History of New Rockford: Sept. 2, 2024

Eye specialist F.W. Soule was at the Barlow drug store and at the Bucklin, Williams & Co. drug store in New Rockford on March 15 and 16, 1907.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 13, the Methodist ladies put on a supper at the home of Mrs. James Wiltsie; the menu was roast beef with brown gravy, ham with horse radish, Boston Baked Beans and Brown Bread, mashed potatoes, corn escalloped, pickles, salads, rolls, jelly and mixed cake. Price, 25 cents; ice cream, 10 cents extra. Over $40 was earned for the church. That evening, the New Rockford Improvement League met in the courthouse; it was decided to hold an entertainment in the courtroom on the evening of March 27, with an auction of inexpensive, but useful, items and a lunch.

On March 14, Rev. Samuels of McHenry visited Phillips Academy. Frank Bailey of Tiffany and Sylvanus Marriage and his son Roland were in on business. Stephen Walsh was in town. John McIver, owner of a meat market in Warwick, drove down on business. Lawrence Prader held a sale; a large number of people attended. That evening, Phillips Academy students Lena Breck and Marie Roush went to Carrington, where Miss Breck said goodbye to her parents, who were moving to their new home in Canada; the girls returned the next day.

On March 14, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Zehrfeld; that night a 10-lb. son was born to Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Severtson.

The March 15, 1907, “Transcript” stated that a heavy wind on March 12 caused snow drifts to fill the cuts on the railroad, but the next day the rotary plow pushed through and went north. More snow kept the northbound train in Jamestown on March 14, but the southbound train passed through New Rockford, following the rotary plow.

Anton Valer had to discontinue his studies at Phillips Academy in order to work on the family farm near Barlow.

Sheriff George F. Fahrer had written a Letter to the Editor of the “Lancaster (Ohio) Dailey Eagle,” contradicting the false reports of the dire winter conditions in North Dakota being reported in the Eastern press.

The previous week, Miss Mary McDonnel arrived from Lindsay, Ontario, for a lengthy stay with her uncle Stephen Walsh and family; she had come to improve her health.

On March 15, Conrad Taverna returned from the Twin Cities. Chris Guler came in on business from southwest of town. Mrs. J.N. Kunkel and Miss Gertrude returned from a winter at Mountain Home, Idaho; Mrs. Kunkel’s health was much improved. That evening, Miss Mae Engberg came up from Barlow to visit friends; she returned to Barlow on March 20. Also that evening, Mrs. Victor Smith and two daughters arrived to visit her sister Mrs. H.G. Hudson and family; the Smiths left for their home in Dawson on March 22. That evening’s train brought real estate man George W. Streeter back from a lengthy winter trip “back east.” At 8 p.m., the Lowell Literary Society of NRHS presented the following program: Song by the Society; Recitation, Wanda Keime; Piano Solo, John Smith; Vocal Solo, Mary Adam; Essay, Elmer Gronvold; Debate, “Resolved, That the Hypocrite is a more Despicable Character than the Liar” [the same subject that was debated at their Feb. 21 meeting]; Affirmative: George Hawthorne and Loyle Goss; Negative: Harriet Watts and Clifford Gardner; Vocal Duet, Flossie Fields and Eva Hawthorne; Reading, Eva Wakelie; Newspaper, Elwin Beardsley and Merrille Pike; Song by the Society.

At 2 p.m. on March 16, the stockholders of the New Rockford-Sheyenne Telephone Co., C.W. Hall, secretary, gathered for their annual meeting in the courthouse basement. The meeting had been postponed from February 23, when there was no quorum. Rev. Kelly of Kansas was scheduled to lecture in the Phillips Academy Assembly Hall at 8 p.m., but was unable to because no trains ran that day.

On Sunday, March 17, J.T. Wiltsie came over from Garrison to spend a week with his family. A.E. Wiltsie, who was employed at a Barlow harness shop, came up to visit relatives and friends.

On March 18, Thomas Ashby was kicked on the right cheek by a horse, suffering severe swelling around his eye. Hans Hanson came in from southeast of town on business. John G. Martin held a sale of horses, farm machinery and household goods at his place west of town. There was a St. Patrick’s Day dance that night in the Opera House that was “well attended.”

On March 19, Ole Mattson came in on business. J.R. Craig was in to do some business and to get medicine for several sick members of his family.

The New Rockford Township election on March 19 had 164 votes. The results were Supervisor: J.W. Rager, 93, C.C. Campbell, 71; Treasurer: P.J. Braman, 106, O.E. Couch, 57; Clerk: A.J. Clure, 98, A.H. Crawford, 65; Assessor: J.N. Kunkel, 89, Frank Hawthorne, 74; Justice: H.H. Miller, 92, Nathan Stanton, 64, A.M. Greely, 61; Road Overseer, 1st District: George W. Johnston, 163; Road Overseer, 3rd District: Hugh Davidson, 100, O.H. Foster, 63.

On March 20, Matt Endres came in from west of town on business. W.W. Overton sold his workhorses and farm machinery at a sale on his farm west of town. That evening, Mr. and Mrs. Granville W. Egbert hosted a whist party at their Villard Avenue West residence; Mrs. Egbert served a lunch.

On March 21, the “street cleaning gang” cleared the downtown sidewalks and removed the snow banks that had been “encroaching” on them for some time. Gilbert Bymoen sold at auction on the Andrew Bymoen farm six miles north [northwest?] of New Rockford 30 horses, farm machinery, etc., “Everything goes – no exceptions.” Effie Dafoe came down from Sheyenne to rejoin her classmates at Phillips Academy. Miss Emma Dietz visited her brother Frank at the Academy. H.C. Johnson returned from a winter at Hot Springs, Arkansas. Student James Chambers left the Academy and returned to his Sykeston home for the summer. Jay Mulvey went to Fargo to take a civil service examination for the railway mail service. Mrs. C.C. Campbell went to Jamestown to visit relatives; she and her husband returned on March 29. Mrs. G.W. Manning returned to her Fergus Falls home after three weeks visiting her sister Mrs. D.F. Ellsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Babcock returned to New Rockford: she from visiting relatives at Sauk Center, Minn., and he from studying veterinary surgery in Chicago. The Phillips Academy Literary Society met that evening, after which the students enjoyed a social hour. That evening, “reciter” Prof. F.H. Koch of UND appeared at the Opera House; reserved seating was 50 cents; special tickets for teachers and students were 35 and 25 cents. Local talent provided music between his selections. Also Mrs. Annie Ohrner entertained several friends at a card party at her Lamborn Avenue West home, capped off with a lunch served by Mrs. Ohrner.