History of New Rockford: May 8, 2023

The Eddy County Commission (Dailey, Dafoe, Gunvaldson) met on Dec. 12, 1905, and voted to approve the following bills: $150, L.D. Ostby, balance for work on the Lee grade; $7, G.W. Egbert, barber work on prisoners; $12, New Rockford Light and Water Improvement Co., lights for Nov. They added the following to the jury list: John Alldred, Andrew Anderson, Aslak Aslakson, Sven Aslakson, W.C. Beardsley, J.E. Bennett, Chris Berge, Ole Berglund, P.J. Braman, Chares Brolin, J.D. Carroll, H.M. Clark, H.W. Clark, Peter Dodds, August Domier, F.H. Dutee, Barney Engberg, John Geiger, F.H. Goodrich, John Guler, Stephen Guler, N.C. Gunvaldson, James Hackney, John Henry, H.B. Johnson, Martin B. Johnson, F.L. Kermott, William Mattison, Matt Mattson, Jr. and W.G. Milne.

On Dec. 13, G.A. Krueger was in from Freeborn on business. Sheriff George F. Fahrer returned from Bismarck, where he had taken Thompson or Thomson, the black man who had been given five years for his part in a robbery. Lorne Ireland came down to visit from Minot, where he was employed in a meat market. Frank McAuley left for a Christmas visit to his old Wisconsin home; he returned on December 28.

On Dec. 13 and 14, Rev. Burhans of Sykeston visited Phillips Academy, speaking in chapel on the latter day.

On Dec. 14, Ed Nystrom came down from the Sheyenne area to visit and to do some business. That afternoon, the New Rockford Orchestra went to Carrington to play for a dance that evening. Also, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Goodrich.

The Dec. 15, 1905, “Transcript” printed “School Notes,” edited by Jennie Hersey. During the week Etthela Hobbs and Alphonso Snook entered the eighth grade. On Dec. 11, Alphonso Weimals entered the sixth grade. On Dec. 13, Mrs. Maxwell visited the school. The eighth graders were studying square roots and were still reading “The Merchant of Venice.”

Principal L.J. Aldrich had a letter in which he urged young men and women in the area to enroll in Phillips Academy, a Christian school.

A reward was offered for the return of a bay horse banded with “S.G.” on left hip, white star in forehead, 1,200 lbs., with a black halter. See R.M. Payne on the Healey farm or A.W. Healey in New Rockford.

Olof and Conrad Lundquist had finished installing the steam heating plant in the new home of Prof. and Mrs. L.J. Aldrich; the system had over 4000 feet of “radiation.”

Miss Mary Tracy had accepted a position as stenographer and bookkeeper in the county treasurer’s office. Former drayman A.J. Larkin had accepted a position as a freight handler at the N.P. depot.

At a recent meeting of Crocus Lodge #27, Degree of Honor, the following officers were elected: Mrs. Bessie Butler, Past Chief of Honor; Chief of Honor – Mrs. Emma Beardsley; Lady of Honor – Mrs. Cora Kinnaird; Chief of Ceremonies – Mrs. Minnie Ohrner; Recorder – Mrs. Elizabeth Schwoebel; Financier – Mrs. Pearl Severtson; Receiver – Mrs. Helen Stickney; Usher – Mrs. Alice Miller Rager; Inside Watch – Mrs. Jennie West; Outside Watch – Mrs. Viola Woodward; Representative – Mrs. Bessie Butler; Alternate – Mrs. Elizabeth Schwoebel.

On Dec. 15, William Farley left on a trip to Chicago. That evening, the Yeoman Lodge, J.N. Kunkel, Correspondent, elected officers. Also that evening the Ladies’ Social Union held a Newspaper Social and apron sale at the Congregational Church; refreshments were 15 cents.

On Dec. 15 and 16, William Mattison was in on business from Freeborn.

On the morning of Dec. 16, Freeborn school teacher A.D. Smith was in New Rockford. A sorrel horse with a white star in its forehead, two white hind feet, a leather halter, and a rope around its neck showed up on the Mrs. Agnes Ewals farm five miles southeast of town. At 1 p.m. the students of Phillips Academy put on a mock trial. Judge Roy Treffry presided; H.P. Burt was the court reporter; Lawrence Prader was clerk of court. The case was State of N.D. vs. Albert Hill and Charles Carlson; the charge was robbery. On Dec. 11 an Information was filed by State’s Attorney Keime. Sheriff Joe Greitl and Deputy Sheriff Verne or Edwin Wiltsie arrested the defendants, who were arraigned before Justice Lawrence Prader on the evening of Dec. 12. A.M. Keime and Monroe Wilder represented the State, while R.J. Beebe and Rolla Hill were the defendants’ attorneys. The two were bound over without bail. All the trial participants were students. Charles Chamberlain left for a winter at his old home, Belvidere, Illinois. That evening, “That Little Swede” played at the Opera House. Also that evening the NP Railway had a special train for those who wanted to go to Jamestown for the performance of Madame Modjeska, who was on her farewell tour.

On Dec. 18, Tiffany blacksmith and farmer J.A. McCrum and Henry B. Johnson were in on business and to visit. Lars D. Tweet came in from northwest of town on business. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Lake arrived from Crookston, Minn., to spend the holidays with Mrs. Lake’s mother, Mrs. Weeks. Mr. Lake would remain until January at which time he would effect a move from Crookston to Grand Forks, where Mrs. Lake would join him later. Mrs. Agnes Ewals left to visit relatives in Wisconsin. Marguerite Casper left for the holidays at Garrison and other western points with relatives.

On Dec. 19, Mrs. R.U. Austin and her daughter Mrs. A.J. Larkin left for a visit at their old home at Wireton, Ontario. That evening, there was standing room only as the Lowell Literary Society of NRHS presented a Christmas program: Vocal Duet, Misses Lund and Weiss; Address, Principal Youngdahl; Recitation, Arthur Syftestad; Vocal Solo, Hazel Healey; Recitation, Mary Monahan; Solo, Fena Carlson; Dialogue “Little Women,” Celestia Kellington, Mabel House, Beatrice Marriage, Mabel Kennedy, Elsie Tarbell; Song, Seventh Grade; Original Essay, Lawrence Fisher; Recitation, Wanda Keime; Vocal Solo, Marie Roush; Newspaper, Lawrence Fisher and Roger Mattson; Song, Eighth Grade. Assistant Principal Miss Lillian Lund received a Christmas present from her students. There was a Grand Masquerade Ball in the Opera House; tickets were 25 cents. A “great many varieties of costumes” made their appearance.

On Dec. 20, the Intermediate students of Miss Marie Bolstad presented a program at the New Rockford School: Song, “Open the Door” by her Intermediate pupils; Recitation, Ella Dinnetz; Recitation, Mary Carlson; Recitation, Hazel Black; Reading, Bessie Butler; Song, Mary Carlson and Mary Gronvold; Reading, Ulah Hylton; Recitation, Gordon Kepner; Recitation, Mathilde Lauch; Recitation, Katie Wenz; Recitation, Lynn Schwoebel; Song, Fifth Grade girls; Recitation, Alma Riggle; Recitation, Maria Gronvold; Recitation, Off [sp.?] Dinnetz; Reading, Olins [sp.?] Kennedy; Song, Fourth Grade girls; Recitation, Edna Kennedy; Recitation, Gertrude Kunkel; Recitation, Ione Beardsley; Recitation, Mary Bennett; Recitation, Ray Healey; Recitation, Veronica Weimals; Song, Fourth and Fifth grades. The Civil Government class debated the question, “Resolved, that the United States [government] should have control of the pure food law.” The school closed that day for the Christmas vacation; students could take library books home with them. Anton Lill left to visit Minneapolis relatives. Mr. and Mrs. William Blow left for a lengthy visit to their old home in Michigan.