History of New Rockford: December 16, 2024

On June 19, 1907, a meeting of Eddy County school officers was held in the court house. The Tiffany district had all its officers present (three directors, the clerk and the treasurer), the Rockford district had four members present, and the Smith district had three. Every other district had one or two, except Sheyenne and Anderson (the most remote from New Rockford). The meeting opened with a prayer by Rev. S.F. Beer and an address by County Superintendent Ellen Mattson. Mr. Simpson of Forman, N.D., spoke on School Ventilation and a discussion followed. In the afternoon there were discussions on reports, contracts, school libraries, sanitary conditions and laws. Prof. E.S. Youngdahl spoke on free textbooks. State Superintendent W.L. Stockwell spoke and then opened the floor to questions.

An organization for school officers was formed with the following elected: A.J. Ford, president; Andrew Johnson, vice president; W.C. Dresser, secretary; and an Executive Committee: Ellen Mattson, A.J. Ford, W.C. Dresser, I.W. Sheldon and S.H. Bailey.

On that day Mr. and Mrs. John Von Almen returned from the horse races at Courtenay; they had gone there on June 17, accompanied by Miss Vera Tyler. A.F. Schwenck came in from his farm near Cathy on business and to visit. Mrs. J.L. Cully and children went to Sykeston to visit. George Fugina and Miss Luella left for Wisconsin, where Mrs. Fugina had been visiting her sister; all three returned on June 26. Mrs. Fugina had not regained her health to the extent that had been hoped for.

On the bright and clear morning of June 20, the annual Early Settlers’ Picnic was held at Peoples’ Grove on the Sheyenne River; it had originally been scheduled for June 25. A little over 3,000 people made their way to the grounds. About 3 p.m. a heavy shower of rain drove people to shelter, but with the breeze things dried quickly and the games and sports went off as advertised. In baseball Warwick defeated Tiffany 6-0 in six innings.

On a sad note, while driving out to the picnic, Sheriff George F. Fahrer did not notice his valuable ($115) trombone slide out of the car, that is, until the auto ran over the instrument and ruined it.

On that day Mrs. J.G. Jones and baby returned from Bowdon and a visit with her parents.

The June 21, 1907, “Transcript” stated that the Northwest Lumber Co. had sold all its yards in North Dakota (including one in New Rockford) and Minnesota to the North Dakota Lumber Co., headquartered in Minneapolis. Eighteen yards were involved.

Michael E. Williams had a kitchen cabinet for sale. H.W. Clark had a Shorthorn milch cow and a 24-by-36 carpenter shop for sale.

Miss Olive Couch was sick all week with quinsy.

Daniel Labhardt had a cement sidewalk laid along his Villard Avenue East property. James A. Manly had a cement sidewalk placed in front of his law office. F.C. Davies had finished the cement sidewalk on the west and south sides of the courthouse lots. Ed Roach was building a farm residence in eastern Wells County, complete with waterworks and a heating plant. James M. Thomas had installed a bathroom with a bathtub, soft water and towels on the second floor of his restaurant and billiard parlor.

During the week Mr. and Mrs. Fred Culver of Fargo were in New Rockford visiting with Capt. and Mrs. C.H. Culver of Sioux Falls, S.D. and many friends; they went home on June 24.

On June 21 the First National Bank had a new set of fixtures installed. A large number of farmers attended a meeting in the courthouse with C.O. Drayton, an organizer of the American Society of Equity. Fifty-two farmers joined the Society, organized a chapter, and elected John Dodds president and H.M. Clark secretary-treasurer. A number of residents went to a circus, complete with elephants, in Carrington. Mr. and Mrs. D.Y. Stanton, Granville Egbert and Jack Johnson returned from Courtenay, where they had attended the horse races; 99 horses were entered in the three-day event. Johnson had gone there on June 17 with a line of novelties for sale; he was accompanied by his brother Clarence Johnson of Harvey, who had come to New Rockford on June 15; Clarence returned to Harvey on July 9. Miss Vera Tyler returned to Chicago after visiting her sister Mrs. John Von Almen and family. That evening Jack Johnson and some local talent presented the old English comedy drama “Mable Heath,” with proceeds going to the New Rockford Dramatic Club. Also that evening a son was born in Moorhead to Mr. and Mrs. Erick Lindstrom. He was the bookkeeper at the Bank of New Rockford and made a trip to Moorhead to see his wife and son, returning on June 25.

On June 22 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Turnbull drove over from Fessenden and visited friends until June 24.

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 23, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Henning and Henry Holter entertained some neighbors at a lawn party on their farm southeast of town; it was topped off with one of Mrs. Henning’s “elegant repasts.” Miss Lenora Kennedy visited friends in Jamestown. Representing the NRFD, William Bucklin, Frank Hays and J.E. Bennett went to Oakes for the annual state firemen’s convention; they returned June 28.

On June 24 Miss Evalyn Mattson returned from Grand Forks for the summer vacation. Mr. and Mrs. E. McLean were down from Sheyenne. William Radke left for Grand Forks as the representative of the Century Lodge, A.F. & A.M., at the Grand Lodge held there. Mrs. Radke and Lynn accompanied him as far as Fargo, where Lynn would meet with a specialist regarding his nose trouble; they returned on July 22 with Lynn’s health much improved.

On June 25 Harry Campbell came in from Grano, N.D., to visit his family and friends. Rev. J.J. Graham and family were down from their Sheyenne Valley home. Mark Hulbert came in on business. Mrs. James E. Hyde returned from an extended trip to Idaho, California and some other western states; she had left on March 1. Miss Lena Kennedy returned to her home near Valley City after two weeks visiting friends. Postmaster M.F. Kepner went to Minneapolis on business; he returned on July 3. A large number of New Rockford residents went to the horse races at Carrington all three days, June 24-26; on June 25 the New Rockford Band played, with the 20 members riding in the large touring cars of Dr. Charles MacLachlan, E.S. Severtson, Joseph Maxwell and P.M. Mattson, and the runabouts belonging to G.W. Streeter and George Fahrer.

On June 25 and 26, Burton Hulbert, Axtle Johnson and James G. Dailey attended the farmers’ convention at Devils Lake.

On June 26 Abner A. Hoyt and Nellie M. Johnson, both of McHenry, were married in the Methodist parsonage by Rev. S.F. Beer and immediately left for the groom’s farm two miles west of McHenry.