History of New Rockford: June 17, 2024

From January 1 to the evening of Jan. 3, 1907, the area was blanketed by the heaviest snow storm in some years. The railroad tracks were blocked until the rotary plow came through on the morning of January 4. Many New Rockford-bound passengers were stranded when trains were stopped in Sheyenne and Carrington; the railroad put them up in hotels.

On January 3, Louis Oefstedahl and George Norman came down from Sheyenne on skis; it was Norman’s first experience with skis and probably his last.

On the evening of January 3, the Modern Woodmen and the Royal Neighbors lodges held a joint installation ceremony at the Masonic Hall. The extremely cold weather did not prevent a full hall. The letters M.W.A. in green and lighted by wax candles were suspended in the front of the room. As the guests of honor, the Royal Neighbors installed their officers first with Laura Pike as the installing officer and Miss Pearl Payne as the Ceremonial Marshal: Inez S. Gullicks, Past Oracle; Lizzie M. Biggs, Oracle; Mrs. Viola Woodward, Vice Oracle; Mrs. Amanda Radke, Recorder; Mrs. Anna Prader, Receiver; Lizzie Tomlinson, Chancellor; Harriet Johnston, Manager [but may have been the Marshal]; Jennie Doyle, [listed as another Manager, but may have been the Marshal].

The Woodmen ceremony began with Chief Forester A.J. Clure and a “well-drilled team” escorting the officers-elect to their respective stations. W.E. Radke was the installing officer for George M. Pike, Venerable Consul; Peter Prader, Worthy Adviser; Frank Hays, Banker; E.R. Davidson, Clerk; Granville Egbert, Escort; George W. Johnston, Watchman; Marcus Medved, Sentry. After the installation Clure and his team put on a military drill. The New Rockford Orchestra played throughout the evening. After the Woodmen served refreshments, there were music and dancing.

The Jan. 4, 1907, “Transcript” (Vol. XXV, No. 19) had the following New Rockford advertisers: “The New Rockford Transcript” [since 1883]; H. Peoples & Co. [since 1884]; Prader & Baeder [since 1906]; The Elias Saad general store [by 1896-1900 and since 1905]; H. Tyler, Tailor [since 1905]; Central Drug Store, Orley E. Couch, Druggist [by 1886]; Bucklin & Williams, Druggists [since 1902]; H.G. Hudson, fruit and confectionary [since 1902]; Midgets’ Confectionary [since 1906]; The Arcade Restaurant and Pool Hall [since 1906]; Roy Stitzel, barber [since 1906]; Hotel Davies, J.W. Hedges, prop. [since 1891]; Hotel Mattson, Christina Mattson, prop. [since 1894]; Hotel Brown, George A. Brown, prop. [since 1896]; City Dray Line, P.H. West, prop. [since 1887]; Independent Dray Line, Geo. W. Johnston [since 1903]; H.L. Rood, livery, feed and sales stables, “The Big Barn” on Chicago Street South [since 1897]; Powers Elevator Co., M.R. Fritz and B.W. Rantz, agents [by 1899]; Gull River Lumber Co., R.W. Ervin, mgr. [since 1886]; Northwest Lumber Co., L.E. Weaver, agent [since 1904]; J.M. Mulvey Hardware [since 1888]; Hays & Adams Hardware (Frank Hays, Earl Adams) [since 1906]; Frank Allmaras, Baker [since 1906]; Bank of New Rockford [since 1885]; First National Bank [since 1902]; The Farmers and Merchants Bank [since 1906]; E. Starks, feed mill and wood yard [since 1901]; City Coal and Wood Yard, R.M Kennedy, prop. [since 1902]; Baird & Dresser, loan and land firm [by 1896]; C.J. Maddux, money to loan, insurance [by 1897]; Streeter & Cooling, money to loan [since 1904]; Ruby Hartson, photographer [since 1906]; Culp & Perry Cement Works [since 1901]; New Rockford Machine Ship, Olof Lundquist [since 1898].

Other New Rockford businesses included Rodenberg & Schwoebel [since 1899]; P.J. Lorig & Co., furniture [since 1905]; Gustave Lauch, brick work and plastering [since 1898]; John Anderson, painting, paperhanging, decorating [since 1900]; John Wenz, shoe store [since 1900]; M. Belgum, Photographer [since 1904]; and J.W. Rager, harness shop [since 1893].

Professional ads – Robert P. Allison, Attorney, office opposite Maddux Block; Chas. MacLachlan, M.D., office over Central Drug Store; F.D. Norton, dentist; office over Central Drug Store; J.C. Whiteman, Veterinarian; J.L. Kinnaird, Undertaker and Funeral Director.

Jeweler F.W. House had sold his jewelry stock to J.N. Kunkel; Mr. and Mrs. House and their family would be moving to Idaho. [F.W. House ran a bowling alley in New Rockford, April to mid-Nov. 1902; he began a jewelry, watch and clock repair business in May 1903.]

Miss Jenny Hersey had begun work for H.G. Hudson at his confectionary counter in the post office.

During the latter half of the previous week, former Phillips Academy student Paul Burbans of Sykeston visited in New Rockford. Miss Lena Breck had returned from the holidays at Edmunds and resumed work at Phillips Academy. Lawrence Fisher had returned to UND after the holidays with his parents east of New Rockford.

On January 4, William Covell, Miss Maggie VanScholack, and Miss Gertrude Hall returned to Phillips Academy after spending their holidays at their homes in Sykeston, Edmunds and Carrington respectively. Miss Zoa Bartholomew of Pingree also returned to her studies on that day, although the date given was December 28, when the Academy was closed. Vinton Hall arrived from Williams County for a visit with his parents and friends. H.H. Miller came home from a business trip to the Twin Cities. Claude Comer returned from a week’s stay in Sheyenne. S.A. Olsness came through the snow to do some business in New Rockford. Jay Mulvey came home from spending the holidays with his aunt and uncle in Barnesville, Minn. Miss Lenora Kennedy, who was employed in Jamestown, returned for a visit with her parents. William Plasic returned from Adel, Iowa. Gertrude O’Connell visited in Barlow between trains. Charles Clouser (nicknamed “Ice Cream Charlie”) and Bruce Clouser left on a three-weeks’ visit with Minnesota friends. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Overton left for Minneapolis, where he would have a specialist examine his damaged hip. The Phillips Academy Literary Club met and elected Ralph Beebe as president; Hattie Reynolds, vice president; Albert Hill, secretary; Sena Thompson, treasurer; Will Covell, janitor; Albert Dix and Walter Alair, ushers; Guy Thompson, Lena Breck and Monroe Wilder, literary directors; Marie Roush, Stella Pike and Zoa Bartholomew, musical directors. That evening, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. M.F. Kepner.

On January 5, teacher Miss Rose Wagner returned from the holidays that she had spent in Cavalier. Schoolteacher George Byrnes returned to his school near Sykeston. Eddie Monahan went to Fargo to enter NDAC. Albert Zimmerman from southwest of town left for Fargo, where he would take courses at Dakota Business College.