History of New Rockford: Nov. 28, 2022

The July 21, 1905, “Transcript” stated that during the week Peter Crain had been hauling lumber to his Tiffany farm for the 44x84 barn he was having built. It would have a full stone basement and the stone work was done.

Rudolf Indergaard was in from the Plainview district.

During the week H.P. Carr sold his interest in the Davies Livery stable to G.W. Streeter.

The previous week Mack MacLachlan, his wife, family, and sister-in-law Miss Lindelle, arrived from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to visit his brothers Dr. Charles MacLachlan and James MacLachlan and their families; they left for Michigan on August 11.

On July 21, rain fell in the afternoon and evening. J.R. Maxfield came up from Carrington on business. Mrs. David Henry arrived from St. Paul, where she had been confined in St. Barnabas Hospital for some time after a painful operation; her health was much improved. New York City attorney Charles Brockheim left for his home after visiting in New Rockford. O.H. Arveskaug and his mother left for a visit in the Twin Cities and Fargo. That evening there was a dance at the Mr. and Mrs. Axtle Johnson farm. Also that evening as Nellie Buck was walking home in the dark, she stepped into “a bad place” in the sidewalk and broke her ankle; she was confined to her bed for over a week.

On the morning of July 22, G.W. Streeter transferred the Davies livery barn to H.L. Rood and William Rice; Rice had been managing the business “for some time past.” Rev. F.L. Gehrs and his bride returned from Chicago and moved into the new parsonage of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, on Dunnell Avenue East. George Setz came in from near McHenry to visit and to see the races. That evening a dance was held in the new barn on the old Jacob Chamberlain farm, owned by Jacob Allmaras. Richard Zehrfeld had built the barn and was engaged in constructing a new house there.

From July 22 to 24, George A. Brown was visiting in Jamestown.

On July 24, Mrs. Ben Fay returned from a Fargo visit. Jay Mulvey, who had studied at the University in Portland, and his parents Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Mulvey returned from their visit to the Lewis & Clark Exposition. Miss Mary Snook came in from near Lake Coe to visit Mrs. A.J. Clure. E.R. Davidson came up from Bismarck to see the races and on business; he returned on July 27; he reported that medical treatments had improved the health of his mother, Mrs. James Davidson; she returned to New Rockford on August 4. Mrs. Olof Lundquist’s parents returned to Valley City after a visit.

That afternoon two drownings occurred at the Rude Crossing on the Sheyenne River near Freeborn. There were no eye witnesses, but the accident was conjectured to be something like the following: Charles Dickinson was driving a team hitched to the running gear of a wagon toward the Reservation. Mrs. George Jacobson was following with a horse and carriage. The Sheyenne was in flood with a strong current and it was conjectured that both drivers were standing in their vehicles to avoid getting too wet. About hallway across the river, part of the wagon broke and Dickinson was thrown into the river where the swift water carried him downstream. Mrs. Jacobson attempted to drive around the wagon, struck a rock, and was tossed into the water. The horse eventually broke loose of the carriage and made it to shore, dragging the woman behind him. She had drowned and her body apparently lay just offshore because it wasn’t located until a boat was brought in some two hours later. That night F.C. Davies and R.M. Kennedy of New Rockford empaneled a coroner’s jury which found the death was the result of an accidental drowning. By July 28, Dickinson’s body still hadn’t been found and it was speculated it had been swept many miles downstream.

On July 25, former resident Mrs. W.E. Biggs came up from Carrington to see the races. Mrs. A.H. Crawford returned from a visit to her old home in Elizabeth, Minnesota.

On July 25 and 26, the New Rockford Band provided the music for the races at McHenry. From July 25 to 27, Earl Starks was visiting in town, then returned to Fargo, where he had been undergoing medical treatments for his inflammatory rheumatism.

Those two days were race days, commencing at 2 p.m. each day in New Rockford for the Central Circuit, complete with a 15-piece brass band (“The Best Musical Organization in the State”). [It was from Kensal.] Clowns entertained the crowd and Sheriff Fahrer and his deputies patrolled the grounds, keeping rowdyism to a minimum although some “grafters” and pickpockets were arrested and were given stiff fines later. There were also four baseball teams from Central North Dakota, vying for a $150 purse. The Baptist Church ladies served lunch both days on the church grounds.

On July 25, in baseball it was McHenry 11; New Rockford-Tiffany 6; attendance 200. Racing events were a 2:40 Trot or 2:45 Pace [one source says 2:35 Trot or 2:40 Pace], one mile, 2 of 3; $200 prize; 1st Allie A.; Trouble and Richard Carvel tied for 2nd; 4th College Belle; protests were filed against both Allie A. and Trouble; a three-minute Trot or Pace, one mile; 2 of 3; $125 prize; 1st The Author; 2nd Fabrette; tied for 3rd Black Bird and Bandana Badge; a running race for green horses from Eddy and adjacent counties, no fee, best 2 of 3; $40 prize; 1st Blue Bird; 2nd Sleepy Tom (only 4 entries); a Slow Race, no fee, $25 prize [this race appears not to have been run].

Judges were Dr. John Crawford, Dr. F.R. Patterson, and M.L. Patterson; Dr. C.J. McNamara, Thomas Ose, and Father W.A. Gallahue were the time keepers; H.N. Tucker of Courtenay was the official starter. In baseball it was Carrington 4; Esmond 3.

On July 26, it was Esmond 7; McHenry 5, then Carrington took home the prize money 7 to 3 over Esmond.

The racing events were a 2:25 Pace or Trot race, best 2 of 3; 1st Hal Lee; 2nd Allie A.; 3rd T.K.; 4th Trouble; a Farmers’ Trot or Pace for horses from Eddy and adjacent counties, ½ mile, best 2 of 3; $40 prize; 1st Laura A.; 2nd Black Hawk; 3rd Jack Pine; a running race, ½ mile, 2 of 3, $100 prize; 1st Dora Blackburn; 2nd May Thomas; 3rd Helenore; 4th Blue Bird; Free-For-All Trot or Pace, one mile; 3 of 5, $250 prize; 1st Geography; 2nd Frequent; 3rd Sunshine; 4th Wyandotte; Three-Gaited Race, no fee, ¾ mile, $25 prize [this race appears not to have been run].

Judges were Dr. John Crawford, Dr. F.R. Patterson, and W.M. Chamberlain; time keepers were Dr. Charles MacLachlan, Thomas Ose, and Donald Niven; M.L. Patterson was the official starter.

About 11 p.m. there was a cloudburst, but the races were long over.

On July 26, Mrs. Matt Fautsch returned from a visit to her “old home,” accompanied by her niece Miss Irene Barion, who would stay a couple weeks.