Letter to the Editor: Central North Dakota Steam Threshers acquire new scale model steamer, plan to display it at 2020 show

Hello Transcript readers,

I was in New Rockford for the Fourth of July this past weekend, and I'm writing to tell a little more about the little steam tractor that we had on a trailer in the parade.

We were representing Central North Dakota Steam Threshers Reunion, which is still planned to go on Sept. 25-27 as nearly normal as can be with the current chaos in our world involving COVID-19.

My name is Nick Werth, and I am the grandson of Ole and Isabelle Aslakson, who were both longtime New Rockford residents. Both were great supporters of the steam threshers. Ole was a founding member, first president, and an owner of about seven steam tractors in his heyday. I continue on with this as I have a profound love for steam tractors, and anything old really. Ole built two scale model steam tractors, which are cared for by me primarily and shown each year at the show.

The miniature steam engine we had on the trailer for the parade is a scale model that was built in the '50s by a man named Sievert Dovre from Fessenden N.D. It is a 1/6 scale Case 65, with castings/blueprints from Tiny Power Models.

According to some local folks, this little steam tractor was brought to the steam threshers on several occasions, in the earlier years of the show. I have validated this by seeing pictures of it and the builder (Sievert) in one of the first few years' show books.

Although I never did know Sievert the builder, I had become aware of the scale model's existence quite a few years ago. I think somewhere around 2007 I met Gordon Dovre, who was Sievert's son, while he was out in western ND/SD for hunting season. I don't remember how it got brought up, but at that time Gordon told me he was originally from Fessenden, and then we talked about New Rockford and steam threshers. He also told me of his scale model. This was the first I'd heard that there was one built so close to New Rockford besides my grandfather's. I thought this was really neat information, but never really had any intentions on trying to acquire it or anything like that.

Fast forward about 10 years, and Verle Marsaa asked me if I had ever seen a little scale model that Sievert had built. I told him I hadn't. Verle indicated that it was in a museum in South Dakota, and also that the owner, Sievert's son, would consider selling it. I made a trip down to South Dakota in 2017 to look at this and see if it was anything that should or could be pursued. I really thought it was neat, but wasn't quite committed at that time to try to acquire it.

In early 2020, I did some visiting again with Verle, and Kevin Johnson and discussed making plans to try to acquire this little tractor. So, with a joint effort we were able to procure the scale model, and it's our intention to have it on display for the foreseeable future out at the Central North Dakota Steam Threshers for all our guests to see. I think its really fitting and honorable to have it back so close to where it originated now.

Nick Werth

Rhame, N.D.

Part-time New Rockford resident.