on May 27 (seven teams had put in over a thousand acres). Peter Berge from northwest of town and George Fields from Tiffany were in on business. Mrs. D.M. Stegenga left to visit in Detroit, Michigan. Mrs. Norman Treffry and Mrs. W.T. Wortman, her sister, left for Mrs. Wortman’s home in Olewine [Oelwein], Iowa, where Mrs. Treffry would visit for a while. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Smith left for their new home, Spokane, Washington.

On June 1 in District Court cases, judgment went for the plaintiffs in Chamberlain vs. Powell and in Kepner vs. Ford; Miller vs. Northern Pacific Railway Company was underway. Contractor Davies began laying the cement sidewalks on Chicago Street, beginning in front of John Weimals’ bakery. Hardware merchant and Mrs. J.M. Mulvey left for the West Coast, where they would see the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland and attend the Columbia University [now the University of Portland] Commencement Exercises; their son Jay had attended that school the previous two years. Mrs. E.S. Severtson and Miss June went to Shakopee and the Twin Cities to visit friends and relatives; they returned on June 14. J.M. Patch left for his Indianapolis home for the rest of the summer. That afternoon a container of water was placed on a stove in the Learn livery barn office; a fire broke out due to a defective chimney. The NRFD put out the flames with only a little damage to the walls and ceiling. That evening the Academy team and a team of “old veterans” played until dark when the game was called with the veterans slightly ahead. Also that evening the Woodmen Lodge met.