GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA CENTENNIAL 1874-1974
• • Executive Editor: Highlights of Grand Forks' History 1 Eldon Bladow Captain Alexander Griggs 3 Editor-in-Chief: 17 Timothy C. Lamb The Metropolitan Opera House The Days of the Trolleys 25 Historical Editor: Tim Lamb From Horsepower to Horsepower 36 Contributing Editors: Recount of the State Mill 40 Jim Penwarden Cream of Wheat originated Here 43 Walter Loomer Eleanor Rognlie City and County Government 44 Sister Mary James Prohibition! Liquor! 47 Dennis Page Police Department 49 William Julison Mrs. Alton Holmstrom "Grand Forks Klan Number One, . . . Alfred Hagen Knights of the Klu Klux Klan" 51 Captain James Dunlap Fire Department 52 Sgt. Paul R. F. Groskreutz Bill Hennessey Grand Forks Public Schools 57 Feature Writers: University of North Dakota 62 T. C. Lamb Parochial Schools 66 Roger J. Plattes North Dakota School for the Blind 68 Harlan Jackson Michael B. Auer Churches 69 Bill Stolt Hospitals 73 Albert C. Dearden Centennial Profile: Dr. Henry M. Wheeler 75 David Almquist 76 Design Editor: City Organizations Kay McDaniel Sports: 1874-1974 84 87 Staff Photographer: Centennial Athletic Candidate Bill Hoyt Grand Forks Air Force Base 88 Highlights (Cont.) 90 91 Visiting Dignitaries 92 Changes on Main Street
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA June 1974
W M articles r.pr«.nl .he v,e>vs of ,l,e author .„„! „„, necessarily lhow: of ,h, ,,r„„d Forki Centennial Corporation,. Primed by. Jei Priming Inc.. OnuKl Fork*. N. Dakota. Washhtirn Priminj Center. Grand f orks. N. Dakota. NORTH DAKOTA ORTH DAKOTA STATE I lUnAltY BOOK OR AUTHOR 3 3105 00040 3731
£5 to
Necessary Words
The year 1974 was chosen by the Centennial Committee as the date representing a hundred years of existence for Grand Forks. In conjunction with the celebration festivities the Committee elected to publish this Centennial booklet. The booklet is to depict change, with writings and pictures of the City through the time span of a century. The purpose of the volume is to give Grand Forksians a meaningful souvenir album, something to hold and cherish for many years to come. Since centennials happen only every hundred years, this is to be a lasting possession of nostalgic value. In proceeding to compose a booklet that would fit these descriptions, we have had to edit and compile information to complete it. This is not meant as a history book; rather il is intended to be a highlighted history of the growth and development of Grand Forks. It also contains feature stories on specific periods of time and special events. Time, amount of page space, length of period covered, do not and cannot allow for a comprehensive history. The booklet is arranged in such a way that where the words do not tell the story, pictures will. Or vice versa. The writers have tried to separate myth from fact and emphasize the latter in their articles. If in some instances, dates and names appear wrong, we regret these mistakes and hope they are brought ot our attention so they can be corrected for future endeavors. In researching for material, there were limitations — the chief one again being time. Another was the unfortunate fact that many valuable photographs and documents being sought were found to have been discarded without any notion of their worth. It may be of interst to know that presently there are several depositories where these items can be safely stored for future and useful research purposes; namely, the Chester Fritz Library at the University of North Dakota, where the Dakota Room is located; the Grand Forks Public Library, where a Grand Forks Room is in the organizational stage; and City, County, and Slate Historical Societies. lt is hoped that someday, someone will write a complete and thorough history of Grand Forks -the first one hundred years. Then national libraries would have available this fine city's annals for interested people to enjoy and study. To conclude, we wish the reader a gratifying story, one you may tell North Da koto State Library your children and they, in turn, may tell their's. Therefore, in a sense, Bismarck, N. D. 58505 this acci ant is to our children's, children >, children. . . Honesty, integrity, heavy labor, and foresight characterized the The Editors Grand Forks pioneers. To these devoted people we dedicate this Centennial booklet, ever hopeful that generations yet to come will foster their progressive spirit in continuing and creating an even finer quality of life. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON January 23, 19 74
„^t-nnitv for me to 1*^,5 SKtSrSToS *»*-«* join in ceiB" , porks. Anniversary of Grand „,„„ of Grand Forks brought The first settlers of iasm, determi-- iith them a spirit f™™_ quaUties which ^ation, and ^operation ^ g coiranunity not only have helped t have contrib W^ ^"the ^^pUerity of the ^ited Stftel as a. great Nation. ^rica needs these <%£'*&££££'
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA to the future and I feel 3trive Se people of Grand Fork.^i 11 ^^ BISMARCK toward their new goals witn w and dedication. My congratulations and best wishes to people of Grand Forks,
Greetings: U is a pleasure to bring greetings on behalf of tfie State of North Dakota to e those participating in the Grand Forks Centennial Celebration. those particip-
d =n.hl..vm.<.ndtoJ,"<__'»l-«rffor, rh. _ People -° «^ !L^,v »C ZZZ"«l~n "rhl.'«n..-lol - inemo.iy y^r-- •• ore to be •zommended, The community spir Is reminiscent of the early pioneer spirit. Grand Forks has a rich heritage in the Red River Valley. Its history, as an • --ll ••<-. r,n larizultvral and educational center, is a fascinating economic hub as well jtory ation for the tAy best wishes for a mast meaningful CQl
ARTHUR A. LINK Governor
As Mayor of tire city of Grand Forks during
this our Centennial Celebration, I wish to
extend sincere appreciation to the many people
Who have cooperated and labored together over
the past years to build Grand Forks into a
fine city of over 40.000 persons. It is very
rewarding to look back over the last century
and see the progress that has beer, made here
in Grand Forks. We are very fortunate to be
sitoated in the rich Red River Vol ley. I «!'«
to extend a sincere welcome to residents and
visitors and invite everyone to partake in and
enjoy the festivities during oar Centennial
*Cyril P. O'Neill Mayor of Grand Forks STATEMENT OF SEN. MILTON R. W*
The observance of the 100th anniversary of the city of Grand Forks 1s an occasion which deserves the participation and enthusiastic support of every one of its citizens. Celebrations like this are truly momentous occasions. One hundred years of sound, progressive development have made Grand Forks a great place to live. I feel certain the next one hundred years will see even greater growth and prosperity. Grand Forks is more than the principal trade center for the vast northern portion of the rH^y abundant Red River Valley. As the home of the University of North Dakota, it 1s also a cultural center, the seat of learning for many thousands of North Dakota's young ie people, many of whom have become our state's business, Industrial 'BC«Ue& £>l*U* •&W<* and political leaders. I wholeheartedly Join 1n congratulating the people of
Grand Forks--past and present—who have had so much to do with making TO THE CITIZENS OP GRAND FORKS; your city one of the best in the nation. Dear Friends:
Every resident 01. J „„. hatred „"' of th. Olty'. M—**- «» " ,„, tr.dlM outpo.t to It. .fndin, lo*y beginning* as • fur-tr«aing •-,1 renter. Grand Forks haa a. an .duo.tional and cown.rci.1 •"«». 1 ^ntinuOUiiy forward providing an ever-better lift moved continuou**/ for it* citi*«nf. „ • . oUMiO example of th. advantage* of Grand Forks in a classic
amall city living - good people, •xaallan c rjrowth and tunities from cradle through college, oca
a pleauant, friendly way of life.
Your city is a credit to our •tata. Hut even mo
important, it ia a credit to you, the people who have
built it into the fine city it is today. tennial Year. :";V gratulationa on your '
(Htmgrfsa of tl}* 33mt?2> States Sincerely. (Sinum- rtf lu'ftmimhirh'rii *Mlpnetatt.B.<0. l^ti. H. Burdlok. 0.
r-j eh* Cltlxena of Grind Forki Happy Blrthdayl
Alexander Grtgg'i river boal cr«w who, elBb 0 • k.t of be,r floating on the Red River, rh, ' "" " '"V followed left the mt>n 1.1 m-.'d ••'( •• coup!,- d-.ya "'.-al .1. •> •»'• •• Fourch.a before proceeding Co Fort Carry (Winnipeg)- Before ch rlv they could recover fron their celebration, however, *^ '_r frose ana they had no flrat uhl liv.
Whether thla varalon la accurate or not, it u irwicativ. • luaty beglnnlnga of the "Jewel of the Red River, a City tnai - • ; • :.•• .1 • •Jh:il ll , :e..i.,l , ir.J -r:,,;.,.: ll : .-111 I >l ' ! '"' " noil fertile v.ilJ ,-y,.. ]!„• hletory :,i thu- area rellucta th,- atronRth and character of tho early aettlere. rhelr herltaaa la atlll evidenced In Grand ForKa today where the friendly, apirited ^i tlK.-na ar:.- •..!.*! i.ualy l'1 ' tl, • .. .' i .:.:• ' I m • lial - e.e : witii ch • kn •--! ••.!.•.• thai fOu Bl • 1 «n|
uin for North 1 Tim Lamb Les Grandes Fourches Red River Oxcarts. Oxen pulled wooden carts al Red Ri Note thai the lead animal is a horse. - BEFORE 1870- ong before European and American people began to settle in the Red River Valley, the site of present- day Grand Forks was well known to earlier inhabitants of this part of North America. For generations before 1870 the "forks" of the Red and Red Lake Rivers had been a fur trade post and a HIGHLIGHTS* place of genera] rendezvous for both Indian people and fur traders. Alexander Henry, who trapped in the valley before 1800, is reported to have camped on the site of Cen tral Park. Early Transportation Wooden carts pulled by huge oxen were the first conveyances in the Red River Valley as far back as v 1844, other than naturally, the horse. These carts hauled freight through the valley from St. Paul to HISTORY^ Winnipeg. The trails as marked in 1874 the Red River Runs North! by 1974 Vera Kelsey, were about thirty
•Lettering hand-drawn by Grey Draper, miles either side of Grand Forks. The carts could not afford to go too close to the river for fear ol getting stuck in the muddy banks. Vera Kelsey describes a Red River Cart as "a freighter, capable of carrying eight hundrd pounds, mounted on spoked wheels six or seven feet in diameter. The higher the wheels, the better for crossing marshes and muddy streams." I he only tools necessary to build this totally wood craft were an ax and an auger. Edith F. Thompson recalls that in her younger days she would see an occasional oxcart in the city. The carts brought water into the village and probably hardware also. Although with the steamboats in heavy use, oxcarts became ob solete. Alter 1870. Red River carts did not travel the trails of the valley any longer.
This page sponsored by: Red River Carts were made totally of wood. Ehe wheels were six to seven feet in diame Griffith's Department Store I lie •'• lie,, hauled IVeiehl inn. ihe Red River Valley which helped the pioneer, immensely. pair Alexander Griggs arrives Naming the City In the fall of 1870, Alexander Griggs commenced building a Grand Larks was named for its Geographical location — steamboat in McCauleyville (across from Fort Abercrombie). The where the two rivers meet. The Red Lake River flows into riverboat would be used for ship ping freight down the Red River. the Red River of the North at Grand forks. Sanford C. At McCauleyville, Griggs met George Winship, a long-time Cady, the first postmaster, is credited for naming the city. friend. They exchanged some words and made a bet on a race up Lie used the English derivative of the French term Les to Pembina. Griggs was a half day Grande s To inches. behind with loading his ship, while Winship was on his way. Winship
Confluence of the Red Riser of the North ami the Red hake River. ' apt. Alexander ( mggs
encountered trouble at Goose EARLY SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT River Rapids near Hillsboro; he After the Civil War veterans August Loon, three years after the had difficulty making it over the looked for a place to settle. Many Civil War ended. Hoffman's was rapids with his heavy load. In the soldiers were paid in land. The located on Eighth Avenue and midst of the conflict, Winship lost Red River Valley offered supreme Reeves Drive. In the same year, W. a couple kegs of beer but managed land, only the opportunity was C. Nash settled in East Grand to get through. Alex Griggs was awaited. Some settlers were bound Forks; he erected their first cabin. following close behind. Arriving at for happiness, some were bound For a time, that city was named the point of Goose Rapids, his for glory, some were bound for ad Nashville, after this num. crew spotted the floating kegs of venture and excitement, and some Early Norwegian pioneers settled the brew and wasted no time in were bound to live with less. Time the Southwest portion of the bringing them aboard. Griggs' crew would tell the story. These first set county in th I870's. The first Nor could not wait to open their catch; tlers were spirited, enthusiastic, wegian settlers in Les Grundes before long they were unfit to and ambitious. They wanted to I'ourches were the Thoraldson navigate the sternwheeler. build this town like the towns of Brothers - Halvor, Osmund and Reaching the confluence of the the East —from whence they came. Ewird — they started a general Red and Red Lake Rivers, Les store on Third Street in 1874. Grandes I'ourches, Captain Griggs Early homesites in the Because of a language barrier, Nor and crew decided to stay the night Grand Forks area wegians had a difficult time getting to let the effects wear off. Winter Allegedly the first cabin was con established in tin English speaking set in, the river froze. Although the structed in the Central Park area, country. flatboats were sent or. to Pembina, one of the highest points along the This page sponsored by: the steamboat could not cut the river. Early huts were first built in ice. Alexander Griggs was stuck 1868, by Nicholas Hoffman and Western Potato Service Inc. for the season!
page 7 SETTLEMENT: 1871-1880 Settlement by Steamboat Captain Alexander Griggs It was the stearnboat thai brought Captain Alexander Griggs to Grand Forks, as it had brought lexander Griggs was that drew up the constitution of North thousands upon thousands of other born October 27th, Dakota, and he served as railroad settlers to the valley and this com [*T*1 1838, in Marietta, commissioner. munity too. Ohio. At age eleven he As a builder, Alex Griggs, along Griggs was a steamboat builder moved with his family to St. with William Bud g e a n d J. S . when he arrived here; he belonged Paul, Minnesota. After ser Eschelman, built one of the city's first to the Hill, Griggs and Company ving as a cabin boy, for a time business blocks — the Syndicate which was a big flatboat business. he became a captain at building, on the corner of Third Before that, in 1863, Norman nineteen. A childhood dream! Street and First Avenue N. It burned Kittson (for which Kittson Avenue The captain was a lover of in December of 1897 but was rebuilt. is named) ran the S.S. International steamboats and naturally of Griggs formed Grand Forks' first for Hudson's Bay Company. Steam the river. gas plant for heating and lighting. He boats were sailing the Red as early Captain Griggs came here named it the Dakota Gas and Fuel as 1859. In 1871 Alex Griggs and in 1870 and built himself a 12 Company. Jim Hill built and launched the S.S. x 12 foot cabin on the land As a close friend of James J. Hill, Selkirk at McCauleyville, to com now occupied by Northern builder of the Great Northern pete against the S.S. International. States Power Company at the railroad, he built numerous steam Together they developed the Red foot of DeMers Avenue. Cap boats. River Transportation Company tain Alexander Griggs is In 1891, his health forced him to from 1870-1878. credited with filing the first leave Grand Forks. The captain went In eighteen-eighty the stern- land plat of the original town to Wenatchee, Washington, where he wheeler 5.5. International was October 26, 1875, shortly af died on June 2, 1903 at the age of six dismantled here. "The Selkirk was ter the county was organized. ty-four. Even though Captain Alexan carried from her moorings at He had held squatter's der Griggs died in Washington, he left Grand Forks in the spring of 1884, sovereignty since 1870. He is his heart and life accomplishments struck a railroad bridge pier and known in the history books as here —in Grand Forks, North Dakota. was completely wrecked. Captain the founding father of this Griggs took the [pilothouse] to his City. home and his children used it as a He served the city as a playhouse." It is a coincidence that school board member, alder this ship, the S.S. Selkirk, sunk bet man, postmaster, mayor, and ween Griggs and Hill Avenues many unofficial posts. He was (now Seventh and Eighth Avenues a steamboat captain, a livery North), because they were the man. a real estate man, builders! operator of a large farm, mer chant . sawmill operator, By 1895 there were numerous banker, boat builder, contrac other s t e a m boats s h i p p i ng tor, and other things. He was passengers and materials up and a member of the convention down the Red; including the Home of Capt. Alexander Griggs. Dakota, the Minnesota, the Manitoba, and the Grand Forks. Grand Forks benefited not only because the sternwheelers brought pioneers and supplies here, but the city had its own ship building in dustry. The industry undoubtedly added to the city's economy. The business existed for twenty-one years, after 1874. Steamboats died a natural death. After 1911 there was not one to be seen on the river. At this time there was a ceremonial trip from Grand Forks to Winnipeg on the good ship S.S. Grand Forks to jMiill;; dedicate the last sternwheeler to i [if'if ride the Red. This page sponsored by: Acme Electric Motor Inc. B & C Rooting, Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Charlies Bakery Peterson Construction Co. page 3. Red River Steamboats
1
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The 5.5. Grand forks traveling the last international voyage, l()l
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Steamer Selkirk docked at Grand Forks, 1X82.
Loading lumber in Grand Forks, McGuire Sawmill in background. Steamboats on the Red River of the North
page:4 . Economic Growth and Population Increases: 1871-1880
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1871 was the year Grand Forks A big impetus to business was in steadily progressed alter the initial really started to grow. Settlers 1873, when Hudson's Bay Co. establishments. Settlers made their came to make a living. A post-of moved to Grand Forks from land claims and worked the land. fice was built on the property of Caledonia (located where the To file a claim, one had to go to 71 1 Reeves Drive and operated by Goose River empties into the Red the proper place—a land office. Cady. Others began to initiate River, in Traill County). This was a The first land office was built on trade. Thomas Walsh established a result of a dispute in Caledonia. South Third Street, in 1878, (near sawmill and built a stage coach Although the Company was attrac Jack's Bottle Shop) by a man later station; John Fadden conducted a ted to the city because they known for his prominence in the ferry which ran to and from the thought here was an ideal place for city, E. J. Lander. He came from r i v e r b a n k s, b e 1 o w G e r t r u d e business. The city's population did the Hast to purchase land and sell Avenue; D. P. Reeves originated a not exceed one hundred at this it for a profit. There still exists boatyard in Riverside Park; Frank time. today —relics of his past —the E. J- Viets opened a local blacksmith The township soon became Lander Company. The business has shop; William Clark, Michael peopled by many nationalities: been in the family ever since. McCormack, George Winship, Norwegians, Russians, Germans, The United Stales Land Office Jacob Eschelman, and William Irish, Scots, French, Poles and the was established in the City in 1880, Budge were among other settlers. like. Inter-marriage, unheard of with B. C. Tiffany as register and Most of these men were from the and unthinkable in the Old coun W. J. Anderson a s r e c e i c e r. Fast. The location of Grand Forks. try, created a whole new charac Originally comprising nearly the at the junction of two main rivers teristic among the settlers. entire northern half of the state. made it inevitable that the growth I he majority of immigrants who but its area was reduced by the of the City would be prosperous came to settle were farmers, since founding of other offices. In 1897 it and booming. Thai year, the set there was an abundance of open encompassed the counties of: tlement had a mere 33 inhabitants. land. To secure a land file, one had Grand Forks, Walsh, Pembina, The following year the city sup three alternatives: the Homestead Cavalier, Nelson, and portions ol ported a boarding house, hotel, Act, Timber culture or "tree Ramsey and Towner. The office steamboat warehouse, four claim", and Pre-emption, all acts of had approximately 8,000,000 acres saloons, and slightly under sixty Congress. in transactions and only 200.000 residences. The village of Grand Forks acres of public domain was available for settlement in the district by 1897. Population increases of the City advanced as follows: 1874 ap proximately 160, 1875 over 200. 1878 about 450. That is a four hun dred and seventeen person influx since the first growth year, onl) seven years earlier. This page sponsored by: A. G. Everson Construction Co. Friends of City Mission & Service Center Grand Forks, circa IH7d. From toll to right: Mrs. Woolle\'s Millinarj Store, lim Hanraha Garvey Elevators Inc. Saloon. Budue and Lschelman's Saloon."Hudson's Bu\ Co.. Northwestern Hotel. VM Club of Valley Memorial Home pas.' A Sermon on North Dakota :,
THE MOST FERTILE Is hardlv necessary in these pages, but read ,vhat Pishop Shanley said in a sermon delivered in St. Patrick's church, St. Paul, GOVERNMENT LANDS Minn., Sunda\ evening, April kh: OUT THS COITTIITEITT, Speaking- of North Dakota, HOW TO GET THEM. He said: "I would like to see our young men strike out there 1st—BY HOMESTEAD ENTRY. and MAKK uoMKs i"oR TIIKMSKLVKS. Don't drag out )our existence 2d.- BY PRE-EMPTION. in tcnemenl hou cs, slaving for every l)oss that comes along: get 3d. BY TIMBER CULTURE. out and rough 11: il will do you good, 1 here is plenty ol room . n , ' • there, as North Dakota has thousands and thousands ol acres ol • • . ' the Pest Farming Country in the United States."
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• Si. Cloud, Benson, Fergus fdllsand Croohston. Minn., XT' ..A. jR O- O , GRAND FORKS AND DEVILS LAKE, DAK.
; I. ;. i-owEii, C. H. WAilllEN.
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THE GREAT THOROUGHFARE X, I •:- KS We Have 100,000 Acres NORTHWEST, "l choice land : for sale. All communication . promptly answerci St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba E. J. LANDER & CO., Real Estate Dealers, 3B A. i Xa -wrjs^rzr, Grand Forks, North Dakota With IM i,300 MILES OF ROAD, «the rwily lino e«M Hn* ihrounh die PICTURE (QUE PARK REGION • : Minm ma, THE GREAT RED RIVER YALLEY I -ll: ! :irh DEVILS LAKE, TURTLE MOUNTAIN, railroad ads, li ;H5 for ownership of and MOUSE EIVER DISTRICTS. Red Ri\cr \'ailc\ land. THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO Fargo, Moorhead, Sauk Centre, Fergus Falls, Bottom riuhl: I . I Morris, Clyndon, Breckenridge, Wahpe • 1 under office. ton ind C » i telton, and \muisi P)()l. I'. ). THE ONLY LINE TO ! andei liuing ai extreme ritihi. Grand Forks, Crookston, Alexandria, Osaki ., Hope, Portland, Mayville, Larimore, Park River, Hlllsboro, Grafton, Devils Lake City, Ada, St. Vincent and Winnipeg, SOLID ROAD-BED, STEEL RAILS, |« ••• I ,.:•!• •: ifirt ;•• m ,..': ..- .-.',-• ml tl iujlfrom ' i'. :i !• :••.••• i • M ••'.,';' rtuitn : purchase your Ticket! from Starting Point through to Tlir,; page Destination, rla th • sponsored by: ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS 4 MANITOBA R'Y E. J. Lander .>•..•; ,•• a will BAVB •• •!. I IMH .:.! HOXI &Co. C. H. WARREN, Genei .1 Pasiangei Agent, - ST. PAUL, MINN.
pai RAILROADS, BRIDGES, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: 1880-1920 Railroads.
While steamboats were doing tinued north to Winnipeg, and sales during the '80s. Railroads also their duties, the railroads were Canadians soon ventured down added a boost to the agricultural pushing West. Pioneers in (hose here to settle. industry. Farmers could now days knew till too well what a By 1882 the Northern Pacific deliver their grain to the various railroad meant to the growth of a made its debut in the cits. With s t e a m stop s , w ti i c h w e r e town. They tried their best to both railroads reaching north and distributed every six miles along secure a tract through their city. south, cast and west. Grand Forks the track. It is said that Alexander Griggs was assured economic stability. The Great Northern's depot is had some influence upon James J. The Northern Pacific's depot is situated on DeMers Avenue, lt was Hill, railroad builder, in securing a located on N. Third Street. built the year the railraod came train line through Grand Forks; Grand Forks was the planned through and the structure still although Grand Forks would be junction for a dozen railroads in stands. The depot was designed by the logical point to cross over the 1882. But somehow they elid not a notable New York architect Red from the East side. Indeed this materialize. Yet some did in other — Cass Gill -i e r t —who w a s p a i d was a great advantage to the city, parts of the valley. The Soo line handsomely. for from 18 80 to 1890 the crossed from northwest to south Barney Whaling, a former population lumped 3,274 persons. east, the Milwaukee and North Dacotah Hotel bus driver, before The St. Paul, Minneapolis ami western extended into southern the tlays of motorcars, recalled Manitoba, later known -as the- Dakota, and the Canadian Pacific meeting the train about twenty-two Great Northern, completed its lines shipped immigrants and helped times daily, coming and going. to Grand Forks from Fargo in trade throughout the valley. January of 1880. It was then (Jrand Senior citizens remember that as The impact of the railroad is children, traveling on a train across F o r k s i a n s s a sv t h e i r firs t seen by the increasing numbers in locomotive. The railroad line con the prairie was one of the most population, construction, and land fascinating experiences of their lifetimes. Edith F. Thompson and Dr. H. Tisdale both agreed that the trains were comfortable, smooth, and quiet riding compared to other modes of transit.
riiae, eieTAeee Ai;e ,ee ,cs:ee
IIKAND FOB*! AKI) Till: FULT^JWINO I'lTII All!) .'.>-.;::•-
;;•' I.KAVK. STATIONS NORTH. s:.\: iv.'.. S 12:05 p.m. GRAND FORKS...... 3:36 p/TO, |3| 12:87 •' "-•
. ...BATHUATK. 12:38 " NKCHE... . I3;0B " .... WlNNIH-:u... 7:40 n.i STATIONS EAST,
.GRAND FORKS, .... MALLOKY.. . H8HER. . . ("ROOKKTON
STATIONS WEST.
GRAND FORKS.. j:3!". p.: Northern Pacific Locomotive, circa 1JS85. OJATA 8 .-00 " ARVILLA 2:2T> " LARIMORE 148 ' NIAGARA ..MICHIGAN CITY . . , MARF.H LAKOTA ._..J>KVILH LAJCK... STATIONS SOUTH,
GRAND FORKS.. THOMPSON ...... RKYNOLDH. ,...... BIXTON inU.HHDHn. . KAKGO ... MINNEAPOLIS.. . 8T. PAUL •Bible to nwtTlBln oRIHa
1885 R.R. Schedule.
This page sponsored Dy: The Baltimore Spice Co. Eastern Grand Forks County Soil Great Northern Depol on DeMers Avenue Conservation District Laborers Local 580 The Straus Co. page 7. Early Bridges To accompany land vehicles, there had to be bridges built, so one- could uci over the mights Red and I'. •• d I a h •• risers. Risers presented an obstacle for the earliest pioneers; they had to cross at a low point in the waterway. T h e t o w n 's I'i rst m e a n s of crossing the Red was John Fad- den' s !'crrv 11 <)at sers ice . ss 111 ell hauled men and materials. It was in 1879 that Alexander Ciriggs opened his pontoon bridge, w 11 i e h ss as pI ac ed w 11 ere 11l e present da\ Sorlie Bridge is located DeXlei, turntable bridge. 1407. on DeiVlers Avenue. This was an important structure, lor it handled to the prosperity of the town. chariLted in 1SS2; stores began all heavy traffic between the two In 1885 there were seven grocery closing at 8 p.m. Apparently il was cities. stores serving Grand Forks. One just too much of a load for the A toll was charged for crossing was the Ontario Store, a familiar clerks to stay in business fourteen on the pontoon passageway: fifteen market to many of the older hours a day. cent:., for a single horse and buggy. generation. This store carried In the early stores, the clerks and twenty-five cents for a team everything a buyer would possibly always picked out the customer'-, and wagon. need, from ladies' lingerie to food products for him and then The only problem with this in produce. The Ontario Stoic was packaged it. There were no such vention occurred when a steam founded tn R. B. Griffith and was things as "shopping carts". boat wanted to come through; then in the family for nearly a century. Also, in 1885, there svas a one end of the pontoon construc In 1906 the present" Griffith's brewery owned by Jacob Dob- tion was let go. and the riser building was erected. The other meier, which was located in Cen current pushed it so that il would family management members were tral Park. The brewery had a stretch alongside one bank. Paul B. Grfffith and later R. B. capacity of producing hundreds ol These pontoon bridges were said Griffith 11. In 1968. the Griffith's barrels of brew a day. There were to be the favorite gathering place sold their enterprise to a Duluth three city brick yards; W. P. for tramps and bums; they would firm, but the department store still Alsip's, E. F. Curtis' and .1. S. Bar- climb inside the sections to escape holds the prominent Griffith name. iholomews'. Bartholomews' brick the weather. Hobos sometimes Marts were open from 8 a.m. to yard was located on present day made fires and cooked their meal-, 10 p.m. in the pioneer days of Belmont Road at the corner of while in the hideout. Grand Forks. This was done to Thirteenth. The dip in Belmont Alter discussing the matter in facilitate farmers comine, into town Road is supposedly due to i lie- city council meetings, the city to buy necessities after a hard days digging of clay for brick manufac decided to build a steel-frame work. However, thee time was turing purposes. bridge across the Red River at two points. In 1887 construction of the bridges was undertaken. In August 1889, two spans were completed. one at DeiVlers Avenue and one on Minnesota Avenue - the "point bridge". They replaced the pon toon roadways. The trestles were turntable bridges, they would rotate when a sternwheeler passed through.
Economic growth and Population Increases: 1880-1920 Among men attracted to the town were Anthony Hurst and T. J. Hadeland, two young lawyers who made their livelihood here. They arrived in 1879. The town had grown to 1,70s by 1 8 SO. Pro f e ssi o n a 1 po c p 1 c . businesses, and markets all added Grand Forks Brewery, Jacob Dobmeier, Proprietor. Grand 1 orks, N.I).
ill!"1 ; e Community Stores f! II [f li i II !1 llii mi.
WELCOME TO THE GRAND CARNIVAL; j Visitors to Grand Forks during Carnival Week arc especially invited to make j this il their Headquarters. Come and Rest. A tiala ftiriiy of Bargain; Haa Baaii Siuslimi ;!y Prapjiad far iira Bariiraa], PriCK hiaia'J Bllo* An oon For One Week. Read Every Item. Hosiery Ladies Underwear ! Black Dress Goods I Ladies' Wrappers sHSilK 38c :'•"••' "r-:.?r««c % taaak; : Ladies'Neckwear ' :„:,: While Goods 68c S5SS 15 9c /,::',; :M:; c Silk Mills j Shirt waist Sets •'.•,',.• '.'••.'—"MOc j_ i:;,":r •?'3c 19B 12C 'W '—VISITORS TO PLATKY'S IJBri: - STORE. •i
rhis page sponsored by: Grand Forks Federal Savings & Loan Assn. paans- 9. Three flour mills were in CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL operation at this time. Namely the: G. H. Elliott firm, J. W. McDonald DEVELOPMENT: 1870-1920 enterprise and the Grand Forks Roller Mill Co.; they were all in the downtown area. Also in this district, were four sawmills; Chisholm & Turner's, G. H. Elliot's, John Megins', and the Red River Lumber Co. The most popular one was on the Red Lake River in East Grand Forks, which appeared a few years later. The city directory at this time had an interesting statement on the future of Grand Forks. W. L. Dudley, publisher, wrote: "With railroad lines reaching North, South and East,' West the city has a great future. Im provement of agriculture will add to the city's prosperity." He said, "there are wide fields here for manufacturers of various kinds". The Red River is cited as being an important factor in future transpor Sod Hut in Grand Forks vicinity, circa 1870's. tation needs. Also, thousands of acres of land untouched, available Description of early lite for newcomers. He ended with, Just imagine Grand Forks in its water was brought in by barrels on come to Grand Forks, the Queen earliest days. There were no trees oxcarts or taken from the river; of the North west. on the upper part of the land, only out-houses in backyards were After 1880, construction of by the river. Trees have since been sewage disposals; gossip was the buildings grew at a rapid pace. Bet transplanted from the river banks. usual communication method; ween 1880-1900, the Grand Forks The land was only grassy plains as people relied on horse and buggy business area (downtown) prac far as the eye could see — Nature for travelling. tically developed to its present size. was man's only companion. There were no refrigerators, as By 1890 the city population was When the community was first we know of them, in the early days. 4,979. The following decade the starting, as an infant, there were no People called them iceboxes, number soared to 7,652, an ap electric lights, nor water system, because they consisted of packed proximate 66% increase. This was nor sewage system, nor telephone ice in a closed crate —this kept owed to commercial, industrial and lines, nor cars. Streets and perishables for a longer time. An agricultural investments in Grand sidewalks were dirt paths, and ice harvest was conducted to Forks, which drew working people markets were small and unplen- gather ice for this purpose. "The from all walks of life. By this time tiful. Villagers lived in sod huts or ice harvest, in those days, used to eight department stores had hit the tar paper shacks; some of the more stow away about 12,000 tons of city along with fourteen grocery permanent-minded settlers built log river ice in two blocks of ice stores. cabins. In those days, a fireplace — houses. The ice was cut from the 1910 brought another crop of which served every room — was a river at Lincoln Park and hauled by people; some 12,478 persons were necessity. Kerosene lamps and can team and sled to the ice houses, accounted for. This was a sizzling dles were the means of lighting; where it was packed in sawdust for 63% over the previous decade. Before World War I there were: 9 agricultural implement dealers; 9 retail car suppliers; 8 meat markets, which dealt with meats exclusively; and 30 grocery stores, small and large. After the war: agricultural implement dealers in creased by one; auto dealerships gained two more; meat markets decreased by one; and grocery stores grew to 39.
This page sponsored by: Ice harvesting crew of the Grand Forks Ice Co. outside one of the ice houses, Grand Forks Coca-Cola Bottling Co. 1918. All the ice houses occupied the two block area outlined by Lincoln Team Electronics Drive, Plum, Euclid and 1'ankeham Avenues. Three foot squares were cut.
page 10. summer use." — as reported in an Though as Vera Kelsey wrote: for keeping faith in and with God, early Herald article. "Yet somehow they [immigrants] for learning to share with others Vera Kelsey describes Third found time and zest for singing and what little they had." Street, around 1880, with "crowded dancing, for reading and writing. saloons, brothels, gambling houses, and rickety log and frame shacks [which | was sufficient to convince them [homesteaders| that Grand Forks was no place for their wives and children". But the well-to-do residents, in the southern part of town, were depicted as: "Here they installed their families and armaments against the social wilderness. Haviland and Lemoges china. Ver- saille and other ornate silver ser vices. Flowered carpets. Leather- bound libraries. Pianos. Lush lace curtains and velvet draperies. And here arrived buxom, able, and willing 'hired girls" from the farms, eager to care for house and family for two dollars a week and Thursday afternoon off." On the farm while the men were working their hides off in the fields, the women suffered many hardships. The History of North l Dakota by Dr. Elwyn B. Robinson Arthur L. Kin« and family in Emerado. N.D.. circa l )l 1. accounts for this: "They suffered not only from the spectacular hazards of fire, storm, and flood, hut also from the whole round of life on the prairie fron tier—from living in drab, homely sod houses or lot; cabins with dirt floors and leaky roofs, from an endless round of pressing tasks in feeding hungry men and caring for ill children when a doctor was beyond reach, from hearing hahies with only the aid of neighbor women, from listening to the ceaseless wind ami cease/ess talk of crops, and perhaps above all from sheer loneliness. "
Earl) residential development in Central Park district, circa 1K90
-'»V es- .
Reeves Dri\e and Fourth \\enue. circa 1915. pane I I• THE DAILY PLAINDEALER,
VOL. 34. 18th YEAR. GR VND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA. WEDNESPAY EVENIN'; JULY 19 1899. NUMBER 206
YESTIHUY'S SCOHES. I) 1 »V f) ;•);•»• i l>j •»! 1 * 1 »Vl> l> •••»• • • • *•*:•• ;**f» !•>•••!»!••• •*? • ll"' "•"' "' Ihf iluui «i»ro two Utile I"!'1 j IT LOOKS SERIOUS THE FLORAL >ABADE. i \VZ^r R^ylW^i 1"" HrtteMiw Vktn IN ANNUAL SESSION Mini eniwIlH 7, Gniml RnpkW 1". BB City J, liidliinnpuliH 0. Mih j ,..,].- IMI 1 1 Nigh Court, Independent Order ot Hoppers Reported Doing Damage 1 n-oi Hi.' «i y ,i vliltor wBo wan in llw eltj I,IH'| llliilll .-SU »f.l lliH IH.precl. i ' ll(.l!"'ll 1 ",'i,',,'. Vill'."'!!!.'.'".'./ 'it.'" 'i'lrVlV.'-'al li.ili In Pali County. loresters Are y :....n..l U| Br* J.lir.l.l.." WHS ;,:4.ll].ly r-.HT nf j lii.i,-.,'l„'n' .lli.l .illi.ll,' Hlrel. i ,i-";'.".' "-i:=' i ";'.". p<] iitong the slnx-ts :in.l nvu- * Fr-rtii tl T of lUo witlj iliTiwnlril I mim to o y |.:. •.ii,1„-i:.,. tliat tin? have • - l..nl. nrayvd llw nublrm ot I r- ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOGUSTS W.i- ill,- 11, ('•ll-H-l.lllll 1. TRANSACTING BUSINESS. r. w. i.. re. nuiiM . . ,.7i is so r.Ki mwiis . . ..70 in 30 r,7i Tho Statement Given Out Ttiat the Dye Crcp J/ivl' C "H.^« 1,^31^^;.?Cour. t Convened In Odd Jtllotv'i Hall at 10 wwt&uiSrta tSit^rilp In Folk County Will Sutter Great IHIIV .'.'.'. ". •"'- 37 35 r.11 jsss: TWl -.I-TMIIIU Ad)ourntd UlII
City Chronicles Grand Forks has had five main career. Winship's first paper was out to newspapers in its day. The Plain- The I: veiling limes. Herald's the people on June 2b. 1879. a four dealer, which was the first; the competitor began in 190b. Later in page paper consisting mostly of ads Herald, a later competitor of the 1914 the paper was consolidated and tidbits of news. The Herald former; the Evening Times; Nor- with the Grand Forks Herald. began in a tar-paper shack, on Kitt manden and Tidende, two Nor A Norwegian tabloid called the son Avenue, with only a hand press wegian papers; and various other Tidende was established in 1880. It and a font of type, which Winship small franchises. These newspapers was edited and managed by T. had shipped from Caledonia. The contributed to the intellectual Gutbranson. Another newspaper paper commenced as a weekly. growth and enthusiasm of many of was written and published by City By July o f 1881. Wi nship the citizens. Scandinavians — the Normanden. en1 a r ged to a s em i - w e e kIy The Pluindeuler was published H. A. Foss edited the Normanden. publication. The following Novem by George H. Walsh, one of the It was the Norwegians' intention to ber it was recognized as an evening first pioneers. The first issue ran preserve traditional cultural daily newspaper with 500 copies a off the press July 2. 1875. A weekly customs, so they wrote about the day produced; the weeklies were paper was a start for a small town Old country. This publication continued. circulation. began in 1887. The Normanden In 1882 the Herald added a Walsh expressed his views about gained a circulation of 9.21b in second story to its building on Kill- the chronicle, as "more of a city 1910, which made it the largest and son Avenue, which was much im enterprise than it is a personal one. most influential paper of its kmd in proved since the tar-paper shack. It will make dollars for Grand the state. T h a t y e a r W est e r n I'm o n Forks, where it will fail to make Grand Forks Herald Telegraph Service came into (own. cents for the proprietors". He George B. Winship. founder of and the Herald made use of its ser made it a point to publicize every the Grand Forks Herald, started vices. civic issue of importance on the his newspaper life in Caledonia. When the new spa pet again editorial page. 11 is paper was Minnesota; there he established outgrew its building in 188b; they published for the citizens of Grand the Caledonia Courier. Winship decided to move across the alley to Forks. was urged to come back to (Jrand 312 Kittson. In the summer, the In 1880, W. .1. Murphy purchased Forks, where he once lived. In Sunday Leader was supplemented the paper. The following year the Winship's own words. "The Plain- to the Herald: W. L. Grant was its Daily Plaindealer was started as an dealer was not giving satisfaction editor. A small tabloid. Northwest evening journal. and it was issued irregularly. The News, was in business at this time A disaster hit the Plaindealer in fact was the town had grown la rue also. W. R. Bierly was the editor. 1884, which cost the owner an enough to have two antagonistic The Herald was loyal to the estimated SI9.000. lire completely factions, and as the Plaindealer community; it spoke freely and burned the records; everything else could not represent both, I was in openly about cits affairs. It used was luckily salvaged. It look Mur vited to st ep in to sen e t he terminology thai the common per phy a year to restore business to recalcitrants." son could understand. Alcoholics normal. were called "'drunks'" and Negroes. As one can see. the start of the Alter 1890 this newspaper was "coons" in its columns. This was Herald was for political reasons. considered the only Democratic accepted slang language. Scandals For a number of years polities was paper in the state. Just about every and stories of rapes, murders, and a very controversial field in the publication in those days, was divorces were frequently written. small town of Grand Forks, From oriented to one of the political par the start, t he Herald w as a Winship was well on his way, ties. Republican paper opposing the with money enough to build vet The Plaindealer reached a grand Plaindealer. a Democratic paper. another building. He built one ol 3.390 circulation out of 7.652 the most aesthetic buildings Grand population of Grand Forks in 1900. Tins page sponsored by: Forks has ever seen, on the corner The Plaindealer was the Herald's Alden Braseth Plumbing & Heating Inc. of Third Street and Kittson chief competitor, it was the latter The Gallery Apartments Avenue (where Grand Forks Glass that bought out the former in 1908. Mikkelson Real Estate & Home Builders and Paint Co, stands now). It was Red Owl Family Center This ended t he Plaindealer s completed on December 1. 1889.
p;ijj 1 >. MORNING EDITION MORNING #rtmb JForfe* Jteralb. EDITION NORTH DAKOTA'S V«rf GREATEST ^ NEWSPAPER XXXVI. NO. 1S5. GRAND FORKS, N. D.. FRIDAY. APRIL », 1817. FIVE CENTS. DECLARATION OF WAR WHOLE WEIGHT OF THE NATION'S ANT1-S0CUWST CONFERENCE HOUSE ACCEPTS STATE CALLEWOR NEXT WEDNESDAY i A_ Dp \ra*~tni UHTU RESOURCES READY TO BE THROWN TO BE HELD IN GRAND FORKS OF BELLIGERENCY WTH Extcutive CwamtaM Formtd By pf}QU 1 IIP ft tt|\ INTO THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY teg*).*.** wh» p^ucht to. iiEJiifiAno AnU Finish Kt Biirrwn* Ftnd. Sen HFTY NEGATIVE VOTES MEXICAN SOLDIERS WADDIAMCTA timent Growinf Agauut Stxni FRENCH MEET The POWER NEVER ADVANCING TOWARDS nAKrUAPlOlU 1MB and Cull* Mwnng !<. Com. THE AMERICAN LINE b»t trie Men ate—Every Ptrton NEARRHEIMS1 Debate Lasted 17 Hours; EQUALLED TO PRODUCE ARMY .n Sympathy With Movement Invited m MMI Meeting '.Fierce Engagement in Pro- Unexpected Resistance ENTER FIGHT MADE PUBLIC 8TMM—Russians Clmim By The Pacifists • Confei Victory Wsjhinuton, April 8.—The resolution declaring
According to Dr. Elwyn B. Robin horse thieves. This classification created an obstacle for Winship's son, "Winship then held the largest was the vogue when we discussed goal to become governor. The and best newspaper in North one another in the privacies of our Herald often ran editorials op Dakota". respective sanctorums. posing McKen/ie's politcal views To give a sample of Winship's George Winship was a strong, and ideas. This action backfired! explosive and detailed writing, here powerful writer; he belived in what For the McKenzie machine even he expresses his sentiment before he said and believed in what he tually forced Winship to sell his prohibition —which began in 1889: was doing. newspaper inierprise. In 1911, the The saloons, more than forty, A business depression struck the Grand Forks Evening Times and completely dominated the com country in 1893; this City was the Herald consolidated, keeping munity. They ran politics and severely affected. The Herald pur the names of the Herald with everything else that could be made chased the Plaindealer. but no an Evening Times written in small to contribute to their interest. nouncement was made, so the lat print below it. The Herald was When Winship retired, he wrote: ter paper continued until 1896 short in funds; the Evening limes All the Herald crowd were when it was bought by some had drawn its advertising revenue. hypocrites, prohibitionists, Jong- Crookston men. J. D. Bacon and some associates haired narrow-visioned specimens Winship's greatest rival was bought both of the papers. At age of the genus homo. All the Plain- Alexander McKenzie, a North sixty-four, George Winship decided dealer gang were saloon keepers, Dakota political boss during the to retire, and moved to California. gamblers, ballot box staffers and early 1900's. It was this man who The Herald became independent again in 1914, under the new management of J. F. Bacon, brother of J. D. Bacon. M. M. Oppegard along with the Ridder Brothers of New York City purchased the Herald in 1929 from J. F. Bacon. Oppegard was the
rf'f >Hl» Herald building, 1974. This page sponsored by: Herald building, ll)() Page Entertainment — Theatres Among the kinds of entertain ment available to Grand Forksians, before the turn of the century were Lyceum programs which were held every other week. Spectacles, such as popular speeches on morals and ethics were especially attractive to University audiences. These showings were mainly held at the Gotzian Theatre. Debates were a common oc currence in the city. Whether a "young man can marry and live comfortably in Grand Forks on twelve dollars a week" was an issue Hall apartments, 1974. 311 South in one debate. The negative side Col. Fi ank Viets Third Street. won. T.i.i !*«41U H'Jt.'Ji; Bid mn U In liiiyo MMk lypn. The first opera house in the city It. It. in (ho Roll or Win->r Rome I i'.v:ii:::,.; 'ar ;ih.-jdiis; !lie«« poWU, 'tfiir to HUM uunibtr on buck I]»«ON, H!t-ci]|{ lUt of KsUrouU. was the Stratford Theatre, built in •NMfean ifMHR Of: •ILL ifiw.) pvmumea. t MOKIT Own Oftm .,,,,,-111^.: National flQ.i.r : 1890, located where McDonald's clothing store is now located. A M...U Hotel. tJptnl.i. IIIU.sH'ilfJ,' Imdl '". /Ifi. 5SU. tmt •AtfTCV. • il .;„; r... «f*. :.-„. ,HU UirrlnK.1 llinr. M|«%, nationally known musician, Emmit Ht.-., K..rili!»urHi.l»l. *H*rd«y. i:,,b»-«*- Hoirl. IftjH • [,, Plimwrr IU»«. *i|*rJ>). Rare, performed there during the Ht-iudiottlu " llpnil.). Kwti*(*v*n ii-.Ki. : UnitedButttlbUI. 9lMi*ti*h NV.r„„ii 11-Jufc-. J nineties. 1>rl. >.i«l li.ji. T, ; tratiK, t>w 9*. "v. it*', (KR i*«.( Otttn* H«W, : 1'nrk llolirl. Mp«rd^. H.pr •• ftparAtf, Photography began in the city HOT MMfKQit, JM tow (fc ' '-"• U*( MprlBff* H*irl. | it,, i -*M' [RKbMl. - ; ]«»•!. IM.t: when George F. Blackburn pur CtMnllbul. n.nucrdiD'. /t'/IVAKD. JUwr ft. fVWD, (HKW».t Uimomlil ll«irt. r |„r Vrn.,!lli.jii U«UW. tt |..f ,!•«-. sued the art. Blackburn, an Mfcffler -• Mf«r4*f. (MttWfUMIM. *ll,rr.t., UrlarK* Hawor. »J | •tttkotn Huaiar. I Fitlh AM, H..1..I. #J|-r.l.y. Forks Herald estimated four-fifths Draw) Cwm*l 11^1 fj^rda of the homes had some kind of in Taken from an 1886 Hotel Red Book. strument to play. By this time the city had its own military band, which played at all the public events. Tafflff^l The first motion picture came to Grand Forks about 1907. The flicks were usually shown at the Metropolitan Theatre. The Dakota Theatre, since demolished, was the Hotel Dacotah lobby. 1907. "Mets" only competition for a time. Other old-time movie houses were: Gem, Empire, Savoy, Unique, Fotoplay, Strand, Royal, Reel, Lyceum, Orpheum, Palace. Bijou, Appola, and Rialto. The Or pheum replaced the old Grand Threatre around 1915. The original movies were silent ones, accom panied by piano music. Seats sold its "len-twent-thirt" meaning ten, twenty and thirty cents depending on where one sat. This page sponsored by: American Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n. Factory Outlet Store Hardee's Restaurant Hotel Dacotah, circa 1929. Dacotah Hold, 1974. Hotel Dacotah. 1897 Northland Chemical Co. page 15. page Featuring the Metropolitan Opera House by T. C. Lamb n October 1890, an elegant brownstone building stood erect on S. Third Street. The structure cost $150,000 and at that time only Sib,000 had been subscribed toward the fabulous new opera house. As organizer, George Batchelder said, "But she's there. No matter what happens, they won't pull her down". Batchelder recruited George Broadhurst, a noteworthy man from the Hen nepin Avenue Theatre in Minneapolis, to manage the palace. 1932. Broadhrust was somewhat disappointed upon reaching Grand Forks, seeing only a few scat tered "brick and stone buildings rising above frame, shoebox shops". But once inside the Metropolitan Opera House his tune suddenly changed. A more fitting name in his mind was the New York Opera House! "The interior was a gem of ivory, blue and gold baroque decor. With its well-proportioned auditorium, two curving balconies, luxurious draperies, upholstered seats, especially designed loge chairs, spacious and well-equipped stage." It was practically a replica of Chicago's famous Auditorium. The problem of raising enough money to sup port this colossus was Broadhurst's immediate question. He soon realized that this would no longer be an issue. For upon asking Captain Alexander Griggs for opening night collection, he received the sum of $300. Griggs exclaimed, "if anybody sees me, I'll raise him fifty." The next sponsor was William "Billy" Budge who flatly said, "Seen the Captain? Flow much did he give?" "Three-three hundred dollars." was Broad hurst's reply. "PH see him." By opening night, Grand Forks residents them selves purchased every seat in the house at a grand total of S7,<)00! Broadhurst was somewhat amazed. Emma Abbott, nationally-known singer, was to be on hand for the first performances. She alone earned widespread publicity. People came from as lar as Manitoba, Minnesota, South Dakota and all parts of the state, to witness this spec tacle. Then the big night arrived on November 10. 1890. Grand Forksians were to see a live stage show in the already famous Metropolitan Opera House. It was naturally a social event and one was prompted to wear his or her best attire. As Bijou Theatre 12.1 DeMers Avenue, circa 1910, the Herald announced, "Clothes, of course, do not make an opera, but they certainly help." And This page sponsored by: Valley Bank and Trust Co, so it was, that night carriages and buggies pane 17. flocked to the entrance on Third Street unloading couples dressed in the most tasteful, stylish apparel. The place was packed from wall to wall. Manager George Broadhurst could just foresee the future: Broadway's No. 1 stars and road companies stopping in this lone frontier town en route from Chicago —San Fran cisco—New Orleans. The following years called for the best talent available to entertain countrymen in this house. Such attractions as Theodore Thomas with his orchestra, John Phillip Sousa, and Dan Godfrey with their bands all appeared here. "Sehumann- Heink and May Robson both made their ap pearances and won the hearts of the Metropolitan audience." De Wolfe Flopper recited "Casey at the Bat". Richard Mansfield was another; he made his showing in a play during the nineties. It is written that he had "delicacy of touch and exquisiteness of finish" while his voice rang through the aisles of the "Met". • • THE CASTLE Hot Dogs 5c Hamburgers 5c Chile MET Congratulation, to tlie Manage of the New Tt.alr. THEATRE General Neon, Inc. G,..a Fo.fc., N D Fotoplay Theatre. 1918. Located at ft N. Third Street, nest to present day Jode Saturday, January 19, 1935 Mac s Confectionery Mti Building Grand Fork, target ami matt 1,1ml Theatre U„cl,«S B,„ Sad., MODEL SHOE REBUILDERS Mei program 1935, 1st page. Met program 1935, page «S. By 1907 the renowned "flicks" made their debut in the city; the Met was then used as a movie house. It was one of the biggest places in town lor such events. The inside was not as lavish as when the opera house was staging socials, which catered to city elites. Now men, women and children of all classes could enter the Metropolitan. In 1935 the interior was completely redecorated. After the work was finished a grand opening was held, and motion picures were con tinued. When workmen were remodeling the Met theatre for use as a bowling alley with a bar and restaurant in 1940, five men were injured while removing scaffolding from the stage. This displays the stubbornness of Her Majesty, once Metropolitan Opera House, then theatre. She served the community for over fifty years! And still stands. . . Editor's note: Unidentified quotations tire taken from: Empire Theati < inenta Theati Kelsey. Vera. Red River Run: North! New York. 1951. This page sponsored by: SeafS, RoebllCk and Co. pagage 18. Parades and Circuses m^mX Flower Parade July IS. 1899, Circa 1915. SB" ' -.-' . .. mi Circa 1910. A favorite pastime for many is to go to parades and circuses. Some are a part of them be it playing in the marching band or be it the baton twirler or be it the presiding q u ee n of the whole parade. Parade on Third Street. Whatever it may be, everyone has a good time at these galas. Flower Parades are the first known type of pageant in the city. At these events participants would dress up their wagons in flowers of all sorts and ride about the town. It is said on some occasions, the new "ladies" were escorted down Third Street then into East Grand Forks, which attracted certain male respondents. Flower Parades were staged during the 1890's. W. B. Allen of the Herald tells of one early day parade in a descrip tive fashion: Another bit of 'pomp and pageantry' in [the] parade was that Street Parade, circa 1905. the camels and dromedaries drew the cages of the other animals. A family of hippopoiomi. a three horned black rhinoceros. Emperor, gigantic elephant, and Nabob, a black sacred elephant, were the sort of animals displayed. There was a troop of 'miniature horses', which was probably ponies. A Scot tish bagpipe band marched. Fie continues about circuses: when the Sells Bros, circus was in town on June 17, 1894, it was "an event, not just another amusement exhibition". The circus was a most popular event. In the summer of 1912, U.C.T. conventio 907. three circuses came to Grand Forks. Miller Bros. Show appeared on July 14; five days later, the Ringling Bros, assembled; and on August 21, Sell Floto circus was This page sponsored by: here. Parades and circuses have come Gaflaney's Office Specialties Co., Inc. Grand Forks Surplus Outlet and gone with the times. Senior Italian Moon and Moon's Salonn citizens exclaim, "they sure ain't McFarlane Sheet Metal . vhat they us't to be!" pilL' Grand Forks Fair Grounds Fairs have been one of the main attractions through the history of the city. For youngsters this was the biggest event of a summer, a learning experience of their lifetime. As early as 1887, fairs appeared in Grand Forks. At these gatherings buying and selling farm products was the greatest event, "•• - ->, since they were set up primarily for agricultural enhancement. Such items as a 60-80 pound squash grown in this city; a 29 pound cab bage; six varieties of potatoes grown in the Red River Valley; and a one-half ton J. 1. Case steam engine tractor, which operated on Horse racing at the fair grounds, circa 1890. eight barrels of water and one ten insisted that horse racing should organized in 1905. There were two der of coal were shown in displays. not be a part of the campus. because of the need to collect aid Interested people from all around In 1903 the fairgrounds moved to from both state and county re the area visited on these occasions. its present location on Gateway sources. The first fairs were held at Drive. With J. D. Bacon as The 1911 State Fair, held in Eschelman Park, presently the President, the fair association Grand Forks, featured the Wright University Memorial Stadium. It bought 70 acres from the D. A. Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, with was here that the horse track Dinnie farm. On September 24, 25, their airplane models. These con stood. Horse racing is one of the 2b, the first fair was held at this traptions may have appeared com most exciting events that senior site. pletely foreign to those who at citizens remember. The attraction Two groups were in charge of tended, because it was the first air brought the Great Northern Racing the fairs, they were the Grand craft in the upper Midwest. Circuit to state affairs here. Web Forks County Agricultural Society, In 1925, a car race which ended ster Merrifield, fourth President of organized in 1903, and the North in a crash, sent future fairs into a the University objected to this. He Dakota State Fair Association, dilemma. The accident caused two This page sponsored by North Dakota Mill & Elevator This magnificent domed structure stood on the present site of the lair grounds. It was built in 1909 and destroyed by fire in 192-1. North Dakota State Library f pa«e 20. M n i;cir, n Horse and Buggy All the while major transpor Early Transportation tation systems were making head way. Grand Forks residents were using horse and buggy to get around the city. Most had at least a horse with a simple hack; some had the horse with carriage; and others who could afford it, invested in a double team of horses with an elegant carriage. Livery stables were popular for those not interested in horse racing. Stables were most con venient for courting one's favorite girlfriend or just a Sunday pleasure drive, rather than using the regular family buckboard. During the warm months some one-hundred Fair scene, circa 191: teams and hacks would be rented out for Sunday touring. The ads wrote that the horse and buggy of fered style, safety and speed. v>* - - -•&m*-.l&ftii£Z***' When the streets were covered /Ti--.." J with snow, people would take to the stables to rent a cutter and Stage coach stop, circa IKfSO's. Arthur L. King posing with horse and buggy in front of County Court House. span for a favorite pastime. "Jingle 1917. bells" had a meaning in those days. One could hear the music of sleigh bells ringing through the streets. These rigs were fast enough that speeds up to twenty miles an hour Fair scene, 1917. Fairgrounds. 1953. could be reached. But drivers were satisfied with trotting speeds of ten miles per hour. •Jfo» *A deaths and five were injured —the The most prominent livery stable federal Works Progress Ad from the 188()'s to 1905 was the driver was left unharmed. As a ministration (WPA) monies. Bacon & Van Alstines", which was result the charters of the North Franklin D. Roosevelt visited located on Fourth Street across Dakota State Fair Association and Grand Forks to dedicate the new from the present Golden Hour Grand Forks County Agricultural grandstand in 1937. About 20,000 restaurant. Through the years Society were cancelled. The reason people came to hear the President other names such as: Leach & was that they "evidently failed to speak. Enright, Swan & Hunter, Edmunds file annual reports", according to By 1939 the $250,000 renovation & Salisbury, Westacott & Rafter, Ben Meier, Secretary of State. and beautification project was Corry & Murray, and the Kennedy Later the Grand Forks State Fair completed, W.P.A. contributed at Bros, have appeared in city direc Simple horse and buggy rig. 1890's. Horse and carriage. I890's. Association was established in least SI 25,000 towards the tories. November 1925, as a non-profit rebuilding plan. corporation. Directors of it were: The fairgrounds were once Arnold Berg, Paul Griffith and described by the Herald as: "The Ralph Lynch. Other members of new parkway of trees and flowers the board were: G. A. Bangs, F. L. is carpeted in brilliant new green, Goodman, E. J. Lander, J. D. visible from the moment one enters Bacon and A. I. Hunter. This through the new ornamental stone- organization lasted until 1957, arched gateway at the main ent when the Grand Forks State and rance". County Fair Association was Numerous funds have been spent formed. on fair extravaganzas in Grand During 1936 to 1939 the federal Forks' history. People have paid government undertook an im this money for enjoyable, enter provement program on the taining times —times that are un fairgrounds. Major renovation and forgettable. Livery stable on 224 S, Fourth Street, Livery stable located on the Grand Forks Clinic site. beautification was accomplished by A cutler and span with Father E. J. Conaty. pastor of St. Michael's church durinu the l«90's. This page sponsored by: Flaat Farms J. C. Penney Co., Inc. ,• 22. Pagfie 21. P"g Bicycle craze \ Cycling was and is one of the most popular events. The city had, in 18 8 9, a Grand Forks Wheelmen's Club; W. R. Lasham was the organizer. Bikes in this period had a large wheel in front with a small one in the rear. Accor ding to those who have experien ced these particular vehicles, they were very difficult to balance—you had to be somewhat skilled to take one on. Apparently doctors fancied the two wheelers also. As reported in the Herald: "Of the early days at Grand Forks Wheelman's club of '89. President W. R. Lasham is sitting behind his bicycle: (L-R) Arthur Cote. Arnie Canniff, Ernest Jaeobi. Robert H. Green. the hospital, Dr. Witherstine Ben Franklin. Wiel Shaw and Olie Thompson. recalled the prevalence of bicycles among the staff. It was a common sight in 1908 to see about a dozen of the doctors' bikes parked on the front steps of St. Michael's, Dr. Witherstine said. A doctor pedaling down the street with his bag thrown over the handlebars was not an unusual sight, the physician added." Today, in the warmer months, cyclers of all ages are seen throughout the city, enjoying the scenery. Columbia chainless. Cyclers on Reeves Drive. Wha-fAhccl do you Want? We handle DODGE BROTHERS ALL KINDS OF WHEELS ^Sj? IN FEATURES And if you whh B whet! CL05ED CAR ,it .i low pn'vc, give us it m caff. THAT COUNT! Wnecls lo Rent Dy tnc Hour, Dau or WeeK L_bo 1 REPAIRING OF ALL KINDS r1939,fo" ' .ng»">^'•'"•,,riCe, ,,, « LYONS & CO. ftm HEM BICYCLISTS GRAND FORKS '' ma •;•;•::;. '::::..: CMHHUC- n J( WHDEUK -••-" Warmth, Protection, and jU»SltWMSS«I». Larly Automobiles Comfort in any kind of weather While the horse and buggy was This yoor of oil year: It will pay you to visit 119 an! examine don't miss OUT on still around, automobiles were in this ear troduced. One long time resident Winter Touring Car or Roadster, $1,050.00 Sedan or Coupe - - 1,350.00 11*3 of Grand Forks recalls her first roaring Car or Roadster • 885.00 sight of a self-propelled contrap All prices F. O, B. Detroit, Mich. tion in 1906, owned by Dr. M. M. FORX MOTOR SALES, Inc. Lockerby. She stated that there FULLER MOTOR CO. SrJ St. «KI Int.M^tion.l Annul were not more than a half a dozen and Pork». North Dako autos in the city at this time. The roads were not really fit for the new novelty until after the first Automobiles have progressed years. Along with cars, sales and World War. Cars in those days had with national standards through the repair shops have been established. wooden wheels and balloon tires, Today a family can hardly live wind shields were strapped to the This page sponsored by: without one of these twentieth cen Champeau-Gullickson Travel Service front doors. The cars had kerosene Federal Land Bank Association of Grand Forks tury innovations. But gas is a bit lights, and a crank in front to start Grand Forks Welding & Machine Co. more expensive! Nowadays motor it. Western Auto Parts Co. cycles are more economical. |>;IL'O 23. 117 Ford cars in Lincoln Park, Grand Forks. ll>14. LulU-H. ;lrtflii Ford Parade on Third Street. 1914. This page sponsored by Grand Forks Elks Lodge #255 page 2-1 espite its importance in the shaping of the The primary force for the line came from Webster city, few obvious vestiges remain of the Grand Merrifield, the president of the University. With Forks Street Railway in 1974. A short section several professors and businessmen, he formed the S of track lies exposed on Walnut Street. The Grand Forks Transit Company. By 1904, he had building in which the cars were housed and serviced is amassed sufficient support and about $15,000 to begin now the home of C & R Cleaners on N. Fifth Street. A actual construction. One of the factors delaying the bracket which projects from the northeast corner of construction was the question of power. The choice Chandler Hall at the University, at one time supported was between electric or gasoline engines. It was the wire for the trolley. decided on July 12, 1904, since the installation of a For thirty years, the cheapest way of getting around second generator in the UND powerhouse would sup town was to hop aboard a streetcar. Begun in 1904, ply adequate power for both the school and the car the Grand Forks Street Railway grew towards the four line, the system would be electric. Construction began points of the compass. At its height the railway the next day under the supervision of Andrew operated four main routes from the downtown area: Morrison, the University Registrar. to the University, to Riverside Park, to Lincoln Park, Merrifield had ample reason to want at trolley line and into East Grand Forks. between town and the school. There was an acute The line's development was marked by false starts housing problem at the University. Professors and plus construction and supply delays. As early as 1892, students forced to live in town were faced with a two several Minneapolis businessmen, headed by W. G. mile walk; bike ride; hopping a freight train; or paying DeCelle, attempted to build a street railway in Grand for a hack, which would have otherwise bought three Forks. But construction never got beynd the surveying full meals and a room. stage. Discussion of the desire for a transit system continued. It remained for the community leaders to This page Operating Engineers Local #49 create a line. sponsored by: Red River National Bank & Trust Co. page 25. Morrison started from the University and began problem had been solved in one stroke. As Merrifield laying track down University Avenue. He hoped to had predicted, more houses began appearing on make it to the corner of N. Third Street and Alpha University Avenue and Grand Forks started growing Avenue (First Avenue N.) before school opened. Un west, towards the University, fortunately by the time the track reached the Great Northern R.R. crossing on University Avenue, it was October (> and neither the generator nor the electrical switchboard had arrived; it came several days later and was installed. On October 10, 1904, the first streetcar to operate in Grand Forks left the Univer sity. Shuttle service was begun between the school and the Great Northern crossim> Trolley cars stopped at the I Iniversity. after a football game. Though the transportation problem to the school had been resolved, the rest of the community was still without mass transit. Possibly embarassed because the trolley so far, was almost totally a University operation; R. B. Griffith began working for a second line. As a member of the Grand Forks Commercial Building the trolley line on S. Third Street. Club, he formed a committee within the club to create support for another trolley. This was a time of rapid The beginning of service, even if not all the way growth for the town. A number of private develop into town, was met with a sigh of relief from the foot ment and public improvement projects were com sore students. The Weekly Student for October 29, peting for the limited capital of the city. It is possible 1904 applauded the new line with: "At last it is a that this competition retarded the expansion of the reality. We refer to the trolley. What a relief it is to casters. Griffith had considerable trouble in raising all think we are no longer isolated from the rest of the the capital required to begin new construction. On world by a long walk." The line was completed on October 2, 1908, the streetcar committee decid I to November 19 and full service inaugurated. This con go ahead in spite of the shortage of funds. A ! luth sisted of several round trips a day, during the school man, P. McDonnell, was awarded the contra-. . lay year. The line closed down for the summer as did the track of the new line. school. To the promoters misfortune, delays in the arrival of equipment continued to dog the new trolley. When service was begun, the second generator had not yet appeared. The car was running off the original generator, which also had to supply the University. Each time the ear started up, all the lights at the school dimmed. The students began refering to the ef fect as "the flickering light evil". The Weekly Student offered this suggestion in December: "Of all the ex cuses for not studying, that of having poor light is by far the best. One should not try to study when the lights begin to 'fade away", for your eyes are worth more than what little you will learn". Eventually some of the students began thinking about retaliation. The single ear which scuttled back and forth on University Avenue was a small, secondhand, four wheeled affair. If enough husky students piled on the back end of the car, the front would rise over the rails and slide off. One man could also effectively immobilize the trolley by simply hiding the controller when the motorman was not in the ear. Despite the pranks of students, the supply dif ficulties, and the blizzards which would stop the ear from running for days, the trolley provided a needed A trolley ear running between Security Building and service. President Merrifield estimated that the Dacotah Hotel. average number of riders was 300 daily, and at times This page sponsored by: reached a peak of S00 a day! The housing and transit The First National Bank in Grand Forks page 2b LAST TROLLEY RIDE~IN GRAND FORKS was July 15, Hunter; Commissioner O. S. Hanson; Dean E. F. Chandler, 1S34 and ended at the University. The passengers were R. B. Griffith, who drove the first spike for the company; (standing, left to right) Motorman George Kennedy; J. W. W. P. Davies, editor of the Herald; Commissioner Harry Lowe, former police chief; T. H. H. Thoresen; Police Reff; T. J. Smith, H. G. Benner, and E. O. Odegard, Chief Ed Hough; City Commissioner R. A. Rottweiler; manager "of the company. Sitting are W. W. Blain, secretary John P. Kennedy; City Commissioner Henry Kennedy; of the Chamber of Commerce; Frank J. Webb; J. W. Mayor E. A. Fladeland; Charles J. Evanson, city auditor; Wilkerson, business manager of the University; and Miles Prof. A. H. Yoder; Prof. D. R. Jenkins; Leslie Stinson; A. I. Lander. In the background is the last of the trolleys. Courtesy of Grand Forks Herald. McDonnell wasted no time. On October 3, his men deadeye accuracy of the younger generation. It seems began work, taking a short break at 4:00 p.m. to allow that the trolley pole proved an irresistable target for for the ceremonies which were to mark the start of snowballs. A properly timed throw could knock the the construction. Several hundred people gathered in pole completely off the wire. front of the old Metropolitan Theatre on Third Street Grand Forks grew to depend on the car line, but af to watch. Accompanied by speeches from Mayor J. D. ter twenty years of heavy use the track and roadbed Taylor, Commercial Club President E. J. Lander and began to wear out. The initial construction had been with music supplied by the Grand Forks Band, R. B. relatively easy, because few of the streets had been Griffith drove the first spike for the modern trolley paved. But now, replacing track would require ripping line. Following his remarks, Mayor Taylor offered the up considerable portions of the streets. In 1930 the hammer to the spectators to try their hand at spiking, Street Railway Co. began experimenting with buses on but they left the spike-driving to McDonnell's workers. some routes, phasing out the "cars on lines" where the After this official recognition, the growth of trolleys tracks were worse. The last route to succumb to buses speeded up. Griffith formed the Grand Forks Street was, fittingly, the University —the first one built. That Railway Co. and served as its first president. 1908 saw streetcar clanged through the city for the last time on the contruction of the Riverside Park line. The Grand July 1, 1934. The Street Railway Co. was reorganized Forks Transit Co. was incorporated into the Street as the Grand Forks Transportation Co. A fleet of nine Railway Co. A Lincoln Park line was built in 1909. buses was acquired to supersede the trolleys. The University line was rebuilt. East Grand Forks was Though the trolley cars connected to Grand Forks in 1911 and the extension were no longer running, to the State Fair grounds was also completed that they continued to serve year. some Grand Forks residen Under the influence of the street railway, Grand ts. Much of the hardware Forks began spreading out to the north and south, as was sold for scrap, the rails well as to the west. In the summer, the railway tran went to farmers for sup ports in underground sported citizens to the fair grounds in two large open- potato bins and other air cars. In winter, it provided cartage, sheltered from struclures ine cars tn the elements. Even today, a few of the commonwealth '-' 'iiS-V.- 'I'-^tTT"*' - em- can recall how the cars on the University line were aL^aH^Ck-i: llfcl selves were sold for nHKaaAjK^I various purposes. One packed full in winter. There was only one passing went for a garage, others track on that avenue and the westbound car often had for poultry houses and one to wait for the eastbound. What made it particularly man bought a trolley to frustrating to the passengers was that sitting on the live in. The ear is on his MIX) block of University Avenue, they could see the family's property to this lights of the U. and their destination. At the time, day. there were no large trees and fewer houses to obstruct the view. A common cause for delay in winter was the This page sponsored by Norby's of Grand Forks page 27. Bridges of Today debates in city council chambers, In 1928 it was time to erect a construction began on the Skid Bus new bridge on DeMers Avenue. more bridge, later renamed Ken Construction began that November nedy bridge after the late President with the demolishing of the old and John F. Kennedy. The cost was Evolution worn trestle. The span was named close to $2,500,000. This span links after the only North Dakota gover Flighway 2 from Minnesota to nor from Grand Forks — Arthur North Dakota. The project was G. Sorlie. It cost an estimated part of a three-way plan to con- truet a city airport, reroute High way 81 into Interstate 29, and build the Skidmore bridge. The Minnesota point bridge was iiifnTirT-Mi torn down in 1964. A modern crossing has since been built. Circa 1935. ^.iw^a&^fr*.. Sorlie Bridge looking west, 1929. Circa 1940. Arthur Gustav Sorlie April 2d. 1874 - August 28, 1928 Fourteenth Governor of N.D. $320,000. On January 30, 1929, the only casualty in building the bridge Skidmore Bridge dedication (Kenne happened when Walter Kaestner, Bridge I. 1964. hoisting engineer and bridgeman, died as a result of being struck on the head by a falling timber. Truck traffic was getting too heavy for the other two crossings to handle, so in 1961, after long Circa 1950. Skidmore Bridge ceremonies with: IL-Rl Mayor Nelson Youngs, Highway Commissioner Waller llielle, former Governor William City, and Harold Shaft. 1971. 1 This page sponsored by: Air Control Heating, Inc. Bill Borchardt Potato Co. H. E. Everson Co. Rydell Chevrolet Co., Inc. Sorlie Bridge, stages in construction. Point Bridge, built in 1967. page 28. Major Catastrophes Sudden misfortunes happen and 1893, the city had about fifty forced the Northern Pacific into everywhere, in all walks of life. cases of typhoid fever a year; the bankruptcy for the second time. Grand Forks has had its share of Deaconess Hospital handled ten to That winter trains failed to run to unfortunate calamities: epidemics, fifteen at a given time. Crookston or west from Fargo. depressions, wind storms, The University of North Dakota George Winship recalled in his snowstorms, floods and fires. repeatedly warned the City about later years: / shall never forget the the condemned water supply, but winter of 1893-94. What with Lpidemics the City ignored them. Finally in 1,100 cases of typhoid fever, According to the Herald: November of 1893 a blanket of deaths, and funerals daily, busted "Grand Forks county's first typhoid fell on Grand Forks, and banks, and ruined credit, isolated epidemic was smallpox; in the win lasted until April of 1894. The city by quarantine from the outside ter of 1878-79 it took a toll of eight incurred 1600 to 1800 cases in a world: we were undoubtedly the lives including the first physician of population of 5,000. The com most unhappy and disconsolate this city. Dr. George A. Hacston, munity suffered 193 deaths because people in all the great northwest. whose name also is written 'Hax- of the epidemic. Fear provoked ten ton' in early records of the city." The New York stock market persons a week to leave the city at Apparently the disease was crashed in 1929. The Great the height of the disaster. brought into the territory by one Depression followed all through D. Thompson, a Norwegian. In response to the University, the '30s. North Dakota was one of People were anxious to talk with the city enacted measures to the states that was hit the hardest. the new arrival about the Old research and combat the cause. Of William Langer, North Dakota county. Little did they know that ficials decided to purify the water governor, helped as much as his he was carrying a deadly disease. by a filtering method in May 1894. powers enabled him. But the years Before long twenty-six persons had The problem was then solved, were so bad, much of his effort was of no avail. caught the sickness and unfor Depressions tunately eight died. It was a good Droughts added to the disaster. A panic arose in 1873. This thing county officials were coun 1934 was the driest year on record period halted immigration for four teracting the disease or who for this state. Farmers' crops were years. It presented a blow to the knows, hundreds could have suf a failure because rainfall was below whole Red River Valley, causing fered and died, said one State average and in some areas setbacks in trade. agent. grasshoppers ate everything in At the same time typhoid fever sight. Farm income was thus very The period from 1885 to 1890 was at its peak in destruction, an low. Farms passed into the hands was a boom period for the city. economic depression hit the nation of public or corporate interests. Grand Forks' water system expan and hence the city. The panic of Urban centers increased sixteen ded without much awareness of the 1893 slowed down settlement; percent because farmsteaders left quality of the water. Between 1885 people were unstable. It also their homesteads. Dust storms were so intense that it was hazar dous to drive a car on the plains or even fly a plane. If one can only imagine North Dakota's flat, desolate plains in an extremely dry season with the wind blowing fiercely. . . ! That is the way it was during the drought. One had to live through that time to genuinely comprehend what it was like. As a senior citizen said, it was just "terrible, terrible, terrible. . ." With all this, nearly "one third to one half of the people in the State were on relief. Consequently, land values declined; illegal loans and foreclosures on mortgages were made; unpaid taxes followed; in creasing numbers of tenancy; and enormous movement of people left the state and the city." * One person summed up this A ringworm epidemic broke oul in 1954. forcing school children to wear period of close to eleven years as beanies lor protection. the "end of the world!" This page sponsored by: Grand Forks Glass & Paint Co. Red River Valley Potato Growers Ass'n. "Robinson Dr. Elwyn B. History of Noah Dakota. University of Nebraska. 1966. pa.j Windstorms A tornado struck Grand Forks on June 16, 1887. The storm damaged buildings at the Univer sity and partially wrecked St. Michael's Church. On June 6, 1954 a windstorm touched into the city. Winds reached a gale of seventy to ninety miles an hour and continued for three hours. Westward Flo Motel's huge sign in front was blown down. The winds toppled telephone poles, power lines, even uprooted trees in places. Winds spread through the valley and power blackouts resulted because of the storm. The south end of town reverted to the pioneer days, when the power went out. Candles, lan terns, flashlights, and old fashioned lamps were utilized for light while spring alarm clocks were brought out to replace the electric ones.- Third Street under snow in the "Blizzard of '96". All in all, damages to business and private property were estimated at a conservative - 550,000. m** Snow Storms Blizzards seem to an annual oc i currence in this part of the coun try, but it is rare that persons are killed, because storms are so well ~h&""t<«M~. a^S^*^ forecast and the people know when they are coming. And everybody is 1907. Snow plow ready to clean the rails. aware of North Dakota's erratic weather; sun shining one day, and the next blizzarding. It is the "bad ones", however, the ones that cause considerable damage and loss of life that are the memorable ones. They happen every so often. The "Blizzard of 1896" fell on Thanksgiving Day. The tremen dous snowstorm came to the city and it took five days before the railroad could operate normally to and from here. A reported six lives n S. Fourth St. After a blizzard in 1963, looking south were lost. on Third Street. Senior citizens remember this event vividly. One said her father tied her to the front porch for fear Snowstorm of March 1950 blackouts followed. Zero visibility she might get lost. She admitted Many area residents remember warnings were out. Motorists said she loved to play in the snow drifts this storm. It was a severe blizzard they battled snow drifts all along and was not aware of the danger. It that hit the state and the city on the way from Michigan, North is said that one could hardly see in March 7th, 1950. Winds galed up Dakota to (Jrand Forks. Schools front of oneself, during that time. to seventy miles an hour. The were ordered closed. KILO radio In 1949 a snowstorm came upon storm severed communication lines station came to the aid of Great city residents. The Herald carried a to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Elec Northern Railway, whose com story in which "old timers" said tric power lines were blown down. munication lines were destroyed. that this storm was one of the Both Great Northern and Northern This page sponsored by: worst in history! The storm was the C. L. Lintoot Co. Pacific branches had to close their greatest since March 15, 1941, Norman Funeral Home transportation operations. Mother when about eighty people died in Phelps Jewelry Company Nature had her way of expressing the Red River Valley. Valley Contracting Co., Inc. herself at times! paj ;e 30. Floods Although floods too seem to be an every-year occurrence, man has increasingly been able to outsmart Nature in protecting himself. Man builds dikes to shelter his city and thus can control high waters. The first recorded flood in the Red River Valley was in 1796, fur traders in Winnipeg accounted for it. Although flood waters were high in 1798 and 1809, they are vague in historical writings. The flood of 18 2 6 is known as a m o n - strosity—the largest of the valley, according to the official U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) of that time. Flood waters of 1850-52 reached the height of sixty-six feet at Pembina. Charles Cavileer, pioneer in Pembina, described the Flood of 1897, showing DeMers Avenue in Bast Grand Forks under flood of '52 as "one vast sea, say about 30 miles wide". U.S.G.S. in dicated that that flood excelled the - *">* ' i- 1897 heights. Again in 1860-1861, highwater entered the valley. William Moorhead recalled he had to stay in the top story of his house near Fargo to survive. In 1882, the first flood adequately measured by the U.S. Army was recorded at the thirty-nine foot level. >"•; Jr **"•-»-••' *a«i A> ' -i btiik- It was the "Flood of 1897" that area senior citizens recall. After a heavy winter snow, the spring brought a massive flood, "One of the worst!" According to Dr. Elwyn B. Robinson's History of North Dakota: It swept away property, drowned many deer, inundated towns, covered 25 blocks of paving in Grand Forks, damaged bridges, and made a lake 30 miles wide and .-* tin - ffV ">"-*' 150 miles long in the Red Rivet- ••* - ..**4t ^*y-:-ISP*X^ Valley. Looking towards Grand Forks downtown area, circa 1950. While Third Street was com pletely under water, with every basement full of river water, the big sport of the 1897 flood was to get the bums stuck in the mud streets. Edith Thompson said that Theodore, her late husband, and Flarry Gotzian (whose father owned the Gotzian Block) would stand on one side of DeMers Avenue and call to the bums on the other side. "The drunks would In 1964 flood- invariably try" to chase them. waters reached over Belmont F'loodwaters raised the wooden Road, which blocks which made up the street, halted traffic for several This page sponsored by: davs. Blue Cross of North Dakota Lystad's Inc. Highwater in Central Park. 1974. so they were floating in one huge solid mass. When the drunks walked onto these blocks, they "sunk right up to their armpits". "They couldn't get out because the blocks would go down if they used any pressure. They couldn't walk, and let me tell you, life saving crews had to be on hand at all time!" This view shows dittJUlLwork aroui* rounds the corner .from Lewis Bkd. onto Pari dike area in an almost continuous stream, empty their loads anTT *Major Floods at Grand Forks packing machines then pack down the dirt. 1826-1969 (Gage heights corrected to present Gagel Fires Year Gage 1826 unknown 1828 unknown 1852 *m 50.5 1860 unknown 1861 51.3 1881 36.3 1882 46.3 1883 40.5 1893 43.8 1897 48.5 1904 40.6 1906 36.0 1907 40.0 1916 39.3 1920 41.0 1943 38.0 1947 40.6 1948 41.6 1950 43.5 1952 33.3 1965 44.9 1966 45.6 1969 45.7 *Crand Forks Herald According to the above chart, the valley floods on the average of Syndicate Block. I897. every six years. With this record, man thinks Fires are common in every town. "Among the buildings burned about protecting himself. Thus Some fires are disastrous and those out were the grocery stores ol M. dikes are built to conquer the are ones people remember. . . Reuth and C. L. Baker; the general powers of Nature herself. During a On December 18, 1882. a stores of Morstad. Christopherson flood temporary dikes were made holocaust broke out near the cor and Co.. and Burrows and of sand-filled gunny sacks. Young ner of Third Street and DeMers Fredericks; Maloney's barber shop; men would put in a hard day's Avenue, and took the entire block Eccles and Morgan's drugstore; the work by filling and throwing sand on the west side of Third Street. It Matthews and Stringham harness bags. The Red Cross would be was so huge, townsmen were afraid store; the saloons of Charles Cham there to serve one with coffee and the lire might spread to enflame bers and Joe Hanrahan; Caswell foodstuffs. the rest of the city. and Blackburn's photo studio and a The city's first permanent man- number of offices of lawyers, doe- made river obstacle was the Lin This page sponsored by: tors and others." coln Drive dike project, lt was Appliance Center, Inc. The Syndicate Block burned on completed in 1956. This protected Davis Jewelry Co. February 21. 1897. It was con Plywood Dakotas the whole Lincoln Drive area. Wilcox & Malm, Inc. sidered the city's worst blaze tip to c 32. Early fire equipment. the hotel barber shop. Grand Forks Herald claimed, "The fire Tuesday night was one of the most spectacular in the city's history". Gordon Moore, long-time fireman and former chief recalled the holocaust. Fie said, "The second Dacotah Flotel burning was about the biggest in my life. I just about got killed!" The next December 12, the Frederick Flotel burned to the ground. It stood across Third Street from the Ryan Hotel, where a parking lot is now located. George Pariseau and Roy Grinde, area residents, were among the 95 registered guests. One person was reported to have perished in the blaze. Governor John Moses was in town the night of the tremendous Frederick Hotel fire. Fie was staying at the Ryan Hotel. Gover nor Moses saw the blaze from start to finish, as he was awakened by the clanging of fire equipment below his window. The Ryan however was not touched. With two major hotels gone, the Ryan Hotel was the only one left, that time, for it totaled a quarter of mous fire; "first the smoke crept which was inadequate to meet the a million dollars. Fire was fought up along the large chimney at the city's demands. This posed a great for many hours during the early rear of the building, working its problem for the city because with morning. There were no lives lost, way between the floors and the war on —where would people but it was recorded as one of the hallways, and it was nearly half an go? Citizens made their homes fiercest fires ever to occur in hour later that the first flames available, but some were left to the Grand Forks. burst into view". streets. Vera Kelsey's Whisper The following December, the The second Dacotah Hotel bur Murder! implies that these fires Dacotah Hotel encountered its first ning took place on December 29, were no accident! lire. The building was completely 1943. The 140 room structure was demolished and two lives were a total loss at an estimated This page sponsored by: taken. A Herald reporter wrote S225.000. This building also housed American Linen Supply Co. this account: The Hotel's own elec Cariveau Advertising Agency the Grand Forks Civic and Com Farmers Union Oil Co. tric plant engine started the enor merce Association, bus depot, and Ness Epco Inc. r-agc 33. Anecdotes of Interest • The first white child born in the city, according to " The only legal hanging in Grand Forks county the Grand Forks Herald, was Charles Maloney. The took place October 30, 1885. George Miller, nineteen date. . . 1875. The son of a riverboat captain, Flugh E. years old, was convicted of killing Mrs. C. Y. Snell Maloney, he was brought up here and passed away and her son. Mrs. Snell was the wife of a city Baptist here. Charles Maloney was known as a successful minister. coach and an avid talker. During the eighties and nineties vagrancy was the One unfortunate event happened the afternoon of most prominent crime. Hobos tramping around was a October 24, 1882, when a negro man was lynched! frequent sight. In one case, an unidentified man stole Charles Thurber allegedly raped a railroad conduc a ham from Alexander Griggs' kitchen. The person tor's wife. "It was decided no inquest would be held. got away and Alex had a good laugh. Those were the No one demanded it and no one wanted it." That days when an occasional hobo would come to one's statement expressing feelings of the people was writ back door to ask for some rations. The home-owners, ten in an early Herald story. The account continues in if good-natured, would feed them leftovers. This was detail. A vigilante mob of about 2,000 rushed the city an added experience for the children. jail, grabbed a laborer, and dragged him down to the Great Northern railway bridge. He apparently admit Traveling salesmen were running about the country ted to the crime. It was reported the lynching party side, at this time, looking for a gullible buyer. Grand reached the bridge at 3:45 p.m. and "at four minutes Forks had its share of these people, early chronicles past four he was swung. At 13 minutes past four all report. Peddlers arrived on the early morning train, motion ceased; at half past four he was called stone stayed for a day or two and tried to sell their goods. If dead and at six o'clock the body was cut down." This it was discovered that their merchandise was defective event has left a scar in some minds, others have super or over priced, they either made off on their own ac stitions towards the bridge. cord or were thrown out by an official. But it is said that these salesmen contributed to local hotel growth. On October 12, 1882, the Northwestern Hotel was the scene of a strange event. A man was found in one of the rooms; he was bloated and upon discovery he- hid in the closet. The police were called in. Officer Dick Fadden apprehended the bloated man from the closet; he was taken to headquarters. The Herald reported: "At the jail he was disrobed of five shirts, six pairs ol" socks, two pairs of red flannel drawers, and some other items over a pair of overalls". James White was sentenced to fifteen days in jail for the crime. ' On. November 30. 1901, the second Dacotah Hotel was the scene of a famous murder. A fist fight broke out at the front desk between Frank March and W. E. West, both salesmen. A shot was fired. West had shot March to death with a single bullet. A trial followed, but West was found not guilty. Apparently it was self defense. A less serious issue embroiled the Dacotah in a long struggle with the city council during the '40s. ll con cerned the beautiful trees that surrounded the hostelry on the First Avenue North side and Third Street side. The city wanted to widen the street; hence the trees had to go! Mr. Bacon, hotel proprietor, appeared at all the city council meetings contesting the removal of the timbers. The trees were also a favorite perch for sparrows, and as the story goes, if one walked under the gallows, he might expect to feel "droppings" on his head. As one can see, the city won and the trees were cut down. This page sponsored by: Border States Electric Supply Co. Occidental Chemical Co. Credit Bureau ol Greater Grand Forks Washburn Printing Center pa'J 34. Anecdotes of Interest (Cont.) Although, naturally, horses were an everyday occur The University of North Dakota was the site of a rence in the 1880's, at times they posed a problem. mud fight at the end of the 1959 school year. Students Horses which were not hitched to the street rails were took "mud pies" and threw them at U buildings in a hazard when they got loose. The Herald stated in an celebration of "school's out". Police were called in to 1881 editorial, that a runaway horse endangered a per settle the matter, but no one was arrested and no one son's life. was hurt, only a few windows were broken. The historical drinking fountain, which once served On June 29, 1961, Diane Ulvedal was crowned Miss many a horse and dog, now sits on the corner of North Dakota. She also held the title of Miss Grand Gateway Drive and N. Fifth Street. Herman Lee En Forks. sign, an eastern capitalist, donated the fountain to the City under certain conditions through the National On February 14, 1968 a freak accident occurred. A Humane Alliance. The contract supposedly stated that helicopter crashed into the KXJB tower! The 'copter the trough must be "installed in the manner provided. exploded and the pilot died. An elegant tower with a clock once was a part o f t h e Great Northern depot. But ac cording to an informer, the c 1 o c k was removed and a GN symbol put in its place. The reason was. allegedly an im portant figure was late t o catch a train, so he ordered the clock removed! Later the total t o w e r w a s dismantled just out of spite. Great Northern Depot. 1910 The first marijuana case in Grand Forks, took place in December, 1968. It was at this time police invaded Paul Ziegenhagen's apartment and found, allegedly, four and a half pounds of marijuana. Flarold Shaft defended Ziegenhagen in the law suit. After an un- precendented 14 hours and 15 minutes of jury deliberation, the judge declared the panel a "hung jury". The Grand Forks Herald captured the first GN Depot, 1971. "bust" with detailed articles, from the beginning day in December to the ending days, in May of 1969. and maintained perpetually in a condition for the use 1974 has brought on a unique craze called "streak of animals". It once stood at the junction of Fifth and ing", which is a witnessed person quickly running Chestnut, where it satisfied thirsty horses and dogs for nude through a public place. One record was almost some time. As the automobile came of age the foun set here, when some young men streaked in nineteen tain was no longer used, except for an occasional dog degrees below zero weather. But an Alaskan party up or bird. Apparently cars crashed into the obstacle set Grand Forks' record, by streaking in twenty-seven later on, so as a measure of safety it was removed. It degrees below! remained in storage until Bernt Flelgaas offered his creamery as a location for the nostalgic horse trough. This page sponsored by: And it still remains at that same spot. University of North Dakota Alumni Assn. ne ,^, Sights, sounds J{arvesting near §rand forks, J/. Dak. and smells From Horsepower to Horsepower so familiar. by David 11 in q nisi Steamengine tractor. hat has happened to the Old Threshing Rig? The old steam tractor, fueled by wood or coal, oil or even straw, has faded into the shade of happy memories. Along with it has gone the pleasant creak of horse-drawn racks, hauling bundles for the hungry separator. Gone, too, are a hundred other sights and sounds and smells so familiar to the early day threshing man. Progress has speeded the passing of the romantic phases of this form of farm life. The mighty throb of the steam engines and the song of the meadowlark in the early morning, is no more. For farming like everything else, cannot afford to look back. Modern methods with modern machinery have made of farming a scientific industry, giving it a streamlined appearance. But all these early day Hay stacking, circa 1900. machines, so essential at that time, provided the ser vice that helped to build the state, as the modern to haul it a long way on wagons. They would take it to machines of today will continue to help develop the the mills, have it ground, and haul it home again. future of North Dakota and its people. The earliest grain was cut loose, then at a later date To prepare the soil for the planting of the crops, it was put into bundles and shocked, but mostly at that some of the very early settlers used the spade and hoe time it was stacked. These stacks were so placed that to make the ground suitable for sowing the grain. the threshing rig could be placed between two stacks Some of the people bought old fashioned plows. and the men pitched the bundles right into the These plows had only one plowshare and a long han machine. But before that, all the bundles were han dle but some had two handles. A man drove oxen or dled by hand, with men doing the cutting of the bands horses on these plows and held it in the ground by which held the grain together. This was hard work. walking behind and holding onto the handle or han The first engines used for threshing did not have trac dles. They sowed the grain by broadcasting it with the tion, so it was necessary to pull them with horses from hands, carrying it in a sack fastened to the shoulders. field to field. When it was ripe the men cut the grain with sickles or The bundles were tied with twine and two men scythes and it fell into rows. It was then racked stood on a platform and cut the twine, grabbing the together by handrackers. bundle with one hand ami cutting the band with the If they lacked big threshing floors they would have other. The separator man would grab the bundles, to do their threshing in the winter. They leveled a shake them loose and throw them into the feeder. piece of ground and poured water on it so it would There were no knives in the machines that threshed freeze. They put the bundles in circles and flailed it. the grain as was used later. The straw came out of the The flail was made by taking two pieces of wood and other end of the machines and a strawbueker was connecting them with a leather strap. The one piece used to move it away from the separator. Many a cut of wood was used as a handle and the other to pound the grain. To get their grain to market, they often had This page sponsored by Associated Potato Growers, Inc. |lil! , Ms ,r,t-. •:'•••<:' '•••" »#• - - •• .-.v.'.-*'-. lWsSS^-"- ,.,,-N ;-:«>•':v'r*•*%:•'•!:>•• „" • • -. ' : :-iW •:«0''. •&} rj^'i, Hitrvestint! work near November. It was also a time for hard work and long hours for the housewives. Extra help had to be employed in the house to feed these large crews of men. And the job was a continuous one from early in the morning until late at night. A major operation was the hauling of wheat to market in those days. Farmers used their Rumley-Oil Pull tractors to haul four grain tanks of wheat to town, STATISTICS OF GRAND FORKS COUNTY. VALUATION AND ASSESSMENTS. Harvesting. Total ass'd TOlHlilKS'lt Average No. No. assessed Acres Year. valuation value of value Acres finger was received by the bandcutter in the perfor of petsou al farm in deeded mance of his work. county. property. lauds. Crop land. I he grain was cut by six and seven foot binders at 1881 SS, 648,784 K.99 1S85 4.,-: (10,384 8.85 615,378 that time. These machines had a very large sideraft 18811 4,666,1/71 (.1,472,888 8.76 1887 6,014.686 1,676,868 3.78 073.432 which made it hard work for the horses that pulled 1888 5,144.848 1,676.644 8.65 868,829 688.712 1889 5,842,097 1,819,827 3.04 809.8'i8 781.274 them. The bundles were shocked, ten to the shock, 1890 9,613,289 8,868.* K4 6.44 £58,187 786.086 and after about two weeks of curing, were hauled with 1891 :>,831.:,-, I 8,8r.6,118 5.44 843,111 748,802 bundle racks to the threshing machine. Two-horse bin REAL ESTATE. ders were the first used. The threshing of the grain Assessed Assessed value Year, value of of town and was a slow and tedious task at that time, for so much land. city lots. of the work had to be done by hand. Later the knives 1880.... $ WO.f.os 2,846,820 for cutting the bands and a blower for blowing the 1881! 3.i90,(.08 793.708 1887 8,648,774 957.054 straw into a pile were introduced. This made the work 1888 8.860,514 1,017,085 1889 8,840.807 1,174,888 a lot easier, for the bundles were thrown directly into 1890 fi.(*f,719 3.871,686 the feeder, which extended out from the front of the 1891 5.184,788 2,888,718 machine. These newer threshers were of different CROP STATISTICS. sizes, 20 inch, up to 44 inch, using anywhere from 4 1881). 1890. 1891. teams to haul bundles, up to 12 teams. Bushels of wheat 8,454,003 J.528.000 6,881,624 The 12 team rigs used field pitchers who helped the Bushels of oats 741,094 910,000 1,854,934 Bushels of barley 848.878 391.000 688,843 bundle haulers to load and unload their wagons; two Bushels of potatoes. It 5.103 58,80(1 848.697 Bushels of tlax 1, Oil I 87,000 82,878 spike pitchers, who helped to unload the loads; a Bushels of corn 1,814 2,500 7,666 Tons of hay 34,866 45,000 42,746 separator man, to care for the separator; an engineer Pounds of wool 4,449 8.800 86,480 to run the engine; and a man to haul water for the Pounds of hutter 75.955 868.616 310,590 steam engine. All in all, a crew of 20 or more men LIVE STOCK. were employed to thresh the grain, and much of the Horses. 0 attle. Sheep.Iliogs threshing was done by custom threshing rigs, which Year. No. Value. No. Value. No. No. went from farm to farm threshing, and that had 1885 5.813 11.708 710 3,059 1880 0,318 4,998 880 4,883 threshing runs up to fifty or more days, finishing their 1887 0.180 7,888 1,170 3.481 IMS) 7,ajj0. »486,538 8.130 $1.47,017 1,287 3.353 Eddy's Bakery 1889 8,589 589,798 9,589 156,984 1.770 4,889 This page sponsored by: 181)0 11,088 583,017 13.017 160.157 3,351 4,490 Williams Pipe Line Company 1891 13.100 629.464 13,851 153,548 10,479 S.594 page 37. consisting of about 500 bushels. Grain was hauled in the early days of this era to the Red River and loaded KINGSLftND BROTrieRS, on barges towed behind steamboats. Sometimes the IMPORTERS AND BREEDERS OP boat would wait several hours until the barges were filled with grain. The tall grain elevators came later, (LYDeSDftLe, 0iGLlStt_5ttlRe, jSjORMftN ftND following the iron rails that spurred out from the east bringing transportation and population to the new land. No. 1 hard wheat became a magic word across the continent, as the rich Red River Valley land produced 50 bushels and more of the prize grain to the acre. Land prices boomed, people flocked to the area, some to work on the bonanza farms at the unheard of wages of $2 per day. The bonanza farms testing grounds for the new reaper machines and other products of a just evolving age, continued to be run for many years. The boy of today has never seen the sight of bur ning straw piles in the night, their glares so strong that they reddened the sky above them. The prairies FRENCH DRAFT HORSES. everywhere were dotted with these burning piles of straw, making the horizon for miles around seem like Low Prices and Zia.sy Terms a giant Christmas tree. A LARGE SUPPLY ALWAYS DM HAND. The old threshing rig is still a happy memory in the T minds of many of the old time threshermen. Picture in IRAND FORKS, * * NORTH DAKOTA, your minds, if you can, 8 or 12 bundle teams loading up the grain, and bringing it into the thresher. The hum of the blower and the steady working of the steam engine, putting all of its energy into pulling the long drive-belt that turned the wheels of the separator, causing the grain to be separated and the straw to be shot in a long arch from the blower into a stack. Many of the farmers did some threshing in the farm yards, so as to have a supply for the winter months for their stock. Lunch time would come about 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon and the men would always be looking forward to this. In the evenings after the hor ses had been taken care of and the evening meal had been eaten, the men would lay around the farm yard trading stories or be up in the hay loft playing cards. Also interesting is that the early separators were made of wood and many of them caught fire and bur ned. Many a steam engine exploded also, causing great damage, and serious injury and death to its operators. So, there was danger in the operation of the old threshing rig. These dangers were eliminated to a great extent when the threshing machines were made of steel, and the gasoline tractor replaced the steam engine. But the oldthreshermandid not consider the transition from steam to gasoline a good thing; it did not seem to him like real threshing. The putt-putt •."%. of the gasoline tractor could never replace the throb fe bing of the steam engine, with its escaping steam and its shrill whistle. tractors. Technology hasn't been alone in its drive for Traveling steam engineers often carried their own better ways. Grain prices have also changed. With in steam whistles with them and installed them on the creases in grain prices, other increases have kept pace engines, and took them with them again when the also. Land, chemical, fertilizer, machinery, and feed threshing run was completed. Many would tie the are some of the areas where a farmer can spend his whistles down and let them scream until the steam hard earned money. was exhausted, to denote that the threshing run was Agriculture is the backbone of our nation. And in completed. They were well satisfied with the results of no other industry is there so much diversity. The far a job well done. mer very seldom.does the same thing two days in a Farming has made progress by leaps and bounds. row. We have every right to be proud of the farmers We have gone from horse-drawn bundle racks to twin- in the Red River Valley and I for one take my hat off screw tandem trucks, threshing mahcines to large self to them for a job that is always well done. propelled combines, and single shared plows to eight This page sponsored by: The Pillsbury Company bottoms pulled by powerful four wheel drive diesel L pit] 38. Grand Forks sawmill, circa 1884. A. Chisholm Planning Mill. Sash and Door Factory. Grand Forks 1N.D.1 Lumbermill 1907. ,»w»*i,*i i Dinnie tiros. Brickyard. Grand Forks. N.D. ".«« -. 4itv -'"»-; -.-;'•;:--"- •>VfijJK*»"F1 This page sponsored by: Hugo's Piggly Wiggly Stores Richmond Engineering, Inc. ace 3l). NORTHERN PACKING COMPANY OF GRAND FORKS A financial campaign was headed by Gran d Fork s businessmen to build this company in 1919. The plant was started, in part, to benefit area farmers, because it was a closer place to market produce. The brand name "Sweet Clover" was attached to such products as: smoked meats, sausage products, poultry and hog feed. Through the history of the com pany, financial difficulties were a major factor as to whether the plant would survive or not. In the January 22. 1923, edition of the Grand Forks Herald, area Northern Packing Co.. 1927. farmers commented on what a great asset it was to be able to ship produce directly to this city instead of the South St. Paul stockyards. One said, "1 can say this most positively, every time 1 have ship ped here I have made good money." The plant was forced to sell out when the Reconstruction Finance Corporation foreclosed its unpaid $80,000 mortgage around 1934. In 1935, Armour and Co. purchased the packing company and main tained it until recently. Today, the Pillsbury Co. occupies the building. Armour and Co.. 1935. Recount of the State Mill // stands tall on the skyline pa: o 40. he skyline of Grand Forks mill was awarded to Fegels Con been there ever since. Under his acquired a dramatic new struction Co. of Minneapolis, with management, the mill showed sub look on October 30, 1922 the Charles L. Pillsbury Company stantial profits, earnings mounted when the North Dakota hired to design the milling units. to nearly $2 million for the first six Milfl and Elevator began its first Construction continued until years of his term. day of operation. mid-December 1920, when it was Political interference could be During the past half-century, the halted due to lack of money. For part of the reason for the mill's North Dakota Mill has continued more than a year, the skeleton of early lack of success, but it was to have an important impact on the the unfinished mill loomed in the also linked with the period's economy of Grand Forks, the Red Grand Forks skyline. It was not un economic instability, and that the River Valley and the nation. til 1922 that construction was mill operated only at half its The story of the North Dakota resumed under the direction of capacity for the first 20 years. Mill began before North Dakota Governor R. A. Nestos, who Despite a steady flow of money became a state. In 1887, the Far realized that the mill was widely from mill profits to the state mers Alliance called upon the favored by the voters. treasury, the mill still had its legislature to build a publicly- On October 30, 1922 the North critics. Numerious attempts were owned grain terminal to protect Dakota Mill and Elevator became made at the state legislature to sell the interests of the farmers. a reality. The terminal building was the mill to private enterprise, but No action resulted until 1893, twelve stories high, and for a long never attracted much support. The when a law was passed by the time was the tallest building in people of North Dakota have ac North Dakota Legislature which North Dakota. cepted the mill as a profitable en would appropriate $100,000 in state The construction cost was terprise. funds to build a state elevator or $3,044,391. On dedication day, Stangler was general manager warehouse at Duluth or Superior. more than 2,500 persons from all for 16 years, when he lost his life in But the law would have required over North Dakota assembled in a ear accident. He was succeeded Minnesota or Wisconsin to cede Grand Forks. From a downtown by P. R. Fossen, Eugene M. Mur jurisdiction over the mill property platform at North Fourth Street phy, and the present manager, Sam to North Dakota, and "vetoed it and Demers, an electric wire was Kuhl, a veteran of the milling self". connected to the mill, and Gover profession. In 1897, 1899 and 1905 there nor Nestos pushed a button of Two disasters have marked the were other unsuccessful efforts to ficially starting the mill at 11 a.m. mill's history; in 1960, a July fire establish a mill and elevator. The first sack of flour came down did $125,000 damage to the com However, the idea of a state-owned the chute to be handled by Herman mercial feed mill, placing it out of mill became increasingly important Sunsdahl, a mill employee. operation for three months. On to the Dakota farmers who found The North Dakota Mill con July 28, 1970, a raging fire themselves captive customers to tributed much to raising the price destroyed both the spring wheat monopoly elevators in Minneapolis of both durum and spring wheat to and durum milling units, with and Superior. the farmers. During the depression damage in the millions of dollars. Two amendments to the North and great drought of 1930-33, the Dakota constitution in 1905 and Mill ground flour, free of charge, 1915 removed legal barriers against and distributed it to needy persons state ownership of mills; in 1913. in western North Dakota whose the legislature passed a special mill lands had been ravaged by the dust levy to finance construction of a bowl. mill. In 1933, the mill entered into an In 1919, the North Dakota agreement with Grand Forks to Legislature enacted a program provide the city with electricity which set up an Industrial Com from the mill's own generating mission made up of the governor, plant. In 1940, the mill sold elec attorney general and commissioner tricity to the fledgling Minnkota of agriculture and labor to run all Power Cooperative, which later state-owned enterprises. was to sell power to the mill. In 19 19, A . C . Townl e y , The first manager of the mill was president of the NPL, announced C. H, Austin, who was later thai the Industrial Commission followed by (). L. Spencer, Ludvig would build the mill in Grand Pederson, A. F. Bonzer. A. .1. Scott Forks. and Owen T. Owen. In the opinion of some obser In 1939, Robert M. Stangler was vers, the Grand Forks location was named general manager, and he considered undesirable as it would established a tradition of efficiency serve only the northern portion of and stability to the office that has the slate. This page sponsored by: But, Grand Forks businessmen Budget Warehouse Furniture agreed to furnish a site and to buy Froehlich-Paulson-Moore Insurance Agency SI million in bonds. On April 29, Grand Forks Bike Shop 1920, a contract for building the Holiday Inn page 41. The mill had been in the process of an extensive modernization program at the time of the fire. The blaze destroyed all of the milling equipment, as well as doing extensive damage to the structures. It took 18 months to rebuild the mill, wit h J a n u a r y 3 1 , 1972 becoming another significant milestone in the mill history. It was on that date that North Dakota Governor William L. Guy and the 1 rid list rial Commission were p r e s e n t a t a r e d e d i c a t i o n ceremony; at 2 p.m.. Governor Guy pushed a button that placed I h e m i 11 i n g m a c li i n e r y i n t < > operation again. When the mill reopened its operations in 1972, ii became one of the most modern milling facilities in the nation. // was smoother, faster, cleaner, quieter, greater in capacity and nearly free of pollution. The milling capacity was increased by 25 percent. s; n , Major innovations included a pneumatic system to lift grain and flour in sealed aluminum tubes; filtering devices to eliminate dust and chaff from air inside the mill; a blending sysi em to mix g ra in:, before entering the milling process. Other innovations include an air make-up system to provide correct air-11 u m i d i t y -1 e m p e rat u r e c < > n - ditions; a sprinkler and fire-protec tion system; extensive electrical change :. including underground cable; completely new milling equipmem; sound-proofing walls and doors; and color codings of all surface-: within the mill. terminal with a storage capacity of The rebuilding of the mill was a live million bushels, two local complicated process, with much of elevators and a modern commer the reconstruction done by mill cial Iced plant thai makes more employees. A plaque within the than 40 different formula feeds. mill r e cor d s t h e d a y o f The mill ha. a considerable mi rededication, and bears the names pact on the Grand Forks com of many involved in the re-opening munity. purchasing local services efforts. and supplies of approximate!) M A multi-faceted operation, the million each year. Fhe mill em North Dal.oia Mill is nciualh two ploys about 1 30 pei iple, v\ it h a mills, operating simultaneously side payroll of more than SI.200.000 per by side-. One is for the milling of year. The reported annual sales ol hard spring wheal for baking and the mill is S60.000.0(X). \ SI M )NDS 1 \K I l 1': I ormoi N< Dakota ' iosernor V\ illiam ! . Cu\ i".i, 11• durum flour: the other grinds The story of the North Dakota ,i hum -II ill.ii activated the complete!) durum wheat into semolina, which Mill is interwoven with ihe history modernized North Dakota Mill. I he is used for the making of macaroni hour ua . 1 p.m. on Januar) ,tl. 19" '. of Grand Forks, and .lands tail on < Ibsen iii!', hi'- ;tan up eercmom is products. the skyline of the community, Sam Kuhl. general manager ol the mill. More than 95 percent of the re fIecting it s perman e n ce, I he North Dakota Mill had heen om ol operauon since a disa arous lire products of the mill are shipped prominence, and significance to dcMitnetl the din urn anil .pi int> >v heal beyond the state bounderies to the city, the state and ihe nation. mills in .Ink. 19 II. commercial customers throughout the nation. In addition to the flour This Dane Donsored bv Bohlman's Furniture & Carpet Co, Red River Personnel Placement mill, the complex includes a gram '' E. A. Fladland Co. Sambo's Restaurant page 12. Cream of Wheat originated Here In Hill St oil I .:..., \...ri , ILLING CO n this generation of cold cereals and quick agreed to send the porridge product to New breakfasts, many people forget or never York along with the next shipment of flour. experience the affect of a hot cereal When the cereal arrived in New York, the breakfast on a chilly morning. Today, brokers for the Diamond Mill —Lamont, Corliss o a t in e a I is pro b ably t h e and Co.—sent word to the mill. "Do not send best remembered of the warm cereals, but many any more flour, send us Cream of Wheat." I he of the older generation may also remember other Grand Forks Diamond Mill nursed the product hot cereals; namely, Mello-Wheat, Wheatena, along until their main business became the and Post-O. The one hot cereal, however, which production of Cream of Wheat. The Corporation far outstrips the others, and was rated second continued its production of Cream of Wheat in only to oatmeal in sales of warm cereals in 1939, Grand Forks until 1897, and in that year was Cream of Wheat. transferred if; operation lo Minneapolis. I he city of Grand Forks can lay claim to Through the first half of the twentieth-century, being the original home of Cream of Wheat. In 1893, the nation was experiencing severe I he business continued to grow and became a economic problems, mirrored by a nation wide highly profitable operation. Continuing with one panic. The Diamond Mill in Grand Forks also product, it became the largest selling hot wheal felt the pressure of this national depression. cereal in the late !930's. In 1939, Fortune Thomas S. Amidon, the head miller of the magazine did a story on the success of the Diamond Mill, attempted to convince the three corporation. Included in the article, was a principle partners in the mill about the need for colorful narrative of the corporation's beginning a new product. Amidon finally sold Emery in Grand Forks and its subsequent development. Mapes, a local businessman, George Bulk a local In 1961, the National Biscuit Company farmer, and George Clifford Sr.. a prominent (NABISCO) acquired the assets, assumed the Grand Fork-, lawyer, on his idea of a breakfast liabilities, and then became the owner ol the porridge. The porridge utilized wheal farina, Cream of Wheat Corporation. which was wheal that had been partially Although there have been some additions in processed into flour. Another name for the the '.'ream of What line of products, il is still material was purified middlings. Fred Clifford possible today to walk into the grocery store and Sr., a brother of George Clifford, gave the find the box with the smiling chef on the porridge its name. Cream of Wheat. The package. This same- trademark, used for over middling, used in the cereal were the whitest and seventy years, remains. Inside the package, there the besl pari of the wheat, thus 11 would be still exist:; the same type of wheat farina which natural to call the product Cream of Wheat. was produced in the small, locally owned flour In 1895, the owners of the Diamond Mill, mill in Grand Forks, North Dakota- 1895. inii page sponsored by: Implement Dealers Mutual Insurance Co. ! ', On February 22, 1881, Grand Forks incorporated as a city, with Government W. 11. Brown, Mayor, and the Dennis Page following members of the Common Council: Frank Viets and John Fadden, first ward; James Elton and A. L. Linton, second ward; A. Abrahamson and H. Gotzian, third ward; Newton Porter and Thomas White, fourth ward; Charles Freeman ami E. Maloney, fifth ward; C. E. 1 eel and M. L. MeCor- mack, sixth ward. Since then the City has operated under six gover ning charters. In 1885 the first City Hall was erected on the corner of Third Street and Selkirk Avenue (now University), to be replaced in 1911 by the present building at the cor ner of Fourth Street and Second Avenue North. 1 House. 197-1, COUNTY GOVERNMENT copies o f \ a r i o u s e o u n t y land Forks County was newspapers, the official dedicatory organized in 1874, two years program, and oilier memorabilia, before Custer visited the Lit were placed in the cornerstone of Citv Hall, 1917. tle Big Horn, with D. P. the new building. The present city official-; in Reeves, Alexander Griggs and Present County Commissioners clude: Mayor, C. P. O'Neill; George A. Wheeler as the first are: Frank Cheatham, Ll Dee.Cum- Municipal Judge, Lloyd Noack; County Commissioners. The first mings, Robert Kinney. James Rice, City Auditor, R. L. Lerud; Deputy officers of the county were and Ralph Schroeder. Other City Auditor, Don Tingum; City Nicholas Hoffman, Sheriff; county official--; include: Mabel Assessor and Director of Ad Thomas Walsh, Treasurer and Flaten, Treasurer; Emmons ministration, Robert J. Simons; Judge of Probate: George A. Christop er. Sheriff; Vivian I... City Attorney, Gordon Caldis; City Wheeler, Superintendent of Seim, Clerk of Court; Ruth Treasurer, Inger Ohnstad; Super Schools and Thomas Walsh and D. Christenson, Register of Deeds; vising Sanitarian. Marvin Dehn; P. Reeves, Justices of the Peace. Thomas B. Jelliff, States Attorney; Fire Chief, L. B. Fairweather; K irk S m i t h , • C o u n t y .1 u d g e ; The county as first originated, in Police Chief. James Hague; City Florence Rasmussen, Superinten cluded parts of the present Walsh, Engineer and Director of Public dent of Schools; C. E. Overland Nelson, Steele and Traill Counties, Works, Frank Orthmeyer; Supt. ol County Auditor; and Helen I . but was reduced to its present size Street anil Sanitation, R. 11. Cor- Myers, Deputy Auditor. by 1883, as these counties bett; Data Processing Supervisor, organized. CITY GOVERNMENT Norman Bowman; Manager of City In 1875, the first tax was levied n the 2bih of October Auditorium, Ken Larson; Supt. ol on property in the county, a .5 mill 1875, Captain Griggs filed Water and Sewerage, A. L. lot lax for current expenses. In April • a plat of the original town- sman; Airport Manager, Norman of 187b. a 2 mill tax was levied for s i t e o f Gran d For ks Midbne; Bond and Budget Officer, building, the jail. The election for covering ninety acres of his claim R. S. Niles; and Personnel Officer, the new Court House was held and in the following spring Frank Thomas J. Longmire. November 5, 1912; the total vote Viets filed the plat for the first ad Aldermen include: Eugene cast was 3,951, and there was a dition. The village was organized in Lavoy, Martin Schuster, Myron favorable majority of 563. Amount 1878, through the territorial Molstad, Dennis Hogan, Thomas of bonds was S200.000, at 4%. sold legislature in Yankton, Dakota M. Hagness. .lame-'; F. John.on. to the Slate of North Dakota. The Territory; with George H. Walsh, Ludwik Kulas, Robert E. Wedin, architects were Buchner and Orth as president; R. W. Cutis, clerk; N<-il Hensrud, C. I. Thomforde, of St. Paul and the general contrac W. A. Brown, John McRae, Wm. Lloyd Steinmetz. Neome Bushaw, tor was Ingemann and Co. of St. Budge and Frank Viets as H. C. Wessman and Frank J. *aul. A sealed box, containing Trustees. Miller. Past City Mayors Honorable Col. YY'.H. Brown iir ;l Grand Forks Mayor 1881. Hon. M. L. McCormack 1882-1881 Hon. Alexander Griggs 1888-1889 This page sponsored by: Absey Motors, Inc. Hon. John Dinnie Hon. George E. Duis Hon, Dr. lohn I). Taylor Coast to Coast Store |89h-1904 1904-1908 1908-1910 Gil's Mobile Homes Highway Host ,,,'"• 15. Hon. M. F. Murphy Hon. .las. A. Dinnie Hon. Dr. It. M, Wheeler 1910-1914 1914-1918 1918-1920 Hon. Henry O'Keefe, Jr. Hon. John L. Hulteng Hon, E. A. Fladl ind 1920-1925 1926-1934 1934-1938 Hon. J. Earl Mefadden Hon. 1. 11. II. Thoresen Hon. Harold A. Boe 1938-1940 1940-1944 19 I 1-1952 This page sponsored by: Gorman Cabinet, Inc. McDonald's Restaurant Room lor Reading Hon. < )scar Lunseth Hon. Nelson A. Youngs Hon. II ugo R. Magnuson Bookshop 1952-1960 1960-1964 1964 19 ' : n aroused populace around a century ago made political hay on these key issues. The a^l-^l impact of liquor made itself felt on the histories of Grand Forks, North Dakota and Last Grand Forks, Minnesota. One was bone dry; the other was all wet. Before Polk County voted out legal liquor in 1915, Last Grand Forks was a mecca for thirsty lumberjacks fresh from northwestern Minnesota woods and harvest Franklin & Buckley saloon. 319 DeMers Avenue. hands from neighboring North Dakota. There were 32 Easl Grand Forks, circa 1909. saloons in Last Grand Forks; none in Grand Forks. A Early liquor legislation was infrequent. A February veteran Herald newspaperman said even if a person 28, 1895 amendment concerned the "drug store took only one drink at each place, he'd never make all saloon," which might be construed as a somewhat the joints still on his feet. "local option" giving communities druggist permit But, Grand Forks wasn't always arid as Sahara. rights provided formerly at the discretion of a county Records show there were 2b saloons in Grand Forks judge. However, applications decided by the judge in 1885 and 15 were located on Third Street. Judge A. were accompanied by names of "twenty-five reputable W. Bangs account reads that "In 1885 there were 26 free holders" and "twenty-five reputable women". The saloons supporting the city of Grand Forks with a 1895 Legislature further defined liquors should not be population of less than 5,000. The saloon-keepers "deemed intoxicating if they contained less than 2 per were being attacked by some citizens because they cent of alcohol by volume". Even before statehood, were not abiding by the liquor laws, namely staying liquor was used as an item for barter between Indians closed on Sundays. So the liquor dealers and some and fur traders, according to Alexander Flenry of the citizens held a meeting to end the controversy". Northwest Company. Fie chronicled that "a 9-gallon Besides, each saloon paid S420 in license fees to the keg of mixed rum bought a horse," which was a prized city and general government. This amounted to possession and a scarcity. SI 1.200 a year in addition to employees salaries of But the territory was flexing its muscles and 515,000; fuel, $7,800; rentals, 515,000; lor a total beckoning to settlers. Yankton was decided upon as economic worth of approximately $105,000. territorial capital in 1861. By the time of admission to When North Dakota entered the Union on Novem the Union, North Dakota voters approved a con ber 2, 1889, the state embraced prohibition. Grand stitution by an overhelming 27,441 to 8,107. The Forks became dry, and the law was enforced. prohibition clause narrowly won approval 18.552 to I he First Legislative Assembly met at Bismarck 17.393. December 19, 1889, and passed prohibition laws. That's when Grand Forks officially went dry, and Provisions included definitions and sentences. A first East Grand Forks with other Minnesota border towns offense was a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not like Moorhead and Breckenridge enjoyed an unusual less than S200, nor more than SLO(X) and a county jail heavy liquor traffic. sentence of not less than 90 (days nor more than a East Grand Forks relished its wetness and proximity year. A second offense was a felony punishable by to dry Grand forks. When the fledgling community state prison sentence of not less than a year nor more was incorporated after passage of a bill in the Min than two. nesota Legislature, the East Side Courier ran a front An attempt to soften the law by repealing the im page editorial on February 26, 1889, with the caption prisonment clause and to make offenses "We're a Full-Fledged City". The editorial commented misdemeanors only punishable by fines, failed to further, "As a township, our officers have been heavily m use-i ,ul ficicnl I egisln! ivc As ;embly /ol es in handicapped in the discharge of their duties. During February 1891. the past lour years East Grand Forks has paid into the Two groups pushing for enforcement of prohibition (Polk) county treasury in liquor licenses and fines were the State Enforcement League and the Women's nearly 55,000, Prostitution has been carried on openly Christian Temperance Union. The S. E. L. was a and lawless characters have paraded the streets volunteer association whose first president was Frank without immunity. Lynch of largo. The late R. B. Griffith, Grand Forks "I rider a city organization a different state of things business leader, succeeded Lynch. Elizabeth Preston will i^e made possible." Anderson was head of the WCTU. Mrs. Albert J. Bui, less than two weeks after North Dakota accep ((.'oral I lleval, widow of a former Grand Forks County ted prohibition with enforcement at Grand Forks, 14 sheriff and a Grand Forks resident, also served as This page sponsored by: Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. 47. A delegate had the right to introduce proposed ar ticles at the Constitution Convention; a total of 140 files were offered by 48 delegates. The subject matter of eleven of these files related to the regulation of the liquor traffic. Seven were for prohibition, two for license, one for regulation of the traffic by the city and county local option, and one to purchase established breweries ami distilleries and thus reim burse the owners for property rendered useless, accor ding to an account by Col. Lounsberry. While prohibitionists maintained a strangle hold along the North Dakota locales of the Red River, in cluding Grand Forks, business boomed on "Wiskey With the passing of the 18 year old legal age law in Row" in Lasi Grand Forks. Barrooms, referrred to as Minnesota, prohibition days seem to have returned. Picture is the Riverbend saloon. Bartenders L-R: Glen Welter, "thirst parlors" or "oasis", did 'round the clock traffic, Dennis Blackmun. Doug Blackmun lownerl. Mike Blackmun. staying open all night. Gambling flourished, and every and Mike Buckley (Billy Budge's great grandsonl. East Side bar had roulette wheels, poker and faro new saloons mushroomed in East Grand Forks. For tables. If it was excitement one craved, it was across mer Grand Forks tavern operators re-opened across the "Ruby" in East Grand Forks. the river, too. The 'wild and wooly' days in East Grand Forks While it took man power to cheek North Dakota made graphic news as the Herald recounted: "During bootlegging from Canada., still operations in Grand the tall of 1890, the conditions were deplorable. Forks and other locales where caches of mash were Thieves, gamblers, prostitutes and undesirables of sometimes uncovered, East Grand Forks faced ad every known start flocked to the oasis, where ditional policing of drunks and disorderlies. thousands of dollars changed hands daily and The Grand Forks Herald reported thai on the criminals 'defied the law without fear of apprehen weekend of November 2, 1915, the small East Grand sion." Forks jail which could handle a maximum of 40 One might expect the liquor trade to take a setback prisoners was jammed with 120 tenants. The news ac when the DeMers Avenue bridge, linking the border count read, "the inmates were lying on top of the steel cities, burned in the 189()'s. Such wasn't the case at all. cells, standing on the radiators along the wall, or Again a Herald report tells all vividly: "At that time, wedged into a solid mass of humanity" around the access from North Dakota being difficult, and the open space. Conditions were so bad that a special saloon proprietors hit upon the plan of erecting tem session of court was called on Sunday. Those incar porary establishments on the ice of the Red River." cerated were lined up in twos in one long row, and Other gimmicks were employed to lure the drinker with one policeman at the front and another at the into establishments. An astute saloonkeeper, knowing rear, while the whole group was marched to the city that the lumberjacks had money 'to bum', employed limits, where the men were told to keep on going and several winsome misses to serve drinks. But, other copycats did likewise. And before long the fad of a never return. And a number found their way back to "lady bartender" died out. . .forever. Grand Forks. One of Grand Forks" liquor producing establish Dr. Elwyn B. Robinson's History of North Dakota ments was the Jacob Dobmeier Brewery, located at reports, "The W.C.T.U. reform — prohibition of the the foot of Third Street, in what now is Central Park, sale of liquor — was one of the first. Saloons were ll was in operation during the early 1880's. I he everywhere, and saloonkeepers exerted an evil in wooden structure was surrounded by floodwaters in fluence in polities. Farmers did not want their harvest 1897, and was torn down after the flood. hands to drink. Temperance advocates, mostly While Grand Forks remained dry despite attempts Methodists and Scandinavian Lutherans, formed lo pas; liquor legislation in Bismarck, East Grand societies and held conventions. They distributed a Forks and Polk County were still making it wet. And leaflet entitled The White Ribbon, used county liquor remained a limelv news and conversation topic. newspapers to reach the public, and held sunrise prayer meetings on election day." News events included: Fie continued, "The Grand Forks Herald, largest September 4, 1888 A prohibition ticket has been newspaper in the state in 1890, came to support nominated in Polk < 'ounty. prohibition; another Grand Forks newspaper, the Nor September 16, 1902 The Acme Hotel, an adjoining wegian-language Normanden. was started as a tem grocery, meat market and saloon were destroyed perance sheet: Alanson Edwards' Fargo Argus and by fire at a loss of 515,000. Marshall 11. Jewell's Bismarck Tribune fought the August 2, 1908 The Retail liquor Dealers of Fast reform. In 1887 the territorial legislature passed a Grand Fork-, has been organized and incor local-option law allowing any community to forbid the porated, with A. (.). Lystad as presidem and II. sale of liquor, and in, 1889, North Dakota put P. (i iles as secretary. prohibition into its state constitution." October 9, 1908 City Clerk Zimmerman estimates receipt', include V'.1,000 from saloon licenses. Ihr nan > -nnn rir-fl hv Dako,a SaleS Co- McKillllOn Co. 8622 from other licenses, and SL\000 tax lew. Ini, page sponsored by. Nodak Sales CQ whi(e Sea| S;i|e.. Cfl pagi !.. Police Department Prohibition (Com.I April 21, 1909 —A new saloon regulation permits only one saloon for every 500 population in the city. East Grand Forks presently has five times the number it is entitled to, but can retain the num ber in existanee at the time the law was passed. June 11, 1912 —Mayor O'Leary vetoed an ordinance which would have confined saloons to a par- licuhu ';i ea a . um'ai i and unjust, February 21, 1915 —The Anheuser-Busch brewery on lower DeMers Avenue was destroyed by fire at a loss of 57,000. And in 1917, the North Dakota Legislature decreed that the third Friday of every January would be "Temperance Day." and added, "In every public school in the state, not less than one hour of the school clay shall be set apart for instruction and appropriate exercises. . ." Pictured IL-Rl: Sitting are Patrolman Peter Aback. Chief Pal Congress proposed the 18th Amendment (liquor Hennessey and Patrolman lolm Sullivan. Standing are prohibition) December 18, 1917. Ratification was Patrolman Mike lulley and Martin Walsh. ISK.'l. completed January 16, 1919. Total votes of the States Senates shows 1,310 for, 237 against, for 84.6 per cent dry. The lower houses of the Slates voted 3,782 for, 1035 against and 78.5 per cent dry. North Dakota was among those for adoption, fain the dry ran its course with Repeal and passing of the ils! .•- mciidmcm De.-emhm 5, 19 13. i.s , Pi ih'-e I iepai i menu ! re nil row I! I; I: Ii» Blwen. Si I Sellberg. Chief Henry Knutson, Mary Berg. Scotl Hall. ('enter row: "load" Peterson. Ed Reed. McDonald. Came Stewart, Pete Berkedahl. B. Is Benson. Back row: Black "Pete" Peterson. Harvey Dawes. Herman Nordie. Vernon Anker. Mike Lynch. laeob I'obnicici Brewer}, lira and only in 'annul Fori I ocaled in ' entral Pari,. Shown under water in FS97. I9,ts Police Department. Front row IL-R): Elmer Larsor Rattweiler. Mayor Ed Hough, R. H. Jagd. Mabel Vaaler. Leslie Ryan. Back row: Sylvester Han. John Kleven. Emil fhis page sponsored by: City Of Grand Forks Kresk Lawrence Vold./vlartin Lake, John Fladland, R. C. Hill Scotl Hall. B. Is Benson. Al Gansvick, Han} Shearc. pwisa e 19. The Grand Forks Police Depart ment existed from the very start of the settlement. Apparently the townspeople thought, with all the lawless vagabonds running about, they needed a police force. Accor ding to one senior citizen, her mother said, in the beginning. Grand Forks was a "dirty, un civilized hole!" Police Department records in dicate that the first Chief was James Ryan, who served from 1880 to 1882. Two Police Chiefs, J. W. Lowe and O. Ovcrby, served three terms and two terms, respectively, covering the period 1902 through 1924. The policemen of yesteryear were conspicuous with their prominent helmets, carrying night sticks and sporting well-groomed 1908. Front row (L.-RI: Jim Conn. Chief 1. W. Lowe. Capt. John Sullivan. Dan Blue. mustaches. The Grand Forks Back row: Jack Herrick. Joe Benson. I'd Hithehinson. Ben Trent. A. L. Halvorson. Police Department had in its midst one of the first policewomen in the Houston, Texas. Mrs. Blough serving as Acting Chief in the fall nation. This woman was Mrs. Pearl passed away in 1953. Another of 1974 and receiving the per Blough, who came to Grand Forks policewoman, Mary Berg, served manent position Novembr 16, 1974. in 1913, and worked within the the department from September The Grand Forks Police Depart Department for a couple of years 1917 to May 1934. ment has a complement of 74, in until the U.S. entered World War Since the department organized cluding office personnel, and is I, when she was called into govern nearly 100 years ago, there have presently in the process of em ment service in girls' protective been 13 Police Chiefs. The current ploying three women, who will work with headquarters at Police Chief is James (). CTague, have the position of Police Officer. & & <* *> #S[ «* «* «* *$ *Jr *$ •=•* K ^"/h^- »>-»*••»•%"' ""'«"** :"' *eU-t*£^*£* f* «!» Sir, -,•*• & v nfr. -t* »i* - i-tv^m**** Grand Forks Police Force and (Ifl'ice Staff, 197 I & -> < This page sponsored by: Goodmans Inc. Helenbolt-Doce Ltd. Urology page 50. ~>v "Grand Forks Klan Number One, Realm of North Dakota Knights of the Klu Klux Klan" by Michael H. A iter p until the 192()"s, the Klu Klux Klan Alleghany College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. (KKK) was just a handful of red- No registration could be found there bearing his . - necks in the south. Their purpose name. One might say he came to the city on or mission was very simple — total rather false pretenses. discrimination against the Blacks! Nevertheless, he convinced the people of his The 2()"s brought a new breed of KKK and a congregation that the Catholics were organizing purpose slightly different from their earlier to take civic control of Grand Forks. Unless ancestors, with new leaders and new klaverns they, the Protestants, organized to halt this (meeting places). There developed a KKK which attempt, the town would be controlled by struck out against minorities of the United citizens with "un-American" interests. This was States. This was more appealing to public not entirely true, for about 77% of Grand Forks interest, thus changing the meaning of the were native white Americans, and Catholics original KKK from "bad" to "good." They were in fact a minority compared to other advocated conservative Americanism, which church denominations in the city at this time. excluded all minorities from every American Ambrose also stated that Catholics were a function. They believed that to be an American definite threat to the Protestants' livelihood. was the highest honor a man or woman could With these ridiculous statements and others that hold; and that the "Blacks, Jews, Catholics, Japs, were similar in meaning, he entertained great and Indians," were a detriment to white success. Fie stood behind his pulpit and watched America. They stood out against crime and sin. hundreds upon hundreds of people from all Their message came from the pulpit, where denominations pour into his church to listen to some KKK promoters chose to make his Sunday evening services. By 1925 the First headquarter. Presbyterian membership increased to that of This new wave of Nationalism spread the Methodists, which was the second largest throughout the United States. Before long the congregation in town. KKK was well established in every nook" and F. Halsey Ambrose was an eloquent speaker cranny on the face of the nation. North Dakota and immaculate dresser. Fie stood at his pulpit was hit hard by the voice of the Klu Klux Klan. not with the usual reverent robes, but with flashy Fargo had their hands full with hooded figures pin-striped suits. A unique quality of the Grand who paraded up and down main street carrying Forks KKK was that its members were banners while their children sat upon floats. honorable businessmen: lawyers, doctors, bank Unlike Grand Forks, Fargo's town politics were officials, insurance salesmen all contributed to not as influenced by the KKK, the cause. While the KKK in Fargo marched around in a Technically the KKK in Grand Forks was show-off manner, their colleagues in Grand founded in 1921. They did not gain political Forks proeeded to build a Klan that eventually influence until 1924. But the interim was not filled the city commission, the school board and spent casually. the police department. In other words, they 19 23 brought a second klavern, which controlled the city politically. Ambrose started in Larimore. At the initiation Perhaps this achievement was not the general there were three crosses burned while Ambrose intension of the KKK Grand Wizard, when he delivered his speech to numerous hooded sent his promoters to North Dakota in search of listeners. That same year, he gave Grand Forks possible KKK candidates. But by including a KKK its first statewide publicity; he went to man from Grand Forks in his klanhood. he made petition a bill to halt the wearing, of hoods, till this possible. For there is no doubt in except in enclosed areas. Flowever the bill was anyone's mind, that F. Flalsey Ambrose-First passed, but the purpose of the KKK was no Presbyterian minister —was chiefly responsible longer kept within the bounds of the city limits. for the KKK's success in our city. 19 24 meant the election of two Klan Ambrose was perfectly qualified for the job. candidates to the school board. The election was Fie w;ts a strict conservative, a prohibition easily won by the KKK; the campaigning of defender, and a booster of the fundamentals of Ambrose and company was the broadest, most White Protestant 'Americanism. Ambrose arrived thorough campaign that Grand Forks has ever here with neither a college nor divinity degree, witnessed in its entire history. The two ladies although he claimed to be a graduate of running against the KKK candidates were put This page sponsored by: Grand Forks American Legion Club, Inc. page 51. through such slander and abuse by Ambrose, I^Fire Department that the Klan's humanity was questioned by many. It was the Grand Forks Herald that lurried to attack the KKK after the election. They claimed that politics a religion did not mix. Many others also revolted against Ambrose after the election for campaigning from the pulpit. In response. Ambrose said that his stand as the exalted Cyclops (head man) of the Knights of the KKK was not necessarily his stand as the pastor of the Presbyterian church. . . 1 Victory by the KKK in that election of 1924 meant compulsory bible reading in all public :j.....:..... : ,:,, .; . .•-;,- schools. Many of the townspeople were not Hook and Ladder method. I UNO's. pleased with the new rule, but it was in vain. The KKK continued to gain ground, and in 1926 they achieved their main goal. It was to oust city officials who maintained "un- American" interests and replace them with KKK members. The election of a new city commission in 1926, put four KKK candidates on the five- man slate. Just prior to 1930 the KKK underwent national disapproval and iis power steadily declined. Had Ambrose continued to strive to gain influence in the city and the state he might have survived a few years longer. As il was. he went down with the rest of the Klu Klux Klan. Fie left town November 15. 1931. Some say he went to another church where he lasted a few months. Then he quit the church and went into the brokerage business. Others say he enlisted in •'ire Department of '90s parading down Kittson Avenue. the Chaplin Corps, from which a funny story evolved. Someone suggested, while Ambrose was in town, that he should be shot in the lower backside with buckshot. Well, when in the Cor ps, he suffered one day from a bullet wound. What And where else would ii be oilier than his. . . 1 F. Halsey Ambrose died on December 3. 1944. It is said, the Grand Forks KKK died with him. Well Or did it? Klu Klux Klan papers have been mysteriously misplaced around town, and church the Fire files on Ambrose are missing! I read an article the other day on the KKK. It had no name and Mascot Dept, no date, but by looking at the paper I know ii was recent. After reading the article -- I was is With astonished! Let me tell you, if that siorv was not a complete and total hoax, the KKK is siill alive til and well. Not in some oilier area or some other His city, but right here, in the heart of Grand Forks. Your town and mine! Post Mascot Editor's note: Material was taken from William Flarwood's thesis, the Grand forks Herald, and unidentified sources. WALTER CANN1FF THE MASCOT J Of The Grand Forks Fire Department Styled the "mascot" of the department, is a native horn, and 1 ! C & R Laundry and Cleaners, Inc. years old. He remains at the station when the hoys go out and call ; This nariP snnnqnrerl hv CnlbOMI School Supply Co. all the volunteers, also such members who are on detail dut\ to the This page sponsored by. Gran() for|(s Abstrac, Company opera house, or other places. He is a student of St, Bernard's Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc. Academv, page ."V i^wa>'«ij»j «-i"—• ui^-vw-wgvJ •^•v^=*zz'%^^^\^H^^"^jlJ-i*r*-*+-!e vatotg 'U±**j!t.m*,'l^> Kui*l> ma Grand Forks Fire Department, 1474 Unlike the salaried police Forks replaced by a Nash truck. A wooden planks were laid length bureau, the fire department was all bond issue for $50,000, passed in wise down the avenues. This voluntary from 1871 to 1893, 1944, allowed the department to method proved to be inefficient, although some firemen were paid purchase more modern equipment. since law suits were filed about one to two dollars a call, depen A third fire station, located at once a year against the city for ac ding on the number of blazes they 17th Avenue S., and 20th Street, cidents occuring on the sidewalks attended. Grand Forks' first fire was opened on January 18, 1973. because of loose boarding or a por fighting apparatus, a Champion The Grand Forks Fire Depart tion collapsed on someone. two wheeled engine, arrived in the ment, boasts of its modern Throughout the '80s street and city March 24, 1880. At the time operation for a modern and sidewalk construction was mainly the city was protected by a com growing city. The department concerned with quantity, instead of pany of about fifteen volunteer presently has a complement of 63. quality. firemen. Most of the fire fighting One of the first actions by the was done in the "bucket brigade" Street Paving City Government to improve the manner, since there were no water In the beginning streets and streets was an ordinance passed in works. In 1882, the hook and lad sidewalks were naturally just mud 1881, which required two days der company was formed, and it paths. If it rained the roadways work at the rate of a dollar a day was not until 1890, that horses were absolutely impassable and from every man over 21 in the city replaced manpower to do the people resorted to walking. on the streets, alleys, and public tedious job of pulling the carts and Paving of streets began with highways. A poll tax of $2.00 was carrying the fire hoses. During the gravel, then moved to tar and given as an alternative. Workers administration of Mayor L. B. creosote. With this first process, were also required by the or- Richardson, in 1892, the volunteer department was replaced with a paid and organized department. Street The department at this time oc cupied a building that was moved off a lot on South Fourth Street to Paving make room for the county court house. In 1903 the city purchased a W. S. Nott fire engine with a 1000 gallon pump. The city had two fire houses by 1905, one located at 412 Second Avenue North, and the second located at 215 South Fourth Street. The year 1917 saw the beginning of the mechanized department. The year 1929 saw the last of the fire horses in Grand This page sponsored by: Ireland's Lumber Yards Workers arc laying wooden blocks for street pavement on.Fourth Street in front KKXL Radio of the present day Bill Larson Co. These blocks were taken out as early as 194N-. Photo dates back to 1908. page 53. dinance to furnish their own tools. tions for the roadways. Flence, service pumps from a million The next stage was surfacing the there are only a few through gallon clear well. road with wooden blocks, about streets leading into the downtown The city first enjoyed softened three inches square. Workmen first area. A look at a city map will tell water in 1929 when the settling graded and carefully packed the the story. basins were converted to dirtway, then they added a layer of mechanical mixing, coagulation sand, and later placed in the and settling basins. In 1955, blocks. The squares had to be jam City Water maximum day demands for water med together tightly, so they were exceeding plant capacities, stayed in one unit. Sand and oil and action was taken to enlarge the was the last procedure. This style Works water works with a new plant and had its faults, too. As one senior In 1883, the first water main was two half-million gallon elevated citizen described it, "consequently laid in Grand Forks by the city, but storage tanks. This facility was after a year or so, the blocks would the water was pumped by a private again expanded in 1968 to take buckle and depressions appeared". company. In 188 5, the city care of city expansion and the Air Thus the streets were bumpy, and pumping plant was installed on Base requirement for 2'/2 million in spots very rough. The only wood South Third Street, across from gallons per day. Water for the block paving left, more than likely, the present plant. The water supply treatment plant is pumped from is the driveway entrance to the was from the Red Lake River. Af two intake structures on the Red First Presbyterian Church right off ter the severe typhoid epidemic in River of the North and one on the Belmont Road. 1892-1893, the city installed the Red Lake River in Minnesota. The city advanced to cob first filtration system in 1894. It blestone paving just prior to the was a slow sand filter, the second turn of the century. This method one of its kind to be used in the Post Office was the same as wood block con United States. By 1900, Grand struction, but instead of the block, Forks had essentially completed or naturally round stones were used. installed water lines throughout the Construction crews began laying city. Twenty years later, residents them at the foot of Minnesota had accessibility to water mains in Avenue and proceeded up Third all parts of the city. In 1910, Street. coagulation and settling basins were added and the slow sand filter By World War I most streets was converted to a rapid sand filter were paved with brick blocks, laid of two million gallons per day side by side. But later a German capacity and water was pumped engineer came here and made im into the distribution system by high pressions in poured cement to look A log cabin served as the first post office like bricks. This fabrication can be in Grand Forks. It stood on the site o! found today on portions of Walnut 711 Reeves Drive. Street, Chestnut Street, Fourth Street, Lewis Boulevard and other For sometime the post office was avenues. They are not bricks, just a primitive affair, mail was imitations. received and forwarded only once A marker which lies in Central or twice a week. In the winter Park today, depicts the dedication months mail was transported by of the first concrete street paving means of dog teams. Nowadays, in North Dakota. The original the mail is delivered regularly by laying of the concrete surface was the well known mailman. Sanford in 1910, around the South Third C. Cady, appointed in 1870, was Street area. the first Postmaster, when the Post These days, streets are paved Office was located at the Cady and with asphalt and some with sturdy Loon Weigh Station. The Post Of cement. Even they do not stand-up fice had numerous locations, to to all the wear and tear they get. name a few, the Steward Cabin, at Every summer, the city main the foot of Blue Hill; the Griggs, tenance crews are out repairing Walsh and Company Store; these modern era roadways. Holmes Drug Store; Fludson Bay One reason why downtown traffic Company Store and the Union is so congested is that the first Dedication of first piece of concrete National Bank Building. In 190b, roads were constructed perpen paving in North Dakota, Oct. 1. l%0. the Federal Building (old Post Of dicular to the Red River. Later, fice), was erected at the corner of city engineers decided to build the Fourth Street and First Avenue N. streets so that they ran straight On February 10, 1964, the present north and south, east and west. This page sponsored by: Post Office opened its doors at 311 This caused, in a matter of KNOX Radio S. Fourth Street. William A. speaking, a town within a Nodak Rural Electric Co-Operative, Gilmour is the current SSCF town—both having different direc Inc. Manager/Post master. page 54. -•—,--.. p jffff ^ 'I rsf|T| U.S. Post Office and Court House, circa 191: Public Library, corner of Fifth Street and First Avenue N. Interior of old Post Office. 1953. Interior of old Public Library. •ffiayr* Post Office. 1974. Grand Forks Public Library, 1974. J K Public Library The Public Library had its origin Burrows, Mrs. H. W. Burr, Mrs. F. obtained by funds gathered in 1892 with a library drive conduc W. Wilder, Mrs. T. R. Bangs, and through lectures and social dances. ted by interested social clubs; one Mrs. F. W. Clifford. Books were The Grand Forks Public Library such club was the Grand Forks Board was officially established in Federation of Women's Clubs. 1900, with F. W. Wilder, Mrs. These groups banded together to Joseph Kennedy, Mrs. C. C. make books available to people in This page sponsored by: Gowran, Mrs. F. W. Murphy and J. the city. Names associated with Grosz & Anderson Architects A. Sorley, serving on that board. that very early venture included Harrie & Kennedy Architects Quarters were secured in the Odd Mrs. W. H. Wheeler, Mrs. A. S. Wells, Denbrook, Adams Architects Fellows Building, and the library page opened on May 5, 1900. In 1903, Homer Abbott, and the Park Board tury. It was later renamed the Red the first library building was com members are Dr. James Leigh, River Power Co., which changed pleted, at a cost of S31,000, with Richard Brusegard, Mrs. Nancy its title to Northern States Power most of the funds donated by An Koch, Gary Malm and Reverend Co. (NSP). NSP first occupied its drew Carnegie, a Pittsburgh Walter Scott. present site at the foot of Kittson multimillionaire and philanthropist. Avenue, once the property of Through a bond issue, the Alexander Griggs, in 1910. present building was completed in Public Utilities Minnkota Power Co. was 1972, with a capacity for over Gas and Electricity established in 1951, and serves 100,000 books. Dennis Page is the There was no gas heating or numerous farm families. Ohio present City Librarian. lighting in this city until 1886. Senator Robert A. Taft was among Streets and homes were lighted by the guest speakers at the kerosene lamps and candles. A dedication ceremonies of Minnkota Park Board light tender was responsible for Power Co. Although the Grand Forks Park firing up the street lights. Flouses As a prominent national figure, Commission was established in were heated by wood logs. he spoke at the Central Fligh 1906, it was not until 1909 that the In December 1886, Alexander auditorium on his major foreign legal obstacles were overcome, Griggs initiated a campaign to in policy views. The speech was allowing the commission to acquire stall a natural gas system in the covered by national news media: park property. That year the Park business district of Grand Forks. television, radio, magazines, and Commission purchased 105 acres This area was mainly Third Street newspapers. on South Belmont (Lincoln Park), and DeMers Avenue. By 1890 gas Telephone Service 15 acres on South Third Street, mains extended throughout the In 1903 Tri-State Telephone Co. (Central Park), 20 acres on Univer city. was established as a private enter sity Avenue (University Park), and Grand Forks had four gas com prise. Later, in 1910 Tri-State was 18 acres in the University Park Ad panies competing for homeowners' known as Northwestern Telephone dition. The Park Board lost no service before 1890. Griggs Exchange and had its building at time in erecting a bandstand and Dakota Gas and Fuel Co.; Teal- the corner of N. Fourth Street and pavilion at Central Park. It in Walker Electric Light Co.; the First Avenue N. (now Henry Office cluded a waiting room, toilet room, Grand Forks Incandescent Light Building). In 1948 this company, refreshment stand, and a porch Co., which in 1889 changed its now known as Northwestern Bell overlooking the river. The park's name to Grand Forks Gas and Telephone Co., moved one block formal opening was celebrated Electric Co.; and the Red River south to its present location on N. with the Grand Forks Military Gas and Electricity Co. This last Fifth Street and First Avenue N. Band playing a concert of sacred agency was in charge of main music and an excursion up the taining street and park lights and river on the steamer S.S. Grand public building lighting. Forks, featuring orchestral music In 1889, the price of gas was on board. $2,00 per thousand cubic feet, this Presently, the park system in was compared with S2.35 per cord cludes about 245 acres. The re for w o o d, FI e n e e w o o d was cently constructed Grand Forks cheaper and few people were Arena is under the supervision of willing to purchase gas stoves. Con the Park Board. In addition, there sumers also preferred gas over are two swimming pools, 8 tennis electricity, because the former was courts, 2 lighted Softball diamonds, less expensive. 7 hockey pens and 14 skating rinks. Consumers Power Co. was The present Park Superintendent is formed before the turn of the cen Telephone operator, 1953. Northwestern Bell office, 1953. This page sponsored by: Carpenters Union Local 2028 Grand Forks Speedway, Inc. Metropolitan Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n Red River Transfer and Storage Sunday afternoon drive in Central Park, 1908. page 56. more spacious facilities were cupied. The gym was built in 1926, Grand Forks necessary. In 1882 the Central and the auditorium in 1936. The school was built on the Central old Central High building which Public Schools block. This was a brick building 76 had been used as a junior high for Walter Loonier ft. by 66 ft. in dimensions. a number of years had to be razed and Eleanor Rognlie In 1881, the year before, the to make room for the auditorium. he people of Grand Forks Grand Forks Independent School Numerous internal changes have have always taken great District #1 was formed under been made over the years to assist pride in their public Territorial law. The organizational better meeting curriculum needs, schools. They have made meeting was held March 17, 1881. and administration space. effort to assure that their Under that territorial act the In 1883 the first part of the schools will meet the personal and following people were named to Belmont School was built. Ad collective needs of their people, the school board — J, G. ditions were built in 1893 and 1911. the knowledge and skills necessary Flamilton, Alex Griggs, George T. A new gym was provided in 1955 for making a good living and the Wheeler, Capt. M. L. McCormack, and in 1962 the original building additional cultural opportunities J. E. Dow, Donald Steward, and and 1893 addition were replaced by and experiences needed to provide Charles Freeman. a new seven room building with quality to that living. A study of Because some questions as to adequate office, library, and lun the history of their schools over legality were raised, the above chroom space. the past century gives abundant board called a school election In 1891 the Wilder School was evidence of their success in which was held on June 7, 1881. built, a one story building, and achieving these lofty ideals. Elected to the board were J. G. named for W. L. Wilder, a long In the development of the school Flamilton, Wm. Clone, Wm. T. time school board member. By system great and consistant atten Collins, Alex Griggs, R. W. Cutts, 1905 the Wilder School was made tion has been given to providing Capt. M. L. McCormack, and into a two-story building. In 1955 a the best possible physical facilities, George T. Wheeler. This new new gym was constructed and in a modern, realistic curriculum, am board organized at a meeting held 1965 a new seven room building to ple appropriate instructional June 13, 1881. Among other things go with the gym was added. The materials, many extracurricular ac they voted $20,000 in bonds for the new structure had ample office, tivities, a highly competent construction of the Central School. library and lunchroom space. professional staff, and a sound, Six teachers were hired at salaries In 1903 the Winship school was creative, forward-looking ad of $40 per month and a principal at erected. In 1949 a new seven room ministration. Under able, dedicated $80 per month. building plus gym was built. The school boards, the combination of The first schools in Grand Forks old structure continued to be used these factors has built an enviable were built through money con until 1973 when it was razed and a reputation for quality and excel tributed by the residents. There new structure took its place. The lence. was no tax levy. About 1875 a Winship School was named after The Grand Forks public schools single man, who was assessed $90, George B. Winship, a prominent had a humble but important begin said that in order to get something citizen and publisher of the Grand ning. In the fall of 1872 there were for his money he married one of Forks Herald. two small schools, two because the teachers —and maintained that In 1907 the Washington School there were two factions among the he got the best of the bargain. was built. This building has un residents and they had separate In the next few years additions dergone a number of internal ideas. One was located at Kittson were built to each end of the Cen changes to provide gyrti space and 3rd, and the other where the tral School. (1960) and other facilities needed Burlington Northern depot now The first high school was housed for modern programs. stands. One was taught by a Miss for some time in the Council rooms, The Roosevelt School opened in Blanding, the other by a George and then moved into the Central the fall of 1910, a most up-to-date Ames, There seems to have been School, using only one or two school for its time. Its third story one school in 1873 taught by a Miss rooms. The first graduating class gym was at one time the best gyms Richmond. was in 1887 and consisted of two in the city. There have been In 1874 a new school, 18 ft. by 12 girls. There had been many young several significant internal changes ft., was built at a cost of ap people who attended for varying plus the erection of a new gym and proximately $400. The Rev. G. M. lengths of time, many were just and lunch facilities. It is well adap Curl, the Methodist minister was "winter students" who left school ted to innovative programs. the teacher. There were 14 pupils. when spring work began. South Junior High School By 1880 the population had From this modest beginning opened in 1932. Some people grown so, that a larger school was great things came. The main part remarked that it was "out at Thom needed and built. This was a two- of the present Central School was pson" because it was on the then room, two story building erected built in 1917, though the writer is edge of the city. Today it is more on what is now the Court Flouse not certain when it was first oe- than two miles from the city's edge. site. It was expected that this struc In 1956 the building was ap ture would be adequate for the proximately doubled in size. next several years. This page sponsored by: Following World War II the five Flowever, people continued to Grand Forks Auto Dealers existing elementary schools were come in unexpected numbers and "bursting at the seams." The page 57. birthrate here, like over the nation, was up. Some of the pressures were relieved temporarily in 1949 by the purchase of two two-room buildings from Government sur plus. These buildings were moved from place to place as needed. A bond issue, together with a ten mill building levy, permitted the simultaneous construction of three new elementary schools —Lincoln, West, and Winship (adjacent to the then existing Winship building). The Lincoln School, a basic seven-room, and gym structure opened the later part of January 1950. Its pupils came from over crowded Roosevelt and a two-room temporary school located on the Lincoln grounds. It opened full, even though it was not entirely finished. The West School opened in the fall of 1950, as did the new struc Central High School, 1904. ture at Winship. The second wing was added to West in 1955. The first part of the Lewis & Clark School opened in the fall of 1953 —the north wing in 1955. The Valley Junior High School opened in 1955 with large additions opening in 1957 and 1961. The Central Food Service for the whole system was opened at Valley Junior in 1963. The Viking School opened in 1956. ukm The first part of Schroeder Central High School, 1974, Junior High School opened in 1960 and a large addition was built in 1964. The Lake Agassiz School opened in 1960 with an addition opening in 1964 which doubled its capacity. Carl Ben Eielson School opened in 1960, with an addition opening in 1965. Prior to the opening of Eielson all elementary students, ex cept Kindergarten, were bussed to schools in town. There were four (4) reloeatables in 1965. These were used to relieve enrollment pressures at Schroeder, and later other places as needed. Kelly School opened in 1966 with an addition in 1973. Nathan Twining School opened in 1962 with an addition in 1965 Belmont School. Belmont Road and Fourth Avenue S., 1904. and 1966. Some changes were made in 1972 to better accom modate junior high students. Red River High School opened This page sponsored by: in 1966, a very modern building space and office facilities. Red Comeau Electric, Inc. containing excellent classrooms, R i v e r has u t i 1 i /. e d flexible Hastings Heating & Sheet Metal Co. laboratories, shops, library, scheduling in adapting to pupils Popplers Music Store Tobiason Potato Co. theater, swimming pool, lunch educational needs. 58. THE P. T. A. The Parent-Teacher Association has had a long and important history in Grand Forks. Records indicate the organizational meeting of the Belmont School P.T.A. was held October 14, 1915. Whether other units were organized about that time we are not sure. There seems to have been a slow-up during World War I and then some community difficulties further han dicapped its growth during the early 20's. Flowever, by 1926 there were sufficient active units so that the City P.T.A. Council was organized. From then on it has been very much "a going concern," contributing greatly to the educational welfare of children and youth throughout the city. One of the primary objects of the P.T.A. is to strive for a closer relationship between the parent and the teacher to an end, that the student will have a happier and more effective learning experience. On numerous occasions over the years the P.T.A. actively, en thusiastically, and effectively sup ported bond elections, extra-levy elections, and other community projects affecting children. It was very active for quite a number of years in supporting a dental clinic for students needing dental care and whose parents would have found it extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible to provide such care. In a period of more than forty years any bond or extra-levy elec tion supported by the P.T.A. passed. Some community issues that were not as much supported failed. True, Grand Forks has always been an education minded community but the P.T.A. has helped to provide effective leader ship in these matters. During the great depression and some of the "dirty 30's" the city P.T.A. units carried on a con siderable amount of welfare work among children, especially with clothing. Many times the P.T.A. was in the vanguard in supplying instruc tional equipment not yet con sidered essential or obtainable by the Board of Education. A couple of examples are the first movie projector at Belmont and the first intercom system at Roosevelt. The Grand Forks P.T.A.'s have also actively supported state and page 59. national programs and issues. They KINDERGARTEN The school system has used the have established an enviable Many people of Grand Forks 6 or 7-3-3 plan for approximately record and their potential for the were long interested in kindergar 50 years, that is, an elementary, future is great. ten education. Many had sent their junior high, senior high plan. EXTRA-CURRICULAR pre-school children to private kin Of course, junior and senior high Our schools have long recog dergartens. As part of the under schools have been largely depart nized that for fuller, better balance standing of building programs of mentalized. in the student's development there three e I e m e n t a r y schools More recently, m o d u 1 a r needs to be, besides the regular simultaneously following World scheduling, flexible scheduling, and courses, a wide variety of school War II — Lincoln, Winship, and other approaches are being used. West — it was promised that kin activities commonly referred to as FINANCES (1881-1970) dergarten classes would be opened extra-curricular. They might well be It may be of interest that when in all elementary schools. This referred to as eo-currieular since it the Independent School District #1 became fact in September 1950. is quite true that the curriculum was organized back in 1881 that a Each building —elementary —since consists of everything which hap budget of $9,150 was sufficient to then has included provision for kin pens to and with students while un meet the needs. der the auspices of the school. dergarten classes. Before there were any school buildings at the In 1973-1974 the school budget is These extracurricular activities Air Base, a kindergarten class of 13 $9,573,380. Of this amount include athletics —football, basket pupils was opened in an unused $2,243,937 conies from direct local ball, track, hockey, golf, ten government space. taxes. The rest comes from state nis—drama, debate, operettas, aids, federal monies, and some plays, orchestra, band, school LIBRARIES OR much smaller sources. papers, musicals, and the like. INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA SPECIAL EDUCATION The Grand Forks schools have CENTERS A study of the history of the won their full share, or more, of Every school, elementary or public schools indicates very early championships over the years in all otherwise, has a library and/or in interest in the educational welfare competitive activities. In high structional media center. of students who, for various school hockey they have won the INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS reasons, were having difficulty title for the past 13 years, Red The Grand Forks Public Schools keeping up with classmates. River being the current hockey have striven, very successfully we champion, and Central is currently think, to maintain a leadership Some of the first of these efforts state basketball champion. position in the matter of instruc- related to pupils who attended only t i o n a 1 m e t h o d s , as well as part of the school year, often only CURRICULUM materials. Such methods have been winters when farm work was not The Grand Forks Public Schools designed to meet the individual as pressing. have long been proud of the well as the collective needs of In the 9()'s there is mention of bread t h a nil quality of its students. sub-grades which were conducted educational program. From their Individual attention in the for those who could not meet the earliest beginnings with the "com e 1 a s s r o o m , v a r i e d c u r r i e u 1 a r standards of the regular full-time mon branches" to today's many requirements, sub-groups, remedial students. courses in the academic, scientific, teachers, teacher's aides, individual Much of the past half-century social, and vocational fields, the educational contracts, and other here were summer schools for both community and its schools" methods have been employed to elementary and high schools, often professional staff have continually better meet pupil needs. primarily for students needing ex- striven to improve the effectiveness ORGANIZATION da help. In the latter part of this and relevancy of the educational FOR INSTRUCTION period some summer schools per program. The school and classroom form mitted advanced students to either Long included in the regular of organization is chosen because it enrich their programs or progress curriculum have been physical is believed that it will facilitate get more rapidly. Even in the first fifty education, music —vocal and in ting the educational job done. years il was possible for advanced strumental, art, and science at all Undoubtedly the most frequent pupils to complete high school in levels. organization at the elementary three years. Besides the subjects traditionally level has been the self-contained Special education as we know il included in most curricula has c 1 a s s r o o m . Fl o w ever, s o m e today began here modestly about been a rather wide variety of specialization as in art and music 1954 or 1953, and was first housed s h o p s — m e t a 1, wood, auto has often been employed. Begin in one of the temporary buildings mechanics, electrical, printing. ning in the 20's and continuing for in the Wilmar addition. After the Home economies, commercial sub many years the Roosevelt and Midway School was purchased jects, foreign languages, and for a Belmont Schools had a platoon from the Missouri Lutheran time agricultural courses, have organization, a semi-departmental Church in 1956, the special been included. approach. education students were moved to The last few years students have thai site. Later special education also had an opportunity to work students were moved out of Mid This page sponsored by: directly with the computer at Cen way building and located in various Eickhof Construction Co. tral Fligh School and South Junior schools, where they could have the Valley Medical Associates, Ltd. Fligh School. advantages of gym activities anil (a(). associations with other students of varying abilities. Of course, special education has also involved speech therapy and some attention to students of ex ceptional abilities. SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE GRAND FORKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Mrs. Lou S. Kaufman, July 15, 1881 (Title Principal) Mr. E. J. Phillips, 1882 (Title Principal) Superintendents: C. M. Cunningham, 1884-1886 Charles J. Clemmer, 1886-1894 William J. Pringle, 1894-1895 J. Nelson Kelly, 1896-1919 Wm. C. Stebbins, 1919-1929 P. H. Lehman (acting, about three months) 1929 Dr. John C. West, 1929-1933 Dr. Elroy H. Schroeder, 1933- 1958 Dr. Erich Selke (acting, October 1958-June 1959) 1958-1959 Dr. Richard E. Barnhart, 1959 - 1965 Dr. H. Edwin Cramer, 1965-1968 Dr. Wayne Worner, 1968-1971 Dr. Richard L. Hill, 1971 - Dr. Richard Hill. raid KMBUMMU GnndfarlM Pkiblte&tkMli Lf.ntin m« \ 61. rowing together- chronological ly , geo- th Dakota ~c*J graphically and cooper atively — has been the practice with Grand Forks and the state institution of higher education which borders its western edge. While the city celebrates its lOOth anniversary in 1974, the University of North Dakota turned 90 in 1973 and today is North Dakota's largest public educational institution. UND's offical beginning took place when Territorial Governor Nehemiah Ordway approved the Territorial A s s e m b 1 y ' s act establishing the University at Grand Forks. Gov. Ordway signed Formed in downtown Grand Forks, this procession of dignitaries marched to the University campus site — more than a mile away— October 2, IMS.k to the organic act on February 27, participate in the laying of the cornerstone for Old Main, the first UNI) building. 1883, and it is that occasion which the University observes as number of cities in the Dakota pride and political motivations. "Founders Day" each February. territory were bidding at the time. And the campus location one "In fact, yesterday will provide the The original 20-acre site for and a half mile distance from town brightest day the town has seen for UND was donated by William had little in its favor to ease the many a month." the editorial Budge of Grand Forks, later a task. The first building. Old Main, claimed. member of the regents, John F. is described by Louis (i. Geiger in Ohmer and John McKelvey. Other The physical beginning of the his book. University of the offers were considered, including University came later in the year of Northern Plains, as being two highly desirable wooded sites its founding when the cornerstone "situated near the winding English — one the present Riverside Park laying ceremonies were conducted Coulee, a minor depression in the and the other immediately to the October 2. 1883. The Grand Forks otherwise table-flat prairie . . . Noi north. Only the offer from the real Herald said that one of the only was it (the campus) barren estate firm of Budge, Ohmer and "brightest, erispest, freshest, most and singularly unlovely, but until McKelvey included bond for palpably wholesome days of the 1904 when cheap and reliable payment of S 100,000 for an most glorious autumn that even public transportation became observatory. It was started but Dakota ever saw crowned the available, it was difficult to reach, never completed. object of the day's proceedings especially during the long and with an approving and sunlit smile." violent Dakota winters and the The selected site was a mile and After that festivity, however, spring thaws when Broadway (now a half west of the nearest house in came the business of becoming a University Avenue) became a the town and the only full-fledged, recognized institution quagmire." improvement which had been of higher education. It must have Private carriages supplied the made was the rough grading of a been an ardous one, requiring on main transportation between the 100 foot wide street. Broadway the part of the founders and early University and the city prior to (later renamed University Avenue) day students a good deal of faith, 1904. For official occasions the from the city limits to the tract. assisted by usual amounts of local Great Northern Railroad ran a The only other visible habitations besides the outskirts of Grand Forks were scattered claim shacks and the John Carroll Farm. I he- nearest trees were cottonwoods along, the Red River, nearly three miles to the east, and wheat fields stretched in every direction from the site. The locating at (3rand Forks of the University — "the best territorial gift available" — brought elation to the community .The University's potential w a s immediately recognized, and an editorial in the Grand Forks The wind) Dakota prairie was lhe gathering place OclO Herald the day after selection of ceremony of the laving of the cornerstone of < Md Main, ,ho\vn h. on that the location said. "Grand Forks with its partial!) completed basemcni and foundation. may congratulate itself on having an institution even more valuable T1 B-K Electric Inc. Northern Equipment & Supply Corp. than the capital." for which a This page sponsored by: Farg0 Paper Co Herberijer Inc. page 62. most devoted teacher or eager beginning year was the S3.50 per students: one lonely building week for board required of those surrounded by wheat fields, the who lived in the Old Main building, campus twenty acres of freshly which is reported ashaving been plowed earth, black and muddy "exceedingly uncomfortable" from recent rains, with no walks or because of the lack of a furnace iii even a fence to separate it from the and storm windows. Three stoves surrounding farms, and not a single in the study rooms provided heat, := v tree or shrub." and bedrooms and classrooms m rff mrirff is > But despite its barrenness and were unheated. Borrowed stoves ^ HI ' nriTj-j^nj-^y,. lack of niceties, Dakota Territory sufficed for the first winter, during Old Main building. 1907. was booming because of the fertile which time a furnace was never soil and opportunities for installed. settlement, and at least some of A m o n g that y ear's c ours e that enthusiasm was shared by o f fe ri n g s w ere eIc ment a r y .'«fc UNO's founders, who established arithmetic, geography, spelling, and built a University in what must handwriting, reading, LJnited States have seemed io eastern educators a history. Latin and Greek grammar uxpnir very unlikely place for such a a nd e o u rs e s in Caesar and i 11 nTTl|i venture. Xenophon. During that G e i g e r reports that "the experimental year, preparatory and ..•'.«.,.. , ->#•*.*#'. -«sar oldelassical education had its share degree programs were worked out Old Main after 1887 tornado. of adherents in the 188()'s, even in to be offered beginning in the fall an area as rough and ready as of 1885. Other preparations, North Dakota. And it was they including purchase of library and who had the largest influence on scientific equipment and the University in its early years. installation of a steam heating Those who had attended colleges system and a water and sewage in the east, and even the newly system, were finished in time for well-to-do who had not, preferred the beginning of the University's to give their sons and daughters the second year, and the young school traditional educational ornaments began to take root, f 'ND graduated and discipline rather than practical its first class — two men and six training in agriculture, mechanic women in Tune of 1889. That same arts, or Indian fighting." year the first graduates promptly UNO's original governing body. formed an alumni association. the Board of Regents, met for the first time on April 21, 1883, with Dr. C. E. 'Feel of Grand Forks as president. April 9. 1884, marks the date of election of the University's first president, William M. Blackburn, pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, Old Main memorial site. Eternal Flame in center. who had a background and experience as a professor, scholar i rain from the depot to the and writer. University Station. No taxis were The University opened its doors available back then, and the 50 for iis first classes in the fall of UND entrance oft' University cents fare for a horse cab or hack 1884. Seventy-nine eventually Avenue, 1910. to the campus was a costly figure. enrolled that year, although there So the opening of the street car were never more than (i() in line in 1904 was a big event for the attendance at one time, and when students, who frequently had to the University recessed in June walk to the dormitories after a 1885, atthe end of its opening year night in town, and lor the city. And of instruction, only 24 were still on the fare was only five cents. hand. Of the initial year's In 1904. at the first Founders enrollment, not a single student Day celebration. President had been born in North Dakota, Webster Merrifield recalled his contrasted to the 1973-74 impressions and the difference enrollment, of which 78 per cent between his new academic home at list North Dakota as home. The only fee charged thai UND and the one he had just left UND President's House. 1910. at Yale. "By contrast," according io Geiger's UND history, "the This page sponsored by: Ihc path of the University was University of North Dakota was Home of Economy influenced b\ main factors, dismaying indeed to anv but the ranging from the farm depression page 63. of the late I880's. and similar economic setbacks, to Indian troubles. The Panic of 1893 threw so many farms into bankruptcy that the University was placed in a financial pinch so severe it was rumored the institution would have- to close. In 18 9 5 t h e s t a i e legislature appropriated only $15,980 for the biennium for the University despite a request for 10 times that amount. None of the appropriations went for faculty- salaries. Grand Forks and the University rallied. Business ami professional men instituted a fund-raising drive under William Budge's leadership which brought in $25,900 — enough to keep the University going until the 1897 1 INI) dormitory room in Budge Hall, 1905. legislative session. By 1899 economic conditions Public Schools. North Dakota had improved and the University found itself poverty stricken was placed on sounder ground with because of crop failures and passage of a 2 5-mill levy for depressed farm prices. support of higher education. In iis In 1933 the University asked the first year the levy brought in legislature for $1 million, lain $85,000 lor UND - $15,000 more received only $518,000. In 1932 than was expected. After 1896. voters had approved an initiated high school enrollments shot measure to reduce the salaries of upward and with them college all state employees 20 per cent. enrollments. The University had Seventeen faculty members were 233 students enrolled in 1897-98 dismissed outright or placed on "extended leaves of absence." Classroom in the old ehemistiv and 500 college level students by laboratory, circa 1900. 1909. Science courses were gaining Although federal funds created popularity, while Latin, Greek and s o m e j o b s for students, t h e Army Air Corps glider pilots and mathematics lost favor. consistent upward enrollment s e v e r a I s m a 11 e r m i I i t a r y The First Founders Day trend was reversed temporarily detachments. During World War observance was held in 1904 and is during the depression years. The II, 177 University alumni lost their described by Geiger as being so low point came in 1934, when lives. simple to be nearly private, yet enrollment dropped to 1,580 In I94(a - the war over - the "receiving wide newspaper compared to 1,826 in 1929. University embarked on a 19-year coverage, even headlines, and The difficulties of the 1930's period of spectacular growth. called forth many expressions of were felt by all segments of the G e i ge r. in his section ol sentimental pride in the progress of University. Only $318,823 were "University of the Northern Plains" the state's one university." appropriated for UND for the titled "A New Day." states. "The The University's enrollment 1933-35 biennium. To relieve the opening of the fall term of 1946 climbed from 500 in 1909 to 900 in distress of a number of male was perhaps the most memorable 1917. while the value of its physical students, "Camp Depression" came occasion of its kind since thai day plant reached $1 million in 1916. into existence. Located on the in September of 1884 when the The outbreak of World War I cm campus were six worn-out railway University welcomed iis first deeply into enrollments, especially cabooses, taken off their trucks students." felt in 1917-18. and arranged in a quadrangle. By In the fall of 1946. war veterans The Twenties saw new buildings severe economies and with the aid under the Gl Bill of Rights alone sprouting up. including Merrifield of the federal government, the totaled 1,550. Enrollment the Flail, the armory and the chemistry University weathered the storm following year soared to 3,077 - building. The 70-member faculty of and by 1937 enrollments again more than 1,000 above the pre-war 1921 had doubled by 1930. A headed upward. record. The great symbol of the school of commerce was organized World Ware 11 disrupted the post war years was the ex-Gl in 1924 and a graduate division in institution and turned the campus noticeably older than college 1927. Thomas F. Kane (1918-331 into a military camp. Regular students o f t h e past a n d presided over the University during enrollment skidded from 1.960 in identifiable by his articles of this growth era. 1939 to 775 in 1943. but the military clothing and by his wife The man selected in 1933 to campus provided facilities for 900 ami children. Three hutment areas guide the University through the were constructed hastily for troubled times of the depression This page sponsored by; married students. Another new c rop fol lowed in the I 9 -s()"s years was John C. West, a former Local Union 1426 I.B.E.W. superintendent of Grand Forks following the Korean War. page 64 Legislation adopted in 1947 the $30,000 bond issue approved by made possible the construction of the Territorial Legislature for UND Historical four dormitories in the 1930's. The construction of the first building new law permitted colleges to form more than nine decades ago. It Dates of Interest corporations and bond themselves enrolls more than 8,000 students at 1883 February 27—Organic Act signed into law against anticipated income. Other its main campus in Grand Forks by Gov. Nehemiah Ordway (on February new buildings a p p e a r i n g o n a nd m ore than 460 at t h e 23 the Territorial Legislature had passed a bill establishing the University of North c a m pus were the m o d e r n UND-Williston Center. It consists Dakota). Memorial Student Union of 12 major colleges and divisions. 1883 April 21—First meeting of the original (University Center), the fieldhouse. The Chester Fritz Library is the Board of Regents. the medical school, an engineering largest library in the state in both 1883 October 2—The laying of the cornerstone building, an education building, physical size and number o I" of Main Building. and an up to dale president's volumes. Its academic buildings 1884 September 8 —UNO opened its doors to residence for George W. Stareher extend over a 72-acre area with an first students. who succeeded West in 1934. The additional 398 acres adjoining the 1888 April —First publication of The Student, a value of University property heart of the campus for Chester monthly magazine. jumped from S2 million in 1939 to Fritz Auditorium, residence halls, 1889 UNO's beginning class was graduated (8 S16 million in 1957. m a r r i e d si u d e n t housing, students). intramural athletics and future 1894 November 3 —First intercollegiate athletic W h e n S!a r ch e r ass n m e d competition, a football game with NDAC. leadership, the University was on development, it has more than 42,000 graduates and maintains 1895 Harrison Bronson received the first M. A. the threshhold of its most degree to be awarded by UNO. spectacular period of growth. In active research programs in a his 17 years as president the variety of areas. 1903 First Dacotah yearbook. enrollment tripled to more than 1904 February 27 —First Founders Day Celebration. 8,000 and the value of educational 1004 First trolley line from Grand Forks to plant quadrupled to more than $57 UND. million. More than half the 1907 School of Medicine won for ma I ac- students who have been graduated creditation (first school in University to from UND received their degrees be formally accredited). during Stareher's presidency. 1909 June -University conferred first honorary During the 60's and early 70"s degree (under Webster Merrield). student protest became common 191 I Radio Station established. on college campuses and TJND 1014 George R. Davies received first earned students added their voices to Ph.D. to be presented by UND. outcries against the Vietnam War. 1916 First Homecoming. Civil Rights problems and other 1933 University High School closed. controversial subjects. Upon 1954 July I-George W, Stracher began duties reaching the mandatory retirement as president of UND. age of 65, Stareher stepped down 1057 UND-Williston Center established. as president in Tune of 1971 to be 1058 February 21 —Founders Day ceremonies succeeded by Thomas J. Clifford. formally ope ned 751 h A n ni versa ry A former dean of the College of Year.President Stareher announced gift of one million dollars from alumnus Chester B ii s i n e s s a n d P u b I i c Fritz for a library building. Administration, Clifford brought to 1003 May 31-Twamley Hall, new ad his new job qualities useful for ministration building, dedicated. p r e s i d i n g o v e r a g e n e r a I This 75th anniversay picture of the 1963 September 25 - President John F. Ken bell-lightening. "Accountability" UND campus in 1958 shows (11 Old nedy spoke at convocation in Fieldhouse. became the watchword for the Main. (2) Merrifield Hall. (3) Old 1965 July 21 -Chester Fritz gave UND a Clifford administration from his Science Hall, l-lI the kaw Building, (5) million dollars toward construction of an Memorial Student Union, (6) Medical auditorium. inauguration day. Science Building, ("/(Chemistry Building, (8) Education Building, (9) 1968 January 28 —James Hurkes of Hazellon Fieldhouse, 110) Harrington Hall. became the 25,OOOth graduate of UND at 1111 Babcock Hall and (12) Budge Hall. the mid-year commencement exercises, 1070 August 8-Jay Myster of Moorhead. Min nesota, was awarded ihe University's 5.000th graduate degree timing UNO's golden anniversary summer commen cement. 1971 July 1 Thomas J. Clifford succeeded George W. Stareher as UNI) president. 1071 September 17-Staie Board of Higher Education authorized establishment of College of Fine Arts. 1072 July 1 -UND initialed two new academic units, the College for Human Resources Student demonstration down The UND campus of the 1970'. has De velop inem and ( he Center for University Avenue. March 1969. expanded outward in almost every Teaching and Learning. direction from the original "central 1072 September 5 —North Dakota voters ap Today, as il marks its 91st year area." proved constitutional change eliminating while Grand Forks celebrates it's UND-Ellendale Branch. 100th, the University consists of a This page sponsored by: 1073 March 29-Gov. Arthur Link signed a bill authorizing UND School of Medicine's physical plant valued at more than Robertson Companies Inc. lour year program. $70 million — a marked contrast to e>5. from a temporary c i t y - w i d e Catholic school board, and final word came from the Diocesan board. There were sympathic Catholic businessmen who felt they could have helped had they been fully aware of the situation, but the decision had already been made. The closing of St. James High School, after more than 50 years of successful operation, marked the end of an era for students, parents and grandparents with memories of "work well done and the good old days" forever intact. ST. MICHAELS SCHOOL St. Michael's School was erected during the pastorate of Monsignor J. A. Lemieux. The desire for a parochial school had long existed St. Bernard's Academy, 1600 Fourth Avenue North, 1910. in the hearts of the vast majority of were woven. The school still was the substantial and loyal Catholics justifying its existence, graduating of St. Michael's. 1,000 students trained to accept the Monsignor Lemieux. with his responsibilities of American unusual energy and ability for citizenship and the democratic way organization, together with his of life. efficient and zealous assistants, and Some 700 loyal and fervent aided by an untiring school board, Catholic laymen began the task of assumed the task of erecting a new St. James High School. 1956-69, raising money, going "shoulder to school. shoulder", completely confident of W. J. Edwards was selected as ST. JAMES HIGH SCHOOL making possible a St. James High architect for the building. Early in The story of St. James High School that would be a credit to the year 1915, the contract for the School with its contribution to the the community, along with the building was awarded to the Dinnie overall picture of educating young existing Central High. A 36-month Brothers. The b u i d i n g was men and women in the community program of sacrificial giving was c o m p 1 e t e d an d re a d y for had its beginning as St. Bernard's established as the fund raising goal. occupation, September, 1916. lt is Acadamy in the '80's. The Ursuline In the spring of 1956 dedication a beautiful structure, of modified Sisters were the founders and after ceremonies were conducted for the Romanesque style. many years of struggle in their half-million dollar project of 12 The dedication of the school venture they sold their academy to classrooms and adjoining gym took place on September 24, 1916, the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1914. nasium-auditorium. Such thoughts followed by Solemn High Mass As the enrollment increased, it of "The new St. James High School celebrated by Monsignor Lemieux. was apparent there was a great marks another milestone of need for expansion of the plant progress as Grand Forks keeps located at 1600 Fourth Avenue pace with the future" were North. After remodeling and heralded. additions, the plant was dedicated In spite of rising costs of to Saint James as an academy education, St. James High stressing serious scholarship, music continued with a good reputation and art courses. As schools began throughout the years. They met to assume a greater share of and solved their problems, responsibility for providing for educating 400 plus pupils a year, student needs, the academy kept graduating about 100 annually. abreast of the times. They adapted Their athletic teams and music the core curriculum to enable groups were dominant forces in the students to develop their whole area and state. However, the Si. Michael's School. 1920. personalities. financial problems kept growing Things progressed to the state of and the older part of the plant was agitiation for a new building to deteriorating. accommodate the ever increasing Concern was expressed by state enrollment. In 1944 the excavators officials, but there could be no aid. started—only to be thwarted the Recommendations to close came next year when government needs for vital materials halted This page sponsored by: operations. All that showed was Witcher Construction Company "the hole" around which dreams Si. Michael's School. 1969. page 66. It was a day of historical significance in Grand Forks. The school was dedicated by His Excellency. Bishop James O'Reilly. Bishop O'Reilly was an ardent apostle of parochial schools. One of the great joys of his life was the erection of St. Michael's School. The school doors were opened for registration on September 11. 1916. and enrolled 242 pupils. Its first principal was Mother Grata Powers. St. Michael's school was built by all the Catholics in Grand Forks, lor it was intended to serve both St. Michael's and St. Mary's parishes, which it did until 1929 when St. Mary's was opened. In the year 1947, over thirty years after the school was built, there was an enrollment of 560 in St. Michael's. For twenty years, space was needed to accommodate St. Mary's Church and School, 1929. the every-growing enrollment. In 1950 plans were discussed for 1973, and completed by the end of 1955. Sister Aquin began the work a new school. These plans were ap the school year. of the Sisters of St. Joseph of proved at a mass meeting called by St. Michael's is continuing to Carondolet in St. Mary's School Monsignor McNamee in March, grow. It strives to provide the when she served as the first prin 1952. The services of Mr. U. L. children with a special opportunity cipal. The cost for the original Freed, architect, were engaged, to be involved and grow in a buildings and furnishings amounted and soon contracts, totaling Christian atmosphere. to less than SI00,000.00. $154,000 were let. Monsignor David Boyle was The new school addition was ST. MARY'S SCHOOL pastor of St. Mary's for 16 years, dedicated August 30, 1953. It con St. Mary's School at 216 Belmont from 1955-1971. During his tained six classrooms, a large Road was opened in February, pastorate the church was cafeteria and a modern, well equip 1929 with four of the eight redecorated and it won a Merit ped kitchen. Earlier, in 1948, the classrooms occupied. The building Award from the Liturgical Con building committee met with ar plans and school design were the ference for its design. The school chitects to view sketches of a work of the late Monsignor Mat was expanded to include a gym proposed gymnasium. The building thew Fletcher who served as pastor nasium and three more classrooms was completed in 1949 —and of St. Mary's parish from 1918- in 1957. dedication was held in November of that year. In 1969, the Catholic school system in Grand Forks was faced with apparently insurmountable financial burdens. This resulted in the closing of St. James High School. Because of this, it was deemed advisable to cut back from eight grades to six, because of the public school pattern in Grand Forks. In the fall of 1972, St. Michael's added a Kindergarten program to its curriculum. Fourteen students were enrolled. T wenty three students attended in the year 1973- 74. Si. Mary's football team of 1959 IL-R): Front row —Tom Lynch. Pat Murray. Tim The school is fully accredited Hjelmstad. Judd Mondry. George Widman. Mike Schaefer, Peter Ryan. Boh with the State Department. Tupa. Joel Endres. Back row: Paul Honnah. Gary Lemieux. Dennis Dyers. Chris Twomey. Kieth Bjerk. Mike Tatsak. Bill McKinnon, Richard Mahowald, Terry Lilchy. Enrollment for the 1973-74 year was 166 students. A project for remodeling the This page sponsored by: Belmont Builders, Inc. Northern States Power Company Grossman's Dry Cleaning Webster Foster & Weston Engineering primary department was begun in page 67. library with more than 1500 volumes in September of 1963. Project advisor was H o w a r d Perkins of the UND library staff. Books were donated by parishioners and friends of Holy Family Church. Older volumes were reconditioned before being indexed and filed. New books are obtained yearly as a result of the Holy Family School. annual Book Fair and Tea held at the school. Enrollment at St. Mary's grew Holy Family School on March 17, The first grade was added to the until it reached almost 500 students 1963, in the school's cafeteria. The school in September, 1969. Seventh in 12 classrooms in 1958. The Book Fair was held by the Home and eighth grades were discon closing of St. James High School School Organization to help start a tinued in May of 1969. and the 7th and 8th grades at St. school library. In September, 1972, kindergar Mary's in 1968 caused a sharp drop Thirty-two eighth graders made ten was added. in enrollment. up the first graduation class at Present enrollment is 192 During the 43 years St. Mary's Holy Family School. students in grades Kindergarten has been in operation its students Holy Family School opened its through sixth. have had opportunity to receive an excellent education as well as share in extra-curricular activities. Highlights in St. Mary's history in THE NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND clude the winning of the state Jr. High School basketball tour he North Dakota School was formerly under the State naments in 1952 and 1957 and for the Blind, presently Board of Administration. yearly competitions in spelling con ^1 located at 500 Stanford The School was moved adjacent tests and science fairs. Road in Grand Forks, has to the University of North Dakota Today there are three sisters of a long history going back to the campus in the new school and St. Joseph and four lay teachers turn of the century. This indicated dormitory buildings in September teaching at St. Mary's. The school that people in this State did really 1961, and is presently under the holds a 1-A rating from the North care for others who were less for direction of Charles R. Borehert, Dakota State Department of tunate than themselves. who assumed the duties of the Education. St. Mary's also The school has not always been Superintendent in July, 1973. cooperates with the University of at Grand Forks nor has it always The purpose of the school is to North Dakota in its teacher been known as the School for the meet the needs of those children in training programs and has from Blind. The School was established the State whose visual loss requires 8-10 students working and by an act of the legislature in 1895. a special program for whom an receiving training in their major The name given to it at that time adequate program is not available educatinal field. St. Mary's has was the Stale Blind Asylum and it in the local community. It is the kept abreast of changes in was controlled and operated by a aim of the School for the Blind to education and will make another Board of Trustees from the area. A give the blind and partially seeing step in its historical development school was opened on February 18, child the fullest and broadest op with the opening of a kindergarten 1908, in Bathgate, North Dakota, portunity for developing character class in September of 1974. with a gentleman known as B. P. and personality traits essential for Chappel being hired as Superinten good citizenship. To that end, it of HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL dent at a salary of SI600 per year. fers an educational program com Holy Family church-auditorium- parable to that for any seeing child. school was dedicated on Sept. 3, The second Superintendent to 1962, by the Most Rev. Leo F. come on the scene was Mr. Her Since the opening of the school Dworschak, Bishop of Fargo. bert D. Jeffrey who was active as in 1908, there have been many Father John P. Axtman was pastor the Superintendent from Septem students in attendance, averaging of the church, Father Robert ber 1937, to June 1973. At some approximately 32 students per year. Schuster, assistant pastor. The point in time of Mr. Jeffrey's ad school opened Sept. 4 with 271 ministration, the name was for Graduates of the school can be tunately changed to the North registered students, in grades found in all walks of life, working Dakota School for the Blind (which second through eighth. Holy as contributing members of society is still somewhat of a misnomer as Family was created out of St. in such fields as: education, not all of the children at the school farming counseling, the ministry, Mary's parish in Grand Forks. are totally blind. Two thirds of sales, electrical trade, musicians, There were then 386 families in the them have some usable vision.) health occupations, business men parish. Staffing the school are the and women, housewives, industrial Franciscan Sisters of Hankinson. The School is funded by the workers, and other fields of en Sister Jane Francis was the first State of North Dakota under the deavor. principal. Director of Institutions' Office, but The first Book Fair was held at page 68. Assemblies of God Church—This congregation incor porated on September 15, 1932. The present church building was constructed in 1949. Churc Ascension Lutheran Church—The first worship service was held on February 10, 1963. The members organized themselves as a congregation on June 2, 1963, In November 1973, the church stepped from a Mission Church to a self- supporting congregation. At least 90% of the congregation is made up of Grand Forks AFB residents. Currently there is a membership of 558. Assembly of God Church—This church, located at 401 North Seventh Street, incorporated September 15, 1932. The present church building was built in 1949. Bethel Lutheran Church —This church organized in 1904. The first church was built in 1908, enlarged in 1917, with the addition of a basement, and in 1950 additional remodeling was completed. The church is a member of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America. The first ser vice in the present church building, located at South 17th Street at 17th Avenue, was held on October 30, 1960. Calvary Baptist Church—The membership of this church represents the rank and file of life in the Greater Grand The first Catholic Church erected in 1878 at Sixth Street Forks AFB community. First services were held in the Odd and DeMers Avenue. Demolished in 1959. \. Fellows Hall at Emerado in January 1960. The congregation was organized in September 1961, as Calvary Southern Bap tist Church. The present church building was completed in hurches, as in most pioneer communities, played July 1962. an important role in the development and growth of Grand Forks. The early days of religion, with Calvary Lutheran Church-This church started as a the influx of lay workers and pastors, centered missionary congregation in July 1953 and formally organized around the First Methodist Church, now known as the February 21, 1954. The present building, located at 1405 Wesley United Methodist Church, and the work of Catholic South Ninth Street, was dedicated March 22, 1964. missionaries, establishing the present St. Michael's Catholic Church. Calvary United Pentecostal Church-The organization of this church began in March 1972, with first services held The First Methodist Church came into existence as a in a local motel. Then a small building was rented until June result of the work of Father James Gurley in 1871. Recorded 1972, when the present church edifice was completed at 813 efforts began in the summer of 1872 when Bishop Gilbert South 11th Street. Haven, Chauncy Hobart, and Reverend Henry J. Gust, worked for the formation of a congregation which held its Christus Rex Campus Center —This building is located first services in 1873 in the Hudson's Bay Company. The first on the campus of the University of North Dakota; it was church was constructed in 1874 (located on the downtown originally called the Lutheran Student Union. It now has a site of the present Coast to Coast Store); the land for this full-time pastorate, serving the religious needs of Lutheran construction was donated by Captain Griggs. A new red students on the campus. brick church was built in 1892 with the addition of an educational wing in 1927. Fires in 1937 and 1961 resulted in Church of Christ-The church first met in 1953 with a extensive interior remodeling. In 1968 the Methodist Church temporary location in the Odd Fellows Hall, before moving and Evangelical United Brethern Church were joined and to its present building in April 1955. The church edifice is the name Wesley United Methodist Church was taken in located at 1027 13th Avenue S. Ministers or evangelists of 1968. The familiar red brick church fell to progress, and was the church have no special perogatives; they do not wear the razed as part of the Urban Renewal development. The name or title of Reverend or Father, but are addressed sim congregation subsequently purchased the St. James High ply brother as are all other men of the church. School property. Congregation of the Children of Israel—This congre St. Michael's Catholic Church began with missionary visits gation was organized in 1888 and a Synagogue was built in of Father Simonet to Catholics in Grand Forks in 1872. In 1893. 1878, Father Peter C. Hubert was sent to Grand Forks as the first resident priest. In 1878 a Chapel and cottage were con Faith Baptist Church-The church organized in 1959 structed' on the corner of DeMers and Sixth Street; the when the main auditorium was built at 1106 South 17th property was acquired from Captain Griggs; Father L'Hiver Street. An education unit was completed in 1966. The congregation is a member of the Southern Baptist Conven was serving as priest at the time. In 1881 a church was tion and has been responsible for the origination of 7 dedicated at the location of Fifth Street and Sixth Avenue. missions in Northeastern North Dakota. This edifice was destroyed by fire on September 1, 1907. Father Bernard Ahne was serving the church at the time. Faith Evangelical Free Church-The church was org The present St. Michael's Church, located at Fifth Avenue anized August 29, 1963 and first services were held in the and Sixth Street, was dedicated on October 17, 1909. The old Evangelical United Brethern Church at 4th and Belmont. structure cost 180.000. On January 12, 1964, the church was officially incorporated. The congregation purchased the former Sharon Lutheran Editor's note: Presently there are more than 50 organized con Church in 1966, which is its sanctuary today at Fourth and gregations in the City of Grand Forks. Space simply would not allow detailed information on each congregation and church Cottonwood. building; consequently, the following information, as presented by the churches who replied to the booklet committee request, This page Black's Bakery King's Family Shoes is given as a brief insight on the many denominations situated sponsored by: Dale's Jewelry & Watch Service Soli Insurance Inc. throughout the city. pa» e69. Wesley Methodist Church. First Lutheran Church. St. Mary's Church, 1427. t «*»*« Zion Lutheran Church. Trinity Free Lutheran Church. pagi 70. St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Sharon Lutheran Church. Rk /»1 jyj g;_ •••^iewlk^^ 1 ASSM m Kr4fe9^EL' Assembly The Federated Church—This church resulted through the merger of the First Baptist Church and the Plymouth Congregational Church in 1945. The sanctuary for the congregation was the old First Baptist Church, located at Fifth Street and First Avenue North. The building was demolished in 1973, as part of the downtown Urban Renewal project. Ground was broken in May 1974, for a new edifice, on I7ih Avenue S., near Red River High School. First Church of God—The work of this church began as early as November 1895, when "flying ministers" came to Grand Forks, traveling with a four-horse wagon from Church ol Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Spokane, Washington. First meetings were held upstairs in page 71. the Grand Forks Steam Laundry. In 1919 the congregation Lutheran Church in its school building located ai 624 N. obtained ihe old Trinity Lutheran Church, which had fire Washington in ihe spring of 1948. A classroom ol" the Im damage in 1944, repaired, and continues to serve as the san manuel Lutheran School was the selling for the first worship ctuary at Walnut and Third Avenue South. service held October 24. 1948. The congregation was organized on April 17, 1948. The first services in ihe new First Lutheran Church—This congregation organized in structure located at 20th Street and 8th Avenue North were 1890 and had a brick and wood structure on Belmont Road. held on December 6, 1953. The congregation associated with the Norwegian Synod and also had a Seminary at 12th Avenue and Belmont Road St. Mark's Lutheran Church—The congregation was known as Grand Forks College. This congregation joined organized November 13, 1910 and ihe first service was held with Bethany congregation to become the present United in ihe Public Library. The first church was constructed in Lutheran Church. The church building was ra/.ed in the late 1915 at Second Avenue and North Fifth Street. In 1958 the 196()'s for an apartment house. downtown church was sold and a new building built at 24th Avenue South and Cherry Street. First Presbyterian Church—Services were first held in the home of Captain Alexander Griggs. The first church was St. Mary's Catholic Church -The first Mass in the new a wood structure built in 1879 at Fifth Street South and parish was offered at ihe K.C. Hall on September 15. 1914. Belmont, where, on the same location, the present structure The first Mass in ihe new church was offered Christmas was built in 1910. Day, 1915. Total completion of the church was accom plished in 1918 and in 1923 the rectory was purchased at 302 Free Methodist Church—The Grand Forks Free Meth Belmont. St. Mary's School opened in 1929. odist Church is a church of Wesleyan-Armenian doctrine. Ii was established in 1957. The present properly at 1002 Park St. Paul's Episcopal Church —Episcopal services have Drive was acquired in 1957 and the first service in the new an early history in Grand Forks, dating back to October sanctuary was held on October 20, 1957. 1872, but it was not until November 16, 1879, that the first resident clergyman arrived in the village. Regular Sunday Greek Orthodox—The Greek Orthodox Church Annun services were instituted January 18, 1880. Si. Paul's parish ciation was established in 1954 with the purchase ol the was organized in the early spring ol" 1880. The first church structure at Walnut and Fourth Avenue South. The church opened June 12, 1881, which was sold io ihe Northwestern operates according to the canons and traditions of the or Bell Compnay in 1947. The new church, located at 5th thodox church since its founding from the origin of the Street and Gertrude Avenue, with the first divine services Seven Churches established by the Apostles in Greece and held September 3, 1950. Asia Minor. Sharon Lutheran Church—The Articles of Incorporation Holy Family Catholic Church—This church was org lor this church were prepared December 8, 1920. for the anized in 1960 and ihe present church was occupied on Oc purpose of maintaining and promoting religious worship ac tober 15, I960. cording to the general usages ol" The Lutheran Free Church of America. Regular services actually began in 1918. Ihe Immanuel Lutheran Church—The congregation was first church building was located at 2nd Avenue and Cotton founded Septembr 29, 1901, and the first building erected in wood Street, utilized 1919-1941; a second structure was oc 1902 at 606 S. Third Street. A new sanctuary of Tudor cupied at 4th Avenue and Cottonwood Street, utilized 1941- Gothic style was erected at the corner of Belmont and Fifth 1966, then moving into the present structure at 17th Avenue Street and dedicated November 21, 1937. Dedicatory ser and 20th Street. The church presently has a baptized mem vices included separate languages of English. German, Nor bership of 1067. wegian and also a special service for the deaf. In 1944 40% of the congregation was released to form the First Lutheran Trinity Free Lutheran Church This congregation was Church in East Grand Forks. On February 1, 1948, a organized May 24, 19(a), Cornerstone for ihe present church, parochial school was dedicated at Washington Street anil located at 3420 Chestnut, was placed May 5, 1968. 7th Avenue N. This school continued until 1957 when a new Trinity Lutheran Church (Hauges Synod) Ihe church school was constructed at 17th Avenue S. and Cherry Street. organized in 1883. building a sanctuary ai Walnut and 3rd The school closed in 1966. The downtown church was sold Avenue South, which is presently the First Church of God. in January 1973 and is now the City Mission. Presently, the This congregation joined with Zion Lutheran in 1917. building on Cherry Street serves as both the sanctuary and education building; the congregation has plans io build a United Lutheran Church Originally three congre new church in the immediate future. The congregation has gations united to form die present church, /.ion Lutheran 484 communicant members. and Trinity Lutheran joined in 1917 to form Bethany Congregation, and in 1926 First Lutheran joined Bethany to Newman Parish- An effort to organize a Catholic stud- found the present United Lutheran Church. Ihe /ion ents group was made in 1902, and in 1909 this group merged Lutheran Church building was razed lor the location ol" the with ihe Gibbons Club, a men's group, and became the new United Lutheran building; the cornerstone was placed University Catholic Association. The Newman Foundation in 1929. was incorporated in 1926 and the first Newman Hall was opened in September 1927 ai 315 Hamline. The present University Lutheran Church-United Lutheran Church Newman Chapel was opened in September 1951 at 410 Cam began a mission church in the University area in 1948. The bridge. On July 1, 1962, St. Thomas Chapel was designated first pastor was assigned September 1, 1950, at which time as an exclusive student parish. services were held in West School. The first portion of the church was completed May 24. 1953. The church proper Plymouth Congregational Church This church org was totalis completed and services began on December 20, anized in 1882 and stood at the corner of Fifth Street and 1970. University Avenue. It was razed in 1962 and a gas station was constructed on the premises. The church was actually Zion Lutheran Church A church of early organization, built in 1911 and later sold to Grace Baptist congregation. constructed a wooden structure in 1880. which was replaced by a new brick structure in 1909. This served the Redeemer Lutheran Church—The church traces its be congregation for more than 25 years, when il merged with ginning to a branch Sunday School begun by Immanuel the United Lutheran Church. page 72. the hospital and to report their findings to the board. The year 1942 was successful and a pediatric department was ad ded. The hospital also celebrated 50 years of service in 1942. The last major addition was completed in 1951 and the hospital bed count was 150. In 1959 the School of Nursing closed, favoring the 4 year program through the University of North Dakota College of Nursing. January 1, 1971, the Deaconess Corporation sold the Deaconess Hospital to the United Hospital Corporation for $1.00, completing 79 years of service to the Red River Valley citizens. Many more people snould be honored in this brief history of The Deaconess Hospital, however room does not permit this. Following are some of the fine Administrators Deaconess Hospital, comer of Division Avenue and Fourth Street, 1910. who served the Deaconess Hospital. Amund Ostmo, O. H. DEACONESS HOSPITAL St. Luke's Hospital was founded in 1892, just two years after North Dakota attained statehood, by Dr. J. E. Engstad who came to Grand Forks in 1885. The first patient ad mitted to the hospital, was Mrs. M. Maarn of Hatton, North Dakota. The operating room was barely in order when the first operation was performed in the first hospital in Grand Forks built for this pur pose, and the first hospital in America built and owned by a Scandinavian. Many problems were encoun Deaconess Hospital. 1931. tered but staffing the hospital was The hospital continued to grow the worst. Dr. Engstad requested and many additions were built. In help from the Deaconess Home in 1903 an addition costing SI8,000 Minneapolis for nurses. Three was completed. In 1910 a new Deaconesses came to Grand Forks operating room was built and an in the spring of 1892. Sister Kristi elevator was installed. In 1910 Olson was general head. Sister room rates were S10.(X) a week for- Mina Hjelmslad was the nurse in the general ward, S12.00 per week charge and Sister Mathilda Lund for double rooms and S13.50-S20.00 was in charge of housekeeping and per week for a private room. In Deaconess Unit of The United Hospital. the kitchen. 1905 the board favored the begin Overland, Leonard Egstrom and In 1894 it became evident that ning of a nurses training program. Robert Jacobson. the hospital was too small and a Another addition was completed new wing was added to bring the in 1916 and departments were ad ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL total beds to 35. ded to the hospital also. The At the request of the doctors As Dr. Engstad's workload was depression years following 1929 and citizens of Grand Forks the continually heavy and extremely were difficult ones for the hospital Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet time consuming he decided to sell and salary cuts, staffing cuts and opened the original St. Michael's at his hospital. Through the selling of every other possible means was 813 Lewis Blvd, in December 1907. subscriptions headed by Rev. I. taken to keep the hospital in Estimated cost of the structure was existence. Tollefson, $12,000 was raised and This page sponsored by: on December 11, 1899, the new Dr. A. K. Saiki, Dr. P. Woutat corporation took possession of the and & R. E. Leigh were appointed The Fabulous hospital. to inspect various departments of Westward Ho Motel page 73. $100,000. Dr. H. M. Wheeler, a prominent figure in the field of medicine in the City, was one of the key orginizers for this new con struction. The total bed capacity was sixty-five, forty-five beds for patients and twenty for student nurses. In 1913, a nurses' residence was constructed increasing the patient capacity of the hospital. Mother Leocadia was the first Ad ministrator. The St. Michael's Hospital EI School of Nursing was formed in ii irr H II 1917. The first formal staff of twenty doctors was formed in 1919, with Dr. Robert D. Campbell ser ving as the first Chief of Staff, Sl. Michael's Hospital (now St. Ann's G holding that position for 28 years. Home) 800 L , Blvd., 1910. In 1950 the School of Nursing to raise it to present hospital merged with St. John's School of facility standards. Nursing and Trinity School of Nur In 19 6 9 Herman Smith sing to form the Sisters of St. Associates, hospital consultants, in Joseph of Carondelet School of their report to the Community Nursing. A Hospital Auxiliary was Health Planning Council recom organized in 1951. mended that Deaconess and St. The new St. Michael's Hospital Michael's Hospitals consolidate was built 45 years later in 1952 with their organizations and build a new facility on a new site, thereby a potential bed capacity of two St. Michael's Unit of The United Hospital. hundred. It was built at a cost of paving the way to eventual cen tralization of all major health S3,500,000, and was the largest 1969 to 1970, when St. Michael's related facilities on this one site. building contract ever granted in became a part of the United the state. The original St. Michael's Hospital merger. Basically the hospital design will was purchased by the Sisters of St. emphasize flexibility, ease of ex Francis of Hankinson, N.D., and UNITED HOSPITAL pansion, and the ability to coor converted to St. Anne's Guest The United Hospital is the result dinate shared and site serices with Home. Mother Rita Clare was the of consolidating St. Michael's and other members of the Medical Administrator from 1946 to 1952, Deaconess Hospitals. Park. This building would consist and had much to do with the plan Deaconess Unit of The United ol" a six story tower with nursing ning of the new hopsital. Sister Hospital is an old, obsolete hospital units sized for 52-60 beds. Each Helen Rita was Administrator at that must be replaced. In their final patient room would be designed to serve either one or two patients. the time of completion of the new report of a long range plan for The building would be put on hospital. Deaconess Hospital in 1966, James pilings and designed to extend The first baby born in the new A. Hamilton Associates recommen eight stories. The auxiliary building hospital was Jane Susan Ryan, the ded that Deaconess Hospital build would be attached, and construc fifth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. a new structure next to St. ted with metal panel. Il would Thomas Ryan, who arrived Oc Michael's Hospital. In 1968 the house services such as surgery, tober 23, 1952. engineering staff from the regional x-ray, laboratory, physical therapy, The School of Radio 1 ogic Hill Burton Agency flatly stated emergency and outpatient depart Technology was begun in 1954 un the Deaconess Hospital should not ment. Due to construction it will der the direction of Dr. Philip H. be rennovated. have the flexibility to be easily ex Woutat, and in 1958 the Grand St. Michael's Unit of The United panded. The 516,000,000 hospital Forks School of Anesthesia was Hospital is over 20 years old. In would be oriented on the site as to organized by Sister Rosemary 1966, the Anthony J. J. Rourke, In- fit into the overall program of the Fields. c. Consulting Firm employed by Medical Park's system which finds Since the formation of the first the Order of the Sisters of St. the University of North Dakota St. Michael's Hospital, there have Joseph of Cardondelet; recommen Rehabilitation Hospital, the Grand been fifteen Administrators ded that, St. Michael's Hospital Forks Clinic, the Medical Arts associatd with the hopsital. Sister make no future plans until the long Building, and other health related Charlotte Rohr, ASC, served from range plan of Deaconess Hospital organizations on (he same site. become known. St. Michael's Ihe Deaconess Unit physical This page sponsored by: Hospital did just that. Consequen Gardner Lumber Co. tly, although the St. Michael's Unit plant will be sold and no longer Rite Spot Liquor Store Inc. physical plant is in relatively good used. The St. Michael's building Scott Farm condition, a considerable amount will be modified to a minor degree WDAZ TV of remodeling would be necessary to handle the auxiliary services that P•aji e 74. are required to serve the new acute program of comprehensive 1962, two additional floors were hospital. Psychiatry will not have rehabilitation for the people of built, providing a capacity of forty- to be modified at all. Storage space North Dakota and surrounding one in-patients. In 1965, under will have to be added by removing areas. Services are provided on Donald F. Barcome, M.D., a existing wall partitions. The ac both an in-patient and an out specialist in physical medicine counting space and the space now patient basis through the major rehabilitation who joined the serving the computer services will programs of: Physical Restoration, Hospital as Medical Director, the not have to be revised. The use of- Psycho-Social Adjustment, growth of the Hospital and its the remainder of the St. Michael's Vocational Adjustment, and Com programs has increased several Unit will depend on later ap munication Disorders. fold. The result is an all new plications to the Agassiz Health Qualified staff members in each eighty-eight bed facility located in Planning Council. We are contem of the aforementioned fields the center of the Grand Forks plating a possible extension of provide therapy as indicated and Medical Park complex. The skilled nursing home beds, an ad prescribed by the Medical Direc Rehabilitation Hospital is fully ac dition of an acute inpatient tor. Physicians or agencies may credited by the Commission on Ac alcoholic treatment program and refer patients for evaluation and/or creditation of Rehabilitation possibly using the facility to house treatment. All services are Facilities (CARF). social service or mental health out provided on a fee for service basis. In addition to its clinical patient facilities. The Rehabilitation Hospital, programs, all of the departments of MEDICAL CENTER originally a one story out-patient the Rehabilitation Hospital provide REHABILITATION structure, was built in 1958 as the a clinical education setting for HOSPITAL result of the efforts of Dr. T. H. students from the University of The Medical Center Harwood, then Director of the North Dakota and other Rehabilitation Hospital provides a North Dakota Medical Center. In professional schools. Centennial Profile: Dr. Henry M. Wheeler by Harlan Jackson t was getting hot for the James Gang was loaded onto the train in Northfield for Ann in the summer of 1876. They were Arbor smelling faintly of formaldehyde. 1*1 Wanted in Missouri, train robbing By the time a dirty little coward had shot Mr. was fading fast as a tolerable risk for Howard, Dr. Wheeler had been in Grand Forks men who stole for a living. So in Septem a year. He came to Grand Forks in 1881 after ber they cooled it up through Dakota and graduating from the College of Physicians and into Minnesota. They must have decided Surgeons of New York City. Being one of the bank robbing was more to their abilities. few doctors in the area. Dr. Wheeler traveled by They warmed it up considerable for them horse and buggy west of town and as .'ar north selves on Sept. 7, 1876, when they rode up the valley as Grafton. The valley spread open into N o r t h 1" i e 1 d and raided the First and clear, shelter-beltless, flat to the horizon. National Bank. Across the Red; Minnesota a reflection. Dr. Wheeler gives his first impressions of the town: Riding into town in twos and threes, the "Grand Forks was a outlaws seemed "suspicious." It was strange to town of only about see so many "cattlemen" in town, as Dr. H. M. three thousand at that Wheeler later recounted. Then a medical time. Except the Got student home from Ann Arbor, he ran to the zian Block, which had Dampier Hotel and took the house rifle to a just been built, prac second story outlook exactly across from the tically every building in bank. Clel Miller rode by just as the rest of the the city was of wood. band emerged from the bank. Wheeler shot the Ihe site of the present outlaw dead in the saddle. He then took a shot at high school building was Bob Younger, breaking his elbow. The in the outskirts of the James-Younger Gang beat it out of Northfield city. . . Sidewalks were $290 rich and two companions poor. scarce, to say nothing of Now in those days a medical student's tuition pavement. I have seen did not cover the expense of cadavers. A dead wagons stuck on Third body was needed to continue his study ol" Dr. Henry M. Wheeler. Street for two or three healing. Wheeler recognized an opportunity weeks at a rime. " when it presented itself; two highwaymen lay Grand Forks was just sprouting in the slain in the middle of First Avenue. He asked the wildness of the great American west. And it was sheriff for Clel Miller's corpse. The sheriff, men such as Henry Wheeler who gave the having some legal side thoughts, refused outright pioneer Americans the help and medical possession but told Wheeler the body would be attention to make their struggle with the land buried shallow. A day" or so later, a pickle barrel endurable. And with the endurance; a sense of This page sponsored by: Bridgeman Creameries Community National Bank page 75. the land, a sense of self. of the day involving delivery. To this, he Being a pioneer physician, Wheeler also kept concentrated much ol" his writing and research. abreast of his advancing profession. As the city Henry Wheeler and railroad magnate J. J. Hill grew and more doctors were needed. Dr. were good friends. Thus Wheeler was the Wheeler was one of the first doctors to physician for the Great Northern and Northern recognize the advantages of group medicine. His Pacific railroads. Both men were individualists office was above the old Trapanier's Drug store. and enjoyed each others company hunting the For decades a passerby might glance up and see geese and deer of Dakota and northern Wheeler and Campbell stenciled on Third Street Minnesota. Wheeler was known throughout the second story windows. Those offices grew and state for his ability with a firearm. In his buggy with the help of other doctors Wheeler he carried a pistol as a deterrent to the band organized the Valley Medical Building. The its who might have given testimony to that rep. facilities now above the White Drug are direct Grand Forks was becoming a hustling city by decendants of those earlier offices. the time Dr. Wheeler retired in May of 1923. When North Dakota became a state. Doc The territory had been settled rapidly and stories Wheeler was one of the original organizers of about Jesse James were read by young boys the State Medical Society. He was very everywhere in America. The outlaws who had influential and respected amongst his killed and robbed in Northfield an era earlier professional peers and in 1895 was elected were no longer real. They were but fictionalized president of that organization. saga. They are legends. What remains is more than a history ol" a Doctor Wheeler was both a public and private country doctor whose hard work brought the minded man. Often his private concerns resulted advantages of a gifted surgeon to the people who in benefits for the community. Fie recognized the lived out in the 'sticks.' What remains is the real need for another hospital in Grand Forks and heritage of our area. Looking backwards can be initiated the move to bring the Sisters of St. tricky. Fact and fiction seem at i i m es Joseph to staff St. Michael's. He provided funds contradicting and confusing. But the scenes for the building and performed most of his become clearer when one realizes it was the men surgery there. In memory of this work, there is who shared the hardships of the land that make now a Wheeler-Campbell Library in the Saint the American west the fascinating place il is; Mike's unit of the United Hospital. worthy ol" our retrospect, full of real heroes. Dr. Politically a Republican, Dr. Wheeler served James Gassick relates his impressions of the two consecutive terms as mayor of Grand Forks. man: "He is an individualist in the sense that he During that time his son was born. He has no duplicate. There is only one Dr. Wheeler. proclaimed his joy to the town by flying the flag He had a strong personality and an active, upsidedown from city hall, traditionally a sign inquiring, analytical mind. Beneath a rugged of distress. Those in town who did not personally exterior throbs a heart in compassion and know Doc Wheeler knew about him. Some sympathy with ailing and erring humanity." thought him eccentric. But none questioned his A prairie road; a horse drawn buggy; anxious abilities as one of the foremost medical talents in eyes wait, a clean sheet spread across a kitchen the city, in the state, anywhere around. Having table; these are focused images of a man whose lost two wives in childbirth, Wheeler was humanity and dedication would eclipse his especially concerned with problems and methods legend. Worthy Grand Matrons have served the Grand Chapter of City Organizations North Dakota. The present Worthy Matron is Dorothy John M is. . i It o n Ho I in st ro in son and the Worthy Patron is A. B. Dickie. Acacia Lodge No. 4 —Early in the spring of 1879, AIL-CIO Auxiliary to IBEW Local 1426 - This Aux the suggestion was made that a lodge of Master Masons iliary to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers should be instituted in Grand Forks. Organization date was Local 1-126 organized in March 1973, with 20 charter mem April 16, 1880; the first Worshipful Master was M. T. bers. Its main objective is to work in conjunction with the Caswell, who served from 1880 to 1881. The lodge met in IBEW Local, in furthering the understanding and well being various locations until July 24, 1902, when the cornerstone of the AFL-CIO, its members, their families, the community was laid lor a permanent building located on DeMers and nation. The group's current secretary is Mrs. Irene Avenue in the Stratford Block. This structure was destroyed Askelson. by lire on January 18, 1912. The present Temple, built at a American Association of University Women—The cost of approximately S200,000.(X), was dedicated June 15, Grand Forks branch of ihis organization was established in 1915. Presently the lodge has a membership of 530. Jack W. 1917 when ii was known as the Association of Collegiate Lund is currently the Worshipful Master; Daniel S. Letnes Alumnae, founded in 1882. Instrumental in establishing the has served as secretary of the lodge since November 1948. local branch was Mrs. Frank McVey, wile of the president Acacia Chapter No. 12—The charter for this organi of the University of North Dakota. Dr. Norma Pfeiffer was zation was granted in 1894. Serving as the first Worthy the first president. This group enables college women to Matron was Mrs. Sarah Topping and the first Worthy Patron continue their own intellectual growth and asks that they was Mr. Fred Ring. The first regular meeting was held in the Flerald Building. Mrs. Ada Stinson was the Worthy Matron at the time of the first initiation in 1915. The function ol" the This page sponsored by: Order of the Eastern Star is primarily ritualistic with a num Dow Welding Supply Co. KTHI - TV ber of social activities. In the organization's history, live Hanson-Anderson Mortuary, Inc. Useldinger Brothers Potato Co. pa lie 76. discharge special responsibility to society for having enjoyed serve humanity as the need might arise, and a good will tran the advantage of higher education. Present officers are Mrs. scending race, color or creed. Richard King, president; Mrs. Earl McKay, first vice president; Mrs. Duane Crawford, second vice president; Mrs. Donald Anderson, secretary; and Mrs. Herbert Sehultz, treasurer. Membership is 154. American Legion - Post No. 6—On July 4, 1919, a formal city-wide program of" greeting to the returning veterans of the armed foraces of the U.S. was held in Grand Forks. As a part of the program, a designated time period was set aside for ihe men returning from military to assem ble at the City Auditorium to form the American Legion Post of Grand Forks. The charter was granted on August 10, Red Cross Chapter of 1951 (L-R): Mrs. T.A. leaner. Mrs. C.A. 1920; Dr. R. D. Campbell served as ihe first Post Comman Gest, Mrs. F.C. Smith, Mrs. O.B. Burtness, Mrs. R.A. Vaaler der. Noteworthy in purpose, the American Legion is Mrs. R.F. Bridgeman, Dean Alice Hanson, Mrs. Wm. M. organized io uphold and defend the Constitution of the Case. Mrs. E.C. Lebacken, Mrs. Michael Panovitz, Mrs. Ralph Rohde. United States of America and to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism. The Legion is well known Antique Auto Club^-This organization exists for the tor its sponsorship of youth baseball, music camps, job fairs preservation, restoration and maintenance of the for returning veterans and hospital visitations to the sick and automobile. The local club organized in 1968, with Melvin disabled. The present clubrooms are located on North Third Johnson and Dan Evanson sparking the interest. Affiliation Street; Post No. (a has a membership of 1200. The present with Ihe Antique Auto Club of America took place in 1969. Post Commander is Earl Kiley. Adolph Ulland has served as Currently there are 50 members with Donald Korfhage ser Post Chaplain for 23 years. Post No. (a has fourteen life mem ving as president. The official publication is appropriately bers; namely, Edgar Berg; Henry Kennedy; Frank Kosanda; named "The Gasline." Gordon Moore; Fl. G. Reummele; A. G. Wimpheimer; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks - Grand George Phelps Sr.; Jack Rowe; Ed Sabin; Ernest Schoults, Forks Lodge No. 255—The local Elks Lodge made history Adolph Ulland, Donald Jenson, Merland Berg and E. J. Flan- on January 21, 1893, becoming the "First in the Dakotas." son. Twenty-six charter members were initiated. Listed as the American Legion Auxiliary - Unit 6—The charter first exalted ruler of the lodge was W. L. Wilder. The char for the Legion Auxiliary was issued on March 25, 1921. ter ceremony marked the installation of the first Elks lodge Twenty-eight women initially signed the application, and in North or South Dakota. Initially the lodge met in quarters when the charter closed on February 1, 1922, there were 192 rented from the Knights of Pythias, this was a 17-year members. Eleven of the charter members are still members period; growth forced it to move to 14Vi N. 4th St., where it today. The Auxiliary carries out programs revolving around remained for nearly 54 years, moving to 2215 Belmont Road, Americanism, children and youth, community service. Girls for its third and present home. The Elks Lodge has cardinal Slate, and many others. Membership is limited to mothers, principles of the Order, Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and sisters, daughters, granddaughters and wives of all men anil Fidelity. Presently there are 4780 members. Current officers women who served their country in WW1, VVW 11, ihe are Exalted Ruler, Rudy Kuchar; Leading Knight, Omer Korean conflict and the Vict Nam conflict. Presently there Brown; Loyal Knight, AI Warcup; Lecturing Knight, Ken are 500 members. Current officers include: President, Mrs. Hallgromson; Esquire, W. B. Johnson; Chaplain, Robert E. L, Bye; First Vice President. Mrs. Milton Olson; Second Hendry; Inner Guard, William Schoen; Secretary, Edgar P. Vice President, Mrs. John Lyons; Secreatry, Mrs. Darlene Beyers; Treasurer, William G. Sandbrink; and Tiler, Cecil Hall; Treasurer, Mrs. Treumann Lykken; Chaplain, Mrs. Williams. Robert M. Norman, Kenneth J. Mullen, M. C. P. Earl Kiley; Historian, Mrs. H. J. Lien; and Sargeant At Ar Hegarty, Dwayne L. Raymond and James A. Hansen, serve ms, Mrs. John Weigle. as trustees. Boy Scouts of America - Northern Lights Council — American National Red Cross - Grand Forks Area In 1919, locally, the Boy Scouts were part of the Greater Chapter—Ihe Spanish-American War necessitated the establishment of the first Red Cross unit in Grand Forks Grand Forks Scout District. On June 26, 1920, Grand Forks County on July 6, 1898. Then the organization disbanded un became part of the Lake Agassiz Council, and remained a til the country's entry into World War I, at which time part of that Council, until January 1, 1974, when the Lake reorganization took place, and official recognition was given Agassiz Council merged with three other area councils to on April 28, 1917, with Dr. R. D. Campbell holding the first form Ihe Northern Lights Council. Seouling in the com chairmanship. During WW I, more than 25,000 families were munity of Grand Forks has grown from one troop in 1920 to given assistance and 86,184 garments were sewed. The 16 troops and 15 packs in 1974. There are 19 Exploring period between WW I and WW II, the Red Cross worked Posts in the city. Approximately 915 youth are involved in with drought stricken farmers in Western N.D., established the scouting movement. Early troops included Troop 1, the Grand Forks Dental Clinic and raised funds for 1937 sponsored by St. Michael's Church; Troop 2, sponsored by flood victims, Helen M. Nelson was serving as part-time secretary, at 510 a month salary, when WW II began on Sep the YMCA, and Troop 4, sponsored by the Wesley United tember 1, 1939. Efforts during WW II were devoted pretty Methodist Church. The first Eagle Scout was Walter John much to assistance to military families. The American Red son of Troop 4. Cross lost one of its best friends on April 12, 1945, with the Elks Auxiliary —This group was organized on November death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; his last radio 2, 1955, as a social organization. Mrs. Robert Wieneke ser broadcast the night of March 20, 1945, was a five minute ap ved as the groups first president. Presently the membership peal in behalf of the Red Cross. The local chapter had is 600. Current officers include: President, Mrs. Rudolph several homes during its time in Grand Forks and in 1956 the present Chapter Flouse at 315 North 4th Street was con- This page sponsored by: stucted. In I9(a(a, a station wagon was purchased and a Nodak Contracting Corp Yankee Whaler Restaurant Motor Service organized. Present chapter chairman is Ken Scotts Inc. Grand Forks Linoleum and Carpet neth Arneson. The Red Cross exemplifies a readiness to Co. pau 77. Kuchar; Vice President, Mrs. Frank Thompson; Seereaty, satisfying in Jesus Christ. There are no elected officers, no Mrs. Jack Shull; and Treasurer, Mrs. James Montgomery. membership or dues, and meetings are open lo all in Bethesda Society—The Bethesda Association of Scan- dividuals of the Grand Forks area. Average meeting atten danavian Women was organized as early as 1914 with one dance is 125. Audrey Nordenstrom is ihe present chairman. purpose in mind — "to erect an Old People's Home in Credit Women International - Grand Forks Chap Grand Forks in the near future." Mrs. Andrew Knutson was ter—Nationally, this group organized in 1930. The local elected as the first president. Because of the large interest in chapter was organized in 1957 with 18 members; the first this type of work, the Society organized into 5 branches, to president was Flazel Tweton of Norby's; she is one of the six adequately serve members in both Grand Forks and East charter members remaining in the club. Purpose of the club Grand Forks. In 1917 they were organized as the is to develop a closer contact among women in the credit Association of the Home for the Aged. A board of directors professions. Members must be involved in credit work and was elected consisting of 5 pastors, 5 Bethesda members and must be women. Presently there are 26 members; ETvern 5 members at large. All branches continued operation, Vanyo is serving as president, having church suppers, food sales, ice cream socials, and the Democratic-NPL Women's Club - 18th District- combined effort of all women, serving meals at the Fair — Grand Forks County Democratic women began meeting in "This way folks, all you can eat for 50 cents." On October formally in 1960 and 1961 before forming a county unit to 15, 1924, the first unit of the home was opened to 40 people. join with other Democratic women from throughout the Valley Memorial Home expanded in 1927; recently Tufte state. The women's group continued on a county basis until Manor was constructed. The dreams of those early Grand 1968, when the 18lh District Demoeralie-NPL Women's Club Forks women have truly come true, with two fine homes ser was organized with the late Mrs. Cecil Williams serving as ving the needs of the elderly and retired. Arthur Tweet is president. Mrs. Williams served as president until 1970. suc administrator of both homes. ceeded by the current president, Mrs. Alvin Austin. Other Business and Professional Women's Club —Tentat officers include Mrs. E. J. Collette Sr., VP; Mrs. Leroy ively, this group organized on June 7, 1919, as a joint ven Kalen/.e, Sec'y; and Mrs. Roger Planes, treasurer. Objec ture with delegates from Business Girls' clubs of Grand tives of the organization are to interest women in the Forks and Fargo. Mrs. Agnes Rex was elected president. political process and further the candidacy ol" responsible Out of this group, with sponsorship by the Young Women's nominees lor public office. Christian Association, the first officers were elected on Disabled American Veterans - Chapter No. 2—The August 18, 1919, with Mrs. W. E. Black serving as the first "roup was first organized in 1920 with a membership not to president. The purpose of the group is to elevate standards exceed 7. In 1932 the DAV was chartered by Congress as a for women in business and in professions. Membership is 58. national organization and the local membership increased to Officers include: President, Mrs. Audrey Durand; 1st VP, 67. Stanley Lovell, WW I veteran, operator of a local floral Mrs. Margaret Varberg; 2nd VP, Mrs. Marion Radliff; shop, was ihe first Commander. The first Memorial Recording Sec'y, Mrs. Thelma Bayer; Corres. Sec'y, Mrs. Clubrooms were dedicated on May 25, 1936, in the Roma Allen; and treasurer, Miss Raenell Barnick. basement of the Grand Forks County Courthouse, meeting Chamber of Commerce—This organization was origin there until 1946, when the DAV Chapter and the VF'W Post ally known as the Pioneer Club, and offered businessmen of #1874, purchased the building at 213 South 3rd St., which the city reading rooms, chess rooms, and billiard and continues to serve as the clubrooms for both organizations. smoking rooms. Interior decorations were of an elegant Present membership is 1300, including 740 annuals and 560 fashion and men were required to wear their best clothing life members. The organization serves to obtain fair and just when attending social functions. The name change to Com compensation, adequate and sympathetic medical care and mercial Club took place in 1904. Not until WW I. did the suitable gainful employment for war veterans who have been term Chamber of Commerce apply. The local Chamber of disabled in the service of ihier country. Also, community Commerce was chartered in 1904; it is presently an projects, involving Scouts, YMCA and handicapped people, association of business and professional people, combining are carried out. Present officers include: Commander, Cyril efforts for a greater economic and civic development for the A. Wysoeki; Sr. Vice Commander. Edward Siemieniewski; City of Grand Forks. Currently, staff members are: Ben lsi Jr. Vice Comm., Edwin Christensen; 2nd Jr. Vice Com- Teague, Executive Vice President; David L. Johnson, Ass't. m., James McKenzie; 3rd Jr. Vice Comm., August Novotny; Manager; E. J. Flanson, Director of Transportation; Ken Chaplain, Richard Ziniel; Adjutant-Treasurer, Robert Han neth A. Smith, Grand Forks Development Foundation; nah; Executive Committeemen include Leonard Dauc- Beverly Morque, Bookkeeper; and Martha Eastman, savage, Robert Gilmour, John Kosmalka and James Haag; Secretary. Housing Committeemen include Walter McKinnon, Reuben Savaloja and Leonard Bueligen. Centinnial Year officers for the Chamber of Commerce in clude: Justin Hoberg, President; John Norby, President Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary — This Elect; Dick Wold, Vice President Community Improvement group chartered on August 8, 1940, with 45 members. Mrs. Division; Merritt Welch, Vice President Area Economic Earl Finnic was the first Commander. The purpose of the Development Division; Dennis Douville, Vice President group is to advance ihe interest and work lor the betterment Community Relations Division; Gary Dietz, Vice President of all wounded, injured and disabled veterans. The present Internal Operations Division; Bennie Johnson, Vice- membership is 285. Current officers include: Commander, President Traffic Division. Mrs. James McKenzie; other officials are Mrs. Edward Siemieniewski, Mrs. August Novotny, Mrs, Cy Wysoeki, Christian Women's Club - Greater Grand Forks Chapter Mrs. Jimmey Shley, Mrs, Florence Teters and Mrs. Robert —This group organized on August 27, 19(a8; Beulah Ander McKinnon. son served as the first chairman. The group is an outreach mission of Stonecroft with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Entre Nous (Study Club)'—In October 1910, five The group's purpose is to perpetuate good will in the com young matrons met at the home of Mrs. Claudia Griffin to munity through acceptance of challenges in life found more organize a study club. The constitution was prepared, mem bership was limited io 12, and the club was dedicated to "the culture of its members and furtherance of any worthy enter This page sponsored by: prise which ii might undertake." Mrs. Griffin was the first Dave's Apco Service Engineering Associates, P.C. president. Mrs. Donalda Schroeder is the current president; Concrete, Inc. Northwest Building Center Anna Jo Bridston serves as VP; and Frances Boe is Seey- page 78. Treasurer. Life members include Mrs. A. M. Lommen, Mrs. around the cabin at a later date. Plans include the building Theodore Wells, Mrs. Leo M. Haesle and Mrs. W. J. of a new museum on the present property. Mrs. Janice Strin- Dunkel. den is the current president. Board of Directors include, Ray Bostrom, Zona Swanson, Jack Hagerty, Monica Larivee, Exchange Club —The Grand Forks Exchange Club Mrs. G. E. Hariman, Bill Mieklen, Bill Eccles, Helen James, was chartered by the National Exchange Club on October 2, Mirium Ugland, Flarry Romberg, Alice Hanson, Ed 1948. William T. Howard was the first president. Paramount Bohnhoff and Palmer Berger. in the club's activities is the Christmas Benefit Party, now done locally on television, annually, benefitting deserving Grand Forks Faculty Wives—The faculty wives first families in the GF area. The club has completed 25 con organized in 1922 with ten members. The group became secutive parties. The club also sponsors youth activities, and inactive during the war and in February 1959, reorganized. donates the "Freedom Shrines" to various schools and public Purpose of the organization is to give opportunities for wives places. Current membership is 53; present officers include of faculty men to become aquainted with one another, share Philip Hertsgaard, president; Ken Smith, VP; Robert Gill, fellowship and ideas, and profit from programming. Current Sec'y-Treas.; and Bob Saumur, Past President. officers include President, Mrs. Richard Compton; 1st VP, Mrs. Robert Leach; 2nd VP, Mrs. Dale Kopplman; 3rd VP, Forks Handicapped Club—The organizational Mrs. James Woodrow; Secretary, Mrs. Merle Mikkelson, meeting of the group was held on July 25, 1964; Chester and Treasurer, Mrs. Roy Becker. Nelson served as the first president. The club promotes per sonal enhancement through educational, social, benevolent Grand Forks Legal Secretaries Association—This and rehabilitative programs for the physically handicapped group was chartered on July 2, 1962. It is affiliated with the and strives to make the public aware of the needs and con North Dakota Association of Legal Secretaries and the tributions of the handicapped. Its major project is the collec National Association. There were 11 charter members. tion of Betty Crocker coupons; three million have been Margaret Monroe served as the first president. This collected and through these efforts four home kidney association, is professional in nature, and devotes itself to dialysis units have been made available to the public and a the interest of the legal secretary. Its chief objective is to van was purchased for the UND Student Opportunity provide service to legal secretaries, legal assistance, attor Program. Membership is open to any handicapped person neys, courts, and the general public. The current member and meetings are open to the public. Presently there are 38 ship is 10. Officers include; President, Sylvia Becker; VP, members. Officers include Mrs. Georgine Emard, president; Beverly Flinkley; Secretary, Renee Walz; Treasurer, Wanda Mrs. Donna Walstad. VP; Mrs. Frances Pladson, Secretary; Rustebakke; and Governor, Mary Farley. Esther Grabanski, Treasurer; Mrs. Frances Johnson, Program Chairman and Mrs. Alice Sexton, Reporter. Grand Forks Woman's Club—This club was organ ized December 5, 1963, at the home of Mrs. R. J. Colwell. Franklin Club —The club was organized as a literary Mrs. Kenneth Lowe served as first president. The club af society which would create a bond of friendship between filiated with the General Federation of Women's Club on townspeople and university faculty. The group organized in January 8, 1964. By-laws limit membership to 24. Programs 1906, with A. J. Ladd, professor of education at the univer are devoted to music, art and current topics of interest. Mrs. sity, serving as first president. The name Franklin was R. D. Koppenhaver is now serving as president; other of chosen probably in honor of the great Benjamin, possibly as ficers include, 1st VP, Mrs. Urban Larson; 2nd VP, Mrs. a recognition that the members are "franklins" of freemen, Albert Strand; Sec'y Mrs. Harold Sheets; and treasurer Mrs. neither slaves nor of noble birth. Membership is limited to R. J. Colwell; the historian is Mrs. Noel Thorpe. 75. Current officers include: President, Richard E. Frank; First VP, C. O. Wilson; Second VP, Mrs. Harold Tarpley; Greater Grand Forks Symphony Association — Scy-Treasurer, Elwyn B. Robinson; and Historian, Mrs. R. William Wellington Norton, head of the music department B. Winner. at the University of North Dakota, and Rosa Adelaide Marquis, music instructor at Wesley College, organized the Girl Scouts - Grand Forks Council -Girl Scouts symphony in March 1911, and presented its first concert at started in Grand Forks in 1938. with Troup #1, at St. the old city auditorium. This venture did much to change Michael's School with Mrs. Frank Webb, as leader. The first the culture ol" Grand Forks. A number of directors followed cookie sale was held in 1940 and in 1942 the Grand Forks Norton, but one of the most beloved, with a colorful per Council was formally organized and nationally chartered. sonality, was Leo M. Haesle, band instructor at Central Fligh The Pine to Prairie Council, encompassing 34 counties in School, who served as director from 1933 until his death in North Dakota and Minnesota, is now the official name of the 1965. Thomas Faeey served as director from 1966 until 1971, organization. The purpose of Girl Scouting is "helping girls when Jack L. Miller, was given the head directorship. grow and develop as creative, responsible individuals." Mrs. William E. Pond has been associate director for many years. Mary Bohlman is president and Mrs. Mildred O'Brien, There were 29 members in the 1911 group growing to its executive director. present membership of 78. The symphony suspended ac tivities during the Second World War, resumed concerts in Grand Forks Country Club—This club, serving the 1946, and in March 1950 prepared a constitution and named social and recreational needs of the Grand Forks com Mrs. Irvin Mandel as its first president. In 1960 the first sym- munity, formulated plans in March 1936, for the construc tion of a new building southeast of East Grand Forks. M. M. oppegard was the chairman for the fund drive and Dr. N. A. Liebeler served as the club's first president. The club was formally opened on September 18, 1936. This building was destroyed by fire on August 11, 1948. Plans for the new structure, located south of the city, were formulated, and the new facility was dedicated on January 27, 1963. Grand Forks County Historical Society —This group was organized in 1971 with Lawrence Hanson serving as the Grand Forks Symphony of 1940. first president. A highlight of the organization's existence This page sponsored by: was the opening of the Pioneer Women Museum in 1973 at Grand Forks AFB and Community Lunseth Plumbing and Heating 24(X) Belmont Road, which was the site of the log cabin built Credit Union Co. by the Campbell family in 1879, with the present home built Harmon Glass Vaaler Insurance, Inc. 79. phony ball was held, which has been a gala annual event Internal VP, Bruce Rupp; External VP, Greg Gerloff; Sec'y, since that time. Many prominent guest solists have appeared Roger Johnson and Treasurer, Bill Folendorf. There are 10 with the symphony, and a highlight was 1955 when pianist directors. Present membership is KM. Ernst von Dohnanyi, appeared with the group. This group, with a common love of classical symphonic music, and the Mrs. Jaycees - Grand Forks Chapter-Plans lor a contributions of many patrons, has played a vital part in the state Mrs. Jaycees organization were formulated in 1955, and city's cultural life. Mrs. Robert C. Warner is the current the Grand Forks cahpter, one of 10 charter groups, was of president. ficially started on January 16. 1956. The Mrs. Jaycees organization has a purpose to assist Jaycees, provide training Homemaker Clubs of Grand Forks—A group of in leadership and promote community awareness. Present Grand Forks women met at the County Courthouse in officers include: President, Mrs. Goodwin Helseth; VP, Mrs. January 1947 to organize an all city homemaker club. The Paul Brennan; Secy-Treasurer, Mrs. James Gengler; and selected name was Grand Forks Homemakers. Mrs. Sy Sam state director, Mrs. Don Nordsven. pson, a charter member of this group, is still active today. Currently there are 18 homemaker clubs in the city with a Kem Temple of the Shrine—The charter was granted membership of 198. Homemaker clubs have a purpose to April 13, 1910. The first Kem Potentate was Clarence A. study and put into practice the latest information on various Hale. The present Potentate as A. D. "Bud" MacMaster of phases of homemaking and to promote desirable home and Williston. The Temple has 1977 Nobles wearing the "red community life. fez" of the Shrine. Within the organization, there are 10 Shrine clubs and 20 uniformed units. There are 171 other 4-H Clubs - City of Grand Forks—The first such club Shrine Temples around the world, and jointly, they sponsor was organized in 1958 with Mrs. Kenneth Ford named as 19 Orthopedic Hospitals and 3 Burns Institutes. The leader. Presently there are 14 4-H Clubs in the city with a hospitals furnish free and skilled attention lo crippled and membership of 154. Four-H is built around the principle of burned children whose parents and guardians are unable to "learning by doing." The clubs offer a practical, informal, pay for treatment. Children are admitted by application primarily out-of-elassroom education program. only; applications can be obtained locally. The Kem Temple also sponsors the Shrine circus each year. Independent Order of Odd Fellows—Banner Lodge No. 4, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, received its char Kiwanis Club of Grand Forks—This service club hail ter February 2, 1880. The original record book used by the its inception in Detroit, Michigan, on January 21, 1915. Far secretary on that date is still in possession of the group from its present purpose, Kiwanis was originally organized today. John McKelvey served as the first Noble Grand. as a group dedicated to the insurance of preferential treat From its first meeting place in the hall over J. E. Dows store, ment among its members in business dealings. It is now the lodge has had several meeting places, until the organized internationally, with 60(X) clubs and 275,000 mem dedication, in October 1929, of its present facilities at 416 bers. The Grand Forks club was chartered January 12, 1921. 2nd Avenue North. The lodge is active in many areas of Noteworthy, is the fact that one of the charter members, Dr. charity, including visual research, an amblyopia program, George Abbott, was serving as program chairman at the youth programs, and others. Present elected officers in time of his recent death, at age 95. Dr. Abbott held this post clude: John E. Worlitz, Noble Grand; Norbert A. Mag- for 32 years. George Dixon, a living charter member, but no nusson. Vice Grand; William H. Flint, Recording Secretary; longer residing in Grand Forks, is a frequent visitor to the Melvin O. Jorgenson, Financial Secretary and John S. Lyn club. Kiwanis has a goal to give primacy to the human and ch, Treasurer. spiritual, rather than lo material values ol" life. Locally, un der ihe direction of Dr. E. A. Haunz, Camp Sioux for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - diabetic children is held at Turtle River Stale Park. Curren Local 1426—This group was chartered on November 1, tly the club has 64 members. Officers include- President, 1944. It has a purpose of educating, bettering working con Everett Knudsvig; First VP, Romaine Thorfinson; Second ditions and upgrading economic stability for its workers and VP, Kirk Smith; Secretary-Treasurer, Floyd Christianson; the community. In its 30 years of existence, this Local has there are 7 directors. grown from a handful of utility workers to a membership of 900. The organization is completing a new building located on Flighway 81 North. Present officers include: Donald Iver- son, president; Sherwin Hanson, VP; William Couchigian, Business manager and financial secretary; and James Nelson, treasurer. Jaycees - Grand Forks Chapter—Originally started in 1931, with the name Cavaliers, this group organized, giving young men of the community an opportunity for per sonal civic improvement. There was a name change in 1940, then known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce; another name change took place in 1954, when ihe organization became known as the Jaycees. The Jaycees. also organized nationally and internationally, have the express purpose of individual development with emphasis on community better ment. Underlying their many efforts, is a greater purpose of Two founders of (i rand Forks Kiwanis < Tub. Dr. George a country revolving around "free men through free enter Abbott, left, and George Dixon, second from left. Everette prise," and that "faith in God gives meaning and purpose to Knudsvig. second from right, and Ernie Collette Jr. human life." The local group has a publication entitled "Target Talk." Presently John Mark serves as chairman of League of Women Voters -The local chapter of this the board.Other officers include: President. Bob Eichhorst; organization was formed on October 8, 1951. Mrs. Robert B. Griffith was the first president. The group has a purpose lo increase the effectiveness of women's votes in furthering bet This page sponsored by: Grand Forks Eguipment Co. Silverman's, Inc. ter government. Mrs, Jane Summers, a local member, served The Highlander Valley Park Real Estate as the first suite president, Mrs. Benjamin King is the present president. There arc 80 members. page 80. Lions Club of Grand Forks—The local club was organ Peterson; 2nd VP, Mrs. Laura Jane Paulson; Rec. Sec'y, ized February 9, 1922, and officially chartered in May 1922. Marcelle Strinden; Corres. Sec'y, Ida Lein; Treasurer, Charter night took place at St. Mary's Church auditorium. Adelle Kuta; Directors, Mrs. Earl Hoffman, Mrs. Kenneth Among the yellowed pages of the first book of the local Bjelerud, Mrs. Robert Feidler, and Mrs. Eleanor Green. Lions Club, a notation was made, namely, "The gods of the Red River Home Organ Society—The first meeting of skies recognized us with a real display of lightning and thun this organization was held on November 14, 1961. Mrs. der during the affair. . ." Lions Club has an objectivity to Melvin Lian and Mrs. William Froehlich were co-chairmen create and foster a spirit of "generous consideration" among and Mr. Russel Block acted as advisor. The purpose of the the peoples of the world through a study of the problems of organ club is to bring people with like interests together, in international relationships. Locally, the club sponsors the an this case, beginners, students and teachers of organ music. nual Christmas party for the benefit of the School for the First officers were elected in September 1962; John Wilson Blind, provides glasses for the needy and works with youth served as the first president. Presently there are 40 mem programs, particularly Scout affairs. Currently serving as of bers. Present officers include: Leroy Kalenze, President; ficers are: President, Hermann Reifschneider; First VP, Mrs. Leroy Kalenze, VP; Miss Ruth Chinquist, Sec'y; Paul Lawrence S. Bue; 2nd VP, darner Hovland; 3rd VP, Hed, Treasurer; Mrs. Emil Anderson, publicity; and Russell Thomas F. Alderson; Treasurer, Flarold M. Flolte; and Block, advisor. Secretary, John H. Fleur. Red River Valley Gem and Mineral Club— Organi Maple Leaf Rebckah Lodge No. 3—This Lodge of zation meeting for this group was held on January 12, 1966. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted March James P. Johnson was the first president. The Gem and 27, 1891. Sarah L. Bierly served as the first Noble Grand. Mineral Club has a purpose exclusively educational and The Rebekah Lodge has a purpose to visit and care for the scientific, promoting interest in geology and lapidary arts sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and to assist sister and encouraging greater public interest in gems and lodges in the administration of immediate family affairs. The minerals. Flarry Tack is the current president. Other officers Rebekahs were the first women's fraternal organization to be include: Palmer Berger, 1st VP; Lawrence Larson, 2nd VP; organized in the world. Their many works of and Mrs. M. Elizabeth Campbell, Sec'y-Treasurer. humanitarianism include eye research, student loans and various youth programs. Present elected officers include: Republican Women - Grand Forks County—This Evelyn Wolfgram, Noble Grand; Esther Malmos, Vice group had a reorganization meeting on March 23, 1960. Mrs. Grand; Violet Tannahill, Recording Secretary; Eleanor T. N. Olson was elected president at that time. The group West, Financial Secretary; and Florence Walsh, Treasurer. endeavors to acquaint the public with the goals of the Republican party, and through the philosophy of the North Dakota Dames Club—This group officially began Republican party, interest women in its activites. The club on November 12, 1909, when it was known as the "N.N. currently has a membership of 567. Current officers include: Club", (No Name Club), becoming the North Dakota Dames President, Mrs. Clarence Peterson; 1st VP, Mrs. James Gjer- Club in 1912. Mrs. Meyer Jaeobstein served as first set; 2nd VP, Mrs. L. D. Markeson; Sec'y, Mrs. John Mar president. The group has an aim to unite its membership in shall; and Treasurer, Mrs. Paul Adams. practical cultural work and the furtherance of good fellowship. Since its founding, 131 women have been elected Rotary Club—The Grand Forks Rotary Club was org to membership, which comes from wives of UND faculty, anized in May 1919. John E. McLean served as the first the Charles R. Robertson Laboratory of the U.S. Bureau of president. Rotary is a "service to mankind" organization, Mines and the Human Nutrition Laboratory. Presently there carrying out services within the community and on an inter are 23 members. One member, Mrs. W. G. Bek, was elected national level. The club is well known for its Rotary Foun to membership in 1911, and continued her membership for dation and World Community Service projects. The club has 59 years, until her death in 1970. Officers include: President, 90 members. Current officers include: Elbert "Olie" Dahlen, Irene Fletcher; VP, Sue Rue; Sec'y-Treasurer, Dorothy president; William Nelson, president elect; John Penn, VP; Jacobs. Gerald Knudson, Sec'y-Treasurer; Max Souby, Sergeant at Arms; and Harlon Sexe, Ass't Sergeant at Arms. Optimist Club of Grand Forks-This relatively new club in the city was chartered May 10, 1972, with 26 mem bers. Rod Irwin served as the first president. The club has a slogan "Friend of ihe Youth" and conducts several projects in this area, such as hockey, basketball. Scouts, and a fund raising project which is the Flole In One Golf contest. Presently there are 34 active members. Current officers are: President, Dan Kratochvil; VP's, Steve Sande and Ralph Marto; and Sec'y-Treasurer, Jim Holter. PEO —This is a women's philanthropic organization with a purpose of education and charity. The group has five Chapters, with the first, Chapter D, organized in 1913, with 57 members, at the present time. Chapter T was formed in 1932; Chapter AF, in 1947; Chapter AI, in 1952 and Chapter AO, in 1964. The PEO has a total membership of 258. Quota Club of Grand Forks—the charter was pre Rotary Club having lunch in Boiler Room of Grand Forks sented October 7, 1950, with Lucille Brown serving as the Steam Plant (NSPi in 1423. first president. Quota Club is a Classified Service Club of executive, professional and business women. There are 400 Santa Claus Girls—This organization is considered local clubs. The motto of the club is "We Share." Through the oldest continuing local community organization this sharing, Quota Club members give personal service in dedicated to bringing joy into the holiday season for under their communities in such areas as hospitals, schools, nur sing homes, and youth groups. There is a unified project, This page sponsored by: "Service to [Tearing and Speech Handicapped." Officers in John C, Boe Co., Inc. Forks Electric Motor Inc. Culligan Water Conditioning Lew Flynn's Red Ray Lanes clude: President, Dorothy Ann Kirk; 1st VP, Mrs. Willis page 81. privileged children. The group was organized during WW I, president of the Varden Lodge was L. K. Hassell and the first meeting held December 3, 1916, with Mrs. J. M. first president of the Gyda Lodge was Mrs. L. K. Hassell. Gillette serving as the first president. Originally the group The two lodges merged in January 1951. 'Ihe purpose of the consisted only of Grand Forks Herald employees. Presently Sons of Norway it to foster the heritage of people with Nor outside help is given, but sponsorship is still by the Grand wegian descent. Honve House, the Norwegian Cultural Cen Forks Herald. Entering the 59th year of service, the 25 mem ter at the University of North Dakota, receives continued bers will meet at the Y Family Center, starting in Septem support from the local chapter. Current officers include: ber, and work until Christmas week, planning, sewing, knit President, Chester Olson; VP. Everett Knudsvig; Counselor, ting and crocheting and buying for children from ages - Richard Aos; Secretary, Dagmar O'Brien; Financial Sec'y, babies to 12 years. Delivery was completed by bob sleds Arden Shores; and Treasurer, Jennie Zipoy. during the group's formative years. Funds for ihe operation South Forks Lion Club —This club was chartered June are received through donations by ihe public. Nearly 1,000 1964. The club was sponsored lay ihe Grand Forks Lions children in the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks area Club. First president was Amos Restad. Flic club has an an have a much happier Christmas because of the Santa Claus nual project of selling light bulbs and halloween candy, with Girls. Mrs. Fred O'Neil is the current president. Vice profits devoted to the support of ihe blind and other vision Presidents are Mrs. Ann Buckley and Miss Jeannine handicap projects. Lions also supports Boy Scouts, Flicker- Laughlin. Mrs. Carlton Pye is Secretary and serving as tail Girls' Stale and Opportunity School. The club has 28 Treasurer, since 1942, is Mrs. Arthur Bakken. members. Officers include: President, John Maier; 1st VP, Sertoma Club—The Greater Grand Forks Sertoma Club All' Strinden; 2nd VP, Moine Gates; 3rd VP, Ken Caughron; was organized on June 21, 1958. The local club is a part of Sec'y-Treasurer, Garland Sagen. Sertoma International. The name, Sertoma, comes from Sweet Adelines, Inc. This organization has a mono three words, "Service To Mankind." The club is best known to "Harmonize the World," ami features women singing for iis annual Fourth of July fireworks show, with profits four pari harmony. The local group, known as the Twin contributed to various charities. Noteably, through Sertoma Forks Chapter, was organized with 30 chartering members in efforts, several pieces of specialized equipment were April 197.'. Presently there are 48 members. Officers in donated to United Flospital intensive care ward. Robert May clude: President, Helen Smiley; VP, Martha Upton; Repor was the group's first president. Presently there are 64 active ting Sec'y, Carol Ross; Corresponding Sec'y, Diane Grove; members, and the officers include: President, Jim Winter; an-! :Y'-a aip-r l-.hu I -ne i lc\ en. First VP, John Dahlgren; 2nd VP, Roger Kieffer; 3rd VP, G. cur ' >n: See'). ' Tai ence Blecha; Treasure -, Ray Thursday Music Club This group originated as the Teigen and Sergeant at Arms, Edward Adams. Ladies Thursday Musicale Society on August 4, 1898, meeting at the home of Mrs. W. A. Gordon, -til Reeves S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.— The (jrearer Grand Forks Chapter Drive (presently the home of the Robert Lauder family). of the "Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Mrs. C. T. Kittridge served as ihe first president. Under the Barbershop Quartet Singing in America" was organized in leadership of Mrs. J. A. Poppler, the local group affiliated the summer of I960 by Dr. E. H. Hamlet of East Grand with the National Federation of Music Clubs in 1918. The Forks and chartered in January 1961 under the sponsorship name change to Thursday Music Club took place in 1936. of the Winnipeg Chapter. This group is international in The membership of the club devotes time to the promotion scope consisting ol" 15 districts; ihe local Chapter is a mem and furtherance of music and musical events in the com ber of the Land O'Lakes District, which consists of Wiscon munity. The club has no definite meeting place, meeting in churches, meeting rooms and community homes. A Stien- sin, Upper Michigan, N.D., Manitoba and portions of On way piano, purchased in 1904, remains as a part of the club tario and Saskatchewan, 'there are over 34,(XX) members and affords many past glories and musical memories for the throughout the world all having the objective of preserving group. Currently there arc 102 members. Officers are: barbershop type harmony. Local officers include: President President, Mrs. Robert L. Kennedy; VP, Mrs. Jerald Con John Mercer; 1st VP, Phil Upton; 2nd VP, Frank Kouba; nelly; Secretary, Mrs. John Lambee; and Treasurer, Mrs. Secretary, 'Tom Grove; and Treasurer, Kerry Knoff. Robert Howe. Toastmasters Club No. 273 -The charter for this group wa ; granted on September 11, 1944. Toastmasters i iriginated in 1924 and presently has 4000 clubs throughout the world. In Toastmasters one learns by doing and improves through evaluation, with the goal of improving the member's thinking,, listening and speaking ability, Present officers in clude: President, Marvin Elgin; Educational VP. Harvey Ness; Administrative VP, Paul Brennan; Treasurer, Orville Pederson; Secretary, John VanderPoel; and Sergeant-at- Arms, Bernard 1 Ivan. United Hospital Auxiliary This group is a result of a The original S.P.I consolidation of Deaconess and St. Michael's Hospitals" Auxiliaries, and was formed on April 28, 1971. St. Michael's Sons of Norway - Gyda-Varden Lodge No. 21 Hospital Auxiliary was organized on August 28, 1951 with The Varden Lodge, first Lodge of Sons of Norway in North Mrs. 11. D. Benwell serving as the first president. The Dakota, was founded June 22, 1903. The Gyda Lodge, Deaconess Hospital Auxiliary organized on June 28, 1956, Daughters of Norway, was founded December 13, 1905. The with Mrs. W. A. Liebeler serving as the first president. The Sons of Norway organization originated in Minneapolis, and purpose of the combined group is to promote and advance is now international in scope, with seven districts in the U.S. the welfare of the hospital through ;ervice to the patient, and Canada. Grand Forks is located in District 4. First funds to support Auxiliary activities and assistance in establishing a rapport between the hospital and the com Inn page ;pon ;ored by munity. Mrs. Thomas Schafer was the first president of the D.A.V. - V.F.W. Club Golden Hour Restaurant combined groups. Membership at the end of the first year First Federal of Grand Forks Midwest Motor Express, Inc. totaled 333. Current officers include: President, Mrs. Ray pag. 82. Bostrom; VP, Mrs. Harold Evans; Secretary, Mrs. Dean is now property of ihe Grand Forks Public School District, Midboe; and Treasurer, Mrs. Pat Fisher. and the YWCA merged with the YMCA in 1970. Ladies Auxiliary to Raymond W. Quesnell Post 1874 - VFW— Gladys Gray, who had four sons and one daughter in service, was elected the first president of this group, at its chartering on April 15, 1945. 'The group originally met in the Memorial Clubrooms of the County Court Flouse, and is now meeting at the DAV-VFW clubrooms. Purpose of the organization is fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational in nature, with emphasis on true allegiance to the government of the U.S. and fidelity to its constitution. Various community projects are suppor ted by the group. Presently there are 655 members. Officers arc: President, Mrs. Lawrence Walstad; Senior VP, Mrs. Paul Bossoletti; Junior VP, Mrs. Ernest Vanyo; Treasurer, Mrs. An Carlson; and Secretary, Mrs. James Lindberg. Veterans of Foreign Wars - Post 1874— The Vet erans of Foreign Wars of the United States celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Ii is ihe oldest major veterans organization in the country. The local VFW Post formed many years ago but after a period of inactivity rechartered as VFW Post 1874 on January 28, 1945. It was granted a Per- petual Charter on October 15, 1959. Membership requirements state that members must be male citizens of the U.S., who have served in the armed forces in a foreign theatre of operation during time ol" war or involvement. On a local level, rhe Post carries out all of the national programs in community activities with particular emphasis on the youth and patriotism programs. VFW Post 1874 is the largest veterans organization in the city. Bernard Meister is Commander with William T'oay serving as Senior Vice-Com mander. Junior Vice Commander is William Greenshields while Paul M. Bossoletti is the Post Adjutant/Quarter master. Other officers are: Judge-Advocate, Dale Gon- sorowski; Chaplain, Lawrence Bakke; Surgeon, Art Carlson; and Trustees, Francis "Chink" Norman, William Putman and Smokey Newark. Woman's Auxiliary to the Third District Medical Society —The physician's wives organized as a group on January 20, 1949. Mrs. G. G. Thorgrimsen served as the first president. Auxiliary members are active in many organizations throughout the city and state, working in Early YMCA members. government, with hospitals, schools and churches. One of ihe major projects is the Medical Student Loan Fund at the University of North Dakota. The auxiliary has contributed thousands of dollars since the inception of this program in 1951. Present officers are: President, Mrs. Suresh Ramnath; VP, Mrs. Duane Pansegrau; Treasurer, Mrs. Philip Furman; and Secretary, Mrs. Dean Midboe. YMCA - YWCA - Y Family Center-The YMCA in Grand Forks was started by Thomas Porte and W. H. Day, with evangelical meetings held in vacant buildings, during the year, 1890 and 1891. In 1892 the first official Y located in the basement of ihe Security Block, corner of 3rd and Y Family Center. Alpha Avenue. In 1904, the Y located on North Filth Street, Zonta International The Grand Forks Area Zonta Club and in 1917 the YMCA expanded and an addition was com of Zonta International was chartered May 9, 1953. There pleted at a cost ol" $90,000. This establishment was con were 22 charier members. The Zonta Club encourages high sidered one of ihe best YMCA buildings in the area. In 1969, ethical standards in business and the professions, working the YMCA moved to its present location ai 7ih and Univer for the advancement of understanding, good will and peace sity, where activities are offered to men, women and through a world fellowship of executive women. Locally, the children of all ages. chapter has worked with Senior Citizens programs, the The YWCA was started in 1903. This organization was YWCA and Salvation Army. Five international projects are founded in answer to ihe needs of young girls staying in supported. Present membership is 18. Officers include: Grand Forks as their parents continued their immigration President, Agnes Shun; VP, Bonnie Abrahamson; into the area. In 1904 finances were a problem, but a Secretary, Ruth Sands; and Treasurer, Bertha Nappen. reading room was secured to continue Bible studies and prayer groups. The YWCA made many moves during the Tins page sponsored by: next 50 years, until 1954, when a new, permanent building ?.°1a.nz? Sirloin Pit Production Credit Assn. of Grand Forks was erected across from Central Hit>h School. This building Molstad Excavating Inc. Deraney Beer Depot pagi S3. apsulizing Grand Forks' 100-year sports scene is Grand Forks Sports: 1874-1974, f, J like describing John L. William Julison \^ Sullivan as a fistic ag gressor. Until individual sports brought out the first boxers, wrestlers and tracksters however, one can wager that horse-shoe pitching started the thrill cavalcade. But with the Univer sity's 1883 opening only nine year's after the city's 1875 incorporation, baseball and football later entered the scene. In the spring of 1887, a city semi- pro baseball team was organized by area enthusiasts. The team had a regular schedule of three games a week. They practised and played at Year Park, which was across from Belmont School. The park was en closed with a high wooden fence. North Dakota's WM baseball champions called the Cram! F'orks Pickets. Front In 1895, ihe team became row IL-R): Fred Craig and Abe Frankel. Scaled arc Ben Ford, Wm. Hanarahan, professional and travelled around '..Tarenco Shcpparcl. . and Minie Lyons. Standing arc llarlcy Hanarahan. I'Sish on the railroads. Dorsey, Player coach Charles Maloney, Jim Turner and . Charles Maloney coached UND'sgrid team in 1894. Baseball soon won from the 1899 state champion Pickets through the Colts, Chiefs, Dodgers and to the 1967 American Legion entry in the Memphis world meet. Japan"; travelling Keio University nine split a 1911 doubleheader with UND and was followed in time by Kan sas City Monarchs, House of David and the Chicago Cubs. In 1892 — UND had its first foot ball game in Grand Forks. Our historic football highlight is tile 1931 0-0 tie with Oregon. Victories abroad over Detroit, Duquesne, George Washington and DePaul when they were national powers, go along with more recent post season bowl wins. Regular con tributions to the pro ranks have ad ded luster to Grand Forks' star on the football map. The old basement Queensbury Club was a boon to the boxing- St. Michael's Church I92H Diamondball' Team won the firsi stale soft ball title. wrestling sports, names like In litis UF.crsidc Park photo an- bai bo\ lulls /a-man Ho ail I: Sealed IL-R): George Feist, Clayton Ness, John Abby Bach. Johnny O'Connell, Chubb) Rubin, Pal Newark. Father L. G. (Bill Knauf, Verl Johnson, Danny Black liailcs i Arrell. Joe Barovsky. Joe Bach. Standing: Rosey Forsythe, Chick Jester, I lerni < >'' 'on nek I low a id Jack -.on. Rock I )'< 'on nek Since IT'S, Grand 1 orks has and Lou Ecttig standing out in the v. on die N.D. -a a I-.- I ilk- 1 :< time , and pariicipan-d in live v.-oi Id loui nam.-ni .. leather-pushing game. UNO's Cully Local players en Tinned in die Slate Soil ball 11 all of lam.- ai I lai. ••>, aic ''nan Berquam, 'Steve Julison, Adam Julison. *( (sear lillingson. "Wall londahl. 'la. 1 . Ekstrom winning the 38 National G. Arrell. Wendy Feist. Russ Burfening, Bernie White, Mack Gillis and ' ieorge Intercollegiate featherweight title Gardner. (*Deceased. 1 rates as a major achievement. Charley Cutler of the city took on Strangler Lewis, George (Russian lighted, pleasure skating rink, and all the major wrestling headliners - Lion) Hackenschmidt, Ray Steele a toboggan slide-. Jim Lontlos, Frank Gotch, and ihe Stechers. Some theaters Three years later, the city pur and the old city auditorium carried chased the land for Lincoln Park. This page sponsored by: mixed programs until better The site was used for the original J. B. Bridston Co. facilities came along. Grand Forks Town and Country Vaberg Inc. - North Star Inn The Central Park property was 'Tula, a popular place to golf. This Swingen Construction Company Grand Forks Seed Co. purchased in 190b. The park, by was the only golf course in the city that time, had a hockey rink, a until 1920. pane 8-1 r -"Unofficial-* / OB-DOUG McKAY Pembina, NT) '20 ITS-JOE FLANAGAN Towner, ND '01 ...••-' JM / HB-FRITZ POLLARD Chicago, Illinois '39 TU-I'J:D JARRETT "Wheaties Day-19,W" was sponsored by the cerail food company at Municipal GI and Forks , ND Park i north of G F ' 'urling 'Ttihi for ihe ' J rand Fork . ' " i i i -_-1 -.. nntoi'rnphs and snap shots of the players were taken. Chiefs Coach Johnny Mostil at left chatted with aspiring catcher Jake Rerick licit). KFJM Announcer Elmer Hanson and YMCA Dirccior Leonard Lgsiront supervised die .pccinl diamond aciivitics I Lower right I. E-FRED FELBER a«h "' '- - \. Tairmont, Minn.' 32 Central High's 1930 Redskins. Scaled: I eeward I Pee Weel Lee. Frank Brohman. Grand Forks' First Hockey Team of Stew Charlesworth, Ken Erickson. Fido 1900-01. Silting are Gene Secord, Purpur. Ray Sundby. Ron Darling. Standing Phillip Hayes. Roscoe Fawcett. Thomas Lloyd Dearey. Ken Hafsten, Arnie Barber, T-MAR7TN GAINOR Vni- --in SiandiiiL' arc h Tin S. lohn .• HI, Don Oltcn. Sinn Wick. ' 'olburn IT'-- idston. Milnor, ND '37 Fred J. Handlcy. "Edgar Wells, and N. B. Knapp. Win Hanarahan. G-STEVE MYHRA Wahpeton,ND'57 North Dakota's first nate hocke) champions. 1960-61. From row 11. ki: Jim Steelier .on. Dick Koons. G;ir_\ ' arm). Hill Howard. I con 'IOC ,cn, 'rain Folson c ijjiiiiii i Mai -. Co- ,k-, ,i, ,,- ; I,,-, - |>;i | ,,,,,.'-, ,. ii ;,-, --.- < ,n111i.;!. i i >, l(! Mon-la. I'.• • n v\ all-.-1 ,. I »arr--l ' Mb-ua ,,,u. F'.lrov Eiricl Dennv Pickard. Inn Nc G-ART MALO I .--II -1--II in Die- Palm elan r.'-.-i ,: I - an Micl lin. I V. -in/ Fairmont, Minn.'33 Grand f'orks Gun Club was St. Louis, Brigham Young and established in 1886. Trap shooting Utah with (Tern Letich at the was a prominent spoil. coaching helm were big deeds. The Central High's third place finish Sioux hold 1 1 titles since the North in the 1928 National Interscholastic Central Conference's 1922 incep- cage tourney in Chicago and 1928- tion. O OTI.'VV MocMILLAN 29 UND triumphs over Minnesota, Pioneered on various bends in McVille, ND '30 This page iponsored ay KRAD Radio Miller's Super Fair • -,--i-.--. I-.--1 In Hill In '"'-'. the English coulee winding through facilities are a long ways from the was: 50o per adult and 25c per the campus, organized hockey old Caledonian Club on Washing child. competition dates back to 1900. ton and First Avenue North and Motorcycle, auto and horse From humble corner lot and crude arc appealing to both genders of all racing have faded before the enclosure beginnings, the sport ages. inroad--; of popular stock-car der look on a permanence after the Soapbox derbies were a craze bies. A few names of the past Great War and led to eventual during 1950-51. City champions aimed in the direction of In NCAA ice titles in 1959 and 1961 went to the nationals. The races dianapolis and Churchill Downs Only one North Dakotan, Grand were held on Highth Avenue hill. but fell short among the numbers. Forks" Fido Purpur, has ever But due to the construction of ihe Appearances here of the great har reached the NHL ranks. His in Lincoln Drive dike, in 1952, these ness-horse, Dan Patch, and race- fluence has made park board, pushmobile derbies could not be drivers Emory Collins and Parnelli amateur, high school and college held any longer. The dike changed Jones thrilled Fairgrounds fans. But programs what they are today. the course of the hill, thus instead among the minor -.pons, about all of ii being straight, it curved. the city need--; now to bring the The city's first bowling alley 100-year panorama into full circle came in 1902. The following year, is a good horse-shoe league! a pool hall was built, in which, billiards was the game. From its first four-lane catacomb, bowling's popularity has zoomed en couragingly among the growing numbers of air base, campus and city keglers. Revered names are pioneers Alex Telle, bred Sibell, A. W. Jackson, Walt Jondahl, Tom Devine and Fd Van Duyn. And local teams are ranging farther and farther to bring home laurels. Tennis and golf experts have yet to break into the national limelight. Tennis trail-blazers J. W. Wilker- Clifford Joseph iFidol Purpur. named lo St. 1 ouis' All Sporl i Hall of Fame in son, Len Blaisdell and Paul 1965. His seven seasons with the Fivers Loughlin date back to the 'Twenties mow Bluesi. '.aincd him The Mosi and Thirties. Golf, while also un- Popular Player of All Tunc award. lobile, 191.V suited to our climate for turning it area snowt From kittenball and diamondball out large scale contenders. Tins a to fastball and slow-pitch, softball noteworthy legacy in pioneers has survived trends since the early Sonny Lemaire, Ken Rolf and AI Twenties. Local teams partook in Rindy. But for both sports, new six world meets, won 16 stale titles courts and greens now abound and have placed 11 players in the with would-be champions. N.D. Softball Hall of Fame at Har By 1916, automobile racing had vey. replaced the most popular horse Dusky Fritz Pollard Jr. heads racing events in the city. Car Cent nil High School women's basketball local all-time trackmen for his fan names, such as: Buscoes, Sweeney loam. 190 . tastic versatility and high hurdle Specials, Maxwells, Deusenbergs, * \ third place showing in the 1936 Cases. Mais Specials and Flotes all .A: Berlin Olympics. Miler Roy Pear made their appearance on the .->•'•' c - I - ** son, high jumper Jim rvlcCrack.cn. tiaek. The fee to see an attraction Ron Davies, John Bennett, Cliff Cushman and Doug LaNore round i*i§*$ out Grand F'orks' track and field elite. It was Cliff Cushman who placed second in the high hurdles in the I960 Olympic Games at \,.-a children preparing for a ;oapbox Rome, Italy. derby. Plat). Hard core curling devotees have kept the vintage ice sport alive. While honors have been confined i stf mostly to this area, modernized This page sponsored by: Bronze Boot Steak House Butler Machinery Co. Dakota Daredevil! iene Set ad Ik.-11 Grand Forks Supply Corp ll'.ol 1 Jet Printing Inc. with othei cohorts al a 191 meet ai ihe I -in grounds. r Edmund Boe. . . Centennial Athletic Candidate n an age when polls and sur him All State status. Endeavors Internationals and area teams from veys are a craze of the times, with the discus as a trackster fur Cando, N.D., to Marshfield, Wis., no such gimmick is needed to ther underlined his tremendous while negotiating with the old St. •*-| consider a solid "Athlete of versatility. Louis Browns major league Grand Forks' First Century" Enrolling in 192,' at the Univer baseball club. Boe never followed 'Candidas..-. . "ala's. ol names, sity of North Dakota, he ultimately u p i h e B r o w n s" n o n - c o n t r a c t games and scores come lo mind, collected over half a dozen letters training camp invitation. bin a careful perusal soon narrows while twice captaining ihe Flicker- As a prepster, collegiate and ihe field io a few. tail cagers as a center, forward and today a local businessman, he has Fdiiumd W. Boe. now nearing guard and captaining, the foot successfully served in many offices. the sagely milestone of 70, has all ballers once during his career as a Looking back into the yesteryears the credentials for such an honor. two-way end and quarterback. he has never regretted his perfor- As one perceives the still trim .Spring-lime usually found him pit arenas of friendly strife for the per frame, the strong jaw and clean ching amateur baseball or javelins sonal pride of sweater monograms, hair-line, ihe exploits of a man who for the cinder squad, his spear- and cherished fellowships. There's played ihe game lair and square casting once setting a North Cen something to taking part in several are envisioned. What heights he tral Conference record. After his spo its i he se days, but it's would have attained as a major performance again si Minnesota's something else to excel in all of league pitcher, a Big Fen or Ivy Big 'Fen gridders as a senior in them —as did Edmund Boe. League football-basketball star of 1926, a letter Boe still has read. . . fer idyllic speculation. "this fellow is really a remarkable A i nearly six feet and 175 player and should be representing pound:;. Boe was no different from some Eastern school where u any other athletic hopeful of the would count more for him in the Roaring Twenties in entertaining future. Suffice lo say he is about ihoiipht-. oi plm. ina ('i ir a hit; i ime half of the North Dakota football college. Along with brother leant." Harold, h e in o ve d fro m i h e Well, after his 1927 graduation Belmont Grade School and YMCA he coached at Thief River Falls' com pel ii ions I o Central 11 igh Lincoln High and had much to do Sell' a il I'.ritl, cage and track teams. with developing the Da blow his punting and pass-catching get brothers, future Nodak standouts, ting him a year's captaincy on the and Minnesota's All American 'grid Maroon and Silver eleven while his center, Roy Oen. At this time he play at forward on the court gained barn-stormed with the potent local i i > riir; page sponsored by: Happy Harry's Bottle Shop UTi/edahl Construction Co. Vilandre Fuel and Heating Inc. Rogers Brothers Co. 87. The 4133rd Strategic Wing, still Countdown of the Grand Forks a tenant unit on the Air Defense Command base, was redesignated Air Force Base the 319th Bombardment Wing Capt. James Dunlap, Sgt. Paul R. I. Groskreutz i Heavy). The 319th had been initially activated in 1942 Hying the rand Fork:; Air Force Base Nearly a year later on January B-26 Invader. Assigned to the ^ I is located approximately 15 28, 1957, ihe 478th Fighter Group, Mediterranean I heater the wing miles west of Grand Forks assigned to the Air Defense Com was awarded two Distinguished on U.S. Highway 2. Major Strategic mand, was reactivated at Grand I Init < Stations. Air Command (SAC) units assigned Forks AFB. The 478th was equip Also in 1963 the Department of include the 319th Bombardment ped with the F-104 Star-fighter and Defense decided that Grand Forks Wing (Heavy), 321st Strategic became the host unit at Grand was to be the home of a future Missile Wing, 321st Combat Sup Forks. During the following M i n u i e ma n 1 n i e rco n i i ne ntal port (Troup, 321st Security Police mo n ills the 4 7'Sili Air Base Ballistic Missile (ICBMl site. Since Group, and FJSAF Hospital. Squadron, 478th Maintenance and this new unit would mean two SAC Tenant units assigned to Grand Supply Squadron and 478th USAF combat units stationed at Grand Forks include the 460th Fighter In Dispensary were activated to sup Forks, ii was decided that the ADC terceptor Squadron, 2026th Com- port the group and other base base would be given over to SAC. ni u n i c a t i o n s S q u a d r o n . 3 71 h tenant units. The actual change look place on July I, 1963. Aerospace Air Rescue Squadron The Air Defense Sector was In August 1964 the 804th Com Det. 3, Site Alteration Task Force, commenced on December 8, 1957. bat Support Group was activated SAC Management Engineering Its first responsibility was the at Grand Forks, h was to operate Team, Resident Auditor, 3rd supervision of the installation of in direct support of the 319th Bom Weather Wing Det. 15, Field the various types ol electronic bardment Wing and the 321st Training Det. 419, and the Air equipment which were to be used Strategic Missile Wing and other Force Institute of Technology Det. when the Semi-Automatic Ground base units. 12. Environment (SAGE) system was In September 1964 the lib There are over 6.000 Air Force placed in operation. At that time Strategic Aerospace Division was officers and airmen stationed at the construction of the SAGE relocated at Grand Forks AFB. It Grand Forks AFB to this day. The system was one of the largest elec had been ai Barksdale AFB, base employs over 600 civilians tronic ground systems ever attemp L o u i s i a n a . 1 h e 4 t h h a d from ihe surrounding area. ted. distinguished itself during World Together the assigned units ac The first Strategic Air Command War 11 in the European Theater count for SI.5 billion in total unit assigned to the Air Defense and had such famous command''!''; assets. Base personnel draw about Command base was the 4133rd as Lt. Gen. James II. Doolittle. S54 million yearly while the 600 Strategic Wing, in September 1958. General Curtis E. 1 eMay, and Brig. civilians earn in tbe neighborhood The new unit spent its first 18 mon Gen. 1 rederieh W. Castle. Both ol* S6.5 million per year. ths organizing and preparing for Castle and Doolittle were Medal of The base grew over a 20 year the arrival of its aircraft. In May I lonor w inner;. period to achieve this size. The I960 the first aircraft arrived. Ii At Grand Forks AFB the 4th Department ol" Defense originally was a KC-135 Stratotanker. Miss SAD had jurisdiction of the two selected the Grand Forks area as Claudia Gullickson of Grand the site for a new Air Defense Forks, christened the aircraft "Miss ','-.'' 11111 , ; i ( ' . i a 11 -. 1 1 • o i !, . a 11 d (he I 1 Oi h Bom ba id m ent Wing. Command (ADC) base in 1954. At Grand Forks." the time community leaders of the It was also in May I960 ihat the Grand Forks area donated the sum 18th lighter Interceptor Squadron of $65,000 to the Defense Depart was assigned to Grand Forks AFB ment toward the purchase of a flying the FT01 Voodoo aircraft. 5,400 acre tract of land on U.S. The First B-52 Stratofortress Highway 2, located 15 miles west arrived at Grand Forks AFB in of Grand Forks. April 1962. Later in the month the Work on the base was actually genera! public were invited out to started in January 1956 when a view the new aircraft and its wing contract was awarded for the con sister, the KC-135. On hand for the struction of a runway at a cost of ceremony was ihe Honorable Eric approximately 2'/i million dollars. F. Willis, lieutenant governor of This contract was later increased Manitoba . C a n a d a . Miss resulting in a runway 12,300 feci Gullickson was again on band to ^^•BF long at a total cost of over 17 christen a B-52 "Peace Garden million dollars. Princess." They were joined by 17,000 other residents of ihe nor i rhis page sponsorec i pajjo 88. the Air Force for 1969." The squadron provided security for both the bomb wing and missile wing along with law enforcement for the base. The squadron received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for that period of time. The 321st SMW received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award during 1969. Spring 1970 found the same 319th Bomb Wing crew who had won the Fairchild Trophy par ticipating in the Royal Air Force's (United Kingdom) yearly aircraft competition representing SAC. Members of the -(Willi Fighter Inierceptor Squailron make a slow pass < F'orks in [lie l-'-IOS Delia Dan aircraft. The Westward Ho motel is visibi With their able assistance the SAC lower right corner. team won the competition and brought home the "Blue Steel '•*§ first squadron of five flights, the Trophy." U.S.AIR FORCE 446th Strategic Missile Squadron, In 1971 Grand Forks AFB wit was completed in August. On -r/s nessed a change in ADC tenants. December 7, 1966 a large key The 18th Fighter Interceptor representing the wing was presen Squadron was deactivated. The ted to C ulo n el Gilbert F . base was to be without an ITS for Friedericks, missile wing comman only a short time; however, as the der. This signified the turning over 460th IIS arrived in June that same of the wing and its facilities to the year. 'The 460th was equipped with United States Air Force and SAC. the F-106 Delta Dart. While Tile I'irsi K''-l.lS Siratoiaiikcr arrived at Grand Forks AFB in May !%(). The air The year 1969 was highly rewar stationed at Grand Forks, the 18th craft was chrisiened "Mi.;; C rami F'orks" ding for the units at Grand Forks. FIS "Blue Foxes" were awarded by Miss Claudia Gullickson of Grand The 321st SMW began the year by two Air Force Outstanding Unit Forks, during a ceremony ai the base. winning the SAC Missile Combat Awards. Competition, Olympic Arena. The During July the 4th Strategic Blanchard Trophy, symbolic of the Aerospace Division was relocated best missile wing in SAC, was not at Is E. Warren AFB, Wyoming. the only best in SAC trophies to At the same time it was redesig spend the year at Grand Forks nated 4th Air Division. With its AFB. 'departure the 321st Strategic The 319th Bombardment Wing Missile Wing became the host unit competed in the SAC Aircraft at Grand Forks AFB. Competition at Fairchild AFB, Effective August 1, 1972, the The first B-52 arrived at Grand Forks Washington in October. When the AFB in April 1962. It was christened the 804th Combat Support Group was "Peace Garden Prince-,-,". The 319th "Red River Raiders" came home renamed the 321st Combat Support Bomb Wine, flew the B-52 and KC-135 they brought with them the Fair- Group. a ire rail. child Trophy. Also in 1969 the 59th After a 16-month program of Stationed at K. I. Sawyer AFB, Munitions Maintenance Squadron, modification at Grand Forks AFB Michigan. assigned to the 319th, was named the 321st SMW accepted its new November 1964 saw the ac "Best in SAC." Minuieman III ICBMs on May 25, tivation of the 321st Strategic Other awards won by the bomb 197.3. At that time the 321st Missile Wing. The 321st had wing that year included the Flying became the second Minuteman III operated in the Mediterranean Safely Plaque and Nuclear Safety wing in SAC. Theater during World War 11. Plaque from Headquarters, USAF. On October 1. 1973, the 321st flying B-25 Mitchells. Construction Assigned to 2nd Air Force, the Security Police Squadron became of the missile launch facilities wing received the 2nd Air Force the 321st Security Police Group. began in 1964. It was not until Outstanding Bomb Wing Trophy Squadrons assigned were the 321st August of the following year that a n d W 111 i a m B . M a r t e n s o n Security Police Squailron, which the first Mi nut eman 11 1CBM Memorial Trophy for having included aircraft security and law arrived at Grand forks. sustained the best aircraft main enforcement, and 321st Missile Consi ruction of the missile tenance operation in 2nd Air For Security Squadron, which was launch facilities and launch control ce. responsible for the security at the fae i 1 i t es con I i n ued I h ro tigho ut The 804th Security Police missile launch control facilities and 1965. The first flight of 10 missile Squadron, assinged to the 804th launch facilities. sites and control center was com Combat Support Group, was cited Il was announced on February 1, pleted and turned over to the by the Air Force Association as the 1974 that the 460th ITS would be missile wing on April 1966. The "Best Security Police Squadron in inactivated in June. Pi-- 89. GRAM) FORKS: 1920 TO nonexistent. Meat was then sold at Airplanes and Airport THE PRESENT the grocery siores. development Growth of population In 1953 the construction of the Airplanes were experimented n e w 1.1. S . H i g h w a y 81 add e d with and finally invented after the and business activity residents and more shopping, cen turn of the century. Orville and By 1920 population increases ters to the south end. Miller's Wilbur Wright were the first to get began to level off. At this period, Town & Country SuperFair, and one of these two-winged contrap the records show 14,010 people Red Owl were among the other tions flying; they of course were living here, which was about a 12% varied grocery siores to build nationally known for this feat. gain. During this time chain stores beside the freeway. A number of Thomas McGoey, a native of entered the city's picture, begin g;ts stations also sprung up along Grand Forks, was the second to fly ning with J. C. Penney Co. Many the expressway, and to some it is the skies in North Dakota; Carl other nationally known franchises known as "gasoline alley". The city Ben Eielson of Hatton was the fir have settled here since. began developing into a semi- st. McGoey started to fly in 1911, In 1930, the census figure in metropolis. just eight years after the Wright dicated 17,112 for Grand Forks, a brothers made their famous flight. 22% growth. Just prior to the date, Later he became a professional in 19 2 8, it was shown: 5 barnstormer. A barnstormer was a agricultural implement dealers; 16 pilot who gave short rides and flew auto retailers; 11 meat markets; exhibition flights for a fee. At first, and 50 grocery stores, were McGoey used the fairgrounds as a operating as indicated by the city landing strip, then he got a private directory. field near Grand Forks. The next decade, ihe city Other early fliers primarily after population grew to 20,228, which World War 1 were Harry Scouton was tin 18% expansion. By 1947, of Inkster, J. M. Bacon, Don Grand Forks had nearly four Payne, Lloyd Campbell, Reinhold square miles of area. Grocery Jacobi and Harold Barnes all from stores began moving out of the Grand Forks. downtown area. At this period Fota north on S. Washington I »as .- alley I. Mrs. Eva Smith sold the city one there were: 7 agricultural im hundred and sixty acres of land, plement dealers; 8 auto dealers; 13 The following decade registered which cost S8,0()(), for the use of meat retailers and 62 grocers. This 34,451 inhabitants—28% influx. In the city's first airport on November was the age of neighborhood 1961, t h e r e c o r d s not e d ; 7 2, 1929-two years after Charles grocery stores; there was one in agricultrual implement dealers; 13 Lindbergh flew the Atlantic. This practically every neighborhood. auto dealers; 26 grocers; and 2 today is where the Grand Forks meat markets popped back into Police Department is located. existence. By this lime, super Northwest Airways. Inc. was the markets had taken the business airline which stopped in Grand from smaller neighborhood stores. Forks en route to Winnipeg from A 5750,000 K-Mart Department St. Paul in 1930. The airline carried Store opened in the spring of 1964, passengers, but did not carry and a million dollar Sears Roebuck freight or mail. & Co. added to the South Washing In 1939 the Works Progress Ad- ton shopping district. mi nisi rat io n bega n a n im- In 1970, the population census provement project on the city air staled 39,008 lived in Grand Forks, port. W.P.A. started to creel an ad which was a 13'S, rise over tbe ministration building, constructed previous ten year marker. hard-surfaced runways, and in The following year, the city sup stalled a drainage system in the Ian- ported: 8 agricultural implement dealer:-,; 11 auto dealers; 15 grocers Downtown grocery stores at the corner and meal markets were back to of S. Third Street and Kittson Avenue. zero. Thus, primarily only a small number of supermarkets served the ^P'TSPl By 1950, the town grew to 26,836 community. persons, an approximate .^N'^ gain. Through the years. Grand Forks assentiers arris 'lie ai ' i rami Forks A year after, the city directory has grown in size, population and il'-i nalional uipoil showed: I 1 agricultural implement commercial investments. dealers; 15 auto dealers; 47 grocers; and meat markets were Editor's note: Due lo -.pace and lime, il was not possible lo include This page sponsored by: ever) tunica factor of ec K. B. Mackichan and Associates, Inc. onomic prowl Ii ol i he Loytle C. Thompson Co. City. Names were chosen Three Star Electric Co. h e canse I he\ w e re as ailaMc in die source -,. page 90. ! ding field. The W. P. A . was starting date. Building plans were abolished during World War II and made public. Changes on Main Street the project was left incomplete; the In the process of levelling the Visiting Dignitaries Civil Aeronautics Authority step land, contractors had to tear down ped in and finished the plan. an old building. The one-time Again, in 1940, expansion of the school house was built sometime in airport began, which included: one the late 18()()"s. The late Beatrice hundred additional acres, three Johnstone, North Dakota's "First hard-surfaced runways, new Lady of Education", taught classes hangars, installation of boundary there. lights and flood lights, and Carl J. In January of 1964 the terminal Amundson, a full-time airport shelters for Northwest and North manager, was hired. A com Central Airlines were finished. On munication center was established Februrary 1, 1964, the Herald an with around the clock weather nounced: "the new Grand Forks President Franklin I). Roosevelt and Governor William reports, teletype messages, and International Airport became fully L.anger drive down I Iniversity Avenue in (letoher 19.17. radio news. o p e r a t i o n a 1 this morning, After an accident on January 25, passenger planes of two airlines 1957, the airport was considered came and went on schedule before unfit for further commercial func 8 a.m.". Official dedication suc tioning. ceeded on August 22, 1964 by the The following year the North newly elected mayor, Flugo Mag- Dakota State Highway Department nuson. was considering rerouting Inter Urban Renewal state 29 to travel through the then Plans to rebuild the city came Hill speaking from a platform. thirty year old airport. Grand when Mayor Nelson Youngs was in F'orks city council also had ideas of office. A commission had in mind building a new airport. A to construct a bridge, joining suggestion was made to put the DeMers Avenue to the intersection planned one south of the city, west of S. Ninth Street and Fourth on Thirty-second Avenue S. Oscar Avenue S. The board also had Lunseth was the presiding mayor. plans to tear down old, dilapidated President Truman ami wife coming off train in September In the middle of 1959, a three buildings in the downtown area 1932. Also pictured: Mrs. Mary Jean Lamh holding son Larry, man tan extreme right unidentified. million dollar plan was proposed to and rebuild with modern struc relocate the airport—this included tures. The $5,009,886 needed for the freeway bypass and the Skid the city reconstruction was ap more bridge project. The total cost propriated by Housing and Urban of moving the air station — Development (HFJD) in Washing $1,666,500. At the end of that year, ton. a suggestion was made to place the It was disappointing to Urban new airport southwest of the city f Renewal originators, that on Oc about three miles south of the old tober 8, 1968, city voters defeated one. this proposal. Under a newly elected Other elections followed, and a I t% ' mayor —Nelson A. Youngs —the battle between opposing factions fourteen city council members erupted. voted unanimously to relocate the Finally downtown businessmen airport four miles west of the city, offered payments to have the ^^Zjf^ULa^^^ on Highway 2. It was stated that bridge installed; this would bring Crown Pri ce Olavi Town Princ the "present airport was obsolete Martha ol Norway. .' 19». more traffic into the downtown John F. Kennedy. William L. Guy. Quentin N, llurdick and unsafe for modern airline area. The project was begun and on the campaign nail. I960. operation". Federal Aviation completed. Agency (FAA) agreed to match funds with Grand Forks up to one million dollars. The city chose to relocate the air station five miles west of Grand Forks on Highway 2. In the beginning of the next year the city received a check from the North Dakota State Highway Department for 5440,000 for the strip of land running through the old aiport, which would be utilized 700 Block of DeMers Avenue destroyed Richard M. Nixon and wife arc greeted for the freeway. through Urban Renewal. I lie Metro President John F, Kennedy speaking in UND fieldhous politan Bank now occupies this site. ai UND fieldhouse September I960. September 1963. April 17, 1963 was the official Photo taken in 1963. North from Division Avenue. 1911. l pane 91. page >2. ^v The City of Northern Lights by Elizabeth Oakland Oh starry city of Northern Lights, You've changed through countless clays and nights Sunrise a blush is on the snow, Sunset —the campus windows glow. "Two rivers roar that it is spring. Great bridges spread their graceful wings. But once on these historic banks. Oxcarts were ferried on wooden planks. Fur traders met and bet and bartered, Across these "forks" the mail was chartered. Hill's railroad corssed them on a trestle, Now a skyway ends the crossing wrestle. In parks I hear the children play. Where air is clear on any day. The sprawling schools enrich their minds Through them each generations winds. 1 watch small saplings grow and lower. Until they form a leafy bower. In summer heat 1 seek their shade. Cive thank-; for wonders God has made. His temples stand within your borders, To represent the varied orders. Your medical army dressed in white. Had visions blossom into light. The monument to their great dream Is rising slowly, beam by beam. Fair city, you have risen far. Because men followed a guiding star. Grand F'orks, we toast you from the heart One hundred years is bin a start. CONCLUDING REMARKS Some think the days of old when time was slow and seemed to have more meaning were better than nowadays. Because these days time speeds by at a rabbit's pace; man has to be mad to keep up with this highly mechanized world. Maybe there will come a day when man realizes that there are no limits; then he can settle down and enjoy his life, just like in the old days! No historian can accurately speculate on the future. The purpose of history is to truthfully inform the reader what has happened in the past. The reader may draw his own conclusions on what could happen in the years ahead. Grand Forks' historical and rich background proves that the City has grown immensely, only time will tell the story for the next one hundred years. All in all, Grand Forksians should be proud of their heritage, have confidence towards the future, and most of all — live the present. Considering all the dedicated, arduous work put into this publication, it is appropriate to close with the following quote; Human beings are like fragile, handmade pieces of por celain: their beauty and uniqueness comes from their im perfections, and not from an assembly-line sameness. A person can only try as hard as he is able, even with his im perfections, to produce the very best he can. One should ask for no more and expect no less. T. S. Eliot This page sponsored by: Aerial view of the DeMers overpass, Rai South Forks Plaza Shopping Center in lower right hand corner. page 93. Acknowledgments We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to this booklet and made it what it is. Much gratitude is rendered to the following people for their time and services: Colormatic film processing, who reproduced many of the photographs seen in the booklet. Storaker's Framing Service, who voluntarily prepared the mayor's pictures. Mrs. Carrie Halvorson, librarian of the Grand Forks Herald clipping file room. Mrs. Bette Brevik, assistant of the Grand Forks Public Library. Mr. Doug Crockett, assistant at the Dakota Room in the Chester Fritz Library. Mrs. Irene Fletcher, typed the general history. Elizabeth Fletcher, typist. John and Greg Dvorak, who identified undated photos. Amy Austin, copy work. William Julison's Art Mart, designed the Centennial Seal. Grand Forks Public Library Recognition is due to the following senior citizens for their priceless reminiscences: Edith F. Thompson, retired Herald reporter. Dr. Harry Tisdale, retired Grand Forks physician. Mrs. N. S. Davies, senior city resident. Photo Credits: Grand Forks Herald ladiih Freeman Thompson Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection (Chester Fritz Library, UND) In tribute to a remarkable woman, who helped State Historical Society of North Dakota tremendously with information for this booklet. She was born on November 5, 1884 in Grand Northern States Power Co. F'orks, and worked for the Grand Forks Herald Clayton Ness (Ness Epco) for nearly 50 years. Today she resides at 510 Gaylor Studio Reeves Drive. City Hall Vernon Gothberg Richard King Gordon Moore Bill Julison Individual recognition is not possible for all who con tributed to the successful completion of this booklet, the staff offers a very special thank you to those who assisted. Sponsor Patrons Aaker's Business College Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Holmquist Fred R. Orth Aero-Dyna-Kleen Services, Inc. Wes Holtman Potato Co. William R. Page Behl's Photography Mr. and Mrs. Harold B. Ikeltnan Mrs. Michael Panovitz Mr. and Mrs. George E. Benner Jacob! Farms Red River Cement Products Dr. Clemens Brand Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jacobson Riee-Hegstrom Office Supply Gordon Caldis Daniel J. Keogh Ryan Potato Co. Colormatic David Kessler Dr. and Mrs. David L. Sande Country Kitchen of Grand Forks Dr. and Mrs. W. E, Koenker Service Auto Supply Carl Elston Agency Mrs. Miles K. Lander James I). Thorsen Forks Potato Co. Daniel S. Letnes, F. John Marshall, Trophy House, Inc. Gaulke News Agency Inc. James T. Odegard Vaaler, Gillig, Warcup, Woutat and Zininey Grady's Plumbing and Heating Lyons Auto Supply Genevieve M. Void Grand Forks Abstract Co. Dr. and Mrs. Oscar C. Nord Welter's Marine Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Havig North Dakota Hospital Association Why Not Shop Dr. and Mrs. Richard Hill Northern Plumbing Supply Inc. Willcy's Jewelry Dr. M. A. Hoghaug Olson Garden Center Young Drug Inc. "Cover Picture: .Ground-breaking, 1920 : North Dakota Mill and Elevator i-jr^fSA.-