History of New Rockford: Nov. 4, 2024

On May 13, 1907, Mrs. Anna Whiteman returned from a short visit with her daughter, Mrs. M.A. Liles at Minnewaukan. Clayton Hall pulled his big steam breaking outfit to the Frank Reed farm southwest of town and would break 200 acres; the rig had 10 14-inch plows and turned almost twelve feet at a time. Dr. John G. Johns, assisted by Dr. W.M. Bartley of Sheyenne, operated on Jennie, the daughter of Academy principal L.J. and Mrs. Aldrich, for an abscess of the throat; she was recovering nicely. Attorney R.P. Allison was in McHenry. Rev. J.C. Burkholder left on a trip which would take him to Yellowstone Park; Denver, where he would visit his wife; Colorado Springs; Sioux City, Iowa, to see a daughter and friends; his boyhood home in western Pennsylvania, where he would see his only brother and two sisters; and Reading, Pa., to visit a son and two daughters.

On May 13 and 14, Mrs. P.H. West and Mrs. S.F. Beer visited in Oberon.

On May 14, Carrington merchant Thomas Buchanan came up in his [Buick?] auto; his firm was the new local agent for the Buick automobile. After spending a few days at home in Sykeston, Phillips Academy student Clarence Clovell [Covell] returned to New Rockford on his bicycle that day. Pearl Goss returned to her studies at the Academy after being absent over a month with measles. Mrs. Coral Murphy, wife of Dr. G.D. Murphy, left for their new home in Minneapolis. Jack O’Keefe left to visit in Minnesota. Mrs. E.S. Severtson visited in Barlow, the guest of Mrs. A.E. Swanson and daughter.

On May 15, Alvin Keime returned from Valparaiso, Ind., where he had attended school and would spend his vacation with his mother. That evening, H.W. Baker of Barlow was in town. Also that evening, 82-year old pioneer Peter Larson was at the Wiemals’ scales on Chicago Street with a load of hay when he fell from the wagon and broke a small bone and shattered the large bone in his right hip; due to his age, the prognosis was uncertain.

On May 16, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Christ Fahrner southeast of town. Dr. J.J. Donovan of Eden Valley, Minn., arrived to take over Dr. G.D. Murphy’s practice and to occupy Murphy’s former office in the Maddux Block. Dr. and Mrs. Charles MacLachlan returned from Minot, where he had attended the annual meeting of the State Medical Association; Dr. MacLachlan was elected president. Wells County Commissioner A.F. Schwenck was over on business from his large farm near Cathay. Mrs. W.C. Wortman and children arrived from Oelwein or Marshalltown, Iowa, to visit her sister Mrs. Norman Treffry and family southeast of town; they went home on June 18. P.M. Mattson drove his auto to Carrington, accompanied by Mark Williams and E.S. Severtson.

The May 17, 1907, “Transcript” carried a new ad: Dr. J.J. Donovan, physician & surgeon, office in the Maddux Block; telephone 175a.

That issue warned that red-headed woodpeckers were doing considerable damage to trees in the city. If a bird “banded” a tree by pecking holes all around a limb or the tree itself, the flow of sap resulting would kill the limb and even the tree if it were a relatively small one. Owners should paint over the woodpecker holes with tar to stop the flow of sap and save their trees.

Miss Celestia Kellington sent in some Valley City State Normal School Notes.

A letter from former Phillips Academy student Harry Blaikly (Blakely) informed people that he was a telegraph operator at Eckelson, N.D.

Mrs. L.J. Aldrich, who had been teaching some of her husband’s classes at Phillips Academy during his absence, was unable to do so several days that week due to illness in her family. As soon as school was over Mrs. W.E. Radke and son Lynn were going to St. Paul, where he would have an operation for “nose trouble.” Despite health problems, Nathan Stanton was painting his residence.

Mrs. James E. Hyde was visiting friends in California. Mr. and Mrs. George M. Pike were planning on joining the Knights Templar Excursion to Saratoga, N.Y., to visit friends and relatives that they hadn’t seen in 25 years.

The front of James Thomas’ Arcade Restaurant and billiard and pool hall had a new coat of paint. H. Peoples was waiting for his new auto runabout.

Mrs. F.O. Getchell was the lucky winner of the “beautiful jardineire” given away by Bucklin and Williams as part of their book sale the previous month. [A jardineire is a decorative flower box, planter, ceramic pot or stand.]

During the week, George Blaha bought the J.W. Rager harness shop; Rager was going to devote his time to his farm implement business and his farm. Also during the week, Charles Logan bought out his partner William Farley in Logan and Farley’s Restaurant. Farley, who had lived in Eddy County since its organization, left on May 14 for Minneapolis, where he would go into business. During the latter part of the previous week, Barlow butcher Frank Fahrer was visiting in New Rockford.

On May 17, Horace Buffington returned from a trip that took him to Arizona Territory, New Mexico Territory, Texas, and Colorado. E.S. and Mrs. Youngdahl were in Grand Forks for a meeting of school principals. E.S. Severtson, J.M. Mulvey, P.M. Mattson, and James Hackney went to Fargo to pick up Severtson’s new Lambert touring car; they rode home in it, arriving on May 19, despite some “pretty bad roads.” That evening, the New Rockford Orchestra hosted the first social dance of the spring season at the Opera House.

On May 18, Katie (Mrs. Thomas) Turner came up from Barlow to visit for a few days. Druggist Mark Williams went to Minneapolis on business. Dr. J.J. Donovan went to Eden Valley, Minn., to arrange for the shipment of his goods to New Rockford.

On the morning of Sunday, May 19, Phillips Academy students Albert Dix and Frank Dietz rode their bicycles to Fessenden for a visit. Albert returned that evening, but Frank was so tired, he remained in Fessenden until May 21 and then took trains to Carrington on the Soo and to New Rockford on the NP. Walter Zellmer of the Academy spent some time visiting in the country. Barlow merchant Thomas Turner was up visiting.