History of New Rockford: Dec. 25, 2023

The following businesses were closed from 1 to 5 p.m. on July 24 to 26, 1916, for the horse races: H. Peoples & Co., Rodenberg & Schwoebel, Prader & Baeder, E. Saad, J.M. Mulvey hardware, Frank Hays hardware, J.W. Rager harness shop, the Bank of New Rockford, the Farmers & Merchants Bank, O.E. Couch drugstore, Babcock & Bucklin drugstore, Clure Implement Co., and H. Peoples Implements.

On July 24, the New Rockford Band played a concert from the bandstand at 9 a.m. A baseball game followed in which Carrington defeated New Rockford. There were three races: the 2:24 pace/2:20 trot ($300 purse) – 1st, Brace Girl; 2nd, Buster; 3rd, Dr. Wright; the 2:50 trot ($300 purse) – 1st (under protest), T.W.; 2nd, Fastina; 3rd, Helen of Troy; 4th, Jack Pine; the ½ mile running race ($100 purse) – 1st, Never Again; 2nd, Solo; 3rd, Joker Tom.

The horses were from the following communities: Brace Girl (Thorp, WI); Buster (Portal, N.D.); Dr. Wright (Kensal, N.D.); T.W. (York, N.D.); Fastina (Binford, N.D.); Helen of Troy (Wyndmere, N.D.); Jack Pine (Sykeston, N.D.).

On July 25, Brinsmade defeated New Rockford in baseball that morning. There were four races: the 2:40 pace/2:35 trot ($300 purse) – 1st, Teddy B.; 2nd, Athelene Gamaleon; 3rd, Broncho Bill; 4th, Phyllis; the ½ mile three-year old colt race ($100 purse) – 1st, Park Wood; 2nd, Edna Sprague; 3rd, Lord Sheldon; the farmers’ running race ($50 purse) – 1st, Bluebird; 2nd, Snowball; the ladies’ ½ mile dash – 1st, Miss Tarbell; 2nd, Miss Bray.

The horses were from the following communities: Teddy B. (Plum City, Wisc.); Athelene Gamaleon (Cooperstown, N.D.); Broncho Bill (Courtenay, N.D.); Phyllis (Devils Lake, N.D.); Park Wood (Park River, N.D.); Edna Sprague (Huron, S.D.); Lord Sheldon (Britton, S.D.); Bluebird (New Rockford, Jacob Allmaras, owner); Snowball (Sykeston).

On July 26, Brinsmade defeated Carrington in baseball 2-1. There were four races: the 2:19 pace/2:15 trot ($300 purse) – 1st, Lotheart; 2nd, Rupert; 3rd, The Author; 4th, Rookhmaranda; the gentlemen’s drivers ½ mile ($50 purse): – 1st, Billie; 2nd, Birdie Wilkes; 3rd, Highland Prince; 4th, Fannie; the farmers’ trot ($50 purse): – 1st, Pet; 2nd, Mollie/Molly; 3rd, Ginger; 4th, Billie; the ladies’ ½ mile dash: – 1st, Miss Tarbell; 2nd, Miss Roush; 3rd, Miss Bray; 4th, Miss Crane.

The horses were from the following communities: Lotheart (Britton, S.D.); Rupert (Courtenay, N.D.); The Author (Bowdon, N.D.); Rookhmaranda (Oberon, N.D.); Birdie Wilkes (Carrington); Fannie (New Rockford, James Carroll, owner); Pet (New Rockford, William Zander, owner); Mollie/Molly (New Rockford, Andrew Johnson, owner); Ginger (New Rockford, A.F. Prouty, owner).

Other New Rockford area horses and their owners were Leebo, Jacob Allmaras; Bess, L. Mortinson [Lewis Mortensen]; Daisy, G.H. Pincott; Helen Miller, A.J. Clure; Tony, E.H. Martin; Grace Wilkes, James MacLachlan.

Sheriff Fahrer saw to it there were no “games of graft” and peace prevailed all three days. There were no “tin-horns” or rowdy people, gambling devices or any pickpockets.

The “Transcript” was disappointed by the turnout – 3000 over the three days – when there should have been 10,000.

On July 25, Charles O’Connell arrived from Minneapolis for a visit with relatives and friends; he was employed at Ellel, Germaine & Co., a wholesale drug firm. He went home on Aug. 11. Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Larkin came down from Velva to visit relatives and friends; they drove overland. Arthur E. Swanson and Agnes Morris were married in Carrington. The groom was the cashier of the Security Bank of Barlow and the bride was from Carrington. After the ceremony they boarded a Soo Line train “for eastern points.” They would be at home in Barlow after Aug. 15.

On the morning of July 26, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ackerman west of town. Dr. J. Ross McKenzie of Carrington, Ray Tompkins of Oberon, and Jesse and Albert Dix of Fessenden were at the races. That evening Misses Lenora and Mabel Kennedy entertained the members of the Phillips Academy baseball team at a dinner party in honor of the 21st birthday of team member Guy Thompson.

The July 27, 1906, “Transcript” stated that Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Whiteman of Sheyenne had taken in the races.

Mrs. Orley Couch’s father was visiting her and her family; he had accompanied her back from a trip to Sentinel Butte. Mr. and Mrs. John T. Olson and family were at the State Fair in Fargo.

About 7 a.m. on July 27, a heavy shower of rain passed over Eddy County with a light sprinkling of hail, but with no apparent crop damage. That night, a fire in Carrington destroyed the large Keller barn and killed 23 horses, including Lotheart from Britton, S.D., who was on his way to the races in Harvey.

On July 28, George Norton returned from Heaton, where he had supervised the construction of a grain elevator for the J.W. Lahart Company. Mrs. M.B. Hersey took her son Charles to Fargo for consultation about his ear, which had been adversely affected again, this time following an attack of measles.

On July 28 and 29, Mr. and Mrs. Silas Hylton visited friends in Carrington. From July 28 to 31, G.W. Streeter was in Dawson and Steele looking after some land deals. From July 28 to August 2, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Faust of Valley City visited Mr. and Mrs. Olof Lundquist and their family.

On Sunday, July 29, Misses Vera Keime and Irma Ingals (who was from Fargo and was visiting Miss Keime) and Messrs. Lawrence Prader and Alvin Keime visited Miss Ethel Richardson at Morris.

On July 30, Mrs. J.C. Olson departed for her Wisconsin home after visiting her sister Mrs. Gullick Thompson for several weeks; Mrs. Thompson accompanied her to Buchanan, where the ladies stayed for a couple of days with the family of James Buchanan. Mrs. Ed Starks hosted a party for 12 young people in honor of her guest Miss Amanda Forszen of Bowdon at the Starks’ home on Lamborn Avenue East. The rooms and favors were decorated in pink and white. Progressive whist was played, with Miss Forszen and Frank Treffry tying for first prize and Jennie Hendry taking the consolation prize. The evening ended with an “elegant luncheon.” Miss Forszen returned to Bowdon on Aug. 6.

From July 30 to Aug. 2, Mrs. John Bergreen and Miss Florence of Tacoma, Wash., visited with Mr. and Mrs. Olof Lundquist and family.