History of New Rockford: Sept. 30, 2024

On April 9, 1907, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Alva Tomlinson. George Lovell came in on business. Otho Lathrop came up from Minneapolis and remained until April 11. While in town he sold his Lamborn Avenue East residence to Mr. and Mrs. John Von Almen and family, who moved in almost immediately. Lathrop worked for the Kerr Land Co.

J.M. Patch came in from Indianapolis to look after his business interests. The Phillips Academy Board of Trustees met to discuss a new $40,000 auditorium; two new members joined the Board: E.R. Brownson of Williston and John Severn of Jamestown. Erick Lindstrom went to Goodrich to check up on things at his ranch near there; he returned April 16. That evening, the nine-month old son of Mr. and Mrs. O.T. Flory died of “bowel complaint.” Funeral services were held on April 11, with interment in the cemetery north of town. [While there are graves for O.T. (1877-1955) and Ethel I. (1884-1956) Flory in Prairie Home Cemetery, there doesn’t appear to be a separate one for any Flory child.]

On April 10, Prof. L.J. Aldrich of Phillips Academy returned after a week’s absence during which he was pursuing Academy business. Mark Williams returned from Fargo, where he had taken the examination for a druggist certificate. Dr. F.A. Douglas of Washburn was on board the NP train; his destination was Bismarck. [Dr. Fred A. Douglas had been a partner of Dr. Charles MacLachlan in New Rockford, circa July 1 to Oct. 19, 1906.] Ed Schutt went to Carrington on business. E.R Davidson transacted business in Carrington between trains.

On April 11, Marsh Chamberlain left to visit relatives in Missouri. At 7:30 p.m., Father J.A. McDonald of Carrington lectured on “The Church Crisis in France” in the Opera House. A lengthy article summarizing the lecture appeared in the April 12 “Transcript.”

The April 12, 1907, “Transcript” reprinted a letter from Miss Laura Jones to the editor of her hometown newspaper in Pennsylvania in which she touted life in North Dakota despite the hard winter, which she claimed was very much misrepresented in the press. She resided with the Lewis Mortinsen [Mortensen?] family east of Barlow. That edition also reprinted an item from the “Fargo Forum” on how pleased Fargo Fire Chief Sutherland was with the team of geldings he had purchased from George Pincott of the Sheyenne Valley.

Mr. and Mrs. O.T. [Omer T. and Ethel I.] Flory had a Card of Thanks to the friends who gave them aid and sympathy during the illness and death of their “little son.”

State’s Attorney Robert P. Allison had a Notice that any pool or billiard hall, bowling alley or temperance saloon in Eddy County that allowed anyone under the age of 18 to play any games or visit the premises would be “promptly prosecuted.” Another Notice from Allison warned that all slot machines, card tables, and any type of gambling apparatus in Eddy County had to be disposed of “at once.” Any violators would be “promptly prosecuted.”

H. Peoples was selling Deere plows, Kentucky and Van Brunt drills, and Success and International manure spreaders. Lorne Ireland had taken a position in James Dowkes’s meat market.

Excavation had begun for a basement and cistern under the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Prader on Lamborn Avenue West. E.R. Davidson was going to have a new house built next to his old one on Lamborn Avenue West; there would be a full basement, furnace heat, a first story of cement blocks, and a second would be frame.

S.N. Putnam wanted a girl for general housekeeping. The Post Office Confectionary was selling strawberries.

Phillips Academy students James Jensen and Cyrus Schwenck had been ill “for some time,” but had returned to their classes. Academy student Amy Crane had temporarily interrupted her studies to help care for her ill mother at their Tiffany farm; with her mother much improved, she returned to the Academy on April 21. The Phillips Academy Literary Society had elected the following: Elsie Tarbell, president; Charles Carlson, vice president; Stella Pike, secretary; Pearl Goss, treasurer; Ralph Beebe, Guy Thompson and Marie Roush, literary directors; Gertrude Buck, Minnie Syftestad and Maggie VanScholack, musical directors; Ralph Beebe and Monte Biggs, ushers; and Monroe Wilder, janitor.

The previous week, the “Sheyenne Star” had celebrated its 10th anniversary with a 20-page edition.

On the morning of April 12, a daughter was born to Sheriff and Mrs. George F. Fahrer. Martin Duursma was in town buying spring supplies. Miss Jeanie Hendry came up from Carrington to visit friends. Walter Immel returned from Courtenay and resumed his old position in H.G. Hudson’s confectionary store.

From April 12 to 14, Mrs. A.E. Adams was in Jamestown. From April 13 to 15, Verne L. Norton visited friends in Jamestown.

On April 13, T.J. Strande came in from eastern Eddy County for spring supplies. Christ Jensen arrived from Beach, N.D., to spend a week in New Rockford. Mrs. George A. Brown returned from a winter in Phoenix, Arizona Territory; while there she visited with John Williams and his stepdaughter Miss Streeter. [Mrs. Brown had left New Rockford for Phoenix on Dec. 11, 1906.] Dr. G.D. Murphy went to Minneapolis on business; he returned on April 24, accompanied by his sister. Walter Stitzel went to Minneapolis for business and pleasure; he returned on April 24. That afternoon, the assessors met with the county auditor and received their assessors’ books and instructions; Ed Winters from eastern Eddy County was one of them; he had come in the day before. That evening, the 3rd quarterly conference business meeting took place in the Methodist Church; Rev. J.G. Moore gave a lecture on “A Trip to California.”

On Sunday, April 14, Rev. Myron Cooley of Fargo preached in the Baptist Church at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Rev. J.G. Moore preached in the Methodist Church in the morning. Miss Bertha Gullickson came up from Enderlin to visit her aunt Mrs. W.J. Morris and her husband on their farm southeast of town. Miss Irene Kennedy visited her grandmother in Jamestown.

On the morning of April 15, a 10 lb. son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John McAuley. Miss Gertrude Buck opened the term as the teacher at the Clark School. At 10 a.m., James Hackney sold at auction at his farm 30 horses, 20 cattle, five hogs, 75 chickens, all his farm machinery, a new automobile, harness, buggies, etc. Refreshments were served. Despite the “disagreeable weather,” the sale was well attended. “Sheyenne Star” editor C.C. Manning and J.V.N. Sundberg came down on business. Dr. J.A. Carter was over from Warwick on professional business. Lawrence Prader went to Courtenay to begin work in his confectionary store. T.G. Kellington returned from Valley City, where he had visited his family.