History of New Rockford: May 15, 2023

On Dec. 20, 1905, Mrs. A.H. “Hope” Crawford and children went to their old home, Elizabeth, Minnesota, for a visit; they would remain until Hope came back from Canada, then return to New Rockford. Fred Von Almen accompanied them. That evening, the New Rockford Improvement Society had a sale of Christmas articles in the Opera House; supper was served and the event proved to be “a brilliant success” both socially and financially.

The fall term of Phillips Academy ended on Dec. 21. Enrollment during the term was between 50 and 60, a 35 percent increase over the previous year. Classes and their enrollment were Algebra, 14; Higher English, 18; Grammar, 11; U.S. History, 15; Normal Arithmetic, nine; Arithmetic, 15; Geometry, seven; Physics, eight; Latin, 14; German, three; Bookkeeping, 20; Shorthand and Typing, 10; Penmanship, 25; there were also classes in Letter Writing, Vocal Music and Reading and Spelling. New classes to be added on Jan. 1 were Civics, Commercial Law, Normal Geography, Normal Grammar and classes in History and Latin. Ole Johnson was in on business from Plainview. W.J. “Will” Morris was in from Plainview. C.S. Osborn, who had come to N.D. from Iowa the previous fall and was living on the George Setz farm in eastern Eddy County near Morris, came in on business. That day, New Rockford School Intermediate teacher Miss Marie Bolstad left for the Christmas vacation at Courtenay and Melville, and Miss Edith Schmidt, the Primary teacher, left for Jamestown and holidays with her parents. F.F. Fisher went to Baraboo, Wisconsin, and the golden wedding anniversary of his parents.

The Dec. 22, 1905, “Transcript” printed “School Notes,” edited by Roger Mattson: On Dec. 18 Mrs. N.K. Mattson visited the high school. Glynn and Margaret Manly and Mr. Johns visited the school on Dec. 20, the latter in the Second Primary room. Miss Lund would spend Christmas vacation in Kindred; Miss Weiss would be in Washburn, N.D.; both left on Dec. 21. The Grammar School teacher Miss Belle Hutchinson was going to spend the holidays in Iowa.

Samuel McDowell had a Notice in that issue: “My wife, having left her home without cause, I hereby notify all that I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by her.”

Urban Wiltsie had come down from Pleasant, N.D. [about 11 miles northwest of Tolley in Renville County] and would attend Phillips Academy.

Early in the week, Mrs. Clyde Hall and children were in from their farm northeast of New Rockford to visit her sister-in-law Miss Vannie Hall.

The previous week, Charles Rosenberger had departed for his old home in Virginia, where his wife and family had gone in November; he was hoping the climate would be more conducive to his poor health due to rheumatism.

On Dec. 22, James Austin, who owned a stock farm near Hannah, stopped in New Rockford overnight and visited his brother R.U. Austin and family. Miss Ida Kersten, stenographer in the Maddux Law Office, left for Christmas with relatives and friends in the Twin Cities; she returned on Dec. 28. Miss Josie Babcock, the night operator at the telephone exchange, left for McHenry, where she would spend the Christmas holidays; she returned on Dec. 30, accompanied by her brother Jeff, who remained several days. Mrs. J.E. Hyde departed for Minneapolis and a Christmas with friends. That evening, the Phillips Academy Musical and Literary Society met: Roll Call, with quotations from Shakespeare; Address, “The Beautiful in Literature,” Prof. L.J. Aldrich; Recitation, Selections from Mark Twain, Pearl Goss; Theme, “George Eliot,” Zoa Bartholomew; Piano Solo, Selections with Literary Names, Irene Brownell; Reading, “Mark Twain,” Monroe Wilder; Narrative Essay, “A Person in English Class,” Ethel Richardson; Review, Hawthorne’s Essay on David Swan, Harl Aldrich; Vocal Duet, Minnie McAuley and Blanche Brownell; Debate, “Resolved, That Lady Macbeth did more to bring about the death of Duncan than her husband did.” Affirmative, Ethel Treffry and John Smith; Negative, Stella Pike and Mildred Keime; Current Events, from Literary World; Music, Quintette.

On the morning of Dec. 23, the Congregational Ladies’ Social Union surprised Rev. J.R. Beebe with a brand-new cutter [a lightweight, open horse-drawn sleigh]. Fessenden attorney John A. Layne came over and stayed to spend Christmas with his sister Mrs. J.A. Manly and family. Miss Eleanor VanDuzer came down from Rolla to visit Miss Hilda Johnson in the Tiffany area. Joseph Sutherland came down from Sherwood, then went on to Barlow and his big farm near there. Miss Mary Lenshner and Miss Rose Kovar, who were attending St. John’s Academy in Jamestown, came up for Christmas with friends and relatives. Mr. and Mrs. William Steinbach came in from the farm to meet their two daughters who had come up from Jamestown for the Christmas holidays. Mrs. M.T. O’Connor left for Bismarck, where she would spend Christmas with relatives. S.N. Putnam went to Grand Forks to see his wife, who was studying in the Law Department of UND. Henry B. Johnson left for a visit in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Burton Hulbert went to Oberon for Christmas with their daughter Mrs. Maurice Oliver and family. Bessie Butler left for Christmas with her aunt Miss Winifred Canning at Valley City; she returned on Dec. 30. An NDAC student Victor Parker came up from Fargo for the holidays with his mother. After a visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. P.H. West, Mrs. C.O. Johnson left to visit her old home, Henning, Minn.; her husband joined her at Fargo. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Anderson in eastern Eddy County.

That evening, in the Methodist Church there were a Christmas tree and Santa Claus with presents for young and old alike.

From Dec. 23 to 26, James T. Wiltsie was home from Garrison for Christmas with his family; Wiltsie managed an independent elevator in that relatively new town [founded 1903].

At 10:25 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, the Masons had divine service in the Masonic Hall. A “large number of people” were at the German Lutheran Church that evening; there was a Christmas tree in the church. That evening, Frank E. Reed and Harriet Waters were married in the parsonage of the First Congregational Church by Rev. J.R. Beebe. Also that evening, the members of the Methodist Church presented Rev. S.F. Beer with a solid gold watch and chain.

On Dec. 24 and 25, Miss Mame Sheehy was in Carrington visiting relatives.