History of New Rockford: August 5, 2024

On Feb. 12, 1907, Academy student Mae Engberg was called home to Barlow by the news her father, J.R. Engberg, had died in the Norgaard Hospital in Fargo that morning from pneumonia. Funeral services were held in Fargo and conducted by the Elks Lodge. Engberg was 49, had been born in Sweden, and had arrived in Barlow in 1897, where he helped start the Engberg Farm and Land Co. He was survived by his wife, four children – Sumner, Mae, Guy W. and Thaddeus R. – and a brother Barney L. Engberg, all of Barlow; also his mother, a sister and another brother, all of Burlingame [Burlington], Iowa. Interment was in Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlingame [Burlington].

On the morning of February 13, Roy Greitl took up his regular position again at Nathan Stanton’s blacksmith shop. W.H. Welsh came in from northeast of town on business. Elmer Dinnetz came over from Flora to visit friends. That afternoon, the new Russell snow plow went north through New Rockford to open the line from Oberon to Leeds. R.U. Austin left to attend a meeting of blacksmiths and wagonmakers at Bismarck; he returned on February 18. That evening, a small group of friends gathered for an impromptu get-together at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Dutee. That evening, a number of friends drove out east of New Rockford and enjoyed a pleasant time at the home of Charles and Fred Wilson.

On February 14, Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Clark returned from a visit to Erie, Pa.; he had left New Rockford on November 19 to join her there. Despite the poor road conditions, a number of Phillips Academy students went out to Mr. and Mrs. Forbes’ place to enjoy the basket social there.

The Feb. 15, 1907, “Transcript” mentioned the “Bowbells Bulletin” and the “Sheldon Progress.”

That edition stated that no one would object to snowball fights on the street, but for grown men to hide on top of buildings and throw hard chunks of snow down on passersby was cowardly. “Cut it out.”

Ed Martin posted a warning in that edition that since he had lost several of his chickens lately, he would shoot any birddog he caught in his hen coop.

Roy Stitzel had installed a bootblack’s chair in his barber shop under the Farmers and Merchants Bank.

Howard Johnson was playing the new Eb bass horn in the New Rockford Band.

Phillips Academy student Effie Dafoe spent a few days that week at home near Sheyenne. Academy student Maggie VanScholack missed the week of school due to illness.

A telephone message from Mark Williams indicated that his wife, who had recently had an operation, was in serious condition with pneumonia in a St. Paul hospital.

The arrival of several trains that week had ended the fuel shortage. Also, the snow was melting.

On February 15, Thomas Bollingberg and Henry B. Johnson were in on business. Mr. and Mrs. Sylvanus Marriage were in from southeast of town to shop and visit.

On February 16, Clarence Johnson arrived from Harvey to see his brother Jack Johnson and to assist in the drug store until the return of Mark Williams and William Bucklin; he returned to Harvey on February 26. Mrs. A.E. Swanson came up from Barlow to visit Mrs. E.S. Severtson. Phillips Academy student August/Augustus Buechler went to his home at Twist for a visit with his parents; on the morning of February 18, his father drove back with him.

With the fuel shortage alleviated, the Methodist Church resumed its regular services on Sunday, Feb. 17. That Sunday, Phillips Academy principal L.J. Aldrich substituted for Rev. McCoy in the Carrington Methodist Church; he also pursued some Academy business. He was able to return home the next day in time to teach his afternoon classes at Phillips Academy. Phillips Academy student Frank Dietz visited his uncle at Melville, returning to New Rockford the next day.

On February 18, F.O. Getchell and Percy were in town. Mr. and Mrs. William G. Milne were down from the Sheyenne Valley to shop and visit; he reported his father had a bad case of asthma. Roy Hayes came down from Minot, having resigned from whatever position he had there. Axtle Johnson went to the Twin Cities on business and to consult with a doctor about his ear trouble. That evening, Frank Treffry became a 3rd Degree Mason. That night, Dunham & Son shipped two carloads of beef cattle to the South St. Paul market; George Dunham went along to oversee their sale; he returned on February 26.

On the morning of February 19, drayman P.H. West had just driven up to the north side of H. Peoples & Co. on Villard Avenue, when a bullet whizzed by his head, missing by a couple of inches, but breaking a window. It was thought the bullet came from a .22 cal. rifle, discharged by someone shooting at birds; the “Transcript” cautioned such people to be more careful. Mrs. J.C. Smith returned from a visit with her mother, Mrs. Mary Henry at Sheyenne. Ludvick Hanson came in on business. Walter Stitzel returned from Hot Springs, Ark., where he had gone for his rheumatism; he felt “much improved.” Jerry Von Almen’s father came down from Berthold to visit. Peter Crane and Sidney Hewes shipped some cattle to the South St. Paul market. J.D. Carroll went to Bismarck.

On February 20, William Mattison came in from Morris on business and to visit; another such visit was made by John Seckinger. That afternoon, Mrs. P.J. Lorig hosted a seventh birthday party for Miss Agnes Lorig at her home on New Haven St. North; ten of her young friends enjoyed an “elegant lunch.” A.J. Clure went to the Twin Cities on business; he would visit his brother in Hastings on February 24. Harry Couch left for Linton, where he would visit his parents; he returned on March 2. Mrs. E.E. Alair went to Bowdon for a visit. Fred F. Allmaras left for St. Paul, where his mother had been hospitalized. She had just returned from Germany, where she had been injured in a railroad accident, but her strength gave out before she made it home. Another son and daughter, Jacob Allmaras and Mrs. Louis Schaefer, had gone to St. Paul the day before.

On February 20 and 21, Ed Winters was in on business from northeast Eddy County.

On February 21, former resident James MacLachlan arrived from Edmonton, Alberta, to visit his brother Dr. Charles MacLachlan and his wife and his “host” of friends; he left for home on March 1. Henry B. Johnson came in on business. James Graham and Toller Huff came in on business and to visit. State’s Attorney R.P. Allison returned from a trip to Jamestown on legal business. Mrs. Ed C. Overton came in to shop; she reported that her husband had returned from the Twin Cities the previous week and was doing “very nicely.” [He had gone to Minneapolis on January 4 to have a specialist examine his damaged hip.]