History of New Rockford: August 22, 2022

On the evenings of April 10 and 11, 1905, the Crows appeared at the Opera House, first in “A Soldier’s Sweetheart” and the next evening in “Mavourneen.” John Algeo and Nyles C. Toll of Barlow saw the show on the first night, and Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Tausen of Barlow attended on the second night. On April 11 and 12, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Logan, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Utz, and a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Crosby Braithwaites, all delivered by Dr. G.D. Murphy.

On the morning of April 12, Nels A. and Olof A. Johnson of Murdock, Minnesota, took over George A. Fahrer’s meat market (they rented the building) under the name of Johnson Bros. Nels Johnson’s wife and children would arrive shortly. Miss Emily Swanson came up from Carrington, visited in New Rockford that evening, and left for her home in Fargo the next day. Mrs. Belfleur came in from Wales, N.D., to visit her friend Mrs. William Bucklin; she left for home on April 18. D.Y. Lytle of Glenburn was in town visiting his friends and looking after business matters. A.E. Wiltsie left for his homestead in Ward County, where he planned to live. That evening, Hans C. Jensen of New Rockford and Nettie Sutten of Walder, Kansas, were married in the Methodist parsonage by Rev. S.F. Beer. The bride had arrived in New Rockford from Kansas a few days before. The couple would live in a suite of rooms at the Hotel Davies.

On April 13, Dennis O’Connell returned from seven months as a grain dealer in Deering, N.D.; he planned on staying the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rosenberger returned from their stay in Virginia, but his rheumatism had not improved very much. That evening, Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Rantz hosted a whist party at the Hotel Mattson.

On April 13 and 14, Rev. Myron Cooley, General Missionary of the North Dakota Baptist State Convention, was in town looking after the local Baptist congregation.

The April 14, 1905, “Transcript” mentioned the “Bottineau Courant” and the “Medina Citizen.” A Notice indicated that the partnership between W.H. Losee and Peter Crane, both of Tiffany, had been dissolved.

H. Peoples & Co. sold the Kentucky Disc Drill and fine buggies, surreys, and spring wagons. Francis Pottner had received some blooded Plymouth Rocks and Silver Laced Wyandottes from a chicken breeder in Shoemaker, Illinois; they were added to his flock on the farm southwest of town.

“April’s preliminary tests of the sprinkling apparatus [for the city streets?] show it to be in excellent working order.”

Elevatorman J.C. Smith was having a large addition put on his Stimson Avenue West home.

Evangelist Robert L. Jones, who had led a series of revival meetings from February 12 to Sunday, February 26, in the Opera House, was in Wimbledon for two weeks of revivals. At Harvey recently he had made over 70 converts.

On April 14, Mrs. G.D. Murphy left to visit friends in the Twin Cities.

On April 14 and 15, S.W. Lyman was in on business from his farm north of McHenry. From April 14 to April 20, Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Clure were in Minneapolis.

Sealed bids for grading and stonework for approaches for the new James River bridge at New Rockford were accepted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 15. On that day, editor A.E. Lindstrom of the “Langdon Republican” was in town on business and to visit.

The Eddy County Commission (Dailey, Dafoe, Gunvaldson) met on April 15. They voted to call an election on May 9 for the incorporation of New Rockford as a city, following the reception of a petition to that effect, with John F. Goss, W.C. Dresser, and J.E. Bennett as judges and Walter Priest and O.G. Cooling as clerks. Bids for stonework for the bridge were opened: P.A. Riggle, $119.75; George O’Connor, $135; E.M. Stitzel, $149; Jacob Leonard, $161. Bids for grading the approaches to the bridge were E.M. Stitzel, $155; George O’Connor, $224; J.R. Winslow, $238; G.W. Johnston, $325. There was also a bid from M.T. O’Connor for $800 for both the stonework and the grading. The Commissioners voted to accept the bid of P.A. Riggle for the stonework and E.M. Stitzel for grading.

That evening, twins were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Pincott; the little girl, Hazel, died on April 18 [her headstone in the Washington Lake Cemetery says April 17], but the little boy, Charles Raymond, was doing well. [However, he died on April 7, 1906.]

From April 15 to 18, Albert Fairbanks was visiting in Valley City.

On Sunday, April 16, John Algeo was up from Barlow. That evening, Joseph Dutee was in his barn, tying up a colt; the animal lunged, caught Dutee’s right index finger with the rope, and took off the first joint. Dutee came to town that night to have the wound dressed.

On April 17, the Eddy County Board of Health (R.F. Rinker, president; W.C. Dresser, vice president; Dr. Charles MacLachlan, superintendent) adopted the following: All manure, garbage, offal, or refuse near any dwelling, business, or water supply must be removed immediately. No such material, unless spread out and plowed under, could be within a half mile of any dwelling or public highway, or within a quarter mile of any water supply. Carcasses of domestic animals must be removed and buried at least four feet deep at least a half mile from any dwelling and a quarter mile from any water source or public highway. In New Rockford and Sheyenne all yards, privies, and areas around outbuildings, cellars, and wells must be cleaned and all manure, garbage, etc., had to be removed and disposed of as described above.

Violators were subject to prosecution with fines up to a hundred dollars or up to thirty days in jail.

On that day, J.T. Shauers and Joseph Dutee came in from eastern Eddy County to do some business and to visit. James T. Wiltsie returned from a winter in California and visited a couple days before leaving for Glenburn, where he would manage an elevator; he brought his family as far as Grand Meadows, Minnesota, where they would live.

On April 18, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvanus Marriage were in shopping. Horace Courtemanche came in from his farm north of the James River. Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Campbell went to Jamestown for a few days’ visit. Mrs. George F. Putnam and daughter, Miss Gertrude, left to join Mr. Putnam at their new home in Mohall, N.D. That evening, Jesse Jones came up from Barlow.

From April 18 to 20, cashier E.S. Severtson was in the Twin Cities.

On the evening of April 19, the members of the Degree of Honor were invited to a birthday party for Mrs. A.M. Greely at the Greely home. John G. Martin was in on business.

On April 19 and 20, Mrs. P.J. Lorig’s cousin, attorney Frank P. McGinn of Chicago, was in town on business.