History of New Rockford: Sept. 23, 2019

On Sept. 7 and 8, 1902, John Oard visited friends in New Rockford before leaving for his Ward County claim.

On Sept. 8, heating stoves were fired up because the day was chilly. Mr. and Mrs. R.R. Woodward returned from the Minnesota State Fair and a buying trip for fall and winter goods for his store. Mr. and Mrs. George F. Putnam and daughter went to Sheyenne to see Mr. and Mrs. L.G. Lundin. Thomas Adam went to Tower City on business; he returned on Sept. 11. J.T. Wiltsie went to Barlow to take charge of the new Lahart Elevator. Charles Hensel left for Bowdon, where he would assist Charles Pake with elevator business. A.H. Crawford and son Morrison left for their Toronto home after a visit in New Rockford and Esmond with their sons and brothers Dr. Jack Crawford and Hope Crawford.

On Sept. 9, J.L. Prader, Sr., threshed 30 acres of oats, getting 70 bushels per acre. Whiteman & Prader fired up their big threshing rig. H.A. Berge and H.G. Hudson went hunting and came home with 25 birds [prairie chickens?]. The train brought in Paul Edinger’s new Minneapolis separator. August Kiehlow was in New Rockford. Rudolph Indergaard was in from his big farm southeast of New Rockford. J.T. Shauers was in from eastern Eddy County on business; J.T. West was in from the east for threshing supplies. Former residents Mr. and Mrs. Fred D. Culver and Mrs. Eva Neasmith visited friends at Tiffany. J.V.N. Sundberg of Illinois, a former resident of Sheyenne, went through New Rockford on the train; he was going to Sheyenne to look after his business interests. That evening editor C.C. Manning and druggist F.L. Kermott of Sheyenne were in town.

On Sept. 10 J.L. Prader threshed and marketed the first flax of the season at $1.22 per bushel; it ran 14 bushels per acre. Miss Harriet Jefferson of Minneapolis arrived to become the new Second Primary teacher. William Cornish came in from Tiffany. Ole Mattson came in from northwest of town. Axtle Johnson was in from the Pitt district. Mrs. Edna Flater returned after visiting her sister Mrs. D.C. Cunningham and family at Thompson, N.D. Attorney R.F. Rinker of Anthon, Iowa, arrived to take a position in the C.J. Maddux law, insurance, and collections office. P.J. Walsh went to Anamoose to buy grain for James Lahart. On that day a 10-lb. son was born in Los Angeles to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hohl.

On the morning of Sept. 11, Lawrence Prader came in with his flax [it was characterized as “the first flax” of the season, but unless “Lawrence” and “J.L.” Prader are the same man, see above]; he sold it to the Andrews & Gage Elevator, where it graded #1; it went eight bushels per acre. Otto Forey came down from Esmond. Arthur J. Larkin resigned from the Clure Implement Company and left for Granville to become a grain buyer. Miss Mae Pottner left for St. Paul after a couple weeks visiting her relatives. That evening hardwareman H. Arveskaug walked down the river with a rifle and at dusk came back with a Sand Hill crane which had an eight-foot wingspan, stood 6’6” high, and weighed thirty lbs. Also that evening there was a surprise party for Miss Ruby Hartson at Mr. and Mrs. Ed Starks’s residence. A number of “young folks” were entertained with music and games and “an elegant lunch” at midnight.

The Sept. 12, 1902, “New Rockford Transcript” mentioned the “Willow City Eagle” and the “Lisbon Free Press.”

A Letter to the Editor from Aurelius and Anna M. Greely appeared. It stated that several years prior Mr. and Mrs. Greely had attempted to interest the residents of New Rockford in a city park. They had succeeded in getting town trustees M.H. Dunnell and W.W. Dudley and the NP Railway to give the town a block and a half of lots if improvements were made on them. However, not enough people responded.

The Greelys’ new proposal was to give the “island lot” on the east side of the James River Bridge on New Haven Street [the site is where the closed bridge with the superstructure is now located on 6th Street North] which contained about an acre for a small park, if other residents would plant trees and make other improvements.

They said a little dredging on the east side could provide for a bath house with a 10x12 ditch on the south side to within 25 feet of the street. The bay on the southeast side could be turned into a lily pond. The spot was large enough for small gatherings.

“Immediate action is necessary to elect a park board to spearhead the project.”

George M. Pike of the New Rockford School Board tried to clarify the question of whether or not Prof. E.R. Thomas had resigned the principalship of the school. Pike explained Thomas had not executed the contract of employment and had refused to take the position as early as Sept. 3, 1902.

After “the leading and best citizens of New Rockford” in an ex parte showing [ex parte is a decision by a judge without all the parties to the controversy present] applied to the North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joseph Devine, he revoked the teaching license of Prof. Thomas for improper conduct toward lady teachers. [There had been a complete turnover in staff, including three or four single female teachers.]

J.M. Shannon had taken up a 900 lb. bay mare, front legs white below the fetlocks, “HR” branded on left hip. Inquire of P.J. Hester. [This was also in the Aug. 29 “Transcript” without referencing Shannon].

An ad: “P.H. West Dray and Express Line All Orders Promptly Executed. Ice Delivered at Any Time.” Hans Jensen was selling machinery at the Clure Implement Co. Heavily loaded freight trains were traveling through New Rockford day and night.

W.O. Baird had a red polled bull for sale. Axtle Johnson had a threshing engine in good condition and ready to run for sale. For sale or rent, a six-room house on Lamborn Avenue East, six lots, a good barn; see S. McDowell or P.J. Hester.

W.C. Hayes was excavating a basement for a house he was going to build on the east side.

Recently Hans Jensen and Frank Parker had brought into town a large Canadian “honker” shot near the Parker Ranch outside Tiffany.

That week several Indians had been in town. Dr. and Mrs. Charles MacLachlan spent a couple days in Jamestown.

On Sept. 12, O.E. Nash came down from the Sheyenne Valley on business; some of his flax was going fourteen bushels per acre. Sheyenne merchant L.G. Lundin was in New Rockford. Photographer Mrs. W.B. Cole went to the Twin Cities. At 2 p.m. the West Side Kindergarten Whist Club met at Alice (Mrs. J.W.) Rager’s residence and selected officers. Mrs. Viola E. Woodward was given a chrysanthemum and in its petals was a card reading “President”; Mrs. C.A. Lathrop was presented with some American Beauty Roses and under the band was a card that said “Secretary”; Mrs. H.G. Gage, Mrs. R.P. Allison, and Mrs. E.S. Severtson all received bananas and were named vice presidents; a large sunflower was given to Mrs. William Wilson and along with it the office of treasurer. That evening the Club with seventy members entertained at Mrs. Rager’s for all the members who would soon be leaving for warmer climates. The event was characterized as “…without question the largest number of people attending any social function in the history of the city….”