History of New Rockford: Oct. 28, 2024

On May 7, 1907, Otto Zehrfeld of Leipzig, Germany, arrived to visit his uncle Richard Zehrfeld on his farm east of town; he was making an around-the-world tour for a German newspaper. Rudolph Cerevenka came in from Minneapolis to work in the dry goods department of Prader & Baeder’s store. Liveryman William Rice went to Minneapolis on business; Mark Williams and L. Hutchinson went to Carrington on business. Mrs. A.H. Crawford left on a visit to her old home Elizabeth, Minn.; she returned on June 18.

On May 7, 1907, Howard Huff left to visit the “Jamestown [Virginia]Exposition,” his old home in Virginia, and many large Eastern cities; he returned on July 21. Dr. G.D. Murphy left New Rockford to live in Minneapolis, where he would set up his medical practice. Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Wakley [Wakelee/Wakelie] and family left for their new home in Seattle, Wash., where he would manage a lumberyard [in New Rockford he had worked at the Gull River Lumberyard]; they would go by way of Kansas City and “some other southern cities.”

On May 8, Mrs. Matt Fautsch’s mother and sister arrived for a visit from Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. David Henderson arrived from Maddock to visit her sister Mrs. P.H. West and family after which they would go to Fessenden to live for the summer. Ed Faust came in from St. Peter, Minn., to visit his sister Miss Lillyan Faust, who had taught the 2nd and 3rd grades in 1906-1907; he left for Glendive, Mont., on May 20. Fred Culver came up from Fargo to visit with his father and to do some business for the Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York of which he was the state general manager. The New Rockford Band gave a concert that evening.

On May 9, Dr. Charles MacLachlan received a new “operating chair” for his medical office. W.C. Schwoebel left to visit Mountain Home, Idaho, and other western points. Dr. J.W. Stribling, the first assistant physician at the State Asylum in Jamestown, went home after a few days as the guest of James Hackney. Miss Mame Sheehy left for Minneapolis, where she would live with her mother. That evening Frank Fugina joined the Woodmen Lodge.

The May 10, 1907, “Transcript” carried a small article stating State’s Attorney R.P. Allison claimed a statement in the preceding week’s “Eddy County Provost” that Allison had 12 or more witnesses in his investigation of the sale or giving away of liquor at the April 15 James Hackney farm auction was incorrect. Allison said there were only four witnesses and, further, he had never told Hackney that the Governor or the Temperance Commissioner had ordered Allison to make the investigation.

A.J. Clure had two mules for sale: a 3-year old Jack and a 2-year old Jennie. That issue said the downtown park fence needed repair.

A letter from Orting, Wash., conveyed the news that former resident James Davidson was suffering from a severe case of pneumonia. [Davidson and his family had moved to Orting on Oct. 20, 1906, after 20 years in Eddy County.]

A notice from County Superintendent Ellen Mattson stated that the final county eighth grade examinations would be given at 9 a.m. May 16 and 17 at the following locations: New Rockford, in the eighth grade room; Sheyenne, in the high school room; Washington School District, in the “Big school house.”

Miss Celestia Kellington had submitted some Valley City State Normal School Notes.

In “School Notes”: on May 6 sophomore Eva Wakelee/Wakelie left for a visit with Iowa relatives, after which she would move to Washington State; the baseball team was practicing and had laid out a diamond in the pasture a block east of the school [Winslow’s pasture]; on May 9 Edward Faust of St. Peter, Minn., visited the school and Miss Florence McFarlane of Sheyenne visited Miss Lillyan Faust’s 2nd and 3rd grade room; on May 10 Principal E.S. Youngdahl went to Carrington to judge a declamation contest.

Miss Ida Forbes had withdrawn from Phillips Academy and was planning on leaving with her mother for their old home in Iowa. Walter Zellmer of Phillips Academy was able to get rid of the sling for his arm that he had hurt playing baseball.

E.H. Martin had received a new popcorn and peanut roasting machine at the Post Office Confectionary. D.F. Ellsworth’s new 22x28 residence was going up south of the Congregational Church. R.U. Austin was putting a front porch on his Villard Avenue West residence. John Vogt was having a house built in the southeast part of town. Prader & Baeder’s store had been remodeled, adding more room.

Early in the week, J.C. Smith went to McHenry. The latter part of the previous week saw banker A.R. Johns purchase the Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Clark residence on Stimson Avenue West; the Johns family was looking to move in on June 1.

On May 10, C.C. Campbell went to Minnewaukan and purchased a confectionary business; on May 14 Mrs. Campbell and Miss Edith went up to take charge of the business. The family would make their new home there. That evening (May 10), and the next one, the Jolly Pulls, hypnotic entertainers, appeared at the Opera House.

On May 11, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bert Butterfield. Miss Ada Schmidt came up from Jamestown to visit her sister Mrs. A.C. Olsen and husband. An Eddy County Teachers’ Association meeting was held in the courthouse. At 10 a.m., the program was a song by the Association; Invocation, Rev. S.F. Beer; Address, County Supt. Ellen Mattson; “Moral and Civic Training,” Miss Dora Beer; a song by the NRHS students; “How to Keep Interest In”; Geography, Klara F. Fisher; History, Miss Gertrude Buck; Open Discussion; at 2 p.m. the program was music by the NRHS students; “Beautifying the School Room,” Miss Dora Brand; “Value of Reading,” Miss Lillian Lund; Primary Exercises, Mrs. A.C. Olsen; “The Successful Teacher,” Miss Lottie C. Graham; “School and Home,” E.S. Youngdahl; Open Discussion; song by the Association. Former Phillips Academy student Monroe Wilder, the Freeborn teacher, attended and stayed over the next day to visit.

On May 11 and 12, Phillips Academy student Amy Crane visited her parents at Tiffany.

On Sunday, May 12, New Rockford pastor Rev. S.F. Beer preached in the Jamestown Methodist Church. At 11 a.m. Rev. Stout of Tiffany and at 8 p.m. Prof. Youngdahl preached in the New Rockford Methodist Church. Rev. J.C. Burkholder preached at the Baptist Church. Miss Jet Richter and Miss Hattie Nedra drove down from Sheyenne to visit friends. Pat O’Connor slipped and fell from his wagon, striking his head against a wheel, and almost severing an ear, which took several stitches to put it right.

At noon on May 13, Rev. J.R. Beebe married Ever Hanson and Cora Gronvold in the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. O.C. Gronvold, with only immediate relatives present. The couple then took the northbound train for Crosby, where they would live.