History of New Rockford: Aug. 9, 2021

According to the April 22, 1904 “Transcript,” because of the amount of water running in the James River, there were fears that the dam built the previous fall, east of the island, might be washed away. Almost a foot of water was running over it.

Recently, Helen Oliver and Dr. T.H. MacLachlan of McHenry were married; they would be home at McHenry after April 25.

For the previous two weeks, W.A. Coleman, proprietor of the Hubbard-Doss ranch southeast of New Rockford, had been in town, after renting most of it to Edgar College and James Harmon.

On April 22 W.K. Powers of the Powers Elevator and lumberyard business was in town looking after his interests. That evening, there was a dance hosted by the New Rockford Orchestra.

On April 23, Chan Lathrop sold his house and lots on Lamborn Ave. East to Charles F. Culp. John Weipert, who formerly had a large farm south of New Rockford, returned from Chambersburg, Pa., where he and his wife had gone on Oct. 22, 1903. He had decided to take up farming in Eddy County once more. P.J. Hester and son Joe were up from Carrington between trains. Ludvig [Ludvik] Hanson was in for spring supplies from southeast of town. Mrs. Ed A. Wright and daughter left for a visit to their old home in Missouri, until Mr. Wright had fixed up their new home near Staveley, Alberta, Canada, where they had a farm adjoining that of former New Rockford residents, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Flater.

On the morning of April 25, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Larkin at their home on Stimson Avenue East. F.G. Haver came down from Knox for a week’s visit. R.H. Perkins returned from a winter in Wisconsin, accompanied by Dorcy Heacocks, who would remain for the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Oliver and family returned to New Rockford; Mr. Oliver had been in Minneapolis studying pharmacy, while Mrs. Oliver and the children had been visiting in Carrington for several weeks. Mr. and Mrs. John Shroyer were in for shopping. George Pincott sold Ivanhoe II, his thoroughbred-registered Clyde-Norman stallion, to Olie Anderson. Mons M. Belgum and R. Schlong, both of Grands Forks, purchased the photography studio and lots from Mrs. W.B. Cole-Keimer on the east side [Lot 7, Block 18; one part of the present Miller’s Fresh Foods’ parking lot]. Belgum and Schlong then set about remodeling the studio and ordering new equipment from Chicago. Belgum was the uncle of a photographer in McHenry.

On April 26, the weather, which had been cloudy, finally cleared and sunshine reigned supreme. Sheyenne druggist F.L. Kermott, and Clayton Hall of the Sheyenne Valley, were down for the Republican County Central Committee meeting. J.D. Carroll returned from a business trip to St. Paul and other Minnesota cities. That evening, Mesdames A.G. (Pearl) Gardner, F.W. House, H.G. Hudson, and W.C Beardsley were initiated into the Eastern Star Lodge.

On April 27, Henry Holter returned from the MacLachlan ranch in Kidder County, where he had been for two weeks. George R. Williams was in from eastern Eddy County on business. That evening, a social of songs, recitations, music, and a supper was held in the Baptist Church; 17 cents for supper; 33 cents for two. It was “well attended.” From that evening until the next day, Sheyenne grain buyer A.H. Johnson, and Mrs. J.W. Richter and daughter Miss Floy, were in New Rockford.

The April 29, 1904 “Transcript” had an ad from C.L. Maddux, real estate agent, who had 300 acres south of New Rockford along the railroad track for rent, but it had to be plowed. “Come quick.” C.E. Rosenberger had good seed barley for sale. “Girl wanted for general housework. Apply at Kunkel’s Jewelry Store.” Mrs. C.J. Maddux was looking for a girl who was competent for general housework. H. Peoples and Company wanted good potatoes. P.C. Peterson of Barlow had some two-year old Poland China brood sows for sale, some with piglets and some ready to farrow.

Early in the week, H.W. Clark and his crew were raising the frame on Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Tomlinson’s new $4000 house just across the James River from New Rockford. Beginning work on the Phillips Academy building had been delayed by the ice and water in the excavation, which was keeping the stone masons from putting in the foundation. The poles for the new farmers’ telephone line, which would connect New Rockford with Cathay and the farms in between, had arrived and been taken out to their destination. Work would commence after the frost had left the ground. When completed, the line would be the third leading to New Rockford.

During the week, the fronts of Niven’s meat market and Kunkel’s jewelry store were given new coats of paint.

The previous week, H.W. Clark received a 10-horse Parten gasoline engine for his carpenter shop on Stimson Avenue West. On April 25, G.A. Parten of the Parten-Blomstrom Machine Works of Minneapolis began installing it. H.G. Hudson had installed a gasoline engine to help in the making of ice cream; he no longer had to turn the handle of the ice cream freezer by hand.

On April 29, Mrs. H.J. Row returned from a visit to Illinois and Iowa. Major F.O. Getchell of Sheyenne was in town between trains. Attorney S.E. Ellsworth came up from Jamestown. Merchant John Swanson went to Jamestown to meet his mother, who had traveled from Fargo; they came to New Rockford the next day. William Bartley, F.L. Kermott, and A.H. Johnson, all of Sheyenne, passed through New Rockford on the train; they were going to a meeting of the Royal Arch Masons that evening. They were joined by George Norton, Frank Reed, George M. Pike, C.H. Babcock, and E.S. Severtson at New Rockford. They returned the next morning. That evening, Ben Fay was using a circular saw at Ed Starks’s wood yard and something went wrong and he ended up with a missing finger and a badly lacerated hand. Adam Forepaugh appeared at H.G. Hudson’s that evening [his specialty, such as vocal or instrumental music, comedy, etc., was not mentioned.]

On April 29 and 30, Mrs. C.J. Maddux and daughters were visiting in Jamestown.

On April 30, the three-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Anderson was kicked in the head by a horse. He suffered a small depressed fracture of the skull, but the doctors fixed him up. Henry Johnson was in from Plainview buying spring supplies. Jerry VanHeizen of the Tiffany Flats and Erwin Forbes were in on business. Wells County Superintendent of Schools Josephine Paulson came over from Fessenden to visit Mrs. George Crossen, north of New Rockford. J.T. Syftestad was in Sheyenne.