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Crosby Diamond Jubilee 904 979 NORTH DAKOTA 1 STATE LIBRARY ' ^ISMARCK, ND 58505, "Pioneers in '04, now thriving more'.'

Crosby, North Dakota July 17-18, 1979 NUKIH DAKOTA NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY I BOOK OR AUTHOR I | 3 3105 00040 3756 Crosby Diamond JuUl l 1904-1979 "Pioneers in '04, now thriving more. ,i 75 Years of Progress Crosby, North Dakota July 17-18, 1979

Norman Anderson and Fern Wallin, General Chairmen

The organizational meeting of the Crosby Jubilee Days was held on the 21st day of March, 1978. Those present were George Larsen, John Andrist, Ida Romsos, Evelyn Woolfrey, Olga Tysse, Paul Rogen, Ronald Stammen, Ivan Erickson, Bob Sebolt, Herb Engberg, Melvin Rodvold, Kenneth Hingst, Doug Graupe, Stephen Joraanstad, and Ervin Alberts. George Larsen, Crosby's mayor at the time, arranged for this meeting. George served as temporary chairman to appoint Pastor Norman Anderson and Fern (Grindeland) Wallin as co- chairmen, with Ida (Kloster) Romsos as secretary and Marion (Olson) Windfaldet, treasurer. Later Gunnar Petersen was appointed to the committee to represent the Crosby Business Builders. From here on there was work in earnest with many committees and many people working together to make this Jubilee occasion a commemorative and pleasant one.

Dedication

It is our hope and desire that this book will bring happy and pleasant memories to those who read it. It is with deep appreciation and gratitude that we remember Crosby's pioneer citizens. Memories of these people leave profound enrichment to the lives of those they have touched. We dedicate this book to Crosby's future and to future generations tempered by unrest but, struggling to preserve our heritage. A heritage for betterment of all mankind. _ } _ North Dakota State Library Bismarck, N. D. 58505 j

Crosby Looking South Early 1950's

Crosby Looking South 1979 cFer n Wallin and Norman Anderson, co- Steering Committee of Jubilee chairmen; Ida Romsos, Secretary; Marion Windfaldet, Treasurer; Gunner Petersen. fciS < sm

Jubilee Committee Meeting 1979 -3 Crosby Diamond Jubilee Committees and Members Invitation Committee: Charlene Power, Ardell Ingwalson, Elaine Andrist, Connie Anderson, Vi Larsen, Fern Wallin, Ida Romsos, Helen Hanisch, Maren Fagerland, Claudyne Otheim, Ella Brumfield, Lois Melton, and Marie Jacobson. Publicity: Nancy Boermann, Ronald Stammen, and Rev. Norman Anderson. Souvenir: Stephen Joraanstad and Herb Engberg. Main Street Banner Committee: Gordon Peterson Jr., Gordon Hagge, Paul Mahrer, Hellen's Cleaners, Del Ekness, Fern & Myron Wallin, Carolyn Graupe, and Roman Fettig. Residential Committee: Olga Tysse, Shirley Peterman, Pearl Buck, and the F. F. A. Boys. Decoration Committee: Doris Fosland, Myrha Osvold, Clairce Torgerson, Ida Romsos, members of Jayceettes, the Garden Club, the Progressive and the Town and Country Study Clubs. Hospitality Committee: Joyce Ekness, Evelyn Woolfrey, Kay Unhjem, Corrine Anderson, Cheryl Ouren, Jo Jacobson, Rubbena Berosik, Olivene Koppang, and Evelyn Hanson. Lodging Committee: Cal & Pauline Rosenquist, John & Marion Benter, Clarence & Lorna Gnoinsky and Marion Windfaldet. Main Street Committee: Ann Brandt, Mary Svangstu, Marlene Hagen, Peg Nygaard, Roman Fettig, Myron Wallin, and Lynn Buck. Float Committee: Etta Olson, Tony Olson, Marilyn & Bernie Nelson, Gunnar Petersen, and Stephen Joraanstad. Special Events Committee: Carolyn & Doug Graupe, George Larsen, Ken & Darlene Hingst, Arnold & Marie Jacobson, Jo Stefonowicz, LaVon Roberts, Harold Woolfrey, Myron Wallin, Blaine Strong, Connie Anderson, Dennis Freed, and Marion Windfaldet. Food Committee: Helen & Gray Hanisch, Darwin & Leora Anderson, Paul & Angie Mahrer, and the Crosby Business Builders. City Tour Committee: Ken Sorum, Herman 0. Johnson, Arnie Jacobson, Freeman Ulman, Ivan Pederson, and Connie Mortenson. Style Show: Marie Jacobson, Elaine Andrist, Darlene, Lou Oien, and Jo Jacobson. Reception Committee (for Pioneer Dinner): Shirley Peterman, Helen Dahlke, Evelyn Hanson, Eris Moe, Paula Lindsey, David Peterman, Leona Clemens, V. F. W. Auxiliary, Peace Luthern Church, the Girl Scouts, and Mrs. Ron Stammen. Commemorative Booklet: Evelyn Easton, Ruth Ralph, George & Vi Larsen, Leonard & Rodella Larson, Rudolph & Agnes Sortland, Charlene Power, Freeman Ulman, Fern Wallin, Ida Romsos, and Marion Wallin. Wagon Train Committee: Rev. Norman Anderson, Divide County Horsemen Association and Culbertson Wagon Train. -4 - Crosby's Jubilee Flag by Ann Brandt

The Diamond Jubilee Flag was a field of red with a replica The flag was designed by Ann Brandt and made by Marilyn of the jubilee coin in the center which has symbols Knudson. representing the cattle and grain industry, curling capitol, a The flag was raised at the courthouse by the American map showing our location in the state and honoring our Legion Color Guard during the opening ceremonies of the 75th anniversary. jubilee celebration.

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, ••,»» >• Crosby Jubilee Coin by Fern Wallin

The official seal of the city of Crosby encircles the coin with curling capitol, a map showing our location in the state and the Divide County Court House on the front side. honoring our 75th anniversary. Symbols representing the cattle and grain industry, Ideas and designs by Herb Engberg, Steve Joraanstad and Liz Nordstog. ^5f% .<^OFCH^

SOUVENIR <©v DOLLAR <%>- -# *• JVORTttv ^VTY, NO*" -5 Crosby's Jubilee Song by Marlene Hagen

The song was sung for the opening ceremony on Monday, July 16 and Tuesday, July 17, on Main Street by John Andrist, Ted Lindseth, Ken Unhjem, and Ron Jacobson, piano accompaniment by Elaine Andrist. Crosby's Jubilee has come, Welcome everyone to join the fun; The celebration's only just begun— Crosby's Jubilee is here.

We've planned things for you to do, But the best thing here is me and you. Shake your neighbor's hand, say how do you do? We are glad that you're all here.

Seventy-five years have come and gone, and still our town keeps moving on. We're growing, showing everyone that Crosby's only just begun. We never say quit, we never say done, Crosby's Jubilee is here!

Crosby's Jubilee has begun, All the folks are here at home again, Give a shout of cheer and say Amen, Crosby's Jubilee Days are here.

Marlene is a Crosby native since birth. She is the daughter of Mrs. Morris Benson and the late William D. Feeney. Marlene has always had a great interest in music, both in performing and appreciation. Marlene says the "Jubilee Song" was inspired by her love for Crosby and the enthusi­ asm that was generated in the whole community in prepar­ ation for Crosby's 75th Birthday Celebration.

"Pioneers in '04, Now thriving more." A Jubilee Slogan contest was conducted in the summer of 1978. Tim Olson, 15 year old son of Merle and Etta Olson, submit­ ted the slogan chosen by vote of the Jubilee committees. He received a $25.00 U. S. Savings Bond. Tim is of the 4th generation of a Crosby pioneer family. His dad has Olson's Bear Alignment and his mom operates Long Creek Mercantile at Crosby. His Grandpa was the late Oscar Olson. His Grandma, Thora lives at Fargo, North Dakota. In 1902, his great-grandfather, Reinhart Olson, homesteaded about 3 miles southeast of Crosby and built a 14x16 homestead shack. In 1905, he built a 2-story, 4-bedroom house with attic, using the original shack as kitchen. The cost of the house was $400.00 plus $50.00 to a neighbor who helped him build the house. Of historical interest — The kitchen at the Olson farm is probably one of the few homesteads in the area that has continued to be lived in through the years. -6 ^avn Street - Crosby Al Diamond Jubilee' ™.o July 16-17-18 All activities are on Main Street except those otherwise specified.

Monday, July 16 1:00 to 5:OOp.m. Registration at Divide County Library (souvenir name tags compli­ ments of Crosby Moose Lodge and Crosby American Legion) 2:00 p.m Official Opening of Jubilee by Mayor Herb Engberg at the Divide County Courthouse: Junior High Band, Jubilee Song, Color Guard 2:30 p.m "Northern Lights" at Dakota Theatre. 2:30 p.m Surprises by Cameo Players 3:30 p.m Culbertson Wagon Train arrives from Airport going to Good Sam­ aritan Center and then down Main Street. 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. . Swimming activities (games and contests) at Crosby Pool. 5:30 p.m Circling the Wagons at Fair Grounds with catered chicken supper ($3.00) per person (anyone welcome) 7:30 p.m "Northern Lights" at Dakota Theatre Hot Air Balloon Display 197? Wednesday, July 18 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. Tours of Court House with coffee served at Court House Tuesday, July 17 10:00 to 12 noon . Registration at Divide County Lib . iry f 10:00 a.m Slides of old Crosby shown at Crosby Elementary School 7 a.m Kiwanis Breakfast at Masonic Temple (former mem­ 10:00 a.m Demonstrations at Crosby Elementary School: wheat dollies, palette bers and visiting Kiwanians welcome) painting and rosemaling 8:30 to 5 p.m. Tours of Court House - coffee served at Court House 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 Tours of Crosby, beginning at Crosby Elementary School (horse 9 to 12 noon .. Registration at Divide County Library drawn and tractor driven) 10:00a.m~. Slides of old Crosby at Crosby Elementary School 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Free Children's activities (ages 5-12) at Crosby Elementary play­ 10:00a.m. .*... Displays of Rosemaling and wood-working at Crosby Elementary ground: FFA and Girl Scout cadets assisting: prizes furnished by School local businesses 10:00 a.m Demonstrations of Rosemaling and wood-working. 11:30 a.m Vince Cowley and Andy Kostek 10:00 to 12 noon Tours of Crosby, beginning at Crosby Elementary School (horse 11:30 to 2:00 p.m. Free Beef Bar-B-Que, compliments of Farmer's State Bank in drawn and tractor driven) observance of their 60th Anniversary and Crosby Business Builders 10:30a.m Parade and entries of floats to assemble at corner of 8th Avenue 12:00 noon Divide County High School Band and Main Street 12:30 p.m Welded Brass (FFA Band) 11:00a.m Demonstrations at Crosby Elementary School of wheat dollies and 1:00 p.m Recognition of "Special People" palette painting 1:30 p.m "Dakota Sweethearts" (yodelers) 12:00 noon Jubilee Parade (Hospitality Center at Crosby Elementary School 2:00 p.m "D.C. Exchange" from Divide County High School closed from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.) 2:00 p.m Style Show at Crosby Elementary School gym (registrants only, 1:30 p.m Introduction of dignitaries limited capacity) 2:00 to 9:00 p.m Registration at Divide County Library 2:30 p.m Twirlers 2:00 p.m Ray Square Dancers 2:30 p.m "Northern Lights" at Dakota Theater 2:00 p.m Slides of old Crosby shown at Crosby Elementary School 3:00 p.m Demonstrations at Crosby Elementary School; rosemaling and wood 2:00 to 5:00 p.m Tours of Crosby beginning at Crosby Elementary School (horse working drawn and tractor driven) 3:00 p.m Stormin' Norman and Terry Thon 2:30 p.m Sweet Adelines of Estevan 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. . Swimming activities (games and contests) at Crosby Pool 2:30 p.m "Northern Lights" at Dakota Theater 3:30 p.m Drawing for Colored TV, Half Beef and Transistor Radio 3:00 p.m Divide County Pom Pon girls 3:30 p.m Fun Frolic by Divide County Horsemen at Historical Society Grounds 3:00 p.m Demonstrations of rosemaling and wood working at Crosby 7:30 p.m "Northern Lights" at Dakota Theater Elementary School 8:00 p.m "Showboat" at Sports Arena, Fair Grounds 3:30 to 5:00 p.m Swimming activities (games and contests) at Crosby Pool 9:30 p.m "Northern Lights" at Dakota Theater 3:30 p.m Twirlers 11:00 p.m. . Fantastic Fireworks at Fair Grounds: courtesy of Northwest Federal 4:00 p.m Director's Group of Williston (barbershop) Savings and Loan, First National Bank and Fortuna Air Force 4:00 p.m Slides of old Crosby at Crosby Elementary School Station; assisted by Crosby Fire Department 4:00 p.m Demonstrations of wheat dollies and palette painting at Crosby Elementary School Food will be served by the following: 5:00 p.m Reception for Pioneers at Fellowship Hall, Concordia Church (regis­ Coffee Shop - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. trants 75 years of age and older) (Divide County Farmer's Union has Chat 'n Chew - 6:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m. contributed toward this Reception) Dew Drop Inn -11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m "Northern Lights" at Dakota Theater 8:00 p.m "Showboat" at Sport's Arena, Fair Grounds Ken's Chicken Inn- 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight 9:00 p.m Bowbells Beaus 4 Bells (Square Dancers) at Super Valu Parking Lot Red Rooster - 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m Border Bouncers (Square Dancers) of Plentywood at Super Valu The Golden Hub Supper Club -4:00 p.m. to 11:30p.m. Parking Lot Moose Supper Club - 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m Ray Square Dancers at Super Valu Parking Lot Duane Anderson's Taco Stand -10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. 10:30 p.m Free Old Time Bowery dance at Super Valu Parking Lot with music (near Community Building downtown) provided by Mosser family, with Key Klub serving refreshments Bernle Dokken's Bowling Lanes -11:00 am to 9:00 p.m. Colgan Country Gals Food Stand • 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Hot Air Balloon Display (place to be announced) (at Ken's Pizza Villa - North Main) Available Nine Hole Sand Green Golfing at Golf Club (open dawn to 4:00 p.m.) Dennis Lucier's Chuck Wagon -7:00a.m. to midnight • 1 ,i Courtesy Car sponsored by Crosby Kiwanis Club 311 tni '* Horseshoe by Senior Citizens on North Main Street (place to be announced) Souvenir mugs, buttons and coins are available in Crosby Elementary School Gym; Legion Stand at Fair Grounds-opened by DougSemingson days: You may order your Jubilee History Books also, which will be mailed at a later date. *4J^CTJ) Legion Club Basement - opened by Doug Semingson Jubilee Celebration Days Parade - Selling Souvenirs - Style Show - Show Boat

At left is the Men's Black Chorus from "Showboat", Herman "Showboat" played to 2 full houses in the Sports Arena Johnson, Bob Stuart, Orvin Ege, Rudolph Sortland and Bert Theatre during the Diamond Jubilee. Above scene shows Fagerland Sr. Photo at right shows the romantic leads, Stan Gene Olson as Ike Vallon, Marlyn Tande as Captain Andy, Andrist as Gaylord Ravenal and Annette Walen as Magnolia. and Frank Carlson as Windy with the Women's Black Chorus. -8 - A letter from President Carter. . . To the Citizens of Crosby

Congratulations on the 75th anniversary of your community.

In celebrating this important milestone in your history, you can take pride in the values and ideals that have made your communtiy and our Nation grow and prosper. May the vitality and spirit of your people continue to help build a better America and a better world. Jimmy Carter

A letter from Governor Link . . . Thank you for inviting Grace and me to take part in your Crosby Diamond Jubilee Banquet on Tuesday evening, July 17.

We are very pleased to accept your thoughtful invitation. Please contact my appointments secretary, Arlene Leingang, at 224-2200 in order to work out the details.

We will be looking forward to seeing you and the others on that evening.

With best regards,

Sincerely yours, Arthur A. Link, Governor

PRESIDENT TAFT'S VISIT TO CROSBY . . . The only United States President known to have visited Crosby was William Howard Taft. Taft came here after his years in the White House, July 2,1920. He is shown here with several local townsmen. Left to right, they are Charlie Clark, President Taft, George Homnes, Andy Ingwalson and V. F. Goddard. A number of Crosby people still remember the excitement that prevailed in Crosby, as everyone hustled to get the town ready for the Presidential visit.

- 9 - The Divide County Journal The Sam Peterson and Darrin Kersey Captain Andy, Parthy and Magnolia JRWSKSB

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The Erickson Family Float Crosby Floral and Gifts

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Northwest Implement Co.

J, Divide County Historical Society Jimmy and Dick Avenue of Flags A tribute to our pioneers by F. Leslie Forsgren

An address delivered to a banquet honoring the senior citi­ between Oslo and Reykevik, Iceland. About half ways he zens of Divide County, North Dakota, on the occasion of the developed engine trouble, losing two out of three of his Diamond Jubilee and 75th birthday of Crosby, July 17,1979. engines. Realizing that they would soon have to ditch the aircraft, he turned the controls over to co-pilot and walked Toastmaster Bob, Governor Link and Mrs. Link. Justice back to address his passengers on the loud speaker. VandeWalle, Senator Rait and Mrs. Rait', Representatives Min herer o darner. (Ladies and gentlemen). We have lost Oppedahl and Jacobson and Mrs. Jacobson, Mayor Engberg, two of our engines and we'll have to ditch. Now just stay calm other distinguished guests, honored senior citizens, and all of and I'll explain the procedure. First I want all of you who can the rest of you, my friends. swim to line up on the left side of the plane near the door. When Pastor Anderson originally invited me to speak at After we are in the water, you will have plenty of time to get this occasion, he led me to understand that the selection of the out of the plane and swim away so you won't get sucked in speaker had been made in consideration of the modern when the plane sinks. trend of extending equal opportunities to minorities. Since I Now all of you who can't swim, I want you to line up on the belong to the ethnic majority in this county, his reference right side of the airplane; now, to those of you on the right, we was obviously not racial. Likewise, since Bob Kinsey, Jerry wish to thank you for flying with Royal Norwegian Airlines. VandeWalle and myself are all lawyers, then neither could Tonight, I would like you to enter with me into a mystical the reference have been professional. This left the conclusion time machine. We'll pull this lever, and set the dial for July with me that the selection and reference must have been 17, 1904, at the hour of 12:00 o'clock noon. I have set it for made from a political stand point. Now I have heard it said noon, because it will be warm then, there's no roof over our facetiously albeit somewhat factually, that the Republicans heads, no chairs, no tables, no church, no Crosby. Here we of Divide County usually hold their district conventions in a have only open prairie on a slightly elevated ground, and set telephone booth on the corner of Main Street and 1st Ave. NW on the verdant green of original buffalo grass, crocus heads in down town Crosby. I would guess that would qualify me as sticking their violet blossoms above their emerald stems. We a member of a minority. Looking over the list of look out over the rolling sea of grass, spotted with buck brush distinguished guests reminds me of the old song, "I'm a and satiny pink of delicate wild roses. We see no trees and lonely little petunia in an onion patch"; or is it a lonely little from here we can see only one small body of water to the onion in a petunia patch? I am also experiencing some of the southwest, its surface lightly rippled by the waft of a gentle feelings the Democrats must have felt in the 1979 legislative breeze and the tiny v-marks of a mother mallard and her session, so I suppose they now feel that this preponderance is urgently following chicks. There are of course, no roads or only fair. ditches marring the landscape, and only a few wagon ruts I must say however, that I feel singularly honored at this and stock trails. opportunity to address such a distinguished gathering. The It is quiet, but we can hear meadow larks sing, black birds very nature of the affair affords me certain peculiar chirp, the trill of the robin, the lilt of the killdeer; and we see advantages as well. Please note that nothing I say tonight the bustling flashes of striped prairie chickens and ruffed can be vetoed by Governor Link. None of my statements can grouse in their quest for the bountiful food lying on the rich, be objected to by Bob, as immaterial, irrelevent or beside the fertile soil. We see the gophers darting to and fro, their point, nor can Justice Jerry sustain such an objection under plummed tails flickering, whistling to one another and these captive conditions. Equally important to me, neither warning of a hawk gracefully soaring overhead on spreading Senator George nor Representatives Irvin or Olaf can inter­ motionless predatory wings. Curious but alert antelope rupt me with a point of order, nor counter with rebuttal de­ twitch their powder puff tails at the nearby invisible bate. In a strict sense, it would appear that I have it made. Canadian border. At this time of the day, the lonesome yelp Returning if you will, to the subject of ethnic origin, one of of the coyote has been stilled. On the purple hills to the the reasons I am particularly proud of my personal origins, is southeast, a perceiving eye can spot the occasional alabaster the fact that the Norwegian Americans are perhaps the only white of skeletons, a plaintive reminder of the sixty million people left in America with enough of a sense of humor not to buffaloes who but a short time before had stretched out an resent ethnic jokes told about them, We don't get mad, not endless brown furry mass, munched on the high protein even when our relatives still in Norway stand on the Swedish grasses, grew fat and sleek and furnished all of the food, border on the Syttende Mai and throw fire crackers at the clothing and shelter for the former tenants, the seven tribes Swedes. We don't even mind when the Swedes light those of the Sioux and Cree. This then is the sea of hope, and these firecrackers and throw them right back. natural stirrings are its myriad heralds. I have a cousin whose parents didn't immigrate, and so About a mile west of us clusters a handful of small, he's a pilot for the Royal Norwegian Airlines. They tell the unpainted or tarpapered wooden building, flanked along a story about him when he made first landing at Kennedy couple of hundred yards of a rutted, dusty street; OLD Airport in New York. He brought the jet in and immediately CROSBY, soon to be picked up bodily and transported by after touchdown he slammed the brakes on hard, painfully horse drawn vehicles to the area where we are now seated. tumbling his passengers tight up against their seat belts in There gathered is a milling group of people, shaking hands in the abrupt stop. A stewardess ran up to the cockpit to enquire the Old World manner, exchanging greetings in multiple the reason for such a rough and short landing. My cousin tongues: Howsen gorder mi day; vie gehts, mein fruend; replied quite logically, "These crazy American build such Gud Dagen, gud Dagen; Hutta Show; the top of the maarning funny runways, they're 6000 feet wide and only 200 feet long." to ye; har mowrrrr ni; Bone Jur, mon ami; Jane Dobray; A short time ago my cousin was flying across the Atlantic Hoot mon, tis a brae morn!

- 11 - The really startling common feature of all these people is members of those groups of delighted children, and I envy their age. They are all young, incredibly young, an average your memory of those people and those days. You may not age of less than 25. They are all dressed neatly in Sunday best recall it precisely, but this was the first gathering of the clothes in which they appear uncomfortable; the calloused, community of Crosby, its location having been determined work hardened hands protruding from long sleeves, the sun by a whim of fate and a planning engineer of the Great and the wind reddened necks emerging from hard, starched Northern Railroad Company. collars or ruffled dress tops. It is obvious they would be more But not all of the rugged struggle for survival was yet at ease in work denim or calico. known to those pioneers we just watched from our vantage They are cheerful, laughter rings out here and there. They point in the imaginary time machine. Yet to come were the are proud and free people. Proud of their new status of land blazing infernos of prairie fires, blackening the sky and owners; proud of their strength and health and ability to earth, terrifying the most stalwart of people and beasts, conquer and subdue the newly plowed prairie fields; proud tame and wild. After the summer came the winter, the to be, or about to be, citizens of a new nation, free of the raging blizzards taking more bitter glee at each shower, shackles, restrictions, customs and prejudices of the old taking firm hold of each of the flakes of snow and hurling world. Almost all had shared the experiences of Ellis Island, them at any crack or crevise in the sod houses and tears in the welcoming sight of the Statue of Liberty with its heart­ the tarpaper, to let in a numbing, biting cold upon the hapless warming invitation: but brave men, women and children, and their helpmates, "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp, cries she the oxen, horses, cows and chickens. With silent lips; "Give me you tired, your poor, Still lying in wait for them are dry, hot winds, sucking out Your huddled masses yearning to breath free; the moisture from fields, shrivelling the tender shoots of The wretched refuse of your teeming shore; wheat and oats, p£ ?hing the pastures, leaving the sloughs Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me, cracked and waste Lurking around the corner were hail I lift my lamp beside the golden door." storms to shred an< tamp crops into the dirt and smashing The noonday's sun warms the bare feet of the children, and in the few and preci is glass windows of homestead shacks. the prairie echos with the sweetest sound ever to bless this Yet to be endured were low grain prices, depressions, world earth, the delightful laughter of happy children. wars, flu epidemics, droughts and dust storms, swarms of Gathered here at this day, time and place, is the picnic of voracious grasshoppers, rusted grain, greater depressions our pioneers who are gathered to celebrate the birth of a and more wars. town, Crosby, the Crosby that still stands, here, now grown, And yet through all this, they endured, they laughed, they prospered and blessed. Here we have something entirely new danced, they sang, they cried and they prayed a lot, and they in the annals of history - a new land, fresh and to all practical worked ceaselessly from dawn to dusk, and in the dark a lot purposes, still empty, still virginal. A new people, a too. That indomitable, irrepressible faith in their God, their composite, more mixed than any other nation yet seen on the land, and in themselves carried them through each adversity stage of history. And what a people! Full of vigor and and they survived! industry, replete with ambition and courage, inspired by They survived because they were united in a common dreams and ideals, carried along by vision and imagination. cause of survival. While they were at once fiercely And a new way of life, not a reproduction or duplication. A independent, they were also inimitably interdependent. To be new culture, not along fixed, rigid, static lines, but built on a neighbors involved the obligation of being their brother's flexible, ever changing pattern, whose foundation is human keeper. They helped each other, they spiritually supported freedom and equality. one another, they worshiped together, they frequently ate Tonight, some of you honored guests may well have been together and they always sorrowed together. One's loss was

- 12 - everyone's loss too. Their families were strong units and the communist expansion. The succeeding generation pressed community was a strong family. home the revolution against discrimination in our home Each year God renewed his promise to his children. To all land. Today, we are again not truly free, but for the time the harried, disillusioned people who had temporarily lost being we are enmeshed in the tenacles of the greedy OPEC their shining dreams in the miasma of adversity, then came nations, threatened with bankruptcy, and hamstrung by an the reminder, right outside their windows, along the fields, energy crisis. Our president, the night before last, has the meadows and pastures, that nothing had really changed, termed this modern dilemma as a "WAR", and he is correct only themselves. They noted a sweetness and a soothing in both the semantics and actualities of the circumstances. balm in the air and the bright spring sun lit up the darkened It is now incumbent upon us to engage that time proven corner of their lives, its warm rays melting away the tension method of winning a war; the all-out, no holds barred con­ and rudeness of their ways. And once again the meadow centration and singleminded purposeful effort to win this larks seemed to give forth better music "... when heaven war. There is of course, no magic panacea, no wand to wave, tries the earth if it be in tune". no open o'sesame. Instead we must become once more, free Today, in 1979, we are living in a world of machines and and independent of the manacles forged upon our wrists by atoms where the push of a button does the work that once foreign sources of energy. Now is not the time to point required a great deal of human labor. But it is also a world of accusatory fingers at our leaders of government and war and insecurity, of tension and mental strain that often industry! The only times we have ever lost any wars, have tax man's endurance far more than physical strain ever been those times we have been divided on the question in con­ could. As we move forward, it is wise to look back and try to troversy. This time we must once more unite in a common revive those pioneer characteristics that have proven to be cause against a real and formidable enemy, and do good in society. There will never be a button to push that will everything and anything necessary to win. If rationing is rear our children. Rearing children in pioneer days was a necessary, then let's have that. If alternate and synthetic secondary duty, because the children knew hardship and energy sources are necessary, then let us produce them. If appreciated even small pleasures such as a tumble weed conservation is necessary, then let us get on with it! adorned with crayon colored decorations for a Christmas Upon every occasion, when all of the chips were laid down Tree. In these times, we must also pay and give generously in and when our nation has been beset by real and genuine order to protect our country and preserve the democracy emergency, we have always collectively bound ourselves that our forefathers founded for us. together in a common crusade, rejected and repudiated There can be no human advance, there can be no possibil­ capitulation, and then we have always won. And we will win ity of human advance apart from freedom! And, this one too! unfortunately, the struggle for freedom is never Our nation is not a tangible thing, not a building of bricks permanently won. It is always an unfinished task. The and mortar that will crash to ruins at the first strong blow. A freedom won by one generation must be won by the next nation is not its laws, nor its customs nor even its behavior, generation. Freedom cannot be passed on from one year to nor even its history alone. the next, from one decade to the succeeding decade. The faith Rather it is an echo of the past and a whisper of the future, of the fathers must become the faith of the sons. the whole world bound together with the lives and hopes and My father, and my wife's father, along with 4 million other the endeavors of millions of men and women. We thank you Americans fought the war to end all wars, only to lose the pioneers for the echoes of the past, and pledge that the peace. My generation fought the tyrony of facism. The next whisper of the future will swell to a triumphant shout!! generation struggled against the engorged ambitions of Thank you and good night.

- 13 - Miss North Dakota U. S. A.

Mary Ann Gibbs Mary Ann is the daughter of Pearl Gibbs and the late Delbin Gibbs. She was crowned Miss North Dakota U. S. A. in 1956 from a field of 20 contestants. Mary Ann was judged on beauty, poise and talent. Mary sang a torchy love song, "Unchained Melody" (her mothers favorite song) for her talent. In 1957 she represented North Dakota in Atlantic City. Mary Ann attended college for one year at U. N. D. While in Minneapolis she was featured on the Minneapolis it- Sunday Tribune. Mary Ann is now a trainer for accountants at Mission Viejo Co. in California. She has two sons.

*....

Mary Ann Gibbs

Renae Hermanson Renae Hermanson was crowned Miss North Dakota U. S. A. on November 16,1978 at Minot, North Dakota from a field of 43 contestants. She was judged on the merrits of beauty, poise, scholastic ability and personality. Renae represented North Dakota in April, 1979, on a nationally televised Miss U. S. A. pagent at Boloxi, Mississippi where she was chosen among the top 15 finalists. Renae is the daughter of Marlene Hagen and Delwyn Hermanson. She is a 1979 graduate of Divide County High School, where she was active in drama, vocal music, band, athletics statistician and also a voluntary teachers aid. Renae is a freshman at U. N. D. in Grand Forks, where she Renae Hermanson plans to pursue an education in accounting. - 14 - Divide County Courthouse Crosby, North Dakota

•"*' »«>»« 81 CvUtf •*«, -v •»rt u •* •«(-.

Divide County Courthouse and Jail under construction, Crosby, North Dakota, 1917.

Depositing the Record Box in the Corner Stone of the Divide County Courthouse, July 2,1917, Crosby, North Dakota.

•••• A. C. Townley speaking at Divide County Courthouse Dedication, Crosby, North Dakota, 1919.- - 15- History of Divide County Before 1800 Divide County was occupied largely by the shows a farmstead north of Crosby that was owned by a Assiniboine (stone-boiler) Indians, a group of very primitive prosperous farmer Hans T. Sorenson. The house still stands. Sioux Indians. The famed Writing Rock in western Divide Another painting is a scene of Writing Rock with Indians County may have been from earlier tribes of which there are added, the third is a sod house with family and the fourth is of no records. the Light Coal Mine that was near Noonan. In the Farmer's In about 1849 the western third of what is now North Dakota Room downstairs is another painting of a prairie schooner. was called "Indian Country" until 1854 when it was included Very few changes have been made in the building since it was in the Nebraska Territory. In 1867 all of North Dakota except built. the very western edge was called Laramie County. The House-warming held at the new courthouse on the eve In 1873 Wallette County was created out of the territory of of February 20 was pronounced a brilliant social success by the present Divide and Williams County by the territorial all present. It was with a thrill of pride that the citizens of legislature. This was put on maps but the county was never Divide County viewed the well arranged offices and spacious actually organized as there were no settlers here. The corridors of their new courthouse, while the exquisite taste of purpose of having the area drawn into counties was to the interior decorations satisfied the taste of the most facilitate the sale of bonds for the Northern Pacific Railroad. fastidious. The courtroom, one of the largest in the state, was By putting in county names it made the area look like a used as a ballroom, while smaller groups gathered in the populated region. adjoining offices for card games and other forms of Wallette County was divided into Buford and Flannery amusement. Counties by a line drawn north and south across it in 1883. Much credit for the splendid arrangements is due to Then in 1891 the whole area became Williams County. This Attorney R. J. Kamplin who worked like a Trojan to bring same year the Homestead Law went into effect and by about about these results. Miss Theo Perry rendered two vocal 1902 settlers came into this area. In a few years the county solos in her usual pleasing manner, one a knitting song, was dotted with claim shacks. making an especial hit with the audience. One of the In 1906 Dr. and Mary Zahl set up a cattle spread and ran a decorators, Mr. Forseth of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, also "Half-way" house between Crosby-Ambrose and Williston. rendered three solos in a magnificent baritone. In 1910 an election was held to divide the county into two The Palen sisters orchestra which furnished the music, as parts because Williston as county seat was too far for the always, delighted their listeners with their truly artistic people in the northern part of the county to travel to transact performance. county business and by then the upper third of the county had The local branch of the Red Cross served a delicious the required population to become a county. This became cafeteria lunch in the Rotunda and adjoining corridors on the Divide County. first floor. The affair netted the Divide County Chapter of the There are several ideas as to how Divide County got its Red Cross the sum of $98.15. The committee of the local name. The Continental Divide runs through the county from branch who served the lunch also feel repaid for their efforts northwest to southeast. The county divided from Williams as they resulted in securing $82.86 for the branch. County. According to the North Dakota Yearbook published A caragana hedge was planted in the courtyard as well as in 1911 a contest was held and George A. Gillmore, Williston trees and flowers. The hedge has since been removed. attorney, chose the winning name "Divide." In 1920 the population of Divide County grew to an all time Governor John Burke appointed the first county high of 9,637. As the thirties came with the depression and commissioners, Charles D. Perry, Mac Colgan, and Albert H. poor crops farmers went broke and left Divide County and Makee. Crosby was designated the temporary county seat the state for more prosperous places. In 1970 the population and Sagerty Hall was designated the temporary courthouse. had dropped to 4,564. A bitter fight and some questionable political maneuvers During the 1920's and 1930's the county commissioners gave Crosby the permanent county seat in the November 6, dealt with problems like relief for the poor, paying state 1912, election with the largest city, Ambrose and Noonan the institutions for the care of patients from the county, issuing losers. feed and seed loans, adjusting hail insurance payments, The Divide County Courthouse was built in 1917. paying tree bounty, picking jurors for the numerous trials, Commissioners at that time were E. M. Truax, O. K. Otteson, paying court expense, approving coroner's inquests, along and A. O. Stene. W. E. Vadnais was the county auditor. The with the usual problems of building roads. Doctors and Ellison-Williamson Construction Company that received the undertakers came to the county for bill payment if the family bid for $104,951 did not complete the job so the county could not pay them. commissioners hired Max Buetow as supt. and bids were let In the 1940's prices rose and sufficient rain fell to make for smaller projects. farming a profitable business. This was also the period of The courthouse is a beautiful brick building standing at the World War II and many families were torn as young men and north end of main street with spacious grounds. The steps are women from Divide County joined the Armed Forces. Sixty- marble with a large Corinthian column on either side of the six young people from Divide County gave their lives in this double front doors. The dome on top houses large clocks that terrible year and in 1945 a large marble monument was can be seen from either direction. placed on the courthouse lawn in their memory. Because of The interior of the courthouse has terrazzo floors and the war effort many people left Divide County to work in the marble trim. The furniture and woodwork is golden oak. factories on the West Coast. From the main floor a spectator can look up into the dome In 1946 Divide became the first county to have a tax and view four handsome paintings dealing with early history supported library though the library had been in existence of the county. These were painted by a roving painter, E. since 1912. The library grew and was moved several times Soderberg from an art studio at LaCrosse, WI. One painting and in 1974 was combined with the school library and is - 16 housed in the Crosby Elementary School building with In later years oil has played a part in Divide County extension libraries in Fortuna and Noonan schools. history. The first wildcat venture was in 1926. The northwest Oil Company was begun and scores of citizens invested in In the early days, the rural school was the center of each stock. In the spring of 1927 the well, drilled by Clarence community. Most townships had four schools running during Prosite of Kevin, MT, was abandoned and another well was the 1920's. Dances, basket socials, Christmas programs and started but the money ran out so it ended. last day picnics were the highlight of the year. The number of schools dwindled as the farms became larger and people With the discovery of oil in 1951 at Tioga, oil companies moved away. Finally in 1962 there were only a few rural began canvassing the area to buy oil leases. Speculators also schools left and most of the county became one large school started buying mineral acres, some for a very small price. At district and the "yellow monsters" gathered the students the present time there are 40 producing wells in the county. each morning and brought them to Crosby, Fortuna, and Noonan, and for a short time, Ambrose. Divide County has one historic site. Writing Rock near Alkabo has been housed to preserve it and lovely picnic As soon as every community had enough settlers, a church grounds have been made. This park has been made possible congregation was organized. Many of these congregations through a lot of volunteer work. gave up before they had built a church building and only the cemetery remains to show they existed. As the population declined and transportation improved the rural churches Divide County looks to the future with confidence. It has continued to close doors. Now only a few are still in the energy and food resources the world needs. There are no operation. over population or pollution problems to plague the county. As technology advances so will Divide County. Farming has always been the main business of Divide County. The success of all business hinges on the success of the farmer. In the early homestead days 160 acres made a farm. As machines replaced horse power the farms steadily increased in size. Capital investment for machinery and high land prices make farming big business. Durum is the leading cash crop but for many years hard spring wheat was the leader. A fairly new cash crop is sunflowers. Early farmers were diversified while now farming is much more specialized.

Beef cattle are still an important product especially in the range of hills that form the Continental Divide. Those that raise cattle have increased their herds through the years. The coming of rural electricity in about 1948 caused a revolution in rural living. Now the farm family could have running water, electrical household appliances and all the power tools that are available.

Coal was used to heat homes in Divide County even in the homestead days. In the Writing Rock and Noonan area early settlers would come and dig their own coal. The first commercial mine was opened in 1908 by Elmer Truax about one half mile east of Noonan. This was an underground mine and it operated until 1917.

Between 1910 and 1920 a number of mines opened in this area but in the arly 1920's most of them had ceased to operate because strip mining could be done more cheaply. Hought Coal Company at Noonan had the first strip mine.

Harris Baukol leased land in the area and opened a strip mine using a steam shove. December 7,1930, he sent out the first trainload of coal under the name of Baukol-Noonan, Lignite, Inc. In 1950 the company was reorganized and became known as Baukol-Noonan, Inc. This company still has an office in Noonan but the actual mining operation has moved to Burke and Oliver counties with the main office in Minot. -17- Divide County Sheriff's

Divide County Court house Staff in 1913 G. F. Hawkinson Birdie Stageborg (unknown) J.G. Odden, Reg. of Deeds Lawrence Rudser (unknown) Alma Nordstog (unknown)

Christian Braa, January, 1927 to January, 1931 Pearl Ebbeson, Tom Lynch (sheriff), Seth Halgren, 1933 Luther M. Gilbertson, January, 1939 to January, 1943

FORMER SHERIFFS... Sheriff Irving Johnson (at right) had the company of five former sheriff's at the jubilee celebration. Left to right, they are Art Nys- trom, Luke Gilbertson, Jim Lovdahl, Clifton Anderson, and Blaine Strong.

- 18- Concordia Lutheran Church Were it not for these past 75 years of grace, could we now at In 1913 Rev. Rosholt became a leader of our Concordia be rejoicing in our heritage and hope? Through the parish—Concordia, Glenwood, Troy and Bethlehem. He left grace of God, our stallwart and dedicated Scandinavian in 1928 to accept a call to Columbus, North Dakota. forbears had the faith and vision to withstand all the Services in the Norwegian language were held regularly struggles and hardships of the early 1900's so that we today until 1936; since that time only occasionally until 1940. In 1928 are privileged to celebrate our congregation's 75th Rev. and Mrs. Ranum came to be our pastor. The coming of anniversary. Truly Concordia has been blessed. this couple was a big event for we now had our first pastor's The first settlement in what is now Divide County was wife. With the arrival of Rev. Ranum and his bride the need made in April 1902 by Nels Lodahls, but during the summer for a parsonage was felt. This modern stucco structure was and fall and in 1904 many young and industrious families of built in 1928 at a cost of $9500.00 and was financed by the Norwegian descent and from scattered communities in Iowa, Crosby Parish composed of Glenwood, Crosby, Bethlehem Minnesota, and Wisconsin came here to make their homes. and Troy churches. Rev. Ranum left in 1936 to accept a call to They were strangers to each other but not for long, for in less Osakis, Minnesota. than a year a group of these settlers gathered on May 12, In 1936 Rev. and Mrs. Sorgen joined our church group 1904, at the home of Ole Thorson Sr. about 5 miles northwest coming from Lake Alma, Saskatchewan. They left in 1942 for of Crosby for the purpose of organizaing a Lutheran church. a call at Valley City. In 1943 Rev. and Mrs. E. O. Gilbertson Those present at the meeting were: Ole Thorson Sr., Ole and their two sons, Daniel and Mark, came from Absarkee, Holmes, Alfred Erickson, Lars Lokken, J. B. Knudson, Hans Montana. They left in 1948 for Brookings, S. D., and he later Hendrickson, Louis Thompson and S. S. Nelson. May 31 they became Bishop of the S.D. District. drew up a constitution and this is signed by H. J. Nordstog, S. In 1944 the congregation, feeling cramped for space for A. Ostjord, Ole Bakken, Nels Lodahl, Nels Jorgenson, T. S. Sunday School, acquired a school building from Blooming Huso, Gunder Simonson, P. 0. Bilstad and John Rustad in Prairie Township and moved it to the rear of the church. This addition to those mentioned at the first meeting. was connected to the basement by a tunnel. This building also It is noteworthy that these 17 pioneers, having come from provided office space as well as a small store where one scattered communities in several states and strangers to could purchase religious books and articles. each other at the time of their coming did manifest their Pastor and Mrs. I. M. Thvedt arrived the fall of 1948 from spiritual faith and urgent need for a place to worship as an Madison, Wisconsin. Rev. Thvedt had a special desire to help organized group by their actions at this meeting. the handicapped so in 1953 we bade farewell to them when Rev. Samuel Peterson, a mission pastor, came from they went to Ephaphatha, Fairbault, Minnesota. Flaxton and officiated as pastor at the meetings until the fall In 1954, Pastor and Mrs. Skilbred came to be our shepherds of 1905. The congregation was incorporated in September coming from Mauston, Wisconsin. 1905, and this meeting was held in a schoolhouse which later became the Blooming Prairie Church and is now at Pioneer Village. In the spring of 1906 Rev. Olaf S. Ylvisaker was called as the first pastor. He served until 1911. The first church was built in 1906 and was 24x18 and cost $204.94. He also served churches as far west as Colgan traveling from parish to Darish by horse and buggy.

Present Concordia Lutheran Church - built in 1956.

With the growing membership at Concordia and its increasing activities it necessitated calling another pastor to serve the rural churches and the Crosby Parish was divided Second church, parsonage and education building. in 1953 into the Crosby Rural and Concordia Parishes. In 1953 action was also taken to start a building drive which was In 1912 a new church of sandstone brick with a foundation successful and ground breaking took place in April 1955 and of native rock was built by local contractors at a cost of the cornerstone was laid in October 1955. September 1956 saw approximately $10,000. It had a seating capacity of us moving into the new church and what a memorable day it approximately 300. was North Dakota State Library - 19- Bismarck. N. D. 58505 Pastor Skilbred left for a call to Arnegard in 1957 and 1958 A generous bequest from the estate of Frank Kirchhofer found the congregation again shepherded by another made possible a number of additions and furnishings for our wonderful couple, Rev. and Mrs. Howard Benson, who came church. Our new pipe organ with nine ranks, 625 pipes and from Riverdale. They saw us through the merger with the carillon chimes is one. It was dedicated in 1974. Many other UELC to form the ALC. memorials were also given towards the purchase of this. In 1964 Pastor Benson and family accepted a call to LaCrosse, Wisconsin. For fifteen years now we have been led April of 1977 was a much looked forward to time at by a wonderful person, Pastor Norman Anderson, and his Concordia when we rejoiced and offered thanks and praise to gracious wife, Connie, who came in 1964 from Luverne, our loving Father for blessings that made it possible to pay Minnesota. off the mortgage on our church. The Bethel Bible Series was introduced in 1965 with thirty- In this our anniversary year, we look back upon 75 years of nine adults graduating from the course. service and reflect on the many blessings that have been Our present parsonage was built in 1966 on lots acquired ours, that have enriched the congregation both spiritually from the estates of Henry Homestead and Carl Hanson. and materially. For this we all thank God. We are thankful to Several churches in the area have closed and their our Lord for giving us pastors who have preached the Word in members joined Concordia. They are Blooming its truth and purity and have ministered to the spiritual Prairie—1946; Long Creek—1950; Emmanuel—1964 and wants and needs of members. Skabo—1970.

Lutheran Brethren Church '4\ Early in the year of 1961 a prayer fellowship was begun by a group of mothers. This led to the use of the church building, a former schoolhouse which had been purchased and moved into Crosby by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. After a period of time the Missouri Synod congregation was dissolved. The building was used by Mr. Wallace Wheeling of Crosby who conducted Sunday School and Sunday morning and evening services there before moving to Avon, Montana. After much prayer by this same group of mothers the keys to the church building were given to us by Mr. Wheeling asking us to take over his Sunday School students and to start a church congregation of our own choice of denomination. Again, in answer to prayer, the group were led to contact the Williston Lutheran Brethren Church, which we had become acquainted with through the Family Bible Hour on Channel 8, Williston, presented by the Williston church. Rev. Lutheran Brethren Church organized in 1961. Dave Langager was director and speaker, Mrs. Burton parsonage was built. He pastored the congregation until 1969, Bundy, story teller, a male quartet and children's choir. The when Rev. 0. A. Monson of Clearbook, Minnesota, came to Briggs family also sang on the program. serve. Together with the regular church services he also As a result of this contact, several evangelistic crusades conducted Norwegian service in the church. He resigned his were held in the Crosby Community Building, conducted by charge here in 1974 and since that time has been living in Rev. Dave Langager and radio Pastor R. Norheim of retirement in Moorhead, Minnesota. Pasadena, California. Pastor Vernon Erickson came in September of 1974. He In August of 1961 Mr. Burton Bundy of the Williston pastored the church until February of 1979. Lutheran Brethren Church came to Crosby at the request of A new entry and pastor's office was built onto the church our group and spoke each Sunday for morning and evening building in 1975. This was largely funded by the gift of money services. Sunday School was also held each Sunday with 29 to given to the church by the Frank Kirchhofer estate. 36 students. A Women's Missionary Fellowship was organized at the An organizational meeting was held on November 27,1961, onset and has been maintained since, together with the when a Lutheran Brethren congregation was formed with congregation supporting the mission work of the synod in eleven charter members. At this time the constitution was Africa, Japan, and Taiwan. The congregation also supports adopted. A few months later the congregation was accepted the Home Mission endeavors. into the Lutheran Brethren Synod. Sunday School is held the year around and each spring a Mr. Burton Bundy served the congregation until January daily vacation Bible school is conducted for the young. of 1962, when Rev. Arthur Mueller of Fergus Falls, The prayer of the congregation is to obey the Great Minnesota, accepted the call and came to serve as full-time Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ to take the saving pastor for the newly organized church. He also had a TV gospel to as many as possible, may they come to a saving program on Channel 8, Williston, entitled Revival Crusade. knowledge of Him and come to know Christ as personal During his pastorate the present addition was built on to the Saviour, whom to know is life eternal. old schoolhouse building. The aim and purpose of the church, also, is to obey His Rev. Harley Frey of Toronto, S.D., accepted a call to serve command to "Occupy until He comes!" as pastor beginning in 1966. During his stay here a new

20- Fr. O'Sullivan who had said the first Masses in this area was St. Patrick's Parish then hired as resident pastor of Crosby. Since then there have Christmas of 1905 had special meaning for the original been nine priests including the present pastor, Rev. C. L. Catholic settlers of Crosby. Two days earlier, on December Gavett, who have served the parish. 23, the resident pastor of Bowbells, Rev. D. 0'Sullivan had come and offered the first Mass ever said in the town. At the time the railroads had not been extended into the area as North Dakota was only in its 16th year of statehood. From that time on, more rapid progress took place and for seven years, Fr. O'Sullivan and Fr. Wagner from Bowbells and Kenmare made regular visits to Crosby and Fortuna to serve the people of this area. These visits of the priest were great events and before churches were built, Masses were offered in homes, barns, halls or wherever the numbers who came could be accomodated. These occasions gave opportunities for social gatherings too and often those who came some distance would stay over an extra day or two. In St. Patrick's Church built in 1962. Crosby one of the halls used for Mass was over the old post Abv. it 12 years after the original church was built, St. office in the O'Loughlin building. Patrick's parishioners purchased four lots of land on the northwest side of town in order to build a rectory for their priest and to provide a better location for their church. This land had been the location of Crosby's first hospital. A very fine stucco rectory was built and ready for occupancy in 1925 and the Rev. Wm. Blackburn was the first pastor to reside there. On the adjacent lot a few years later, the basement for a Church was built with the expectation of moving the old building and this basement was roofed in to be used as a church hall for the next 30 years. While building activity had been halted, parish activities did not halt and St. Patrick's Womens Altar Guild and the Men's Holy Name Society conducted many card parties, bazaars, suppers and other social affairs. The Parish always had a St. Patrick dinner along with an annual Fall Bazaar. When Rev. Daniel F. Flavin had been in Crosby a few years a re-examination of church property was made. It was decided with reluctance to leave the original church and to build a completely new structure on the present site. Construction started in the summer of 1961 and on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 21,1962 the Right Rev. Hilary B. Hacker dedicated and blessed the new St. Patrick's Church. This second church of tan brick and seating capacity for 250 replaced the church which had been in use for almost 50 years. Thus, the celebration on the day of Bishop Hacker's dedication visit was especially colorful and a class of 27 was administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. St. Patrick's Altar Guild served a turkey dinner to 40 Priests and Sisters St. Patrick's Church built in 1914 along with the many parishioners of St. Patrick's using the In 1912 St. Patrick's Parish was established in Crosby and golden anniversary theme. Rev. F. K. Mueller became the first resident pastor of Crosby On June 20,1975, another great step for St. Patrick's Parish and its mission, Fortuna. The parishioners soon started plans was accomplished when the new rectory was completed and for their church building and in less than two years under the occupied by our present priest, Fr. C. L. Gavett. The rectory leadership of Rev. C. Stahl, had a very fine white frame which nearly adjoins the church to the north is constructed of church which seated 150 ready for occupancy on the matching tan bricks in modern design. northeast corner of 2nd Avenue. Right Rev. Bishop Vincent It is now 73 years since the first Mass was offered in Crosby Wehrle O.S.B. dedicated the first church of St. Patrick on and St. Patrick's parishioners are grateful to their God for all November 27, 1913. He also confirmed a class of 25 on the the favors bestowed on the parish as well as for the same day. The parishioners continued to beautify this church leadership provided by their pastors. They are as follows: and were especially proud of the stained glass windows and Rev. F. K. Mueller (1912-1913), buried in St. Patrick's reverent Stations of the Cross erected and blessed on Cemetery); Rev. Charles Stahl (1913-1915); Rev. D. January 20,1916. O'Sullivan (1915-1918); Rev. S. J. Arsonault (1918-1920, town The parishioners of the Fortuna area made plans to build a band leader); Rev. J. J. Dougherty (1920-1923); Rev. Wm. church and on Sunday, June 9, 1918, Right Rev. Bishop Blackburne (1923-1928); Rev. E. Rosters (1928-1929); Rev. Wehrle once again came to this section and dedicated the Charles Schneider (1929-1936); Rev. Joseph Poettgens (1936- church of St. Bernard at Fortuna. He also confirmed a class 1940); Rev. John C. Wingering (1940-1953); Rev. Daniel F. of 25 at St. Patrick's in Crosby. It is interesting to note that Flavin (1953-1970); Rev. C. L. Gavett (1970-). -21 - Crosby Assembly of God In the year 1923, Rev. and Mrs. Reckley, pioneer pastors from Noonan, N.D., erected a tent for the purpose of having gospel services, but before the services were underway, vandals destroyed the tent by fire. This tent was located on the present church site on south main street. However, two years later, Blanch Brittan and a co-worker picked up the effort again. Meetings were held in several places including a tent, the Pastime theatre, the Fair Ground Pavilion and the old Masonic Temple on main street. The Masonic Temple was purchased and served as a church home until the present church building was erected in 1929. The former church building was then sold and housed the Palace of Sweets Restaurant for many years. Late in 1925, the District Superintendent, Frank J. Lindquist of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was called to set the church in order. Forty-seven persons became charter members of the Assembly in the organizational meetings which were held on January 26 through January 28, 1926. Blanch Brittan was elected as pastor. George Carlson and Emil Bendixson were elected as board members and Albert deceased; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Knudson, deceased; Pearl Knudson was elected as secretary-treasurer. Howell, deceased; Lawrence and Fern (Steffler) Anderson; Over the years a number of pastors served the church, Roland (deceased) and Norma (Steffler) Miller; Victor and some of them only a brief period of time. They are listed in Ruby (Nystrom) Trimmer; Wents and Margaret (Knutson) the order of their service: Blanch Brittan, deceased; 0. W. Hanson; Julio and Margaret (Goldal) Dominguez; Doug and Johnson, Albert City, Iowa; Clarence H. Jensen, Alexandria Marilyn (Anderson) Andrik; and Brian and Wilma Minnesota, deceased; Lewis Rynning, Los Angeles, (Bratvold) Anderson. In the summer of 1972 and right after California, deceased; Mack LaMarr, Nebraska; J. R. his graduation from Bible college, Brian participated in an Buckley, deceased; Fred Gottwald, Iowa; Lawrence evangelism effort in Germany during the Olympics. Then Anderson, Concord, California; M. W. Roll, Englewood, there is Raymond and Mae (Steffler) Carlson. Raymond is Colorado; J. J. Selness, deceased; H. M. Barfoot, Glendora, presently serving as the Assistant General Superintendent of California; Frank Lummer, California; R. L. Stuck, the Assemblies of God in Springfield, Missouri. From the California; A. C. Steen, Burley, Idaho; H. T. Waggoner, early beginnings, the message was taken to several cities deceased; Edward Kidroske, Lodi, California; John and communities through the efforts of the converts of Andreasen, Chicago, Illinois; Peter Walker, deceased; R. M. Blanch Brittan. McCallum, Garrison, N.D.; Leslie King, Lawrence, Kansas; On July 16,17, and 18 of 1971, the church celebrated its 45th Clarence Brotzman, Garrison, N.D.; Clifford Scheline, anniversary at which time former pastors, members and Dubois, Wyoming; and the present pastor, Paul Anderson, friends came together for a time of fellowship and renewal of who is faithfully serving the church. acquaintances. There were two charter members present, In 1929 the present church building was erected with Arne namely, Erick Anderson, Los Angeles, California, now Berget of Crosby as the contractor. deceased, and Mrs. Velma Marcy, Crosby, N.D. Both In January 1936 the first parsonage was purchased from missionary families were present as well. Otto Burgess of Ambrose and was moved from Ambrose to A tent was obtained and pitched directly behind the church Crosby by Glen Beatty of Noonan and was placed directly and the evening services were held there in commemoration behind the church. During the latter part of 1942 it was sold to of the first tent that was destroyed by fire. This tent was filled Henry Blackstad and moved away from the church property. to capacity every evening. Former members and friends The present parsonage was then purchased from Allen came from California, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Person of Crosby and is located at 602 South Main Street. Washington, and North Dakota. Since then both church and parsonage have been remodeled In 1971 the church received a bequest from the late Frank several times. Kirchhofer. This is and has been used primarily to make One of the marks of the church is its strong missionary necessary remodeling changes in both church and emphasis through the years which is reflected by not only parsonage. financial support, but by those who became missionaries. The four main themes of the doctrine of the Assemblies of Those serving as foreign missionaries are Orville and God Church organization is as follows: (1) Salvation, through Yvonne Carlson who are in Fiji and Gary and Avaneil the Born Again Experience, as recorded in John 3:3-5; (2) (Anderson) Carlson who are in South Africa. Baptism of Holy Spirit, as recorded in Acts 2:4; Divine Others who became pastors, assistant pastors, gospel healing, as recorded in James 5:14-15; (4) Second Coming of workers and teen challenge workers are August A. Anderson, Christ, as recorded in I Corinthians 15:51-52. First Presbyterian Church The unofficial beginning of the First Presbyterian Church (1904-05). The first services were held in a tar-papered shack, of Crosby was with services held in "Old Crosby" in 1904, and later, for a time, in the pool hall. with Rev. Samuel Blacker ministering to the little flock The present church building was built in 1908, during the -22 - pastorate of Rev. Joseph Gaston. Mr. R. R. Herring city. A great deal of history of the early beginnings was contributed the carpenter work, and Rev. Gaston shingled incorporated in this book, and that involved a great deal of the roof himself. (Evidently he did a good job, as it lasted searching through what old records were available. Many of until 1947—38 years—when it was reshingled. those records were lost, and invaluable assistance was rendered by "old timers," who are at this time (1979) nearly all gone, in recalling information which augmented what records were available. Among those to whom the church is indebted were: Mr. A. L. Truax (now deceased) who was Clerk of Session 1910-15, Mr. 0. Wooldrey (now deceased) who was Clerk of Session from 1926-61, Mrs. Perry, who was president of the ladies aid for 13 years, Mrs. W. B. Hanmer who was treasurer of the womens work for 35 years, and Mrs. O. Woolfrey who was church organist for 40 years. A new Manse was built in 1954. To raise the money for that project, a drive for funds was organized, sparked by a large donation from A. Ingwalson, and ear-marked for that purpose. A small congregation in a small town usually has more or less of a financial struggle, and this church was no exception. A big "lift" came to our congregation in 1972 when it received a most generous bequest from the will of Frank Kirchhofer. Presbyterian Church crowd at Frazier Hall, Mrs. Ed It was intended for building repairs or alterations, and was Johnson, Mrs. Bissonette, Mrs. E. R. Fry, Gladys Miller, soused. (later Mrs. Ted Buck) L. Wall Children, Mrs. Andy Hay, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. McCormick, Miss Redlin, Maybelle Johnson. A set of carillon bells was given us by the Ingwalson family in memory of their father (A. Ingwalson). He died in 1975. The church was officially organized in 1910. Rev. R. M. In the mid-seventies we were without a pastor and our McDonald was the pastor at that time. The first Manse was financial situation made it impossible to call another. After also built that year by Guy Grove, townsite agent, who also some alternatives we were able to secure the services of Rev. built several of the town structures, including the old Allen Don. Doerzbacher. He is a Lutheran minister and was Hotel. Rev. McDonald himself dug the cistern and finished it. serving two rural Congregations, "Peace" and "Glenwood". (No city water-works then.) The basement of the manse was They have also become small congregations with financial walled up and finished in 1914, under the pastorate of Rev. problems, so an ecumenical Parish was organized including Hofacre—funds provided by the ladies aid. the three churches. This was a sort of trial period for a while, An addition to the west end of the church, an enlargement made official later, and the arrangement was re-affirmed at of the Chancel was done during the pastorate of Rev. Daniel the beginning of this (1979) year when Rev. Doerzbacher K.Ford (1926-31) in 1927. accepted a call elsewhere. Considerable alterations and improvements were made in the manse in 1944 by the ladies aid—no pastor at that time. Mrs. S. I. Allen was president. This was done in preparation for the coming of Rev. Thos. Adam in October of that year. (1944-50). During his pastorate the interior of the sanctuary was redecorated and the basement was refinished in knotty pine. In 1949 a new Hammond organ was purchased for the church. In 1950 during the interval between pastors, the ladies aid decided to have a "year-book" printed. This was done when Mrs. C. L. Andrist was "aid" president. This was financed by selling ads to local business and professional people of the

Our church could not have survived these 75 years without the selfless service of a host of dedicated people who kept the different departments of the church going, so there is not space here to name names. Our Church has never been "just a Presbyterian church", but has provided a church home for people of several other protestant denominations not represented here, and this church has in turn been enriched by their joining our fellowship.

-23 - 37 Years of Medical Services By Or. CO. McPhail while still taking care of his busy practice at New Town. He The McPhails came to USA from Canada in 1938. When we traveled over a hundred miles six days a week to do this. He arrived in Crosby in March of 1942 we were a family of three. soon earned the love and confidence of the community. It was (The McPhail family increased to 6 children over the years). only after it became apparent that the medical needs of the St. Luke's Hospital had just been renovated and reopened. community were satisfied did he decide to end the There were quite a few physicians in the area during those arrangement. He is missed and we are grateful to him. depression days. For instance there were six in Burke County A board consisting of concerned people was set up in the and four in Divide. Dr. George Moffatt and Dr. Rainville area in the late sixties. Its function was to attract medical were here in Crosby. Dr. Smith was in Noonan and Dr. Weeks men to help and ultimately take over from we older men. In was in Ambrose. 1975 the need became acute. The board elected to contract My first office was over the Penney Store, in the Ingwalson with Health Systems Research Institute who would take over block, where most of the other professional men were also the management of the clinic and procure needed physicians. located. By 1945 much had happened. Dr. Rainville died. Dr. The doctors would now be working for salaries. This was a Smith left Noonan to relocate in Minot. Dr. Moffat was new concept at the time but may be the solution for smaller joined by a young man, Dr. Porter, and shortly after that communities for the years to come. moved to the west coast. All the doctors in Burke County had Through HSRI Dr. Pattison, Dr. Chase, Dr. Villano and Dr. moved away with the exception of Dr. Goodman at Powers Osborne were each here for short periods until a more Lake. Dr. Porter went on vacation in the summer of 1945 and permanent arrangement was concluded with Dr. Decter and just never came back. Suddenly I was the only physician Dr. Stoll. These two young men are presently providing most between Kenmare and Plentywood. of the medical care in Crosby especially since Dr. Fennell This intolerable condition continued until 1946 when we decided to "hang it up" in 1977 and I have been working only were able to persuade Dr. Duane Pile to leave Washburn. half time since 1976. N.D., and form a partnership. This was to last until 1961 when The long association with the Sisters and other members of he left for California to satisfy a promise he had made to the staff of St. Luke's and with the gang at the clinic has been himself since graduating from medical school. personally very satisfying and rewarding. 1965 was a Dr. Pile and his family were well loved, respected assets to particularly proud year as we watched the construction of a the community. It was during the time we were together that new modern St. Luke's Hospital replace the old. he and I entered into an association with Dr. Woolfrey, Dr. The friends we have known and loved through these many Riley and Dr. Allen to plan and construct the building now years have made it all worth while. known as the Crosby Clinic. Dr. Loren Fennell joined with us in 1955. His experience and training added more depth to our surgical skills. Dr. W. L. Fennell, M. D. When Dr. Pile left in 1961, Dr. Fennell and I managed as Dr. W. L. Fennell was born Septmeber 28,1908 at Canora, best we could but were looking for help. Dr. Jun came in 1964, Saskatchewan and attended school there until 1923. He and left in 1966 to complete his surgical residency. Dr. Hilio attended the University of Manitoba and graduated in 1929 was here from 1966 to 1969. Dr. Herbert Wilson of New Town with honors and 4 scholarships. He graduated in 1934 from came to our rescue in 1971. He gave us almost half of his time the University of Manitoba Medical School receiving 4

Dr. Terry Stoll, Dr. W. L. Fennell, Dr. C. O. McPhail, and Dr. Ross M. Decter. -24 medals and 4 scholarships. He received surgical training in where he was graduated in 1952 with a B.S. and D.D.S. England from 1935 through 1938. degrees. Since then he has practiced dentistry in the Crosby He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1938 and attended Clinic. Royal Military Medical College in London and won the In Crosby he has been active in musical circles for 25 Herbert Prize in Tropical Medicine and Sir Joseph Farer years—directing the First Presbyterian Church Choir, medal in Pathology. He served in India until 1947 rising to the during which time many concerts and cantatas were rank of Colonel. He acted as staff captain and deputy performed. He also serves as assistant church organist. A assistant director of medical services. His field service member of Crosby Kiwanis Club, he has produced many included commanding 41st Field Hospital with 14th Indian Kiwanis Kapers variety shows and numerous Kiwanis Division — Bengal into Burma. He was commandant of No. 3 singing groups. Training Centre Indian Army Medical Corps, as well as surg­ In 1971 he organized the Northwest Chorus and Orchestra, ical specialist at Poona, Harachi, Ferozepore and Silkot. Dr. a community musical organization which has grown to a Fennell was granted the Order of British Empire in the Kings membership ot 200. Members include people from New Years Honors list in 1945. neighboring communities, both American and Canadian. At Returning to Canada he practiced at Winnipeg for one the present time, he serves as executive secretary and year, then went to McGill University, Montreal. He obtained conductor. In 1976 he organized the Bicentennial Chorus in his Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons in 1949 and was the "Spirit of America" concerts. granted the Fellowship of the International College of Professionally, Woolfrey is a member of the Northwest Surgeons in 1950. District Dental Society, the North Dakota and American He migrated to Cooperstown and practiced there for five Dental Associations, The American Society of Dentistry for years before moving to Crosby in 1955 and he practiced here Children, and number of others. He is a member of the until his retirement in 1979. American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Fennell is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, He served three years in the U.S. Navy, mostly in the International College of Surgeons, American, North Dakota Philippine Theatre of operation, during World War II. He is and District Medical Societies, Academy of Family an amateur artist who has exhibited works in water color and Physicians and the Kiwanis Club. oil, and he has a hobby of theatrical makeup, in which he His family consists of his son, Bill, who resides in assists the Cameo Players, school drama groups, and many Rochester, Minnesota and 3 grandchildren. His wife passed others. away in 1976. He is an ordained elder of First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Fennell has many hobbies such as, curling, painting, carpentry, sewing, motorcycling, and assisting with community programs such as Kiwanis Kapers. Dr. S. I. Allen, Optometrist

Harold J. Woolfrey, D. D. S. Dr. Spencer I. Allen was born at Cooperstown May 23, 1905. He graduated from Cooperstown High School and Dr. Harold J. Woolfrey, the producer and director of "Show worked in the local post office for two years before pursuing Boat," attended the University of North Dakota, where he optometry. took his pre-dentistry and also studied piano and organ. He He graduated from Northern Illinois College of Optometry received his dental training at the University of Minnesota, in January of 1930. Six months later he came to Crosby with his bride, Dorothy Seldal, whom he married in Cooperstown, May of 1929. He practiced at Crosby 47 years before retiring in 1977. They had three children, John Spencer, who lost his life at Pensacola, Florida, in 1957 where he was in Naval Pilot School, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine. What brought them to Crosby? "They were looking for an optometrist," he says simply. "The jeweler was looking for someone to come in his building. I came up and checked it over, and it was a good little town, about like Cooperstown." His wife is quick to add, "Of course he heard the hunting was good here." So he opened his first office above the M. J. Werges Jewelry Store (now Andy's Mens Store). He had been there about a year when George Homnes, a lawyer proposed joint rental of the bank building now occupied by Northwestern Federal Savings. The bank had closed shortly before. A few years of tenancy in that building ended when it was sold, and Allen then moved his office to quarters above the J.C. Penney store. There it stayed until he and the doctors and dentists in town built the Crosby Clinic in 1954. It took time to build up his practice, Allen says, but the market was pretty good from the start. The only other optometrist serving the area was a man from Kenmare who Dr. and Mrs. Harold Woolfrey came through. "After I got well established he quit coming -25 out here. I don't know if that was the reason or if he just got Staying in Crosby 47 years wasn't the Aliens' original too old." intention. We were only going to stay for ten years, then go to So Allen's services were in demand. Recalls Dorothy, greener pastures," explains Dorothy. "But we found they "That was in the good old days when we had two trains a day were wonderful people here, and after you start raising a here. We had a lot of business from Montana." To the west family you kind of fit in. We still don't want to leave." there were no optometrists in the towns along the rail line, so people came here from places like Plentywood, Scobey, Westby and Outlook. They could ride in, have their eyes examined and catch the train for home the same day. "So you see we had a few breaks in those times," in the drouth and depression of the 1930's, Allen says. "There was always somebody that had a little money." But there were a lot who didn't have any. Many of them paid their bills in kind—with cream, chickens, meat, produce. The Aliens remember one lady who wanted to pay Crosby Clinic with a quarter of beef. They had no way of storing it, so she Until 1954, the practice of medicine, dentistry and canned it and insisted that they accept 54 jars worth. optometry in Crosby had been confined mostly to offices Back in those Depression days people weren't nearly so located upstairs in the Ingwalson Building which houses the J.C. Penney Co. In April of 1954, however, all medical, dental, and optical facilities were moved into the new clinic binding. All of the doctors involved had been feeling the need to expand their practices. Further, there was an exceedingly long stairway to climb. This made it sometimes very difficult for patients, particularly elderly or handicapped. The decision therefore to build a new clinic building was made in 1953. In recent years Dr. D. F. Pile had joined Dr. C. 0. McPhail in the practice of medicine. In 1952 Dr. H. J. Woolfrey had joined Dr. R. J. Riley in the practice of dentistry. These four men together with Dr. S. I. Allen, the optometrist, decided to build their own building. It was completed and occupied in April 1954. A year later, Dr. W. L. Fennell of Cooperstown moved to Crosby with his family. He joined the practice of Drs. McPhail and Pile and subsequently purchased interest in the clinic building. These three doctors continued to practice medicine and surgery until 1961 when Dr. Pile moved to California. At that time his interest in the building was purchased by Drs. McPhail and Fennell. During the next twenty years, several physicians joined the clinic staff, stayed several years and then left for other places. The first of these was Dr. C. S. Jun and he was followed by Dr. D. Hilio. Following Dr. Hilio, Dr. Herbert Wilson of New Town joined the staff in 1972. He divided his practice between Crosby and New Town spending half a day in one place and then returning to the other and spending the rest of the day and evening and thenreturning. In November of 1976, Dr. Ross Decter from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, joined the clinic for the full time practice of medicine and Doc and Dorothy Allen In July of 1977 Dr. Wilson resigned his position and then Dr. Terry Stoll joined the clinic staff. In addition to Drs. McPhail, Fennell, Decter and Stoll, the clinic staff in early conscientious about taking care of their eyes. That was 1979 consisted of Kenneth Unhjem, business manager, Joann especially evident with children: "It used to be a child had to Trulson, receptionist, Wayne Buck, laboratory and x-ray, be almost blind before they'd bring him in," according to Helen Lindsey, Becky Tande and Kay Unhjem, nurses, Dorothy. Dental patients in the clinic were cared for over the years Folks didn't have any more trouble with their eyes then by Dr. R. J. Riley and Dr. H. J. Woolfrey. Although they had than they do now. "But they would let things slide," says their own separate practices they did share office space for Allen. "As long as they could see to find their way down the convenience. In 1973, Dr. Riley retired and moved to Florida. street they were happy. I remember people who came in to At that time Dr. Woolfrey bought out his interest and took get glasses, and I'd wonder how they kept from getting run over his space in the clinic. over." The practice of optometry had been carried on in the clinic It was about 1954, after their three children all had left by Dr'. S. I. Allen. He had been assisted by his wife, Dorothy, home, that Dorothy began working in the office fulltime. He for many years, and also by Mrs. Judy Fagerland. In the confides, "She took over willingly because she said, 'You summer of 1977, Dr. Allen retired. His interest in the clinic never send out a statement.'" was then purchased by Dr. Woolfrey. -26- After purchasing Dr. Allen's office space, Dr. Woolfrey's For four years the Sisters from Sacred Heart Priory, dental office was remodeled to join the office space used for Garrison, N.D., operated St. Joseph's Home for the Aged. optometry with the existing dental office. Dr. Woolfrey's As the need for hospital facilities continued to grow, the staff now consists of Marilee Nelson, executive assistant, community leaders in 1941 went to the Sisters, asking them to Diane Osvold, therapy, Miriam Lindsey, laboratory, Vickie Knabe, operative assistant, and Diane Fleck, dental convert the Home to a hospital. The community raised $5,282 hygenist, and Evelyn Woolfrey, bookkeeper. for a conversion project that was completed in 1942 at a total The clinic building and grounds have been cared for cost of $17,144. throughout the years by Engberg Janitorial Service. At the time of converting from a home into a hospital, the name was changed from St. Joseph's to St. Luke's Hospital. St. Luke's Hospital is an active member of the following organizations: Catholic Hospital Association of the United States and Canada, American Hospital Association, North Dakota Hospital Association and the North Dakota Blue Cross. St. Luke's Hospital Dr. Blake Lancaster is the man who brought "hospital" medicine to the Crosby community, building the old hospital and operating it between 1915 and 1917—after operating a smaller hospital on the site of the new St. Patrick's Church for a number of years. Sometime about 1919, however, the structure was to Benedictine Sisters become an apartment complex operated by Allen Person. The Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Priory of The Benedictine Sisters from Garrison at that time, Richardton, N.D., are deserving of the grandest plaudits of purchased the land and building in 1938 for $51,688, all when it comes to accounting for the tradition of fine health converting it to a nursing home and calling it St. Joseph's care that has grown up around St. Luke's. Home for the Aged.

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St. Luke's Hospital On a cool rainy day, May 1,1938, Sister Benedict Boehler, Sr. Armella Weisbeck and Sr. Josepha Goldade arrived on the late Great Northern train. The first night they were guests of Father Joseph Poettgens, the local pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Soon Sr. Benedict returned to Garrison, and Sr. Imelda Aberle joined the other two Sisters in cleaning the building. After weeks of washing, scrubbing, polishing and scraping, the doors opened in June to admit the first resident, Mrs. Hagerty, a retired school teacher from Alexander, N. D. The residents gradually came and by Christmas time the Sisters were taking care of about 10 men and women. The Sisters tell us that the first winter the furnace broke down, so that they had to get stoves with chimneys set up in the halls and rooms to keep everyone warm. There were no modern conveniences in those days. During the year of 1940 and 41, Dr. Moffatt delivered several of his maternity cases in the Home. Sr. Josepha had gone to Sacred Heart Hospital, in Yankton, S. D., to learn enough to assist Dr. Moffatt with his deliveries. Sister Juliana

-27 The Sisters bought the old hospital building in 1938 and These ladies are an invaluable asset to the strength and have staffed the operation of the hospital ever since, with the well being of the hospital. Its members have contributed help of other personnel. thousands of voluntary hours of service, besides the many The Sisters obliged the community and opened the doors of thousands of dollars donated from their bazaars, sales, gift St. Luke's Hospital on February 11,1942. This facility served case, etc to furnish life saving equipment in the operating the community until 1965, at which time the present hospital room, laboratory, patients rooms, etc. was completed and occupied. The organization is a member not only of the North Dakota John Andrist, publisher of The Journal, summed it up state association, but also of the National Auxiliary. It nicely a few years later in an editorial column he calls "John- welcomes any ladies to join in their work. a-Dreams." The hospital employees group has and still is sponsoring "One of our really good points," he said of Crosby, "has students (nursing) who return to work in our hospital. been our medical services . . . and it is easy to take those things for granted, which have caused us a great amount of work and personal sacrifice. "Many of us live and breathe today because the Good Samaritan Center Benedictine Sisters have kept their 24-hour vigil over the sick, every day, every week for more than two decades." The land that the Crosby Good Samaritan Center is located About two years later, in preparation for the building of the was first cultivated in 1905 by Knut Odegard. The land was new hospital, Mr. Andrist went on to comment: patented to Knut O. Odegard in August, 1907. The land was "Bid opening day came in the spring of 1964, and it was a kept in the Odegard name until it was purchased by Frank black day. Estimates had risen well above the original Kirchhofer in January 1948. In 1967 five acres were given to $500,000 mark, and the bids were even higher than the the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. However estimates. it was not deeded to the Society until April 1971. "The Sisters swallowed hard, said a little prayer, and The Crosby Good Samaritan Center opened its doors on ordered the work to begin." November 1, 1968. Henry Saterle was the first person Faith, prayer, determination and hard work proved to be admitted to the center. The facility was constructed to house an effective combination. The dedication and opening 51 basic care residents. The original building had twenty-four ceremony of the beautiful new St. Luke's Hospital was held a double rooms and three private rooms. Mr. Clarence Blake little more than a year later. On July 28, 1965, 1200 people was the first administrator. turned out under blue sunny skies to welcome and The center wasn't open very long before the community commemorate the new structure that so many had sacrificed felt a need to expand. It was also apparent that the so much to attain. community needed more than a facility to take care of basic The cost of the new facility at that time was $818,259.80. The care residents. Sisters paid $325,680.80 of the total. The federal government In 1971 the first addition was completed. The addition through a Hill-Burton grant: $357,579 and the community included ten double rooms and ten single rooms. Also contributed $135,000. included in the addition were an activity area and laundry facilities, plus a chapel. Some of the original Sisters who were here at the time St. Luke's Hospital opened its doors in 1942 are still quite active. When the addition was completed, the level of care was Sr. Rose Schafer is in charge of the health care of the Sisters changed from basic care to intermediate care. This allowed at Sacred Heart Priory, Richardton; Sr. Josepha is in charge of the linens at St. Vincent's Nursing Home; Sr. Armella is head of the housekeeping department, and Sr. Monica is nursing director, both at St. Vincent's, Bismarck. Sr. Juliana Schwab heads up the staff as St. Luke's Hospital administrator and her years here go back to the earliest days of this hospital and her own nursing career. Sr. Benigna Weisbeck is in charge of payroll and also works in x- ray and housekeeping. Sr. Janeane Klein works in laboratory and x-ray; Sr. Hermina Soukup does Medicare Insurance.

St. Luke's Hospital Ladies Auxiliary St. Luke's Hospital ladies auxiliary was organized the same year that St. Joseph's Home for the Aged was converted into St. Luke's Hospital. The ladies elected the following as officers: president, Mrs. T. Lorenz; vice- president, Mrs. Chatham; treasurer, Mrs. McNeal; secretary, Mrs. Power. Some of the original officers and members are still quite active in this auxiliary, namely: Marie Jacobson, Anna Phelps, Lela Andrist, Mrs. John H. Jacobson, Helen Miller, Mrs. Kathryn Hanmer, Inga Dahl, Marlyn Tande, administrator and Mrs. Myron Wallin. 28 the facility to take care of people that needed more care. By changing to intermediate care, the state and federal regulations also increased. The facility had to increase the nursing staff as well as to staff the activity department. Mr. William Schultz replaced Mr. Clarence Blake as administrator in the fall of 1971. Mr. Schultz had the task of changing the facility to meet state and federal regulations as an intermediate care facility. The physical plant didn't need much change, however, staffing patterns and policies had to be changed. During the first two years of operation, the facility was staffed with fifteen to twenty employees. In 1978 there were forty-eight regular and part time employees. Mr. Marlyn Tande replaced Mr. William Schultz as administrator in May 1975 and continues in that capacity at the present time.

Good Samaritan Motto: "In Christ's Love, everyone is someone."

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Good Samartian Center, Crosby, North Dakota -29- United States Post Office Crosby, North Dakota 58730 Myron Wallin was named Postmaster on July 1,1957 after In February, 1973, Orris Olson passed away from a heart the retirement of Herman Emanuel. During the term of his attack. office he made preliminary contacts with Mrs. Ross Rivers On June 16,1978, Chester Cowee retired as Postmaster. (Vivian Muskin) for the new Post Office location. June, 1960, bid were let for a new brick and block, 2390 square ft. i suilding, with completion to be December, 1960. William Durick of Columbus, North Dakota is the building owner and leases it to the Post Office Department. Myron I II • I I served as Post Master for four years. On July 21, 1961, Chester Cowee was installed as acting Post Master, replacing Myron Wallin. At that time the full time clerks were Gilbert Borgan and Robert Olesen. Orris Olson was a part time clerk. John Tweten and Richard Truax were the rural carriers. mm vH""

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Crosby's present city postoffice

-30- Divide County Public Library It was in 1912 that the Crosby Library was founded under The library was growing and the need for more space was the leadership of Mrs. Guy Grove. She was a member of the felt. In 1957 the Library Board purchased the Moose Lodge Dames of the Round Table and enlisted their help along with building for $10,000. The move was made that fall to 1051st St. the Fortnightly Study Club. The first Library Board was Mrs. NE. The library basement was used by a variety of offices, A. L. Truax, Mrs. Emma Cudhie, Miss Dora Wolford, Mrs. County Agent and Farmer's Home Adm. were there while the Blake Lancaster, Mrs. Guy Grove, Mrs. C. J. Clark and Mrs. court house basement was renovated, grade 6 was there H. T. Willoughby was treasurer. In 1913, the first building while the elementary building was cleaned after the fire in was erected (16x20') at a cost of $283.90 plus inside painting. 1971. The Senior Citizens used it until their new building was This was located at the north end of Main Street in what is built. In 1961 the museum was reactivated and housed there. now the court house square. In 1918, due to the war volunteers Mrs. Egel Lokken was the first curator followed by Mrs. could not be found to staff the library so the books were Agnes Berg. In 1967 the Library Board urged the community turned over to the Crosby High School for a period of one to establish a Historical Society to operated the museum.In year, which stretched into eleven years. 1970 the museum was moved to Pioneer Village. In 1929 the Divide County Library and Museum Association The year 1961 brought a bookmobile to Divide and Burke was formed. George P. Homnes was elected president, a Counties. This was a demonstration from the State Library position he held for 25 years; Mrs. L. R. Murray, vice- and continued for a year and a half when it was voted down president; J. H. Phelps, secretary; S. B. Brevig, treasurer. by Burke County. The Divide County Library was the The sum of $200 was turned over from the former Crosby headquarters. Library. The library was housed in the west end of the court house basement and the county furnished the heat, light and space. Memberships were sold for $1.00 to meet other expenses. The first librarian was Mrs. L. R. Murray. The library was growing and needed larger quarters so in 1937 it was moved to the basement of the Community Hall which was also nearer the school. The museum was discontinued over the years as the library needed the space, by 1957 it was gone. The J. H. Phelps Memorial was established in 1943 by the homemakers and a sizeable sum was turned over for the purchase of books. The eyes of North Dakota were on Divide County in the election of 1946 when the county was the first to vote on a tax levy for a library. The slogan was "As Divide County goes, so goes the state." The vote was favorable and Divide County became the first county to have a tax-supported library. They were about 17 years ahead since their library had been operating since 1929. J. H. Heckman, Alkabo, legislator from Divide County and Attorney George P. Homnes wrote the bill The New County Library which was passed into law. A filmstrip library was established in 1951 for the use of the Fifty years of library service in Crosby was celebrated in schools. This has grown to 1715 filmstrips and four projectors 1962. today. In 1965 a station was begun at Fortuna and books were exchanged periodically. This was housed in an old bookmobile given us by the State Library Commission. In 1967 a room in the school was provided and the bookmobile was moved to Noonan where it was used until 1975 when a room in the school was opened for the combined library. The bookmobile was then sold. The library was the recipient of a bequest of $50,000 from the late Frank Kirchhofer in 1970. One-fourth of this was shared with the Historical Society. In 1971 the board decided to enlarge the present building. Plans were drawn by architects but before work was begun the Crosby High School burned. The school board approached the library board and suggested the two build a combined library. A committee was appointed to study this and a survey team from UND came out to study it also. It was finally decided this was the direction to go. Again the Divide County Library was to be a "first" in the state as no one had planned, constructed and operated a public and school library combination. The library paid just over $30,000 as their share of the building. The building was completed in March of 1974 and the move to brand new quarters made. The old building was sold to John The Old County Library Nygaard Jr. and he made 3 apartments in it. -31 - A scholarship was established in 1977, which is available to school library; 1975—combined branches with school any Divide County student at a state college who completes a libraries; 1977— first public library in the state to offer a course related to libraries or reading. They can be in any scholarship. field of study for their major. The present Library Board members are: Mrs. Jalmer The combined library has in 1979 over 32,400 books, 654 Fagerland, president; Mrs. Joe Verlinde, Secretary; Archie records and many services are offered to the public. Thomte, commissioner representative; Marvin Nelson and The Divide County Library has several firsts to its credit: Douglas Graupe. Mrs. Ruth Ralph is the librarian. A plaque 1929—established the first countv library in the state; 1967 4 in the entry to the library lists all the board members and 1974—planned, built and operated a library combined with a librarians of the County Library.

Crosby Public School History The Early Years: 1904-1919 By 1914, a three story solid brick building was completed Records first document school in the Crosby area as being just north of the 1909 wood structure. It was a modern facility held in a tarpaper shack in Fillmore Township which is part for that decade. A new superintendent was selected for the of the area where Crosby is now located. A few years later, in second year of it's operation, 1915-16. He was N. Mitchell who 1906, it became known as Holmes School located less than a also had a new principal known as R. S. Sides. mile from the present townsite and Madge Murphy was the The next year, however, V. F. Goddard became teacher. superintendent and Herman Cooper became the new School was held during the winter months only and in 1907, principal. The curriculum for the Crosby High School had a this shack was moved to the present site still known as the required offering along with German, homemaking and Crosby School block, one block east of Main Street. general trades such as blacksmithing, mechanics and The lower grades held their classes in that shack that fall, general shop practices. while the upper grades attended school in the old O'Loughlin The 1919 high school enrollment was made up of ten boys building which still exists in this year of the 75th Anniversary and twenty-two girls. That year a tractor school was held for of the city of Crosby. It is the building adjacent to the the area farmers during the winter months and extension Penneys Store on Main Street. training began for farmers as Superintendent Goddard and One year later, Wm. A. McCuen became Crosby's first Instructor Aney were appointed area adult extension faculty superintendent and J. H. Phelps was the first principal for of the Wahpeton School of Science. the 1908-09 school term. The enrollment was approximately fifty students in the upper grades and no records exist as to how many were in the lower grades. Crosby High Roared in the Twenties A square wooden building was begun in 1907 and completed Crosby High School received it's first federal grant in 1920. in the year of 1910. It was a two story structure with four It was to strengthen its vocational training department and classrooms. The same year, Miss Theresa O'Reilly was amounted to $1,655. When school opened that fall, the Chicago appointed superintendent for the 1910-11 term. Others on the office for the national accrediting agency listed Crosby High teaching staff were the future wives of Jim Buck and Jim on the accredited list. Graduates no longer had to take an Burns, along with Sadie Leahy. entrance examination to attend college. Miss Alice Daleyeas, the superintendent's niece joined the Football started in the fall of 1921 when Mohall beat Crosby faculty a year later as principal along with other teachers 13-0 in the first gridiron game the Maroons played. A new such as Agnes Mullen, Loretta Mullen, Clara Pearson and gym was completed that winter at a cost of $1,900. High Alfred Brekke. School students worked shifts along with adults to finish Carl Gilbertson took the superintendent's position for the construction and they did the entire job of painting so it would 1912-1913 school term. Records are not clear which teachers be ready for a Christmas program. Basketball started after left the system, but the following were listed as new the holiday season of the 1921-22 school year. The class of 1922 teachers; Alice Daley and Edna Bilstad for 1913-14, a Miss was the first to graduate in that gym. Daugherty and Vera Murray for 1914-15. Also during that winter, a 10-week industrial course for farmers was held and more boys were enrolling in school so additional courses of vulcanizing and tinsmithing were added to the high school curriculum. During the same year, the 1907 wooden structure was converted into offices for the Red Cross, Farm Security, Welfare and sewing room. It was later remodeled into five apartments and was rented to faculty members until 1967 when it was torn down. The Crosby High School came to full maturity in the twenties. It had its largest enrollment in history. Glee clubs, sports, debate teams, typing and spelling contests all developed as part of the school year along with year books and the school paper. A new building was erected in 1928 for the high school and •mm*mtSSmm* • •—. upper grade pupils. This large impressive three story Pictured here is the old grade school and the even older structure with a large gym cost $125,000. The lower grades grade school, which is better remembered as a teacherage. were retained in the 1914 building. -32 - In 1927 the Crosby school enrollment was 600. At the time of was the main office for administrating this multi-school this writing, 1979 the enrollment is 390. Like the rest of North district. Dakota, Crosby had its largest number of school pupils Crosby High School became a Class A school district for enrolled in the early 1920's. sports and other contests and was placed in the same league as Minot and Williston. The school bus system became a complicated network of interlocking routes to serve the rural area. It was one of the largest in terms of miles for the state of North Dakota. Many country schools closed and promotion for a new high school building in Crosby started controversy and several bonding elections failed to pass. Warren Borchert became the superintendent during the summer of 1966. The old wood structure was cleared away in 1967. In 1968, the main building was completely remodeled with new windows, new heating network and the old study hall had a new face with offices for the new guidance counselor and librarian. That year Noonan High School seniors came over for a period of classes in the afternoon. The bond issue for a new high school passed in 1969 and the construction began. The district now consisted of four Crosby high school, a landmark for 40 years prior to 1970 elementary schools at Ambrose, Crosby, Fortuna, and Noonan, along with two high schools at Crosby and Noonan. Years of Stability: 1930 through 1950's Superintendent Bartruff took over the administration the later part of the twenties until the mid-thirties when ME. Michaelson took the position until 1943 when Superintendent L. J. Totdahl held the position until 1953 when O. A. Sather held it for one year. Then Edwin S. Johnson became superintendent until 1960. An elementary addition was built in 1956. It faced east and connected the 1928 main structure and cost $250,000. The 1914 structure was then converted into a junior high and the basement used for the vocational agriculture department. Crosby High School system seemed to remain a stable public school institution during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. The Border League basketball tournaments were considered a tradition and held mostly in Crosby. The 1938 Crosby basketball team made it to the state tournament at Elementary school addition built in 1956. Bismarck. The school paper, The Echo later the Crosby Hi Review, In July 1971, when the new $1,402,000 facility was about continued on through this period. It started in 1921 and was completed, Ronald Stammen became the new terminated sometime in the 1960s. superintendent. The 1928 building, "Old Main," which was The large stage across from the gymnasium not only held intended to be made into a junior high was destroyed by fire many class plays, graduations, and concerts, but served as in August of 1971—the last function held was the reunion of the community facilities for large functions, and pageants. 1904 to 1929 graduates, the grade school pupils were put back The large study hall on the third floor not only served as a into the 1956 structure which survived. Junior high students place to go when not in class, but as an assembly for all high were placed in the new facility called the Divide County High school and a place where over 42 graduating classes would School. have lasting memories. In the 1973-74 school term the new addition costing During these years Crosby maintained a traditional approximately $880,000 was completed. It was built onto the membership in the Northwest Conference along with other 1956 addition and made a complex for the gymnasium, six communities such as Mohall and Kenmare. Being one of the classrooms for junior high pupils, a combined library and largest schools in the corner of the northwestern part of district office and storage. North Dakota, it was also a center for area school meetings, It was the first library to be combined with a county wide contests, and events. system from the planning stage through the construction stage. It's planetarium was also the first in a North Dakota A County-Wide System: 1960s and 1970s elementary or secondary school. The full replacement The year of 1960 was the year when the superintendents insurance policy of $1,200,000 was also a first in the state. and school board members, along with many citizens Additions to the shop at Divide County High, a storage room became deeply involved in a massive reorganization effort for Noonan School, and all-purpose room for Fortuna School for the schools. At the end of that year, the people voted in and books and equipment for all schools were built or favor of a large county wide school district organization. purchased with this insurance money. Consolidation took place rapidly. Administrators who had The school system enrollment declined at a rapid pace in promoted and organized the concept all left and A. C. the mid-1970s. The district wide enrollment of 980 in 1970 was Hendrickson was employed to be the new superintendent to down to 515 by 1979. This changed the school program and make this consolidation work. It was called the Divide operation as the staff was reduced from 66 in 1970 to 43 in County School District Number 1 and Crosby High School 1979. -33 - Two years after the Noonan High Miners girls basketball under a federal program known as Title IESEA, which was team made it to the state tournament, the Divide County first initiated in the district in 1965. High Maroons girls took the 1977 Girls State Basketball Warren Larson succeeded Redlin in the Crosby Championship. They had ended with an undefeated season Elementary and district wide elementary principalship. with twenty-five straight victories. The boys had beat them Both had master degrees and the Elementary Credential to state championship honors, however, when the spring which qualified the district to become Level II accredited before they won the 1977 State Sand Green Golf during the decade of the seventies. Championship. Roger Slotsve was the Divide County High School principal In 1974, the school vocational agriculture department from 1968 through the 1972-73 school term. He too was the added a third instructor to conduct a three-year veterans first master degree secondary principal with credentials vocational agriculture training program. Thirty-three which also were a required to attain this accreditation level farmers took this course on a year around basis. After it in the year of 1972-73. concluded, they signed up for another year of farm He was succeeded by Ronald Broeker in the fall of 1973 and management computorized training. Cleve Cowley, the district guidance counselor since 1968 The school district became a cooperative program with the became the principal inn the summer of 1976. Columbus School District in 1977. They sent juniors and When Divide County High changed back to Class B for seniors over to Crosby each afternoon to take vocational sport competition in the 1972-73 school year, the gym became education courses. Noonan seniors and juniors who had the place for the district boys tournament. The auditorium in begun traveling to Crosby in 1968, now started attending two this school was built with proceeds from arynheritanee given periods instead of one. By 1979 all high school students at by Frank Kirchhofer and since 1971 it was used as a center Noonan were taking courses in the Divide County High for a variety of community activities and meetings. Cooperative Vocational Education program. The seventies was the decade when three large reunions People who had served the Crosby School System for many were held in Crosby in addition to the annual ten year class years began to retire in the 1970s. Ida Romsos was given a reunions usually held in July. The three large reunions were special honor as she had served all her 43 years of her the classes from the beginning through 1929, then in 1974 for education career in Divide County. the classes from 1930 through 1949, and then the city 75th Others who had served many years until retirement were reunion held this year. George and Vi Larson, Anne Hewitt, Olga Tysse, Vernita The school takes pride in being a part of the community Susag, Mable Fosland, and Paul Baertsch, who had served as and county activities and celebrations in not only being a principal of the Crosby High School in the sixties. facility to accommodate the various needs, but also as a As the seventies concluded, Ernie Brox was the senior resource of people with time and talents to help when called faculty member at Crosby. He had conducted the Crosby upon. One of the best examples of this kind of total band since 1947 and then became elementary music cooperation is the Northwest Choir Association and the instructor and Junior High Band Director in the 1977-78 Cameo players. Both not only use the facilities, enhance school year. youth and adult participation together, but exemplify that The Crosby Elementary School was administered by the school is really a community center and is a reflection of Robert P. Redlin for twelve years until the spring of 1977. He the society it serves. resigned the principalship to become a specialist in teaching

The new Divide County High School built in 1971. -34- Crosby Baseball Team 1947 Martin Brqdy Eugene Wittmayer Orville Ralph Bob Head Clovis Ralph Orris Olson NickVaranisch Ole Sortland Jack Adams Gordon Brady Odin Olson Morris Hysjulien Ed Ralph Jack Brady Frank Grim Donald Brady Leroy Brady Alex Vournas Cal Andrist Guy Head Larry Ralph

Crosby Basketball Team 1937-38 Walter Semingson Roger Imanuel Curtis Jacobson Halle Nordstog Ken Engberg Cliff Tweed Leonard Otheim Howard Thon Ronald Points Wally Anderson Frank Carlson

N. D. State Champions Girls Basketball 1977 Barry Haggin coach Kristi Redlin Rhonda Olin Denise Sandberg Connie Bilstad Annette Walin Lori Windfaldet FRONT: Suzi Kay Bakewell Chandra Torgerson Penney Andrist Debbie Benter Julie Moe Renae Overland -35- Divide Co. Fair Assn. One of the big events in this area is the Divide County Fair which was first held in the 1920's and continued until the depression in the 1930's. Then in the 1940's, Newman Power kept telling members of the Crosby Kiwanis Club "We really ought to have a county fair." Probably tired of hearing it, they appointed Power a committee of one to get a fair going. In 1945 he did just that. The fair began under a chartered corporation, which included 7 board members who were A. U. Anderson, Roy Wigness, Lester Munson, Ole Sletten, Andrew Ingwalson, Treasurer; Vernon Nichols, secretary, and Newman Power, president. The Charter was signed on March 22,1945. Under the corporation a person could join the fair corporation by paying a $5.00 membership fee. To help in the financial aspect of the fair they received a grant of $1800 to help in expenses. In 1950 the county voted on a 1/4 mill levy to help the fair with premium money and fair expenses. In 1972 there was a 3/4 mill levy voted on to help aid the Divide County Fair Association. This mill levy allowed the Divide County Fair to have a free gate.

40's and 50's. They had different categories so everyone could get involved. Now they have switched to car races and demolition derbys. This year, 1979, the fair was still in full swing with many exhibits and events to see. Its board members include: Art Simonson, president; Gary Hanisch, vice president; Leonard Biwer, secretary; Kenny Otheim, treasurer; Emery Olsen, Ivan Erickson, Olaf Nelson and Darlene Hingst. Going back a bit now. Folks who have lived in Divide County a number of years can't help but remember two of the fairs most avid promoters . . . Newman Power and Ray Semingson. After the fair was dropped in his lap by the Crosby Kiwanis Club in the 1940's, Newman remained a most active Divide In 1915 began the construction of two buildings at the County Fair president for 28 years. At that time it was said fairgrounds, the grandstand and the pavillion. The "If you have a toothache you go to a dentist, right? If you grandstand also had a bandstand connected to it which was want a house built you go to a carpenter, right? And if you moved to the Historical Society. In 1958 a roof was put on the want to learn how to put together a successful county fair you grandstand and a stage was built on skids. In 1968 they go to Newman Power." increased the seating to 2,000 at the grandstand. The When Newman turned over the reins the Divide County pavilion was torn down in the early 1970's. This building was Fair had become one of the most successful fairs in the state. mainly used as an exhibit building. In 1954, a new sports Not the biggest, but a 28-year smash hit here in Divide arena was built. This building is now being used for commer­ County. cial, open and 4-H exhibits during the fair. During the winter season ice skaters and curlers use it. The cattle barns which Raymond Semingson became the next president of the are located at the west side of the fairgrounds were built in Divide County Fair board in 1965. Although, Newman had 1952 with additions added in 1954 to help make room for the stepped down as president he continued to work diligently sheep and hog exhibits. The food during the fair is always with his good friend for the betterment of the Divide County served from the American Legion and Bandmothers stands Fair until he retired and moved to Arizona in 1974. which were built in the early 1950's. Ray was a legend in himself and with his wide smile and One of the big landmarks of the Divide County Fair is the big booming voice, he just seemed to generate excitement in main entrance which was built in 1968. In 1966 the everything he did. Ray and Newman attended every fair in Horsemen's Association constructed a rodeo arena, corrals the area. The Divide County Fair was very important in their and chutes. One of the newest additions to the fairgrounds is lives. the new recreational site which was incorporated with the Ray Semingson passed away suddenly in 1975. The Divide North Dakota Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. They built a County Fair just didn't seem quite right that year without rest area, hookups, basketball court, horseshoe pits and a him. At fairtime a flag pole was installed as a special shelter with a shuffle board. memorial to Ray. He had mentioned many times that the fair The fair involved a lot of entertainment during its three grounds should have a flagpole. The pole was placed east and days every year. In 1918 they held a big Red Cross sale to help south of the main fair gate—a tribute to Ray Semingson, a make money. One of the big events was horse racing in the man who loved fairs and people and life itself. -36 Crosby Moose Lodge 1209 In early 1946 a group of men formed an organization with the purpose of starting a private club in Crosby. As the Elks Lodge would not grant charters unless the town was over 5000 population, they visited the Moose Lodge at Williston. Members of the Williston Lodge and Director Patrick McGrath came to Crosby and sold the group on the merits of the Moose Lodge and its great fraternity. Doctor S. I. Allen, Wilbur Klebe, C. E. Anderson, Norman Bjella, J. N. Power, Dr. C. 0. McPhail and many more spearheaded a drive for membership, and by early 1947 had signed more than 200, which was required before the city sould grant a liquor license to the lodge. In order to finance the proposed club rooms, Williston Lodge loaned $2500, and 68 members who joined each loaned $100. without interest. This together with some financing from the Farmers State Bank, provided the necessary funds to get started. On August 4, 1946, the Crosby Moose Lodge 1209 was formally chartered with 58 members being initiated by the Williston Degree Staff. State Director McGrath appointed the Present home of Moose Lodge following to serve as officers until election the following spring. Past Governor William Ingwalson, Governor Dr. S. I. Allen, Junior Governor Norman Bjella, Prelate C. E. Martin, March 1971 the lodge celebrated the burning of the Treasurer Thomas Lorenz, Secretary Raymond Semingson, mortgage with free dinner, some drinks and dance and had a Trustees J. N. Power, Dr. C. O. McPhail and C. C. Simmonds. standing room crowd. During the ceremony the lodge also The lodge purchased the lot just north of the present presented Ray Monson and Jake Joraanstad life Farmers State Bank building and bought the frame building memberships for 22 years of service. which A. Ingwalson was using as his office, while erecting the Helping us grow and gain community respect has been the new garage. This was moved in the spring of 1947 and used as willingness of the members to share with the community. In our club and lodge rooms until fall of 1957, when it was sold to the early 1950s we gave more than $1000 to Crosby High the Divide County Library, who in turn have sold it to John School Band, $500 for playground equipment at school and Nygaard Jr. and converted to apartments. $500 for equipment at Nordstog Park. In 1953 we started In May of 1949, Jake Joraanstad became secretary and sponsoring Boy and Girl Staters, and we still do. Raymond Monson our club steward. With the hiring of Ray, Fall of 1953 we gave $5000 to the sports arena and when they as he is known to his friends and members, the lodge solved did not have enough money, we gave an additional $2500 in its problems of having a high turn over in employees and the spring of 1954 so they could complete the building. For began a steady increase in both members and assets. more than 20 years we have sponsored a kick-off luncheon for That fall they began paying off the $100 to the 68 members the Divide County cancer workers, given generously to the and the Moose Lodge at Williston the $2500.00 loan. Community Chest, Heart Fund, American Cancer Society, a Over the next few years the lodge membership continued a free Christmas movie for all area youngsters, $2500 to St. steady growth in membership and it became apparent the in Luke's building fund, $1000 to Good Samaritan Society, $1500 a short time we would be outgrowing our present Lodge to Crosby Ambulance Fund, pledged $3000 to help pay for new home. bus with chair lift for Good Samaritan Society when it arrives Discussion and plans for new building became more this July. $500 each to Senior Citizens homes at Fortuna and intense and in 1956, the then Governor Owen Lansverk Noonan and $250 to the Wildrose home. $16,800 to Frank appointed the following building committee: Chairman L. A. Hartwig to complete his medical education with the promise Rutherford, C. E. Anderson, Kenneth Otheim, David he would come here to practice medicine. In addition many Fosland, Orville O. Tryhus and Secretary Jake Joraanstad. smaller donations have been made. During the past 32 years W. J. Seifert Associates of Fargo was hired to draw plans more than $50,000 has gone to Mooseheart and Moosehaven for the new Lodge home. In the meantime the 50x140 lot south from members dues. of Tuftedal Chevrolet had been purchased, and with lodge The membership has continued to grow and reached a high approval, bids were awarded totalling $110,000, with of 635 at the end of Lynn Buck's term as governor on April 30, construction to start in the spring of 1957 and completion that 1979. The lodge has been fortunate in having great officers fall. over the years They are as follows: Dr. S. I. Allen, Norman The building was financed by selling a total of $17,000 C. of Bjella, C. E. Martin, William Ingwalson, Raymond Indebtedness to our various members, $30,000 loan from Semingson, Jay W. Christen, Frank Grim, Roland Mills, Farmers State Bank and balance paid from cash on hand. Kenneth Engberg, Owen Lansverk, Lee Wenker, Gerald J. In October 1957 we moved to our present Lodge home with Joyce, Charles Power, Milo Kihle, George K. Larsen, Dr. R. open house, initiation of 54 members and dinner and dance. L. Smith, Lowell Larsen, David Fosland, Gary Hanisch, Membership had now reached 351. Leland Torkelson, Anders Anderson, Arnold Jacobson, Orris Many improvements have been added—installing air Olson, Robert Jacobson, Joe Wanner (died while in office), conditioning, carpet and paneling walls. A great deal of new Myron J. Wallin, Wayne Buck, Lynn N. Roberts, Del Ekness! equipment has been added to the kitchen, and Ruby Lee has Kenneth Unhjem, Kenneth Otheim, Douglas M. Graupe, the reputation for some of the best food in the northwest. Lynn Buck, and Keith Thomte. - -37- Crosby Kiwanis Club In 1926 several Crosby businessmen felt that there was by Rev. Norman Anderson, upcoming divisional Lt. need for an organization to better serve the needs of the city Governor. A. U. Anderson gave the historical sketch of the and community. They met with representatives of the Minot club. Mr. Anderson and R. H. Points were honored as the only Kiwanis Club, and the result was that on July 29, 1926, the charter members in attendance. Theodore Lindseth sang a Crosby Kiwanis Club was chartered with forty-eight charter solo accompanied by Carola Payne. Paul Rogen was song members. W. J. Keck was elected president; D. A. Gibbs, leader. Dr. Harold Woolfrey was pianist. vice president, and Nanson Henderson, secretary-treasurer. Crosby Kiwanis has perhaps been one of the most Dr. W. T. Sawyer and H. H. Martin were elected directors. influential and active organizations in the city and Dr. Sawyer was appointed song leader. community. It has played a major role, sponsored or The Divide County Journal, November 8, 1951, gives an contributed to the following projects: Long Creek Park, Long account of the observance of the twenty-fifth annivereary of Creek Dam, Divide County Library, airport, creamery, the Crosby Kiwanis Club at the school gymnasium. Dr. C. O. community building, Divide County Fair, St. Luke's McPhail, president, was master of ceremonies. The dinner Hospital, courthouse war memorial, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, was served by Myrtle Overbo and Mrs. Ben Valen. The Explorer Troop, Boys State, Girls State, Crosby Clinic, program opened with singing America. Father Wingering Northwest Chorus, International Birthday Club, Kiwanis gave the invocation. Ray Semingson was song leader. Dr. Kapers. At present, efforts are being made to get a dentist McPhail gave the address of welcome and introduced wives and optometrist for Crosby. and special guests. A. U. Anderson gave a historical account The Crosby Kiwanis Club has supplied the following to of the club. Mrs. F. L. Forsgren sang a solo. R. S. McNeal Division 10, Lt. Governors were George P. Homnes, R. S. presented 25-year certificates to the following charter McNeal, Newman Power, L. J. Totdahl, Marvin Lervick, members: W. L. Homestead; A. Ingwalson; C. L. Andrist; Gordon Anderson, and Rev. Norman Anderson. George P. Homnes, and A. U. Anderson. F. W. Dingier was Regular meetings are held at 12:05 every Tuesday at the also eligible for a certificate but was unable to be present on Masonic Temple. These meetings serve as a fellowship account of illness. The main address was given by Mr. gathering where the members may discuss projects and Charles Yoder, Lt. Governor of Division 8, Minnesota-Dakota needs of the city and community. Membership continues at District, Kiwanis International. about 50. Robert Sebolt is president; Marlyn Tande, vice On July 31, 1976, the Crosby Kiwanis Club observed its president; Paul Mahrer, 2nd vice president; Quentin Benson, fiftieth anniversary, at the Golden Hub Cafe. Myron Wallin treasurer; and Paul Rogen, secretary. Directors are Chester was master of ceremonies. The speaker for the occasion was Cowee, Ken Engberg, Theodore Lindseth, Charles Power, Paul Sanda, Lt. Governor of the Minnesota-Dakota District, Larry Ficek, Wallace Garbel, Lanny Frantzick. Visitors are Kiwanis International. Remarks were given by Stanley welcome. Wilson, Lt. Governor, Division 10, Kiwanis International, and

Crosby Lodge — A.F. & A.M. As early as the year 1908, Brother Henry I. Wilson of An election for the three principal acting officers was held, Crosby, feeling that the Crosby territory could sustain a and Brother George C. Goetze was elected acting Worshipful lodge of Masons, started a movement for the establishment Master; Brother Clayton E. Brace, acting Senior Warden; of such a lodge. While a constitutional number of Masons was and Brother Allan L. Truax, acting Junior Warden. not assembled until about 1913, to Brother Wilson must be In the spring of 1914 the Grand Lodge of North Dakota sent given the credit for the ultimate successful establishment of Grand Lecturer Paul H. Heardeau to Crosby to look the Crosby Lodge. ground over, and his recommendation was favorable to the As soon as the constitutional number of Masons was found establishment of a lodge at Crosby. in the community, a search was made for those who were The next step was to exemplify the work before Ambrose sufficiently proficient in the ritualistic work to enable others Lodge No. 97, which had been in existence for some years. to assist in exemplifying it. This was done by the Crosby Brethren in May 1914, Brother In the winter of 1913-1914, a body of the brethren met Goetze exemplifying the part of Worshipful Master, Brother regularly in the abstract office of Brother Godfrey F. Brace that of Senior Warden, Brother A. L. Truax that of Hawkinson and endeavored to perfect themselves in the Junior Warden, with Brother Theodore D. Davies acting as ritualistic work. Among those who gathered there were: Senior Deacon and Brother H. I. Wilson as Junior Deacon, in Brothers John E. Ritter, Godfrey F. Hawkinson, Harold T. putting on the Third degree. Willoughby, W. H. Ware, A. L. Truax, Fred B. Conger, Edwin The Ambrose Lodge, in their report to the Grand Lodge, O. Larson, Charles D. Perry, George C. E. Goetze, and highly commended the work as exemplified by the Crosby Clayton E. Brace. Brother Goetze was a Past Master from Brethren, but objected to the establishment of a lodge so near Minnesota, and Brother Brace had served as Senior Deacon to their own, feeling that such an establishment was an in Ambrose Lodge; hence to these two brethren fell largely encroachment upon their territory, and that it would result in the task of interpreting the ritual and instruction of the rest of injury to the growth and success of Ambrose Lodge. In the the brethren. A little later also came Brother Theodore D. face of this objection the Grand Lodge refused to grant a Davies, who had been Senior Deacon, and who by his charter to Crosby Lodge. proficiency added greatly to the future success of the Lodge. A plea was then made by the Crosby brethren for a special -38 dispensation to work, and in August 1914, Most Worshipful contributed tremendously towards the life of the lodge and Frank H. Sprague of Grafton and Worshipful Deputy Grand played no small part in raising funds to pay for the Temple. Master Harry H. Lord came up to Crosby, and after carefully To them the lodge is grateful for their assistance and for the looking over the field, came to the conclusion that Crosby as sisterly love that has prevailed throughout the Eastern Star. a county seat and a thriving and fast growing community In 1917 the lodge had complete charge of the ceremony of should be entitled to a lodge. laying the corner stone of the new Divide County Court A special dispensation was accordingly granted, and under House, furnishing the speaker and copper box that contains this dispensation Crosby Lodge No. 108 continued to work the documents placed in the corner stone. until the next session of the Grand Lodge in June 1915, when a The lodge made donations of considerable amounts to the charter was formally granted on June 16,1915. Divide County Company C, 2nd Regiment, North Dakota, Lodge meetings were held first in the second story of the during World War I. They furnished equipment for the local Ashley building on Main Street, where Crosby's postoffice is hospital, sponsored Red Cross First Aid schools, sponsored now located. They were later held in the second story of the music hours, created a Masonic Hospital Fund and worked Duffy building on Main Street; and then in the city fire hall with various boy's groups. The first Boy Scout Camp was building. After these successive changes it was felt that a organized by the Crosby Lodge. The list of activities is too permanent meeting place, owned by the lodge, should be long and varied to include them all here. Of special interest is established. a boy's chorus of 20 voices to which much credit must be As early as 1915 a Masonic Building Association had been given to Miss Ilene Blakely, their director. Also an oratorical organized by the brethren, many of whom subscribed to non- contest which was carried on for several years among high interest bearing bonds issued by the Association. With the school students. Winners went to district and regional funds thus acquired, a suitable building site, being the one on contests which covered the state. which the Temple now stands, was purchased. A succession During the year, 1938, a play was given entitled "The Rose of crop failures beginning in 1916 and the entry of the U.S. Upon the Altar," which was a big success. A second, third into World War I in 1917, halted the progress of the and fourth showing was given in the lodges of Kenmare, Association for some years, but in 1926 it was reorganized, Ambrose and Weyburn, Saskatchewan. and more non-interest bearing bonds were sold to members, On October 29, 1940, the Masons and Stars jointly and 7% bonds to non-members. With the funds acquired by celebrated the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Crosby these and other means, the commodious and handsome Masonic Lodge. Members of neighboring lodges helped Temple was built in 1927 at a cost of $18,000.00. celebrate the occasion, which was a happy one. The evening The last interest bearing bond was taken up by the Eastern was concluded with the cutting of a large birthday cake. Star in October 1944. As early as March 9,1922, the Chapter Crosby Masonic Lodge No. 108 A.F. & A.M. celebrated started putting surplus funds into the building fund and by their golden anniversary June 30,1965. the end of 1926 had $956.98 on hand. When work was started on The Masonic Temple has been the meeting place for the the Temple in 1927, the Chapter put $1,200.00 into the Masonic Crosby Kiwanis Club since its beginning. This has proven to Building Association, $800.00 in 1928 and $400.00 in 1929. In be a most successful facility for the club, giving it a strong addition to this they retired $6,000.00 bonds and interest up to home base. 1938. Also in connection with the Temple, the Chapter The Kiwanis Club affiliation has been of great assistance purchased furnishings for the Temple amounting to several toward our lodge in helping to maintain a nice meeting place thousands of dollars. The money for purchase of bonds and and building in our community. equipment was realized through a series of dances, waffle The Ambrose Lodge No. 97 gave up their charter in 1973. suppers, minstrels, the serving of banquets for other The majority of their members transferred their organizations, and weekly servings of Kiwanis luncheons. membership to Crosby Lodge forming a merger of the two Over the years the Order of the Eastern Star has lodges at the Grand Lodge Communication in June 1974.

Divide County Retired Teachers Association The Divide County Retired Teachers Association was At one of our later meetings it was decided to meet at the organized on August 11,1972. There were 7 members present, A.A. club room from now on and meet at 7:30 p.m. 6 of whom became charter members. Our first officers were: At the present time we have a membership of 18. Some of president-Vanness Torgeson, president elect-Olga Tysse, our members are deceased or have moved away. Our present secretary-Pearl Wigness, treasurer-Kjeristine Anderson. officers are: president-Olivene Koppang, president elect- Marie Kirby of Williston R.T.A. conducted this Kjeristine Anderson, secretary-Hazel Olson, treasurer- organizational meeting. Our state president Myrtle Sharp Mabel Fosland, publicity-Lydia Hingst, pre-retirement-Ida met with us on August 25,1972, and installed our officers. At Romsos, legislative-Vanness Torgeson, insurance Magna this time 10 more members joined to become charter Nordstog, historian-Olga Tysse. Officers attend the members. workshops and state conventions. Three of our members We received our charter in September and also accepted attended the national convention at New Orleans and brought our constitution at this time. It was decided to set our back many good things. meeting date for the third Friday each month at 8 p.m. We have sponsored several programs with hejp from our March through November and chose "Divide County Area local professional people who explain and answer questions. Retired Teachers Association" as our name. (D.C.A.R.T.A.) Crime prevention, fraud bunco, probate and wills, uniform -39- probate code, cancer film, arthritis film, blood pressure and day teaching and held classes for grades 1 and 2 from Crosby respiratory film, our County Nurse Dorothy Krise spoke to us Elementary, showing how it used to be. Other members and showed a film on heart problems and drivers education. keeping the school open for visitors during the annual Ruth Ralph, our librarian, gave a program on "Value of Our threshing bee each summer besides those already mentioned Public Libraries" and explained that our Divide County was are: Ida Peterson, Ina Hoversten, Alma and Margaret the first in the state to have a county library. Doris Fosland, Howard, Aasta Hofstad and Blanche Stenson who taught in a first grade teacher in Crosby, showed slides and gave a this school in 1912. travelogue on her trip to London and places in Europe where Olivene Koppang is the curator at the museum on the she visited schools. We have also had several interesting Historical grounds. demonstrations. Mabel Fosland engineered a project asking the children in Ida Romsos tutored the Kurdish people who came to the lower grades to write essays on "Why I Like America." Crosby and spent many hours helping them. Some of our These were put in a scrap book and are kept in our pioneer members gave scripture reading during regular services at school. Concordia Lutheran Church. Several of our members help Almost all of our members are very much involved in the annually with the vision screening at the elementary school "Diamond Jubilee" that Crosby will celebrate this summer. in Crosby. This is one of our projects. Ida Romsos is secretary for the jubilee committee and also Our little pioneer school on the historical grounds is our has interviewed the pioneers from Concordia Lutheran pride and joy. Emma Auran dressed in the costume of early Church and made reports.

Divide Co. Historical Society and Pioneer Village On November 30,1929, a group of people met to make plans •——_.. for a Divide County Library and Museum Association. On January 3,1930, it was organized with the following to serve on the board: president, George P. Homnes; vice president, Mrs. L. R. (Edith Hoffman) Murray; secretary, J. H. Phelps, and treasurer, S. B. Bervig. The Divide County Library and Museum was first housed in the basement of the Court House until 1937, when it was moved to the Community Hall basement. It was discontinued for lack of room a short time later. The museum was reactivated July 31,1961, and housed in the basement of the Divide County Library. A group of people met in March, 1967, for the purpose of forming a Divide County Historical Society. The historic motion was made by Ruth Ralph and seconded by Jerome Knudson. It carried unanimously. Jerry Engberg was elected temporary chairman, and Ruth Ralph was elected Antique lovers and old threshers love to tap their toes at a temporary secretary. fiddler's jamboree and talent show, and they come by the The following were present: Gerald L. Engberg, Charlotte thousands to the threshing show every summer. Taylor, Jerome L. Knudson, LeRoy W. Huwe, Alfred Moe, Christian E. Lee, Ruth Ralph and Agnes Berg. A group of about fifty, all with a keen sense of history and a desire to preserve memories of the past, gathered at Crosby on Friday, April 7, 1967, for the official organization of the Divide County Historical Society. They elected the following officers: president, Jerome Knudson; vice president, Christ Lee; secretary, Ruth Ralph; treasurer, Gordon Hall. Three directors were elected from each commissioner district and were as follows: Ina Hoversten, Harold Joraanstad and Steve Gowin from District I; Clara Bentson, Fred Anderson, and John Tysse Jr. from District II; Mel Strand, Corey Winge and Ernest Schenstad from District III. Presiding over the meeting as temporary chairman was Gerald Engberg. Plans were to secure land on the western edge of Crosby. They acquired a small triangle of land from the city through a 99-year lease. Later the society bought a large adjoining tract from Mrs. Christ Anderson. On the first site the society Pioneer Village has its own main street, complete with erected a museum building 32'x60'. The first projects would board sidewalks and hitching rails. Each year new build­ be restoration of a pioneer church and school, the group ings are added to compete for the interest of visitors. decided. -40- Pioneer Village Today With the sweat and toil of a great many dedicated workers, our Pioneer Village has enjoyed phenomenal growth in the ten years since the county historical society built our first main museum building. We have now grown to a complex of 23 buildings—many of them new, some of them historically preserved originals. We also have installed a large campsite on land adjoining the village, complete with all hookups. Thanks to so many contributions in both money and hard work we now have one of the most outstanding museums in North Dakota. We have about one hundred gas and steam run tractors, of which some are one-of-a-kind, not to be found at any other show. The three-day threshing show in mid-July each year attracts thousands of people from far and wide. There are parades, threshing, blacksmithing, shingle making, and programs and dancing each night. There are things to see and do for the whole family. Present officers and directors are: Herbert Engberg, Visitors love to roll up their sleeves and pitch a few bundles president; Melvin Rodvold, vice president; Ruby Ruppert, during the annual threshing show, to reminisce about days secretary; Ruth Ralph, treasurer; Olivene Koppang and they remember as part of a threshing crew years ago. Helga Torkelson, curators; Godfred Gilbertson, Melvin Moe, Lovdahl, Harry Wendel, Andy Kostek, Roland Knudson, Paul Mahrer, Alton Homdrom, Ed Grindeland, Fred Eberle, Louie Spooner, John Tysse, Adolph Brodal, Lowell Larsen, Allen Stromstad, George Dahlke, Gordon Hall, Bruce and Thorbjorn Rue.

-41 Fortnightly Study Club

It was in the summer of 1912, when Crosby was still a very new town, that a gathering of ladies decided to form a club for the purpose of study and entertainment. On August 9, 1912, nine ladies organized their study club. The charter members were: Mrs. George P. Homnes, Mrs. Andrew Ingwalson, Mrs. A. L. Truax, Mrs. Joseph Rousseau, Mrs. C. J. Clark, Mrs. D. W. Madden, Mrs. Frank Himber, Mrs. A. A. Ashley and Mrs. H. T. Willowby. Their plan was to meet every fortnight on Thursday with a program following a prepared 'Reading Circle Course,' a roll call, silent prayer and a discussion on current events. Two years later they joined the Federation of Women's Clubs. A few changes were made. The membership was extended to twenty members. Their motto was "Simplicity is the keynote to all true greatness." Club flower and colors—pink carnation, nile green and pink. The first officers were: Mrs. George P. Homnes-president; Mrs. A. L. Burns, vice-president; Mrs. C. J. Clark, secretary; Mrs. S. Lanning, treasurer; Mrs. Joseph There are four federated clubs in Crosby, all very active. Rousseau, custodian. They chose to use a miscellaneous This picture of Fortnightly, the first to organize, was taken program. The first program was as follows: November 13, just a few years ago. Front row: Emma Thvedt, Vannes Tor­ 1914, leader - Mrs. Ashley; Club Collect; Silent Prayer; Roll geson, Mable Fosland, Evelyn Woolfrey, Judy Pederson, Call—Facts about the N. A. Indians; Lesson Review, Mrs. Mildred Peterson, Bertha Grundstad, Dorothy Allen, and DeAnn Jacobson. Back row: Vi Larsen, Margaret Tiegen, Homnes; Lesson Assignment—U.S. History, Chapter 1-5; Shari Peterson, Marcie Elsbernd, Adeline Tweed, and Ida Paper—Early History of N.Y., Mrs. Madden; Romsos. Reading—Hiawatha-Dramatized, Mrs. Lanning. From an early history we read, "Besides the clubs two aims, intellectual and social, the club will be active in One of the members was instrumental in starting the promoting worthy civic enterprises in the city, inviting the library and acting as first librarian. All members helped cooperation of other organizations and wholeheartedly when needed. responding to such invitations from others." In 1935 they felt they needed a way to raise money for Programs through the years have consisted of book various projects. The annual silver tea was started and in reviews, travelogues, addresses by speakers invited in, late years an art show has been incorporated with the tea—a papers on many interesting subjects. very successful venture. The club now met once a month, the first Thursday. Many The club gives donations to many charities, sponsor a girl projects have been carried out with other clubs. One of the scout troop, pay tuition for one student to music camp, give first was donating a band stand to the city in 1915. A Singer Christmas baskets and trees to shut-ins. sewing machine to the Domestic Science Room. Working on In 1962 they celebrated their golden anniversary honoring Red Cross war projects—meeting in the Red Cross Room in Mrs. A. L. Truax, the only charter member still living and the courthouse to sew and knit for W. W. I Army 1917. They active. donated 56 books for general reading and 21 reference books The women's clubs in Crosby have always enjoyed a fine to the school, books chosen by the English department. relationship in all projects undertaken.

Town & Country Study Club

The organizational meeting for the Town and Country We sponsored our first candidate to the Miss Northwest Study Club was held on March 3,1955. The club was officially Pageant in 1956. Two of the girls we sponsored have won and organized on April 7, 1955, and affiliated with the National gone on to the state competition. They were Lorna Gunderson Federation of Women's Clubs in 1955. The purpose of the club and Susan Haugland. shall be social and cultural betterment. It shall concern itself Some of our money raising projects have been Easter in all that tends to better society. The club colors are pink and bonnet raffle, TV raffle, bake sales, rummage sales, silent silver and the flower is the sweet pea. The first officers were auctions, tupperware party, and Bridge-Whist luncheon. as follows: president, Mrs. Dean Kvernum; vice-president, The money has been spent in many worthwhile ways, Miss Lavonne Vein; secretary, Mrs. Merle Olin; treasurer, namely, soup bowls for the new school, fireplaces for city Mrs. Perry Hickman, and historian, Mrs. Sig Enebo. The parks, city Christmas decorations. We have joined with the first members other than the above were Mrs. Larry other clubs in purchasing carpet for the wading pool and life- Forsberg, Teresa Hass, Mrs. Alden Nordstog and Mrs. size Nativity scene figures. The Good Samaritan Center has Harlan Nordstog. Mrs. Harlan Nordstog is the only charter been our main project for several years. We have purchased member that still belongs to the club. She was honored on our a large print typewriter, rhythm band instruments, window 20th anniversary. shades, bingo prizes, and a Christmas tree. Each spring we -42 - give them garden seeds for their garden. Several of the residents are visited on their birthdays and other occasions. We have sponsored a student to the International Music Camp at the Peace Gardens since 1961. The club members have assisted with meals on wheels. Throughout the years we have had a variety of programs including the following: nutrition, conservation, status of women, political parties, wills, music, narcotics, civil defense, alcoholism, redecorating and we have traveled through many countries with the help of our guest speakers. The other clubs have entertained us with very interesting programs. We have also used book reviews for programs. In 1976 we helped with city clean-up for our cities beautification. Crosby celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in July of 1979 and our members helped on committees to prepare for this celebration. Donations have been sent to most of the Federation causes, we have also given Christmas gifts to: Florence Crittendon Home in Fargo, Crippled Town and Country Study Club. Back row: Becky Tande, Childrens School and State Hospital in Jamestown. Each Joan Fuller, Cindy Stromstad, Donna Molander, Darlene year we have our annual Christmas party, and the past Hingst, Kay Unhjem, Joyce Ekness, Clarice Torgerson. Front row: Gladys Simonson, Carolyn Graupe, Doris Walen, several years we have entertained our husbands. Delia Nordstog, and Anne Brewer.

Dames of the Round Table Dames of the Round Table Study Club was organized November 19, 1912, and federated in 1913. The officers for 1913-1914 were: president, Mrs. F. A. Leonard; vice presi­ dent, Mrs. D. A. Gibbs; secretary, Mrs. G. F. Hawkinson .treasurer, Mrs. H. I. Wilson; federation treasurer, Mrs. H. I. Wilson; federation secretary, Mrs. C. E. Styer, and historian, Mrs. D. A. Gibbs. The membership R. W. Rousseau. There were 23 members and they met twice a month—the first and third Thursdays. Their topics were: History of North Dakota, legislation, household economics, library and literature, and music. The club colors are green and white and the club floweri s the wild rose. Our main projects through the years have been sponsoring a Brownie Girl Scout Troop, our library and the museum. In 1912, we were instrumental in starting the first Crosby Library. In 1951, we had hopes and plans to organize a Junior Club but this did not materialize. We are proud to say that we were instrumental in organizing two other study clubs in Crosby. On May 22, 1952, the Progressive Study Club was Dames of the Round Table. Back row: Jenora Carlson, Al­ organized and in 1954, we helped in the organization of the ma Johnson, Mabel Haga, Connie Anderson, Ruth Ralph, Town and Country Study Club. In 1953, for the celebration of Eleanor Heide. Front row: Irene Moses, Emma Anderson, the 50th Jubilee of Divide County, our float depicted the Irene Christenson, and Beverly Anderson. library 50 years ago and now. We have contributed to Care, Red Cross, Florence Crittenden Home, Music Camp, Peace Gardens, and sewed Three of our members were listed in "Who's Who in North for the Red Cross during the war, etc. Dakota." They were: Mrs. Charlotte Taylor, Mrs. Myrtle We have had joint meetings with our sister clubs in Crosby Skabo, and Mrs. Anna Phelps. and have helped in hosting the Third District Conventions Our present officers are: president, Mrs. Mabel Haga; vice when they have been held in Crosby. president, Mrs. James Anderson; secretary, Mrs. Irene We have been part of an Inter-Club Council which raised Gunlock; treasurer, Mrs. Ruth Ralph. We have 19 members money to buy a nativity scene for display at Christmas. We and 1 honorary member—Mrs. Frank Hingst. We meet the raised money by selling numbers on a television and assisted first Thursday of every month from September through May. the other clubs with a rummage sale—the proceeds going Our main interests are still the Brownie Girl Scouts and the towards the Nativity scene. library. -43 - Progressive Study Club Progressive Study Club was organized in April 1952, under the Dames of the Round Table. They received their charter in February 1953. Charter members included: Elaine Andrist, Arlene Easton, Donna Bjorneby, Violet Thvedt, Dorothy Rodvold, Jerry Olson, Phyllis Mills, and Jenora Carlson. Elaine Andrist is the only charter member active in our club. Membership has increased to twenty. Club meets the first Thursday each month. The club colors are purple and gold and the flower chosen is the pansy. The club object is intellectual improvement and united effort, in all that tends to a better society. Programs, entertainment and social events play a part of our activities. Members through the years have attended District Conventions in the fall and state conventions in the spring. Our own Marlyn Wigginton was chosen president of the 3rd Progressive Study Club. Back row: Elaine Andrist, Deb District to serve the 1977-78 term. Progressive along with the Melby, Peg Nygaard, Doris Fosland, Jane Owens, and other three local clubs have hosted District Conventions in Diane Osvold. Front row: Mrs. Orlyn Loge, Marly Wiggin­ 1957, 1963, 1969, and 1974. The 75th Diamond Jubilee State ton, Judy Larson, and Jo Stefonowicz. Convention was held in Minot with the 3rd District hostess in 1966. A Girl Scout Troop has been sponsored by our club since purchased Nativity scene. Each year the people at the Good 1953. Also a worthy youth is supported to attend the Samaritan Home are remembered with candy jars at International Music Camp at the Peace Gardens and Christmas and a donation was made to the piano fund. An contestants have been sponsored for the Miss Northwest immunization program was completed in 1978 under the Pageant in the past. Other projects have included: supervision of Dorothy Krise, Divide County nurse. purchasing playground equipment for Long Creek Park; Money-making projects have included: Progressive Whist, improvements at the parks, donated funds and labor for pool rummage sales, bake sales, raffles, style shows, a prayer projects; aided with pre-school and pap-smear clinics; breakfast etc. purchased play school furniture for local clinic; and also Present officers are: Sophie Lokken, president; Beverly worked with Welcome Wagon, Bicycle Safety Program, city Jacobson, vice-president; Jane Owen, secretary-treasurer; beautification projects and along with other local clubs and Mavis Olson, historian.

Green Thumb Garden Club

The Green Thumb Garden Club was organized April 22, flower arrangements by different members of the club. 1964, in the Farmers Room at the Divide County Courthouse. The club has had several projects since 1965. It has had Vernon Nichols, county extension agent, presided. After a charge of the plant and flower entries at the Divide County vote on several suggested names, "The Green Thumb Fair, giving the purple ribbon and medallion award to the Garden Club" was adopted. The first slate of officers voted in "Best of Show" in three categories and for three years the were: president, Mrs. Wm. Homestead; vice-president, buying and planting of rows of flowering plants along the Alma Johnson; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Jerome Knudson. base of the Courthouse on both sides of the front entrance A committee was appointed to draw up a constitution. steps and in a bed in front of the Memorial Monument on the Prior to this meeting Harry Graves, horticulturalist from grounds. In 1971 the county commissioners voted to have NDSU Extension Service at Fargo, held a meeting in Crosby some landscaping done in those areas. Since 1972 the club has to encourage the organization of a garden club. Many donated and planted rows of flowering plants along the front interested people of the Crosby area attended. He explained of the Good Samaritan Center every spring. It also helped how such an organization would function and be helpful to with the tree planting on the grounds and had an evergreen gardeners and in promoting more gardening. tree planted on the Historical Museum grounds. In The object of the Green Thumb Club is to stimulate the love September 1974 a Certificate of Commendation was received and knowledge of gardening, the study and aid in the from Sears Roebuck for environmental improvement. protection of native flowers, trees and birds, and to promote A flower show is sponsored annually in August. Growers of community beautification. the Crosby area bring in many beautiful plants, flowers and Over the years the club has had interesting programs at arrangements. For three years "Smoky Bear" and "Woody their monthly meetings. There have been talks with slides Owl" poster contest for grade school pupils was sponsored given by Bob Askew, extension horticulturist succeeding giving small cash prizes. Harry Graves; talks and slides by county agent Nichols and The only means in raising money for projects and his successor Leonard Biwer; talks and slides by the donations to local worthy causes are a free will offering for members of the fish and wildlife service, and Ruth Ralph, coffee and goodies served at the flower show, a silent auction librarian of the county library. There have been lessons on of "Bring and Sell" articles by the members at the October different subjects in gardening, on birds, butterflies and meeting and the membership dues. -44 - The club was host to one district convention of Federated four active charter members, Mrs. Gordon Anderson, Mrs. Garden Clubs, sent delegates to some others. In June 1975 the Albert Heide, Alma Johnson, Freda Emanuel and one with club had a part in the state convention at Medora and several an honorable membership. members attended. On the club's memorial list are four members who are in The membership has varied over the years, some moving our memories of having shared the lovely things on earth, away, new ones joining. Now in 1979 there are 18 active Marie Rousseau, Gusta Valen, Valerie Kirchhofer and members and two having honorable membership. There are Elizabeth Meuwissen.

Divide County Senior Citizens Our club was organized November of 1967. The nominating committee; Ina Hoversten, Gene Bothun and Leora Sandwick selected the following slate of officers, who were elected November 21, 1967. President, Anna Phelps; vice president, Oluf Grundstad; secretary, Blanche Steenson, and treasurer, George Benson. The executive board selected 5 members to be on the council. They were Alvina Melgaard, Sophie Sims, James Gallagher, Jacob Steenson and Paul Rogen. It was organized with a $300.00 grant from the Lutheran Welfare. This was federal money, but the Lutheran Welfare was able to get these funds in the beginning. The same year an additional grant of $300.00 was received from the Lutheran Welfare, in all $600.00 was received. It did not need to be paid back. The Kiwanis of Crosby sponsored the club. In December of 1973, the County Commissioners advised us to incorporate. We incoporated with the help of Attorney R. H. Points, the articles of incorporation were completed by February 1974. New Senior Citizens Center in Crosby Membership dues were $1.00 until July 1974. The dues were raised at this time to $5.00 a member until 1976 when they returned to $1.00. The reason for raising the dues being, on June 7,1974, we decided to build our own building. We would need more money for expenses. At this time a list was passed around, the members put down the amount of money they dancing. The building is open every afternoon. A volunteer would be willing to give towards a new building. Thus we had schedule has been worked out each month to keep the a "Building Fund," money was solicited from people and building open. business places of Divide County. We held food sales, pie and coffee sales, bazaars, an We bought a lot from Goodwin Haugland. We got a building auction sale, with quilt and afghan raffles to raise money to permit from the city. Lund Construction prepared the lot for help furnish and build the building. building. Arnold Bardal and son, Arlin, laid the blocks for the We have a tax exemption number, so any gifts of money foundation of the buiding. The men of the club salvaged given to the club may be used as a tax deduction from your lumber from the Ambrose School, given to us by the Divide personal income tax. Other gifts have been given to the club. County Historical Society, to be used in our building. Duane We are grateful to all for the generosity. Glasoe helped with the construction work for the foundation of the building. The men and ladies of the club worked on the We have a Memorial Plaque on the wall with departed building, (donating their work) most of the summer. John members names on. Tysse Jr. textured the ceiling of our building. This was a Since 1978, we have held blood pressure clinics for all contribution also. elderly people with Dorothy Krise, R.N., County Nurse in charge. These clinics are held every 3 months and records We petitioned the voters for a 1 mill levy, to be on the ballot, are kept. that same year. This was successful at the fall election. The mill levy is now shared among all 6 Senior Citizens Clubs of We held "Open House" November 17,1974, with 350 guests Divide County and the Council on Aging. The County who signed the "Guest Book." We held "Open House" again Commissioners need reports from all clubs to know how the on June 24, 1978, inviting all of the Divide County Clubs. levy is used. There were 116 people present. It is hoped that this could be an annual event. Our first meeting was held October 18,1974, in our own new Present officers of our club are as follows: president, building. We are extremely proud of it. We welcome visitors Harry Thompson; first vice president, Oluf Grundstad; and are happy to have new members join. second vice president, Alice Murphy; secretary, Olivene The activities of the club are getting together for Koppang; treasurer, Olga Tysse. Council members are recreation such as playing cards of our choice, other games Mildred Moe, Ada Gochanour, Agnes Berg, Alice Anseth and and seeing films and slides, both for education and pleasure. Melvin Barduson. We have crafts. We have dances. A group has pattern -45 - Crosby Business Places of the Past

Otheims Hardware -1930 R. H. Points, Real Estate and Attorney

Ingwalson Store Old Red Owl Store m

Howell Weed Burner - Early 1900's Crosby Bakery -1925

-46- Northwestern Bell Telephone Company Telephone service was first brought to the Crosby area in of Crosby. Construction started on a new 1800 square foot the 1900's. In 1918, the Northwestern Company purchased the building in 1950. Company personnel moved into the new exchange from the Dakota Western Telephone Company. building in 1951. The Company has shown growth over the The Company occupied the east 30 feet of Lot 7, Block 14. years, requiring the additional space. They purchased the building from Dakota Western. Com­ In 1919, there were 158 telephones in service in Crosby. By pany records dating to 1935 describe the building as "a store- 1959, that figure had grown to 749. Today, there are nearly type frame structure 22' x 24' having four rooms but no 1600 telephones in service in Crosby. basement. A coal shed, 6' x 8', is attached to the building. The The amount of calls placed on an average day has in­ building is in fair condition, but has no modern conveniences creased also. In 1968, there were an average of 3900 attem­ other than electric lights. An outside toilet is located on ad­ pted local and long distance calls per day in the exchange. jacent property at the rear of the 25' x 30' at a yearly rental of Last year, usage had grown to 5500 attempted calls on an $2." average day. The Company sold this property in 1952 to Andrew Ingwalson. Then they purchased Lot 2, Block 14 from the City

The first telephone office in Crosby. Your number please? Operators no longer are needed here.

Northwestern Bell Telephone Building, Crosby

-47- Eriksmoen and Company & The Red Rooster Cafe

In 1913, August Eriksmoen and family moved to Crosby from Leeds, North Dakota, to join his brother, K. B. Eriks­ moen in the partnership of a grocery store. When his brother returned to Stroughton, Wisconsin in 1916, August continued operating the store until about 1940. Many will remember the cookie boxes at the Eriksmoen store as it was a favorite place to stop on the way home from school. Another memorable specialty was the bonus prize given when a charge customer's account was paid in full. This was usually a five pound can of coffee or a bag of sugar which even during those depression years was a welcome gift. For many years the Eriksmoen store was responsible for the shipment of Lutefisk for the famous Lutefisk dinners at the Concordia Lutheran Church. The structure as it appears today.

August Eriksmoen retired from the store business about 1940 to devote time to caring for Mrs. Eriksmoen who had suffered several strokes. During this time the building was sold and later moved to the south highway area where it was transformed into the Highway Inn and now the Red Rooster ^tmmmmmmmmmmmm^m!' 1% t Cafe. Mr. Eriksmoen served as City Treasurer from 1939 to 1945 when he resigned after Mrs. Eriksmoen's death and'he moved to California where he passed away in 1956 at the age of 88. Ray and Vivian Semingson operated the drive-inn for a short while and then the building was sold to Ed Titterud. He moved it to it's present location and it was later sold to the Anderson Brothers. Edna Kroshus has managed the cafe for The building in its original location. many years now.

Crosby Flour Mill One of Crosby's most interesting business places of the firm in 1921, and in 1922 brought in A. P. Aus as an past was the Crosby Flour Mill, which operated for nearly experienced miller. Aus is better remembered for a long forty years before it shut down in 1946. career as a plumber in the community. Its origin was that of a cooperative organized in Kenmare But the flour mill's greatest time of service to the and moved to Crosby on the site where Tri-Border Ag now community was during the depression decade. For many the operates a liquid nitrogen fertilizer plant along the south side depression years were cashless ones, and many small of Burlington Northern trackage on Second Street West. It farmers depended on trading by barter. They would bring looked not unlike a country elevator from the outside. their own wheat to the mill and have it ground into flour. As a cooperative the business failed, but it was picked up Munro would keep a portion of the flour as his pay. by the late Duncan Munro in the years just preceding World Farmers came from as far as Plentywood and the Williston War I. He built it into a flourishing business which at one time area to patronize Munro's establishment. It was a time when became a 24-hour a day operation to keep up with demand. mortgage and lien holders were standing in line to attach any A Journal issue dated October 12, 1917, noted that "the money a farmer could gather, but few had the heart to business was on a 24-hour a day work schedule and shipped prevent him from exchanging his wheat for flour to feed a up to 4 carloads of flour a week". Although much of its family. business was generated locally by people who wanted to Changed economic conditions dictated its shutdown in the support local farmers and local industry, many carloads of late fall of 1946. Munro, who had come to Crosby in 1910, then flour were shipped to eastern points such as Cleveland, bought a pool and recreation hall located at the present Chicago and New York. postoffice site, and it was there that he died at work. Other Journal reports noted that in 1921 the company His widow, Julia, whom he married in 1915, still lives here became a cream, butter and egg buyer for a large produce in the home they first occupied in 1915. -48 - Farmers State Bank The Farmers State Bank of Crosby originated at Ambrose In 1966, Gordon Wallin and DeLoris Myhra joined our staff under the name of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank on when the bank purchased the Noonan Exchange from Elmer August 15,1919. It was capitalized at $10,000.00 and had a sur­ Madsen and it became the Noonan Station. This was also the plus of $5,000.00 with Rud Anderson being elected as the first year we moved into our new building on the site that housed president. A month after opening; the name of the bank was the TBA store which was previously the J. I. Case Store. changed to The Farmers State Bank of Ambrose. Prior to this it was a garage operated by T. S. Ullman On January 11,1934, the bank was moved to Crosby, to the (Freeman Ullman's father). corner of Central and Main Street and became the Farmers In July 1970, Herman G. Meuwissen, who had served as State Bank of Crosby. Later it was moved to the center of the vice president since 1948, passed away in a Minot hospital. He block on the west side. The capital and surplus now totaled was a valued and dedicated employee who was missed by all $25,000.00 with P. N. Johnson as president and E. G. Hanson who knew him. In June 1971, Jon Hanisch returned from the as cashier. History reveals that total deposits were $26,859.45 Navy and joind the staff at the Noonan Station. as of June 30, 1934, and one year later had jumped to The bank continued to grow and a mobile facility was ad­ $210,000.00. As Crosby and the Farmers State Bank grew ded at the Fortuna Air Force Station. The bank was again together deposits reached the $1 million dollar mark in 1942. saddened by the loss of DeLoris Myhra who lost a long battle To accommodate this new business, Evelyn L. Easton was against cancer in November of 1972. Arlene Zimmerman was named vice-president and Tom Borgen as assistant cashier. now hired at Noonan and Jon Hanisch became assistant vice Harold Hanisch and Ben Bartz purchased the bank on April president at the main bank. Alice Larson and Beulah Thon, 4,1945 from P. N. Johnson. Ed Hanson remained as cashier longtime employees and officers of the bank, left the com­ and Eunice Christianson and Gordon Pederson were elected munity in the early 1970's. assistant cashiers. Under the reins of Harold Hanisch, As we reached the mid-70's, we were to again experience Robert Hawkinson became assistant cashier in January 1946. great losses with the passing of Frank Grim and Art Cary. By the end of this year deposits were nearly $5 million These two men were dedicated officers and their memory dollars. In July 1946, L. A. Gubrud and Oscar Gubrud, along remains with us. As we carry on trying to heal our wounds with Harold Hanisch, purchased the interest of Ben Bartz. In and are drawing toward the end of the 1970's, we are proud 1947 H. G. Meuwissen and Frank Grim were added as of­ that our assets are in excess of $25 million. We are also proud ficers. of our staff which has now grown to 22 employees and of­ In 1951, Ed Hanson retired as cashier, ending a long ficers. banking career. By 1958, the bank reached $6 million dollars Harold Hanisch, Chairman of the Board; Gary Hanisch, in deposits and its officers included: Harold Hanisch, President; Helga Hanisch, Vice President; Delton Olson, President; Helga Hanisch, Vice President; Herman Vice President-Cashier; Jon Hanisch, Assistant Vice Meuwissen, Vice President; Frank Grim, Cashier; Gary President; Kathy Hall, Assistant Vice President; Gaylen Hanisch, Assistant Vice President and Beulah M. Thon, Melgaard, Assistant Vice President; Ann Buck, Assistant Assistant Cashier. Cashier; Marie Hanson, Secretary; Diane Anderson, As the bank grew so did the staff and a few of the early em­ Secretary; Patty Lund, Secretary; Sandy Pederson, Teller; ployees were: Harriet Lohmeyer, Joan Wilson, Shirley Fen- Gale Rice, Teller; Jane Lucy, Teller-Bookkeeper; Irene ster, Marion Lee, Norma Mellum, Evelyn Johnson, Caryl Sand, Head Bookkeeper; Gwen Vassen, Proof Operator; Sparks, the Benter twins (Donna and Dorene), Inez Points, Cindi Bummer, Bookkeeper; Mabel Hysjulien, Bookkeeper; Olga Egge, and Agnes Minnie. In 1959, sadness came to the Gordon Wallin, Manager, Noonan Station; Annie Kjos, bank when Pearl Homestead, a longtime and faithful em­ Teller, Noonan Station; Joy Verlinde, Teller, Noonan ployee, passed away from cancer. In the early 1960's, Station; Herb Engberg, Janitor. Lorraine Ralph and Florence Bucklin, having been employed by the bank for many years, left for the West Coast. Art Cary joined the bank in 1963.

Pictured left to right are Harold Hanisch, Jon Hanisch, Art Cary, Frank Grim, Delton Olson, Gary Hanisch. Standing in Back row, Alcene Dalebout, Ann Buck, Marie Hanson, Kathy The Farmers State Bank Hall, Gwen Vassen, Irene Sand, and Sandra Pederson. -49 J. C. Penney Co. When Imperial was moved to the present site of Crosby, it seems plans were made to divide the town into blocks and lots. Block 10, Lots 17 and 18 were known as the O'Laughlin Block. ; On March 31, 1916, Frank O'Laughlin sold to Andy 1 Ingwalson. In 1917 Andy Ingwalson and his partner, C. C. Peterson, built the now J. C. Penney building. Ingwalson and Peterson owned a chain of stores in the following towns: Wildrose, Hanks, Alamo, Stady and Crosby, N.D., Flaxville, Medicine Lake, Redstone and Plentywood, Montana. These . C PlJiii co. were general merchandise stores with Crosby being the central store and from which all the business was done. The Crosby store was a grocery store, general merchandise on the main floor and a variety store in the basement. On the second floor were offices occupied by doctors and dentists, an optometrist, attorney, beauty shop, piano studio and apartments which it now is. Dr. S. I. Allen was the optometrist. his chain he sold to each individual manager. The Crosby Some of the doctors were: Dr. Rollefson, Dr. McLean, Dr. store was then leased to J. C. Penney Co. Moffett, Dr. Porter, Dr. Clayton McPhail and Dr. Duane In April of 1954 the new clinic was built and the doctors, Pile. dentists and optometrist moved to their new location. After Some of the dentists were: Dr. Simms, Dr. Sawyer, Dr. this, the offices were remodeled into apartments as we know Helgeson, Dr. Hunter, Dr. R. M. Bergem, Dr. Sholberg, Dr. them today. Ross Riley and Dr. Harold Woolfrey. J. C. Penney Co. opened a store in Crosby in August 1926 Attorney F. Leslie Forsgren had his office there until he with Earl F. Christenson as manager. This store was on the built his present office building. Florence Boock had a piano west side of main street, about where the Ben Franklin Store studio. The first beauty shop was. owned and operated by is today. Mr. Christenson left in October 1929, and Roy S. Mrs. Roland Miller (Norma Steffler) known as "Norma's McNeal took over the management, and in 1931 they moved Beauty Shop." October 8, 1932, she sold out to the Nelson to the Ingwalson building at 101 South Main Street, where sisters (Lila Myrtle). After Lila passed away, Myrtle Penney's is still located. Mr. McNeal retired in June of 1954 (Armstrong) continued to operate the shop, where she is still and Julius Ward became manager. He transferred to the located. Williston store in May 1957. Joseph Weinschrott became the In 1927 Andy Ingwalson bought out C. C. Peterson's interest manager in May 1957, coming from the Baker, Montana, and continued the chain of stores as "A. Ingwalson Co." until store, and was manager until he retired in July 1969. Jim 1931, at which time he decided to close out the stores. He held Muehe came to Crosby from the Imperial, Nebraska, store a big sale bringing in merchandise from all the stores. The on the first of July, 1969, and left Crosby at the end of sale was conducted by Nick Waldron of Minneapolis, September, 1973, to go to the store at Langdon, N.D. Robert Minnesota. 'who> he hired for this work. This sale was held in Sebolt came from a store in Saginaw, Michigan, on what is now the Jack & Jill grocery store. The other stores in September 28,1973, and is the present manager.

-50- Ingwalson Motor Company 110 E. Central Ingwalson Motor Co. building, car lot and with a full basement. warehouse (Block 19, Lots 1,2, 3 and the West 75 feet of Lots 4 One cannot overlook the many accomplishments of Andy and 5). Ingwalson. It would not be fair to omit them at this time, as This was in the beginning known as the SEVi of Section 29, we celebrate our city's 75th Anniversary. He was most Township 163, N. Range 97 W. containing 160 acres. October influential in making our city what it is today. 21, 1904, the United States issued a receiver's receipt to Some of the major tasks he undertook consisted of Bank Leonard Baumann for $200.00 for such land. Director, charter member of the Moose and Kiwanis, a Leonard and Bessie Baumann secured a mortgage from mayor for two terms, active in scouting for 17 years and Jacob Leuthold, Jr. October 31, 1904. Jacob assigned the earned the Silver Beaver Award (the highest award in mortgage to Charles Leuthold November 15, 1904. April 5, scouting), and headed such projects as cemetery 1905, the United States issued a patent for such land. August beautification, Memorial Project, the building of the 21,1906, the mortgage was paid in full. Presbyterian Manse, and active in beginning the first St. May 27, 1905, Leonard and Bessie Baumann sold it to Luke's Hospital. During his terms as mayor he was active in Charles F. Holbrook and James A. Miller for $1600.00. They getting the Community Building constructed. gave a right-of-way deed to the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Andy never really retired, as he was not one to give up Ste. Marie Railway Company on August 4,1906. easily—even to the end. He lived to be almost 98 years of age. It was then sold to Charles Babcock for $3100.00. Charles and his wife, Florence, conveyed the land to Dakota an< Great Northern Townsite Co. (of which Charles wa: President) August 15,1906. Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co. donated am dedicated to the public same land, and it was platted Augus 23,1906, as Crosby (Revised), and it was surveyed. Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co. sold Lots 1,2, ant 3 to the Crosby Lumber Co. January 29,1909. Crosby Lumber Co. (by President J. C. Rousseau and M M. O'Laughlin, Secretary) sold to Piper Howe Lumber Co. or February 23, 1917. Somewhere before this, Kulaas Lumbe: Co. was involved in some way. March 22, 1917, Piper Howe Lumber Co. (by J. L. Howe, Vice President and Lee H. Piper, Secretary) sold to A. A testimonial dinner for Andy Ingwalson. L to R: A. L. Tru­ Ingwalson. March 26, 1917, A. Ingwalson sold to Swan ax, John Ingwalson, Bill Ingwalson, Andy, Paul Ingwalson, Lumber Co. It is unknown when the lumber shed was erected, and A. U. Anderson. but it was located on Lot 2. (The West 75 feet of Lots 4 and 5 - the present location of June 17, 1922, Swan Lumber Co. dissolved the corporation Ingwalson Motor Co. warehouse.) of H. S. Swan (Secretary), Martin Duffy, and Clarence E. Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co. sold above lots to Erickson, and sold to Rogers Lumber Co. Jacob B. Gregg August 26, 1907. Gregg sold it to Martin and George Lofthus had a Chiropractic Clinic at this location in John Duffy on August of 1907. the30's. Duffy sold half-interest to J. E. Atwood April 14, 1913. Midwest Lumber Co. sold to Paul Ingwalson on November Atwood operated a dray line and ice house there. Duffy sold 15,1939, Lot 3 and W 25 feet of Lot 2. And on February 24,1944, the other half-interest to P. E. Nulph June 14, 1916. Nulph in Midwest Lumber Co. sold to Paul Ingwalson Lot 1 and E 25 turn sold his interest to J. E. Atwood January 5,1917. feet of Lot 2. Paul and Andy Ingwalson operated as a J. E. Atwood sold to George W. Homestead September 15, partnership selling Ford and Mercury automobiles and 1937, who then operated the dray line and ice house. In the pickup trucks. winter he would go out to the dam and cut ice and haul it in. They operated out of what became the old library building G. W. Homestead sold the lots (the barn had been torn when it was moved to 104 1st St. SE (now contains down for some years) to Paul Ingwalson, December 8,1945. A apartments), this was their office and parts department. building was erected for a body shop, storage and used car They began construction on their new building in 1946 and reconditioning. This building burned down the summer of moved into it in 1947. The second floor being for apartments 1971, and a new steel building was built for an indoor and first floor offices, showroom, parts department and shop, showroom, the building which is there today. Red Mill Cafe March 1, 1909, Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co. tor January 21,1944, for $1980.00 S. Archie Hector died about sold Lot 14 Block 19 to Caroline Olson for $300.00. January 1945, and his widow, Clara, got his half of the lot. Caroline and Mary Olson gave a contract for Deed to Mollie May 19,1950, Clara Hector Monson sold her interest to O. M. Wilson for $1800.00, who in turn assigned contract to Gerda Hector. Dengerud. This sale was complete April 18,1910. April 18, 1950, O. M. Hector sold to Ludvig O & Kirsten Gerda (Gara) Dengerud died in June 1943, and the lot was Hovde and Lila Hope and Selmer Johnson, where they lived assigned to her widower, Simon Swenson. They operated a in the upstairs quarters and operated a cafe downstairs small cafe and a rooming house was upstairs known as the called "The Cookie House." Ludvig O. Hovde died January 2, "Red Mill". 1972. May 30, 1978, Hovde and Johnson sold it to Paul E. Simon Swenson sold it to O. M. Hector and S. Archie Hec Ingwalson. It has been vacant for a number of years. 51 - Larsen Food Business, now Double LL Store Hilda and Birger "B" Larsen came to Crosby from Mohall have gone hungry many times if it had not been for "B" 's in 1910. "B" purchased a grocery business from R. R. generosity and faith in human nature. Also, many people, Herring. Herring was the man for whom two Crosby sub­ now middle aged, tell us of the generous bags of candy that divisions were named. This business was located in the always accompanied their grocery orders and which they as building which is now the Olympia Bar. children enjoyed as a gift from "B" Larsen. "B" remained in business there until 1914 when he sold out "B" died in 1939 and for two years the business was con­ and moved to Westby, Montana, where he established a ducted by a partner, Gordon Hector and Hilda Larsen general merchandise business in partnership with A. S. An­ In 1941 George and Violet Larsen came to Crosby from derson, an early day Crosby real estate agent. Billings, Montana, to take over Hilda's share of the business. While in Crosby, between 1910 and 1914, "B" and Hilda In 1942 George bought out Gordon Hector's share of the Larsen built two houses. One is now occupied by the Herb business and the store name was changed to Larsen's Super Engberg family and the other is the Doug Graupe residence. Value. "B" and Hilda remained in business in Westby from 1914 In 1948 the building was purchased by George from Henry until 1929. They bought out the partner A. S. Anderson in 1922. Semingson. The volume of business continued to grow and in During the years in Westby, the five Larsen children, Esther, 1954 a new store building was built to accommodate the in­ Magdalene, Herbert, George and Helen grew up and atten­ crease. The new location was several doors north of the old ded high school. The older three attended high school in store. This was on a vacant lot where Bob Simmons had Crosby and Minot, all graduating from Minot High. planned to build a theatre. This location was just north of the George and Helen finished high school at Westby as the Duffy building which was a landmark in Crosby for many school there had grown up with the community and four years. The theatre was never built but an old foundation was years of high school was offered by that time. in place and a partial basement that had to be filled. "B" and Hilda believed that the best thing you could give After building the new store, the old building was leased for your children was a good education so all five were sent to the some time to the Home of Economy chain with Bob Steen as a University of Montana where all graduated between 1924 and manager. When the Home of Economy moved to the Klebe- 1933. Titterud building, the old place was sold to Jack Brady. In 1929 "B" and Hilda returned to Crosby and bought the Brady conducted an antique and gun shop there for several Crosby Meat and Grocery Company from Shorty (Albert) years. He then sold it to Jerry Schneider. Knutson. They sold the business interests in Westby to Luther In 1966, after 25 years in the grocery business, Vi and Hultgren of that city. George sold the Super Valu business to Roy Smith, a Super As to the history of the building in which "B" and Hilda Valu owner from Plenty wood, Montana. Smith operated the Larsen operated the Crosby Meat and Grocery Company business for two years and then sold it to Del Ekness of from 1929 to 1941—it runs as follows: Crosby, N.D. The building was moved to Crosby from Imperial and for In 1978 Del Ekness built a new building on the location of some years it was a feed store operated by Fred Hughes. the Great Plains Lumber Yard, just south of the old city well, Then for some time, it was a clothing store operated by and moved the Super Valu Store to that location. Knutson and Cliff Poling, James Polings father. Later No story of these business places would be complete it was operated as a meat and grocery store and Poling sold without a mention of Kenny Odegard, the "Super Man" of out to Shorty Knutson who in turn sold the business to "B" meat sales in Crosby for over forty-four years. Kenny served and Hilda Larsen. well and faithfully for "B" and Hilda and for George and Vi However, the building was owned by Henry Semingson and Larsen and now carries on for Del Ekness in his new store. rented by Larsens. This building was located where the north The ownership of the former Super Valu store on North half of Jerry's Lounge now stands. Main was retained by Vi and George Larsen. The building During the depression years "B" did a lot of credit was renovated and in November, 1978, was occupied by a new business and many area residents tell us that they would Double LL store operated by Lorraine and Lloyd Engen of Mott, N.D. The Double LL is one of five clothing stores operated by the Engens. It is managed by David Stromme who recently moved to Crosby.

A scene from the old grocery store operated by George K. Larsen (right). At left is Mrs. Bob Butterfield and Gary Malnaa.

-52 - Homestead Cleaner* Homestead's Cleaners was first located on Main Street east side where the J. Co. Drug is now located. In about 1924, Al Boutaine (a Frenchman) began the dry cleaning business in Crosby in this building. He bought the equipment and started his work. Mr. Boutine operated for about 5 years selling to Mr. and Mrs. Chris Christensen from Kenmare. The Christensens sold the business to Mrs. Bill Homestead in 1932. The name became Homestead Cleaners. Mrs. Homestead paid $1,000.00 for the business and equipment. Later she bought the building and lot for $1,000.00. Chris Christensens moved back to Kenmare. Tony Hall was the tailor. He sat cross legged by the table or sometimes in the back part of the store, doing alterations for Penneys Store and Al Hanson' mens Clothing. It cost $1.50 to get your suit dry cleaned, and the same price for dresses. Mrs. Homestead ordered a machine for blocking men's hats. They also sold made-to-measure quilts from samples from Chicago. Many a Gertie Homestead in her first dry cleaning shop. wool quilt was made and quilted from the wool samples as explosion that broke Ray Rousseau's window one block line changed twice a year and the wool samples were away. Mrs. Homestead just left moments before. They just beautiful. People requested the samples. They were patched up the building and "went to it again" the next day. great—George and Vi Larsen have two quilts at their cottage No heat in the building—can you imagine dry cleaning in Carlyle made by Grandma B. She obtained some of these clothes back there when it was 30 degrees below zero samples Lorraine is talking about. Tony Hall moved back to outside? South Dakota, and Homestead Cleaners hired a tailor from After Sig Bergman left, Mrs. Oscar Olson (Thora) became Minot by the name of Sig. Bergman, a big Scandinavian. He, the tailor person. She didn't sit cross legged on the table, too, sat on the table, legs crossed. It must have been a strong however. Later Mrs. Martin Duffy, Mrs. Borghild Gjovig, table because he weighed about 280 pounds. He was an Mrs. Ed. Moen and Mrs. Velma Marcy did all the cleaning of excellent tailor, a pleasant man, but he had a habit of clothes. For over 20 years, Mrs. Homestead worked on the drinking periodically. One 4th of July he decided to have fun steam press. Mr. Homestead kept the machinery repaired. and sprayed his wife with the garden hose and she exploded, The new building was built in 1955 and Arthur Rodvolds instead of the fire crackers. Mr. Bergman tailored Mrs. (Dorothy Emanuel) and Adrian Hansings (Lorraine Homestead's daughter an exquisite blue coat with a white Homestead) were in partnership. Then Arthur and Dorothy collar for Easter. moved to Cavalier, N. Dak. The Hansings operated the In about 1939, Mrs. Homestead had been cleaning clothes in business until 1962 selling to Fern and Myron Wallin who the little building near the alley behind the shoppe proper. sold to Mr. Brintnell in 1976. He in turn sold to Gary Wendel. There was a large wooden side loading barrel washer in the In January 1979, Shari Hellen took over, re-naming it building. Static electricity was believed to have caused the Hellen's Cleaners.

Hellen's Cleaners The dry cleaning business first began in Crosby in 1921 when Al Boutin owned and operated the business. Al had the business in a small building on the east side of Main Street between Larson's Food Market and the Palace of Sweets Cafe. Al sold the cleaners to Tony Hall and Chris Christianson. Tony was the tailor and Chris took care of the rest of the business. After a few months, Mrs. William Homestead (Gertie) bought out Chris Christianson in 1931. Gertie and Tony were in partnership. After Gertie learned the business, she then bought out Tony. The cleaners was known as Homestead Tailors and Cleaners. In 1954, Gertie had a modern brick and block building built, in which it is now operating. She sold the business in 1961 to Mr. and Mrs. Myron Wallin. Mrs. Myron (Fern) Wallin operated the business for 16 years before selling it to James and Robert Brintnell in name of Hellen's Cleaners. October of 1977. Bob is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hellen of Crosby, In July of 1978 the Brintnell's sold the cleaners to Gary formerly of Fortuna. Shari is a Montana native, born in Wendel, a Divide County native and Vo Ag teacher at Divide Forsyth and raised in Billings. They have one son, Shawn, County High School. who is 9 years old. Bob is employed at Ingwalson Motor Co. Gary sold the cleaners in January of 1979 to Bob and Shari as the service manager. Hellen. January 8 was the first day of business under the new They are members of Concordia Lutheran Church. -53 - The Coffee Shop Quoting from the October 12,1917 issue of the Divide Coun­ ty Journal. (Thanks to Mrs. Ruth Ralph for locating this issue and forwarding a reprint to me.) "New Citizens National Bank, now completed, moved into New Home the first of the week—Building is One of Best in State"— "Twelve years of faithful service has made it necessary on account of increase in business — the demand for more room - necessity for rendering better banking ac­ comodations was the compelling force in the decision to erect this magnificant new banking house." "The structure is fireproof, constructed of cut stone, brick, steel, reinforced concrete." The original building housed the Citizens State Bank, in­ cluding a Farmers Room on the second floor, with office spaces on the upper floor. Later on, the offices were replaced by apartments, in which capacity they serve to this day. Other various owners of the building throughout the years have been, the First National Bank, Delbin Gibbs, Eddie Bummer, Onhi Inc. (Myron Wallin and Gerald Doughty) and its present owner, myself (Adelaine Christianson) As well as can be recalled, the following businesses utilized the building after the 1933 sale to D. A. Gibbs: Andy Ingwalson Insurance Company, Restaurant - Eddie Bum­ mer in 1949 followed by Herb Engberg and Ted Pedersons. Mr. Bummer converted the Farmers Room and the main floor into apartments. He leased the front east section to the Forsberg Jewelry, and then to myself for the Nifty Shoppe. I purchased the building from the Onhi Corporation in 1954. In approximately 1957, I added the mezzanine floor and leased same to Mrs. Rosie (Lloyd) Gunderson, who operated the Wee Moderns, an infant and children's ready-to-wear. Perhaps in 1960, I acquired Mrs. Gunderson's interest and consolidated the children's and infant's department with my ladies ready-to-wear. In 1961, I leased the building to Mrs. Walter (Maude) Nelson, who continued the Nifty Shoppe until 1973 when she sold her interest to Mrs. Eileen Fennell, who continued the business in this location until 1974. In 1974,1 remodeled the main floor to have the present Cof­ A historic building in Crosby, this structure was built fee Shop, and the mezzanine as an additional banquet room for a bank in 1917, and is now home of the Coffee Shop or eating space. restaurant.

Interdenominational Bible Bookstore & Art Supply Center The Interdenominational Bible Bookstore and Art Supply Thumb & Thimble Center was opened in the fall of 1974 in the basement of my Thumb and Thimble started in August of 1975. The original home (Beverly Anderson) at 409 5th Avenue SE. I am still owners were Dr. and Mrs. James Stewart. It was purchased located there. I carry Bibles, Christian books, cards, etc. My by Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Moses in June of 1977. The original art and craft department includes things for decoupage, location was the former Jerry's Bakery and was moved in needleart, macrame, silk flowers, yarn, embroidery art. 1977 across the street to the Auto Parts store. It began with Come see us for Christian material and art and craft sup­ fabrics and crafts and in 1977 was changed to fabric and plies. children's wear. Since then, it has expanded to infant wear Some of the people who have been employed in the Bible and yarn. Bookstore and Art Supply Center were Rose Hall and Wanda The Thumb and Thimble was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Olsen. Ken Hiltner in September of 1979. -54- Joraanstad's The lot which Joraanstads occupy today was owned by several different people in the early 1900's as the abstract shows it passing from one owner to another many times. In 1909 Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Boock bought the property and erected a frame building that was used for a business. On November 19, 1912, Mr. and Mrs. Boock sold the property with the building thereon, to Mr. A. Ingwalson, who operated it as a general mercantile store. On February 5,1915, Mr. Ingwalson, now doing business as the A. Ingwalson Company, entered into an agreement with John Knoph, who at that time owned the present home of the Ben Franklin Store, paying him an agreed sum, for the privilege of using Knoph's south wall as a party wall. That spring Mr. Ingwalson constructed the present brick building which is now Joraanstads. As the Ingwalson Company still owned the building, Jake and Harold entered into a five-year lease with Mr. Ingwalson. On the 1st of October 1956, Jake and Harold Joraanstad purchased the building from the Ingwalson Company. On the 1st of January 1971, Jake and Dorothy Joraanstad bought the assets of Joraanstads Style Shop and the building from H. O. and Loretta Joraanstad. In 1964 the interior of the store had major renovations when the ceiling was lowered by putting in a suspended ceiling, and paneling installed above the side booths. Also new lighting was installed. In 1969 air conditioning was installed and 1974 the floor was covered with carpet. Harold was never active in the store. Jake continued to After completing the building he entered into a lease manage the business until 1962, when he started selling cars agreement with Mr. Lanning who operated it as the Lannign for Ingwalson Motors, and his wife Dorothy took over Clothing Company until the early 1920's. To this day a safe management of the business. bearing the name of Lanning Clothing Company continues to be used by Joraanstads. Oser and Hanson then rented the building for a short time. After being vacant for some time, William Ingwalson, son of A. Ingwalson, opened a Ladies Ready to Wear and operated it for about two years, when he closed the business to go to Minneapolis to study voice. After being vacant for some time, Reeds, who had a department store in Dickinson, came to Crosby and opened Reeds Department Store. They made some major changes, installing a stairway in the front part of the building, to the basement. This was used for yard goods and shoes. They continued to operate as a department store until about 1940. The troubled history of the building being vacant for long periods of time came to an end in 1943 when C. E. Anderson and Winton Balsukot, who owned the Bon Ton at Minot, came Joraanstads in 1949: Delores Marcy, Marlys Malnaa, Thora to Crosby in the fall of 1943 and established a Ladies Ready to Olson, Vilda Lynch, and Jake Joraanstad. Wear, calling their business the Bon Ton, same as at Minot. On July 1, 1977, Jake and Dorothy sold the business and They hired Elaine Doughty to manage the store. building to their son Stephen and his wife Ardis In October 1945 Jake Joraanstad returned from war time (Grindeland). Stephen resigned his position as Sales service to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Joraanstad of Manager with Colgate Palmolive, in the Denver area, to Noonan, and to call on C. E. Anderson in Crosby, whom he return to Crosby with his family. They have one son Scott, had known for many years in Minot. Anderson in addition to two daughters Elizabeth and Jody. A son Ricky died in 1975. owning the Bon Ton, also owned Andy's Mens Store in the old During all these years, since being operated by the Werges building. He suggested selling the Bon Ton to Jake, Joraanstads it has been a Ladies Specialty Shop with a baby and that he should move to Crosby. department primarily keyed to Grandma's. As a result of this conversation and further investigation, Needless to say, Jake and Dorothy are happy that their son Jake in partnership with his brother, H. O. Joraanstad, and his wife wanted to come back to Crosby and continue the purchased the assets of the Bon Ton as of the 1st of January store, which is going on the 34th year under the same name. 1946. Their first major change was to re-name the business It also speaks well for the business community of Crosby that "Joraanstads Style Shop," under which name it has so many of our young people have made Crosby their home continued to operate ever since. and operating businesses here. -55 Crosby Motors, Incorporated As I look over the abstract of the property owned by Crosby Chrysler dealer who purchased the dealership from William Motors, your local Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and Dodge Homestead a few years prior to that time. Bill was the very truck dealership, I feel pretty much a newcomer in the first Chrysler dealer in Crosby; in fact, he at one time sold business world of Crosby, North Dakota. I find that people the Maxwell automobile, the car Jack Benny made famous. whose names are rich in the history of this great community, Herman Johnson, my right hand man in my shop and parts have at one time or another owned lots or parts of these lots department, started his career with Bill Homestead and which are either the used cars lots or the lots where the Herman says Bill was one of the finest early-day mechanics building stands today. There was a Ralph Rooming House he had ever known. If Willie couldn't fix it, it couldn't be there at one time and also a Monson Bowling Alley. However, fixed! Herman has the distinction of being associated with to make a long story short, it was on June 21,1924, that T. S. Mopar products for 42 years. Semingson and his wife Emma sold lot 12 to Everett Evans On August 18,1969, Norman and Ada Bjella formed Crosby and J. A. Buck. This partnership also acquired lots 11,10, and Motors Inc. and sold 50% of the shares of this new cor­ 9. The present building stands on lots 12, 11, and 10. Lot 9 poration to my wife Emline and me. On February 19, 1970, never has had any buildings on it. These two gentlemen own­ this corporation acquired lot 7 and 5 feet on the south side of ed the local Ford dealership for many years. According to all lot 6 from Ruth Monson. available records, they ran this business as equal partners On July 28,1971, we (Clayton and Emline Loucks) bought without benefit of any written agreement. I like to believe the remaining 50% of the shares of Crosby Motors from Nor­ that it was with just a hand shake; in those early days a man and Ada Bjella. Norm and Ada had a dream of leaving man's word was as good as his bond. this land of snow and ice for the warmer winters of Arizona On August 11,1949, Christian Anderson bought the property and they at last realized that dream. from the estate of Evans and Buck. Christ also acquired lot 8 Lorraine Chaffee (Mrs. Don Chaffee) has been with us as where the Ralph Rooming House stood. He had the local Old- bookkeeper since we bought into the business in 1969. As this smobile and Minneapolie Moline dealerships. Christ was a is a family corporation, our five sons, Larry, Dean, Barry, very colorful businessman and a legend in his own time. Nathan, and Quinn have all taken a work turn when needed. Those of us who were here will long remember the en­ Barry and wife Joanne have been actively associated with us thusiasm he showed for selling, hunting, fishing, or showing since Barry's graduation from college in 1971. his steam engine at Fair time. We will be "sellabrating" our 10th year as your local On January 26, 1967, Norman and Ada Bjella bought the Chrysler dealer this summer — some years short of the garage property from the Christ Anderson estate and moved diamond jubilee of our fair city. Watch for our ads! Norman Motors into the property. Norm was the local

Clayton and Emline Loucks in tront ot i_rosoy Motors, Inc. -56- Crosby Jack and Jill September 11,1906, Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Corporation sold Lot • 1 to Frank Koester. On the same site Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Corporation sold Lot / 2 to S. S. Nelson. Nelson opened the first business known as "The Crosby Store", a general merchandise store. February 5,1908, Frank Koester sold Lot / 1 to the Bank of Williams County. The same date S. S. Nelson sold Lot / 2 to the State Bank of Williams County. The present building was built in the year of 1908. September 29, 1915, Citizen's State Bank changed to Citizen's National Bank. June 1,1917, Citizen's National Bank sold to Sigurd Bue. He was a banker there until February 4,1922, when he sold out to Borg and Otheim Company, which was made up of John Borg, John Otheim, Anton Otheim, and S. J. Otheim. They sold Advance Rumley and Chevrolet's and operated a dime store type business in the basement. July 1926 John, Anton and S. J. Otheim sold their interest to John Borg and it became Borg Chevrolet Company. Owl, and this lease continued until May 9,1977. At this time April 6,1932, John Borg leased out to Andy Ingwalson and it the store was sold to Dave MeUand of Ray, North Dakota, became Ingwalson Chevrolet Company. Andy purchased the who operated a Piggly Wiggly Grocery. In 1938, Frank Hingst property May 21,1936, together with the Chevrolet franchise. opened a body shop in the back of the building, which he Lorentz Kvale was a partsman and Kenneth Otheim work­ he operated until 1942. ed in the office. Don Obert was a mechanic. About 1937 June 1, 1978, the building and business was purchased by Ingwalson sold the franchise to Ed Tuftedal of Wildrose. Keith Baker and Ron McCarty and is now known as the Ingwalson first leased the building March 1, 1937, to Red Crosby Jack and Jill.

-57- Gamble's & Elroys Electric Gamble's and Elroy's Electric, at the present time, is before opening up for business in 1943. Tom leased a 20x72 engaged in retailing hardware, plumbing, electrical, major parcel of land adjacent to the south side of the building and appliances, sporting goods, and some furniture items, plus had a quonset constructed for additional storage space. doing a limited amount of electric repair. Elroy Christenson purchased the building from Tom Lorenz The Gamble dealership in Crosby was established in 1933 in 1961. In 1963 all the windows on the north side, except the by Tom Lorenz in the old Nordstog building which was rear portion of the building, were covered up, and display located on the present site of the Coast-to-Coast store. In 1937, shelving with indirect lighting installed. There was also he moved to a building which was located on the south lot of display shelving installed on both sides of the center divider the new MiLann Furniture store. In 1942, he purchased the and several display counters were remodeled. In 1971, a present Gamble store building from 0. M. Jones of stairway was built to utilize the upstairs portion of the Washington, D. C, and after considerable interior building for storage. This was necessary to replace storage remodeling, opened in early 1943 with an added line of room lost when the quonset building (located adjacent to clothing. In 1945, the clothing line was closed out and south side of the building) had to be moved off because of furniture added. lease termination. The upstairs portion of the building hasn't During the summer of 1947, Elroy's Electric was been used for over 30 years. established in the rear portion of the building. Services of­ The Gamble building is one of the older structures in fered were all types of wiring, plus repair on appliances, Crosby, and though its roof may sag and its floor creak, it radios, and motors. In 1954, a complete plumbing line was still isn't ready to give up the ghost. added with Eddie Swonder as plumber until his death in Sep­ tember 1970. The store was purchased by Elroy Christenson from Tom Lorenz on June 1, 1961, and has been operating under the same ownership since that time. Since Elroy had been engaged in electrical work under the name Elroy's Electric prior to the purchase of the Gambles dealership and wanted to continue the electrical portion of the business, he decided to incorporate Elroy's Electric into the name of the new undertaking, so the result was Gambles and Elroy's Electric. The Gamble building has a rather interesting history in it­ self. It was built about 1906 with George Jones operating the first hardware store. The Jones family lived upstairs until 1917, when Jacobson and Fugelso bought the building and continued to operate a hardware store. The upstairs portion of the building was not used for about ten years, until 1927, when the Jacobsons lived there a short time. During this time there was also a funeral parlor in the west end of the building, operated by Carl Jacobson. In 1928 the business was taken over by C. E. Lofthus and Son, and they lived upstairs many years. Lofthus was in business until 1942 when he became a "casualty of war conditions", with goods and help hard to obtain. Tim Lorenz purchased the building in 1942 and did a considerable amount of renovation work on the interior Elroy and Irene Christenson.

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-58- Divide County Journal Small newspapers were a relatively easy business to get and lot to the American Legion Post, to erect a new club into, back around the turn of the century, so rarely did a new building that left only The Journal still operating. The Miner settlement have to wait long before it had a newspaper of its ceased publication in the mid-fifties. own. Crosby was no exception. The Crosby Review, in fact, was one of the earlier businesses established in old Crosby, printing its first issue here on July 28,1904, not more than a couple of months after Crosby opened for business. The Review came from Langdon, where it was born as the Cavalier County Clipper March 10,1903, and it was brought here by H. M. Paulson. The Review had a long parade of early editors, for although it didn't take a whole lot of investment to get into the business, most of the early newspapers provided only a marginal existence. They were generally one man operations—or at the most, had an editor and an assistant. Paul Paulson operated the Review from 1905 to 1909, and he was followed by W. H. Ware (1909-1918), Olaf Ribb (from March to December, 1918), and D. W. Dickinson (for the first four months of 1919). Meanwhile, The Crosby Eagle came onto the scene June 9, 1905, having moved here from Flaxton where it was the Flaxton Eagle. J. T. Hage ran this newspaper for the first year, and W. H. Wilber ran the operation for the next year. Then it was sold to Delbin Gibbs, who operated it until 1916. In those formative years, the Review was the stronger paper, and the Eagle publishers had rough sledding. So to keep the paper afloat a group of businessmen headed by George P. Homnes, a prominent attorney in Crosby, bought the Eagle in 1916, and changed its name to The Divide County Journal—publishing the first edition under The Journal banner May 12,1916. The Journal was sold to a couple of practicing printers named Calvin Andrist and Nansen B. Henderson October 7, 1921, and they shared ownership until May 29, 1936, when ••'"mm ^BB Nansen sold out his interest to Andrist. It was back in 1916 and 1917 when the Nonpartisan League swept to power in This was The Journal staff in 1942. Left to right, they are government, and one of their objectives was to control all of Chester Amundson, James O. Henderson, Lorraine Bothun the offices in county government, and to have a newspaper of Ralph, and Calvin L. Andrist, the publisher. their own in every county. So they bought the Crosby Review early in 1919. It was the Coincidentally, the Miner was the first newspaper Andrist better of the two newspapers at the time, and the League ever operated. It was in the fall of 1911, after he had spent enjoyed powerful support in Divide County at that time, so four years working in newspapers in Kermit and Ambrose, the new Divide County Farmers Press had little trouble that three businessmen from Noonan asked Andrist to take winning and holding the official newspaper prize, which was over the Miner, because they felt they needed a better of considerable economic importance in those times. newspaper than they were getting. Because they liked The Press had a parade of editors for the next couple of Andrist's work, the three helped Andrist to buy the property, years—J. N. Martin, R. W. Frazier, V. H. Cowles, then R. W. and he operated in Noonan until 1921—except for an Frazier again, and finally Delbin Gibbs. As they were interruption during World War I when he joined the Army to struggling during this unsettled period, their godfather, the help fight the Kaiser. Nonpartisan League, faced a revolt at the election polls in Andrist continued at the head of The Journal from 1921 1926, when opposition forces swept all of the NPL county until 1958, becoming the sole survivor of some 12 or 15 officials out of power—including the Press. publications in the county. That year he leased the business The designation of official newspaper was an important to his son, John, and he sold it to him in 1961. John has shot in the arm for The Journal, and for the first time they continued the operation. were able to compete effectively with the Farmers Press. The Journal has expanded its coverage area substantially The Press retook the official newspaper battle in 1928, but to become a regional publication, and for the past several they lost it again in 1930, and from that time on The Journal years it has had a circulation of approximately 3,600—one of never again lost the contest, strengthening their advantage the largest weeklies in the state. with each passing election. It has become a prize winning publication and somewhat D. A. Gibbs finally bought the Farmers Press December 2, innovative in the weekly field. It was one of the first 1938. By now there were only four newspapers in the county. newspapers to convert to the new photo offset method of The Ambrose Newsman closed down about 1940 or 1941, and printing in 1969, and it has won numerous state newspaper Gibbs closed the Press November 1,1946, selling his building association contests and prizes. -59- Power Creamery In 1927-28 the Kiwanis Club of Crosby, seeking a project, The depression and the drouth took its toll, the creamery made a survey of their trade area to see if there was enough shipped in many carloads of Minnesota hay on the Soo Line, cream shipped out to warrant a creamery. and the government shipped in cotton seed cake. Russian Manned with this information they contacted the Armour thistle was chopped and used for feed. Herds were culled out and Bridgeman-Russell Creameries at Minot trying to and in many cases eliminated where the farmers quit and interest them in building a creamery at Crosby; however, moved out. The government paid $20.00 for top cows, they were not interested since the volume was too small and however, $15 to $18 was the average. Hogs in some cases the location so close to the Canadian line restricted any didn't pay the freight to market. potential growth. In 1933 the Creamery became a distributor of Hamms The manager of Bridgeman-Russell, Charles Lowe, was Beer. In 1934 Newman Power bought out Charles Lowe and interested so an agreement was negotiated between him and Frank Power became a partner. the Building Committee whereby the Kiwanis Club would In 1936 an addition 16' x 50' was built on the north side of the build the building and Mr. Lowe would equip and operate it. building for frozen food lockers. This was the first frozen food At this point Newman Power, who was bookkeeper and locker plant built in North Dakota. salesman for Bridgeman-Russell entered the picture as Mr. In 1941 a cream buying and distribution station was set up Lowe, needing additional financing. A partnership was in Plentywood, renting the back room of Joe Redman's tire worked out. shop on Main Street. The Crosby Creamery was built in the spring of 1929. John In 1943 a creamery was built at Plentywood. When Jensen, owner of the Jensen Lumber Company was general completed, Frank Power moved there to operate it. Like contractor, and Mr. Kvale (Lorentz Kvale's father) was Crosby, the operation consisted of manufacturing ice cream the builder. The original building was a 30' x 50' structure, and churning butter. with an office and front room, a processing room, cold An addition was built to the Crosby plant in 1948 to process storage rooms, boiler and coal storage and store room. The and bottle milk. The square glass bottle was introduced at cost less the cold storage rooms was about $4,000. Payments that time, to be followed by the waxed paper carton, then the to the building committee were $75.00 a month until paid, plastic coated paper carton and the plastic gallon jug. Each with interest at 6%. of these requiring new equipment. Farm cream started falling off with the improved farm economy. Larger grain operations saw the demise of the small farm operation with its 6-8 cow milking herds and with them went many of the small creameries. At this time, only 3 creameries in a 150-mile radius have churning operations (Bottineau-Crosby-Williston). In 1973 Charles Power bought his father's business, and discontinued the beer distributor business. In 1975 he became a distributor of Bridgeman Dairy Products and discontinued the processing of milk. In 1977 the ice cream manufacturing was discontinued. The churning operation according to current plans, will be discontinued in the fall of 1979. Power Creamery celebrated its 50th anniversary in July of 1979. In summing up the past fifty years, Newman says they were exciting, challenging, and interesting years. He saw the Creamery being conceived in 1928, built in 1929, grow to its full potential in the forties and fifties. Diversify Harry Jensen, Charlie Lowe, and Newman Power in 1930. with the times with everything from buying poultry, selling The first operation was freezing ice cream on July 1 for the hay, to wholesaling beer and processing milk. anticipated 4th of July demand. The outside doors were not on at this time. Ice cream mix was purchased from Bridgeman-Russell. Buying cream and churning started after the 4th of July. The first cream check was issued to Nels Overbo. Cream was 74( per pound butterfat. Kiwanis staged a mock funeral for Ole (Oleomargarine) sold in Crosby for many years. The depression started the later part of 1929, cream went from 74* to H- The average price was about 12 to 16 cents a pound butterfat. Butter was 15 to 18 cents. Ice cream was 90< a gallon. Saturday was the big day of the week, especially Saturday night, when as high as 100 deliveries of cream would be received after 6 p.m. It meant pasteurizing and churning late Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings, since the 500 pound churn was quite inadequate. About 1933 butter production hit its peak when 212,000 pounds were churned. -60 He saw the milk packaging industry revolutionize itself He saw ice cream become a year-round seller due to from the round glass bottle—standard for seventy-five years, mechanical refrigeration and better packaging. In 1929, to the square glass bottle—the wax coated paper carton—the there wasn't a dealer west of Crosby to Whitetail, Montana, plastic coated paper carton to the plastic jug. The 10-gallon who handled ice cream in the winter. He saw his son take milk cans become obsolete with the refrigerated, stainless over and eliminate all processing and become a successful steel farm tanks and insulated bulk pick-up trucks. distributor of dairy products.

Styles Unlimited KTGO Radio In October of 1978, Gay Power The Crosby KTGO Krebsbach opened Styles Unlimited, radio station , a satelite a complete hair styling shop for men of KTGO in Tioga, and women in the former dental began operation in 1967 building of Dr. Richard Fettig. in the basement of the Along with a complete remodeling Farmers State Bank. and redecorating job, Gay installed Charlene Power stations for four beauticians. At the became disc jockey, present time Gay, Carol Riestad and sales lady and General Marge Bloom Anderson are kept Manager, broadcasting busy. Styles Unlimited also carries a from Crosby for one complete line of Redkin cosmetics. hour five days each I Gay is a graduate of Divide week. That hour, which County High School and Joseph's is called the Crosby School of Hair Design in Minot. Her Hour continues featuring Crosby area news at 9:15 a. m., husband, Ken Krebsbach, is a car­ along with commercials for area business places, country penter for Lund Construction in music, interviews and usually a Norwegian story or two. Crosby and also the bookkeeper for Gay Krebsbach Styles Unlimited.

Montana-Dakota Utilities Company The history of the production and distribution of man's night service growing, Kately and Huso decided to install a 4 greatest servant, electricity, at Crosby has been a colorful cylinder Foos engine along with a 30 KW generator, still one. There are still those among us who recall the first 5 KW using gas as a fuel. This took place in the year 1916. plant in Crosby that provided electric service only several During the year 1917, a 13,200 volt line was constructed to hours a day and only on certain days of the week. It is they serve the city of Ambrose and a new company was who marvel at the fact that Crosby is presently served with a incorporated by Kately and Huso known as the "United 2-way feed of uninterruptible central system electric power Power Company." lines of 60,000 volts each. The next time you look at that In the spring of 1918, fire caused by an overheated exhaust dependable electric clock or refrigerator that you know pipe, took its toll, destroying the original plant. Steps were operates 24 hours a day at only 2.7* per KWH, it will help you taken immediately to serve the customers and a new site for to appreciate how electricity got its start in Crosby. the plant was secured. On it was placed a brick and tile During the year 1913, Mr. Knute Huso of Crosby pioneered the building of the electric service industry under the name of "Crosby Auto Company." A plant was erected and he used as his generating system a 40-80 Flour City tractor in combination with a 5 KW generator, furnishing AC service to the city of Crosby. Soon after Mr. Huso had begun operation, a partnership was formed between him and Mr. Arthur Kately. This partnership was to continue until the property was taken over by the Montana Dakota Power Co. As the demand for more electrical energy increased, and to insure sufficient ability to handle the load, the partners installed a 3 cylinder Nash gas engine with a 24 KW generator. This necessitated the installation of a gas producer unit, which used hard coal . . . harder than its contemporary, found in great quantities in this part of the country. During this time, service had been available for a period of approximately 12 hours per day and the cost of electricity was 18* per KWH. The electric service hours were extended on Mondays and Wednesdays to accommodate washing and ironing. With the ever-increasing load and the wishes for all 61 - building. During the years of 1918 to 1921 the demand for of the company took place when the site of the plant was electricity grew at an even greater rate and Messrs. Kately moved to the Whittier Crockett Coal mine which was then and Huso purchased the Kenmare Light and Power Company operating about 5 miles south of the city of Columbus. in 1921. All this time, Mr. R. M. Heskett, of the Montana Dakota Mr. Huso, who was an engineer of no mean ability, Power Company, had been watching the development of this introduced a rather practical idea of making gas from lignite territory, and in 1926 the move that he made in purchasing rather than a more expensive hard coal. This process the Kately-Huso interest, brought about what is known today reduced the cost of fuel almost 300%. as the Kenmare District of the Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. In 1922, the partners decided on the construction of a Hi- On May 9,1927, Mr. H. E. Preston was named manager of line beginning at Crosby and continuing on through the cities the Kenmare Division . . . the first manager under the of Noonan, where they had erected a steam generating plant, ownership of the Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Larson, Columbus, Lignite, Flaxton, and Bowbells. In the Present Crosby office workers are Mr. Gordon Hagge and period of 1924-25 an important change in the physical aspect Mrs. Arnt Johnson.

Homestead's Garage Bill Homestead bought the Southside Garage in 1923 changing the name to Homesteads Garage. Bill bought the garage from Will Keck. Bill ran an automotive repair and farm machinery, and sold Page and Jewett cars. Mr. Homestead had a big fancy Jewett to sell and drove out into the country and sold it to Mr. Selle in Twin Butte. Later he took the Nash dealership and Bill and Gertie Homestead went to the Chicago Worlds Fair in a new 1933 Nash. His earliest mechanics were, besides Bill himself, Albert Bummer, Ed Homestead, his brother, and then Herman Johnson who was with him till he sold the business in 1953. Mr. Homestead was then the Chrysler-Plymouth dealer. Mr. and Mrs. Homestead drove the beautiful 25th Anniversary Chrysler (silver) in 1949 to California to Lorraine Homestead and Adrian Hansing's wedding. In 1950 the Hansings were in partnership with Bill and the business was sold in 1953 to Norman Bjella who renamed it Norman Motors. He in turn sold to Clayton Loucks who Crosby Motors. moved the business to its present location and called it The original building is now John Benters Top and Body Repair.

Crosby Top and Body Shop Frank Hingst moved to Crosby from Flaxton, N. Dak., in April 1936, where he had operated a body shop. He started the Crosby Top & Body Shop in the old Nott Building. It was torn down and the Crosby Launderama was built there. He then moved to the back part of the Ingwalson Motor Building, now the Jack & Jill store. Ingwalson Motor Co. moved to their new building and the Red Owl took over the building. The Body Shop is still operated in the back of the building. In 1945 the business was sold to Egel Lokken and Leonard Peterson, both had worked for him in Flaxton and continued to work for him in Crosby. They specialized in all kinds of body work, glass replacement and radiator repair. Egel and Leonard operated the Body Shop as partners until 1947 when Leonard sold his interest to John Benter who had been working in the shop for several months. In 1964 John bought Egel's interest and the business was moved from the rear of the Red Owl building to Norman Motors building. This was previously owned by Bill Homestead. This is where the business is today. 62 - Crosby Implement Company (Formerly Sortland Implement Company)

The Sortland Implement Company is located on Lots 16,17, and 18 of Block 15 in the city of Crosby. The first business on this location was a Meyer Lumber Co. in 1907, which was sold to Roger Lumber Co. in 1918. Borg and Otheim, a partnership selling hardware, autos and farm machinery, bought the lots in 1923. Anton Otheim withdrew from the partnership in 1926, bought the buildings, and continued to sell John Deere machinery at this location. Gubrud Bros, of Ambrose bought the business from Anton Otheim in 1939. When John Deere objected to the brothers selling several lines of machinery, Oscar became the sole owner in 1951, continuing with the John Deere implements. He remodeled the shop buildings, adding a parts room and a garage. The original building was included and used for an The buildings, still owned by the Sortlands, are leased by office. He also bought the east half of lot 18 which belonged to the Divide Co. School for a bus barn. the Mills family. The original building remodeled by Oscar Gubrud, burned In 1953, John Bjorneby and Rudolph Sortland became in 1959, so there is nothing left of the original lumber yard and partners in the business with Oscar. In 1957 Rudolph and Ole office building. Sortland bought the business and renamed it the Sortland A new building was built by Crosby Implement in 1976. It is Implement Co. They continued to operate the business until managed by Paul Mahrer, a native of the Flasher area and a 1973, when they sold it to Crosby Implement Co. who leased long time "John Deere" man. The business is located just the buildings for three years. John Deere implements have south of Crosby on old Highway No. 5. been sold on the location for fifty years.

Wallin Insurance and Real Estate Myron Wallin purchased an interest in the Martin Insurance Agency from Leland B. Torkelson in 1962. Mr. Torkelson had purchased the agency from C. E. (Buster) Martin, who had started the agency in 1940. Mr. Wallin PI changed the name from Martin Insurance to Wallin Insurance when he dissolved the partnership with Mr. Torkelson, he then expanded the business to include appraisals in Real Estate becoming a licensed Real Estate broker in 1971. The location was changed from Lot 13, Block 9 when the 1st National Bank purchased the old building and lot in November 1978. Mr. Wallin employs Barbara Kocher as a full time secretary and Steve Mortenson is associated with him as a real estate salesman. The insurance and Real Estate office is now located in the Wallin Federal Building which is located on lots 9 and 10, original townsite, this land originally homesteaded by Leonard Bauman, SEV4-29-163-97 on October 21, 1904, sold to Charles Holbrook May 22, 1905, to Charles Babcock July 30, 1906 to Dakota and Great Northern townsite August 15, 1906. Divided into lots and blocks Lot 9, Block 9 sold to George Sagerty October 6, 1910 to Beulah Ashley June 19, 1913 to down and replaced by a 60' x 93' brick and block building in Clifton Rousseau January 3, 1925 to Ernest and Alida Mukin 1972. June 3, 1930 to Vivian Mukin August 21, 1961 to R. H. Points Myron Wallin was born at Noonan, North Dakota, son of June 12,1964 to Myron J. Wallin March 14,1972. Hattie (Spooner) Wallin and John Wallin who homesteaded Lot 10, Block 9 originated somewhat the same way but was in Coalfield Township. He attended Brown School * 1 and sold by Mary Brock to Samuel Rainville December 20, 1916 graduated from Noonan High School. In 1943 he married who had a medical practice in the two story building Fern Grindeland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry pictured, he later sold to Jeanette Wilson on November 13, Grindeland of Fortuna who homesteaded in Writing Rock 1948. Dr. R. L. Smith had a chiropractic practice in the two Township. They have three sons Gary and Jerry of story building, for several years until he built a new clinic on Minneapolis, Minnesota and Craig of Bismarck, North the south end of main street. The two story building was torn Dakota. -63 Northwestern Federal Savings & Loan Association Northwestern Federal Savings & Loan Association opened in the old Farmers State Bank building in April 1975. At this time the rear of the building was occupied by Wes Kocher accounting. Wes left in January, 1976, moving to his new office. Farmers Union Insurance moved their office to this building from January, 1976, to May, 1976. As of May 1976 to the present date, Northwestern Federal Savings & Loan Association has been the only occupant of this building, purchasing it in January of 1979. Previous to April 1975, occupants of this building have been Farmers Merchant Bank, Mr. Homnes and Dr. S. I. Allen rented the offices. Peter Johnson also had the 1st State Bank here. Farmers State entered in 1936 and moved to their new building in 1966. Cal Calton, Michel Stefonowicz and Mclntee and Wisenend all had law practices here.

J. Co. Drug

The J. Co. Drug opened its doors on December 4, 1978, on the east side of Main Street at 120 N. Main. It is one of Crosby's newest businesses today. The grand opening was held January 18-19-20, 1979. It is owned by I. J. and Beverly (Ralph) Jacobson. They purchased Easton Drug from Ralph and Evelyn Easton in 1972. This was located across the street at 119 N. Main. I. J. is a graduate of the College of Pharmacy at NDSU. His wife, Beverly, is a graduate of Minot State with a degree in Business Education and Library Science. She is a former teacher at Crosby High School. They have four children, Krista8; Erik7; Trina5; andLara3; who help them. The J. Co. Drug occupies two lots. The south lot was occupied by the Farm and Home Electric owned by Lee Wenker. This building housed the first dry cleaning business in Crosby. The original building was sold to Lee Wenker who operated the Farm and Home Electric and at one time also sold toys in addition to electrical equipment. He discontinued his store and used it for storage and continues to operate his business from his home. He sold the lot and building to I. J. and Beverly Jacobson. The north lot was last occupied by the Star Cafe. This building was built for a motion picture theatre, as time went on it was used as an undertaking parlor and Assembly of God church. June and Jules Kamprud owned the building and opened the June and Jules Bowling Lanes. They also ran a pool hall across the street. 0. M. Hector and his son, Archie, purchased the building and operated the Palace of Sweets from 1931 to 1945. Archie passed away in December of 1944 and his wife leased the business to her sister and brother-in-law the Hydes. In 1946 Carl and Ada Gochanour bought the business and named it the "Star Cafe." In 1948 they sold to Ada's brother, Lawrence Bacon, who went west after a short time and Ada and Carl again operated it until the 4th of July 1949 when Herman and Luella Johnson bought it and operated it until 1953. They sold to Arthur Selle and he sold to Catherine Osvold. The building was getting very old and stood vacant for many years until Rhonda Lund, Mildred Kvigne, I. J. Jacobson, Lori Casteel, 1968 when it was torn down. Ted Lindseth, Beverly Jacobson and the four Jacobson 1. J. and Beverly Jacobson purchased the lot from Ken children, Erik, Trina, Lara, and Krista. Monson, Ardis Natterstad, and Gloria Bryant. 64 - Easton Drug The original building that is known as Easton Drug was first owned by C. E. Stryer. It was confectionery in the early days and the Post Office before 1910. Later it was purchased by Jim and Emma Burns, he was a brakeman on the Great Northern, they lived in the first house north of the Masonic Temple. He quit the railroad to operate the store and his wife taught grade school. They had one son John. When Jim's father died, a cotton farmer in Texas, the family moved there to take over the farm. In August 1928 the Harry F. Easton family moved from Tioga to Crosby and rented the building from the Burns and opened a drug store. The Eastons came from Tioga where they operated a general store and drug store. They rented the building until 1940 when they purchased it from Emma T. Burns. When the Eastons came here their son Ralph was taking pharmacy at NDSU in Fargo and Elwin was a first grader. After graduating Ralph went to the Yanken Pharmacy in Steele, where he worked for four years and then returned to Crosby to join his father as a partner in the business. The old Easton Drug. Carmen Glass, a customer, Ralph In 1936 Ralph married Evelyn L. Johnson, whose father Easton, Mildred Doughty, and Harry Easton. owned the Farmers State Bank of which she became vice- I. J. Jacobson began his internship in 1968 at Easton Drug president and teller for nine years. In 1945 Ralph bought the and continued there after becoming a registered pharmacist. store from his father, who then went on the road as a He and his wife, Beverly (Ralph) purchased the Easton Drug salesman, traveling for the Northern Drug Company of from the Eastons on January 1, 1972, and in 1973 they Fargo for several years. In 1945 the store became a purchased the building. partnership owned by Ralph H. and Evelyn L. Easton. The Ted Lindseth interned at Easton Drug in 1975 and Harry Eastons moved to Eugene, Oregon. continued on after becoming a registered pharmacist. Ralph and Evelyn Easton have two children, Mrs. Robert The pharmacy was remodeled in 1973. In 1978 two lots (Kaye) Fraser, Mitchell, S.D. where she is Administrator of across the street were purchased and work was begun on a Social Services at St. Joseph's Hospital. Their son, Kirk H. new building. On December 1,1978, the doors of Easton Drug Easton, is a pharmacist at the Hennepin County Medical were closed for the last time and on December 4 the Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have one grandchild Jacobsons opened the doors of the new J. Co. Drug at 120 N. Carrie Kay Fraser, age nine. Main. Olsen's Barber Shop The history of Olsen's Barber Shop at 110 N. Main goes back to 1908 when Toole Johnson bought the lot from Dakota Great Northern Townsite Company for $250.00. In 1913 Johnson sold the lot and building to H. I. Wilson. It was before this time the present stores were built but I don't know what type of business used the buildings. John Duffy bought the property in 1915. One of the earlier business was a feed house and at one time it was a music store run by H. E. Covell. In 1916 Chan Cowee bought the 2 buildings. He started a Barber Shop where Bob Kinsey now has his States Attorney office and the present Barber Shop was rented to Jess Atwood where he ran a dray office. Mr. Cowee ran a 4 chair shop at that location until about 1932 or 1933 when he moved the shop next door to what was the dray office. Over the years Mr. Cowee had a number of barbers working for him; Bill Hanmer worked for him for 19 years, Charles Ackerman worked for 9 years during the First World War. Some of the others were: Lee Reise Eddie, C. A. Butler, Brownie (Gordon) Wilson, and Howard Darling. Chet Cowee, Mr. Cowee's son, worked with his dad for 23 years before he accepted the Post Masters job. In 1951 Chan sold the south 15 feet of the lot to Ed Ralph. Chan Cowee (left) in his first barber shop. Arlen Olsen started to work for Chan in 1961. Arlen rented the Enebo worked for Arlen 3 years. shop from Chan in 1966 and after he rented the shop, Mr. Arlen bought the shop in 1975 and it is still used as a Barber Cowee continued to work part time until he retired after Shop but over the years it has been reduced to a one chair barbering for 66 years of which 57 were in Crosby. Dave shop. -65 - First National Bank of Crosby (Formerly the Allen Hotel Property) The original structure—at least the south portion of it—was X built in about 1907 by the late Guy Grove, and it was named the Pilgrim Hotel. The larger north section was added a few years later, and included rooms on the upper level and a large opera house on the main floor, and it was known as the Auditorium theatre. The theatre was used for road shows and public dances. Allen Person acquired the structure shortly before 1920, when he foreclosed on a mortgage, and he operated it for a few years. Other operators included George Molander, 0. A. Steffler, Jack Dingman, and Alida Mukin. Mrs. Mukin operated the business for many years, after purchasing it from Person. Meanwhile, the theatre was converted to Crosby's first motion picture theatre, and it was The Pilgrim Hotel, later the Allen Hotel, and now the site of operated by Bob Simmonds and Fritz Blank, among others. First National Bank. It was not long after the advent of the new Crosby Theatre So in December of 1974, an excavating company was hired in 1939 that the older theatre could not meet the competition, to remove the building, and the task was accomplished in five so it was closed and used as a warehouse for many years. working days, as sidewalk superintendents watched on with Al and Barbara Beadles purchased the hotel from Mrs. more than a little nostalgia. Mukin in the late 1940's and they put a furniture store in the The old Allen Hotel a structure that was built in the 1907 to south wing. A decade or more later they gave the whole 1912 era, dominated the Crosby business skyline for more structure a facelift, converting the theatre-warehouse into a than six decades. furniture showroom. In 1977, the lots were purchased by First National Bank and That business was later subleased, and it too folded. In a temporary bank was placed there in August of 1977. A new more recent years the north portion housed a cafe and bank building is being built in the lots next to the temporary recreation parlor, and auto parts business and a coffee shop bank. The employees at the time of the opening were: and liquor lounge. But as so often happens, the structure Quentin Benson, Columbus; Teresa Glaspey, Lignite; eventually reached the point where its owner felt it was not Margaret Myers, Columbus; Myrna Christianson, Debbie worth the cost of bringing it up to operable standards. Benter and Lori Skarphol, all of Crosby. The Board of The property had recently fallen into the hands of Minot Directors consists of Wayne Ebel, Rapid City, SD; Quentin Federal Savings and Loan Association, which had financed Benson, Columbus; William Durick, Columbus; Odleif Berg, major improvements in recent years. The structure was in Lignite, Kenneth Engberg, Crosby, and Dale Darras, need of a new boiler and a new roof, and the owner decided it Columbus. did not warrant the investment.

The new First National Bank Building L & H Ceramics Lillian DeLong was first introduced to ceramics by M. Sgt. In 1975 the shop was moved to Crosby at 204-4th St. NE. The and Mrs. Jack Watson of Fortuna Air Force Station who had shop was enlarged to include a pouring room with a pouring about 25 molds and a limited knowledge of ceramics. table and storage area for 850 molds. Son Terry took over the To Lillian ceramics soon proved to be "The Worlds Most pouring duties with a little urging while father assisted with Fascinating Hobby." After floundering for three months and wiring lamps, watching kilns and giving advice. asking hundreds of questions at Christal Arnolds Shop in Carpio, a shop was born in our basement in Alkabo, N.D., on Lillian taught ceramics on a volunteer basis at the Good January 1, 1968. It was difficult to keep a step ahead of the Samaritan Home for 4 years with a bazaar held each fall to students as some had previous experience, but, after a few sell the fruits of their labors. years and a dozen seminars, things started to fall in place and enthusiasm was backed with knowledge. Many blue Lillian has attended numerous seminars to learn the more ribbons were displayed at art shows. advanced techniques and is a certified instructor. 66- Anderson Lumber ANDERSON LUMBER was started in May of 1954 as a par­ and operated for many years by our father, Ed Anderson. tnership, with Verner and Leonard Anderson as partners. Several years later we started a ready mix concrete and Our first location was on a site leased from the Soo Line gravel processing business in connection with the lumber Railroad just north of the Divide County Court House in company. We operated this for about ten years. Crosby. On this location we had a small office and an open In 1966 we purchased from Mr. Edwin Titterud, the land front lumber shed. During this year we purchased the floor and buildings of the Crosby Motor Company, which he covering inventory and business from the C & H Dime Store operated as a farm machinery dealer. After remodeling the in Crosby. We were kept busy building wood grain storage buildings, we moved to this location. buildings and delivering them to farmers in the area. In March of 1977 we lost our brother, Fred, due to cancer. In 1955 we purchased from the Great Northern Railway This was a severe loss to us as he was an important part of Company, their engine house, or "Round House" as it was the operation of our business. commonly called which was located on the Great Northern In May of 1979 ANDERSON LUMBER will be twenty-five right of way. We moved to this location in October of 1955. years old. The people of the "Crosby Country" have been In 1960, our brother, Fred Anderson, joined the partner­ very good to us. We have much to be thankful for! "The Lord ship, adding the assets of the Crosby Transfer Company, a hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Psalms house moving and trucking business which had been owned 126:3

The present lumber yard

f

The first business place

Anderson Lumber

Andy's Mens Store The building in which Andy's Mens Store is located started out as a bank around 1907. It was owned and operated by Robert and Joe Rousseau. It was the first bank in Crosby to close in the crash of 1929. M. J. (Dutch) Werges and his wife Lydia opened a general merchandise store there in 1930. Dutch had his jewelry in the basement and Lydia the main floor for hats, coats, dresses, etc. Who says "Women's Lib" is new. Alma Johnson, an employee of the Werges', recalls an evening when her employers were gone and she was adding up the day's receipts. A rather seedy looking fellow came in and she immediately thought of being robbed. However, all he wanted was a dime for a loaf of bread which another clerk quickly gave him and he left. Clarence (Andy) and Pearl Anderson came to Crosby in 1944. They gradually changed the merchandise to mostly mens and boys clothing but continued to handle shoes and fabric. Ron and Phylis Mills operated the store for several years and it was purchased by Darven and Leora Anderson and their son-in-law and daughter, Dennis and Cheryl Freed. They continue to operate it at this time. Dennis Freed and Darvin Anderson -67 Coast To Coast Store The Coast to Coast Store was started by Ray Ballantyne in 1945 in the former Kolstad Grocery on Main Street. In 1947 Ray Ballantyne took Ed Titterud as a partner. At that time the store was in the old Tuftedal Building where the present Launderama is. In 1948 the store was sold to Ralph Johnson of Fortuna. He handled mostly farm supplies. In 1949 Ross and Lois Freeburg purchased the business and opened a very new store in the Duffy Building on main street. (That building later burned down when it was occupied by MiLann Furniture). Freeburgs made it a very nice hardware store to serve the people of Crosby and Divide County. In 1945 the business was sold to Marvin Lervick and Clifford Christianson. In 1956 Marvin Lervick sold his interest to Cliff and Bernice Christianson. They continued to operate in the Duffy Building until 1965 when their business outgrew the building. In 1965 the Christiansons had a new modern building built on a lot purchased from the Nordstog sisters. They were able found Crosby a very pleasant place to live. Since 1972 the to maintain a good hardware store to meet the needs of the Gunner Petersens have continued the good services for community. which the "Coast to Coast Stores" name is known. In 1972 after seventeen years operating a Coast to Coast The lot that houses the present store was Deeded from Store in Crosby, the Christiansons sold the store to Gunner Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co., to Otto Kjorlien and Maxine Petersen. The Christiansons have moved to dated June 13, 1908. Kjorlien Hardware was built and later Arizona. Of the nineteen years spent in the hardware the name was changed to Kjorlien Hardware and Implement. business Christiansons say "They were wonderful good On January 31, 1920, this land was sold to H. J., J. A., and years. We have fond memories of our business years as Coast Oscar Norstog. Over the years several businesses were to Coast owners in Crosby." housed on this lot. Nordstog Grocery, Montana-Dakota Gunner, Maxine and Blaine Petersen, in purchasing the Utilities, Gunderson Hardware and Mossing Grocery until it store, made a move from Cut Bank, Montana. They have was purchased by the Clifford Christiansons in 1965.

Kress & Swonder, Inc. Kress & Swonder, Inc. occupies one of the older buildings in Crosby. It was moved to its present location in early 1909 by August Sorenson, who remodeled the building, adding on the middle section, and opened the Crosby Bakery in the spring of 1909. This was the first bakery in the northern part of what was then Williams County. He operated the bakery until November. 1910, when he sold it to Martin Lindblom. Mr. Lindbloom continued the Crosby Bakery name and operated his bakery until 1914, when he sold the building to Aslak Haatvedt and moved the bakery a block south. There seems to be no information available about the period of time from 1914 until 1921. Mr. Haatvedt was a painter, but it is not certain what he used the building for. He owned the building for three years until 1917 when Carl Bendikson became the new owner. Mr. Bendikson owned the building until 1920 when he sold it to Hans Sorenson. Mr. Sorenson added on the back part of the building and probably used it as a residence. In 1921, F. R. Weeks purchased the building. He and his wife Lena operated a laundry and dry cleaning business and used part of the building for a residence. They owned the Lobeck and Robinson purchased the building in 1958 and building until 1936. It is not certain how long the laundry and operated their insurance agency and tax service there until dry cleaning business operated, as during the time Mr. 1972. They also rented the back part of the building out as an Weeks owned the building it was rented out and used strictly apartment. as a residence for a while. Mr. Weeks sold the building to Olaf In 1972, Kress & Swonder, Inc., owned by Russell Kress and Braatelien in 1936. Vivian Swonder, purchased the building and Lobeck & Mr. Braatelien, an attorney, had a law practice in the Kobmson's insurance agency. After Mrs. Swonder's death in building and rented out the back as an apartment until 1956 1977, her interest in the company was purchased by Arvilla when the building was leased to John Lobeck and Harold Hobbs and Larry Lee who now manage the insurance agency Robinson to use for their insurance agency. and accounting firm. 68 - short. Now they're coming back to that, too. Nelson Beauty Shop Dick had farmed south of Noonan and then worked as a custodian at the old Crosby School for 12 years. He and Nelson Sisters Beauty Salon. It may not sound like a prize Myrtle were married in San Rafael, California, on winning slogan, but the door that has borne that name for the September 22,1942. At that time he was engaged in war work past 46 years is living testimony to the business's continuing at the Chrysler shipyards there as a crane operator, Myrtle success. noted. Myrtle and Lyla Nelson held the grand opening of their Is she considering retirement? "I don't know," she replied. beauty shop on October 8,1932, after both girls had taught in "You never know. I might just make up my mind one night one room schoolhouses near Noonan and spent a year in and do it the next. I haven't given it a thought. But I can make California as live-in nannies for relatives, trying to decide up my mind in a hurry," she laughed. what to do next. Drought and the great depression had set in, and the two were pondering whether to return to school for more education or go into the beauty business. Additional Old Post Office Building education would be needed if they were to continue teaching, Block 19 Lot 15 owned by Ingwalson Company, occupied because new requirements for teachers demanded more than now by a Geosource oil office, at 105 S. Main. the girls' incomplete college records offered. Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co. donated and "There were advantages and disadvantages in either job," dedicated to the public such land and it was surveyed and recalled Myrtle (Mrs. Dick Armstrong, Crosby). "You've got platted August 23,1906, as Crosby (Revised). to take the bad with the good and the good with the bad.'' William Kane purchased above lot March 5, 1908, for She and her sister had taught in Brown District and $300.00, and sold it to Ole O. Hogen January 3, 1910, for Dolphin District south of Noonan, each in a one room $363.00. schoolhouse. "You had to do everything but that was real On April 4, 1912, Divide County was organized from a interesting," continued Myrtle in her rapid fire style of portion of Williams County. speech so familiar to the hundreds of customers she has April 13,1916, Ole O. Hogen and wife, Sarah, sold to Andy served over the years. Ingwalson and Co. There apparently was the present building For her the job meant a ten-mile-a-day commute-via- on this lot at the time Ingwalson purchased it. horseback, but her sister drove the family's Chevrolet. It had January 13, 1926, it was leased to the United States of disc wheels, Myrtle remembered aloud, "and if it rained a lot America for a Post Office, which remained there until they would clog up with mud and stop. I preferred August 8,1962. At this time it was remodeled and sometime in horseback—on Lady Maude... I could always depend on my the fall the United States Soil Conservation Office leased the riding horse." building which they occupied until August 1972. "But I always did like beauty work, too, " she said, returning Again it was remodeled for a chiropractic clinic, and to the decision on which she and Lyla settled. The duo packed December 1, 1972, Dr. James H. Stewart opened up for up and headed for the Minneapolis School of Beauty Culture business. He continued operating until December 1, 1977, and Cosmetology, graduating after nine months of classes when he moved to Tioga, N.D. and on-the-job training. Geosource leased the building in as much as the oil was When the girls returned they moved to Crosby and bought being activated in this area again. They have leased the Norma's Beauty Shop from Mrs. Roland Miller. For the first building since August of 1978. few years their shop was limited to the front while Mrs. The upstairs apartment has been vacant since the Homer Miller lived in the back room overlooking the street above Thompsons moved out, some years ago. Prior to that other what is now J.C. Penneys. tenants lived there and prior to that it was a chiropractic Embarking on their joint venture in Crosby, "We had a full clinic operated for many years by Dr. J. W. Payne. service shop," Myrtle stated proudly. "We gave facials of every description, manicures and scalp treatments." Her sister succumbed to rheumatic fever 10 years later, the same year in which Myrtle became Mrs. Dick Armstrong. When she could no longer handle all the tasks alone, Myrtle had to close down the beauty services other than fixing hair. The shop has employed other beauticians, and those Myrtle remembers especially well include Mamie Anderson, who was the duo's first employee and is now Mrs. Arnold Berg of Bismarck, Verna Hallgren, who worked there 22 years, and Verna (Mrs. Archie) Fleck, Cooperstown. A few of the others who worked a shorter period of time were Gladys Anderson, who lives in Florida now, Beaulah Thon, Gladys Helgeson, Echo Berg, Mrs. Alice Sortland, Mrs. Robert Mills, and Ruth Wilson. Permanents were in big demand at first, Myrtle remembered. "Everyone had curls . . . little girls four and five years old. There were more people that had perms during the drought years than there are now." Men were also regular customers during the 1930's, she noted—"quite a few for perms. But their hair was short, real -69- Neumann Drug The building was constructed in 1912, and has been a drugstore ever since. It was built by Hugo Boock, who came from New Ulm, Minnesota, a couple of years earlier. It was considered to be a very fancy drugstore at that time, with a large mirror covering the whole back of the store. O. J. Korbel came to Crosby in 1910 from New Ulm, Minnesota, also, and became a partner with Hugo Boock. Boock was in poor health for some time, and when he died , Korbel became partners with Mrs. Boock. Mrs. Boock died about 1937 and Korbel became owner. Fire gutted the interior sometime in the 40's, but was rebuilt. Korbel, who never married, was found dead in his Penney's apartment in 1954. A. W. Neumann, a pharmacist who had operated a The staff of Neumann Drug when it was under manage­ drugstore in Bowbells, purchased the business in 1955. Mr. ment of Roger Nichols (left). Others are Kay Murphy, Becky Neumann operated the business until his retirement in 1973. Kyes, and Pam Hagge. He lives in Mesa, Arizona, in the winter and returns to North Roger Nichols, son of Vernon Nichols of Crosby purchased Dakota in the summer. the business in 1973. Divide Abstract Company, Inc. The Divide Abstract Company, Inc. was established in the Martins in 1943 from the estate of Mertie M. Desrosier, December, 1910, for the purpose of making land title who for many years had operated a hat shop there. The vault abstracts by the Westergaard Blair Company of Williston, was built on in 1952. This lot and building thereon was for when a part of Williams County became Divide County. G. F. many years the office of Dr. Rainville, which, together with Hawkinson was manager and later became a partner with his residence to the south, was sold to Henry Wilson. Ruth his wife, Marie, who still lives in Crosby. The first location Wilson operated a beauty shop in the former office for a short was in a small building, later occupied by Blank Liquor time. Store, formerly located on the north lot of the present Mr. Martin died in December 1961 and Mrs. Martin location of the Westland Oil Co., and was later moved to the incorporated the business under the name of Divide Abstract basement of the courthouse across from the Sheriff's office. Company, Inc., in 1962, and'operated it until April, 1968; The business was then known as the Divide County Abstract when she sold the business and buildings and returned to Company. Minot. Dennis Sundheim, Wendell Elliott and James E. In August, 1943, C. E. "Bus" Martin and his wife, Dorothy, purchased the business, received their licenses and operated Williams of Sidney, Montana, are the present owners, with under the name of Divide Abstract Company, in conjunction Mr. Sundheim as the managing partner. with the already established Martin Insurance Agency, In April, 1976, the business was moved to a new location, which was later sold to Leland Torkelson. the Lund & Sundheim office building, formerly Crosby The building located at 210 North Main was purchased by Motor's body shop at 109 South Main. Crosby Launderama Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Company conveyed Anderson May 23, 1964. They erected a new building in 1964 Lots 13 and 14, Block 15, Crosby, N.D., to Fred Doebriner and which was equipped and operated as a laundromat. Ed Engebritson November 17, 1907. The partners sold the The front area of the building was finished as office space east 70 feet of Lots 13 and 14 to Ed Engebritson November 18, and through the years has been leased successively to 1913, who in turn sold it to Knute S. Huso, single, February 4, Alyce's Style Center, Ginger's Beauty Salon, Karen's 1914. Huso (and Kately) operated an electrical plant on the Boutique, and Sight 'N Sound. site. Ronald L. and June M. Hanson purchased the property On September 4,1918, Knute Huso and his wife, Lulu, sold from Wilbur and Alice Klebe November 3, 1969, and are the their property to William Nott. He operated a garage. Nott present owners of the Crosby Launderama. Ronald, a son of and his wife, Clara, sold the land to Edgar A. Tuftedal Mr. and Mrs. Emil Hanson, was born in Ambrose. His wife, January 4, 1938. The Tuftedals sold it to Edwin Titterud June, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Johnson, was born March 5, 1947. During these years the site was leased to at Nelson, Minnesota. The Hansons have three children, various business enterprises. Ryan, Ronald II, and HollyAnn, who were born at Crosby. Later owners of the property were Ralph M. Johnson and Ryan, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant, married Margaret Hinrichs Theodore Larsen (partners), Ralph M. Johnson wife, Ethel, of Mankato, Minnesota. They live in Fairfax, Virginia, with Christian V. Anderson and his wife, Helen. Other ventures their sons, Stephen and Timothy. Ronald II, a U.S. Air Force operated at the location were a Coast-to-Coast store and a Captain, married Linda Eslinger of Bismarck, N.D. They parts store which was destroyed by fire. reside in Minot, N.D. with their sons, Michael and Rusty. Wilbur and Alice Klebe purchased the east 67 feet of Lots 13 HollyAnn is a student at the University of North Dakota and and 14, Block 15, Crosby, from Christian V. and Helen is employed in Grand Forks. -70- Fettig's Shoe Store Leonard and Bessie Baumann bought the lot in October 21, 1904, from T. E. Fox of the Minot Land Office. It was then situated in "Old Crosby." It is believed that the building was then a homestead. Its legal description was S.E.V4 section 29, in Township 163 North of Range 97 West. The building was only the front half of the now Fettig's Shoe Store. On May 27, 1905, Leonard and Bessie Baumann sold to Charles F. Holbrook and James A. Miller. On July 30,1906, Charles F. Holbrook and James A. Miller sold to Charles H. Babcock. On August 15,1906, Charles H. and wife Florence Babcock sold to Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co. On August 23, 1906, the lot was surveyed and moved to the "New Crosby" which is now recorded as being Lot 5 and 6, Block 8 Crosby. On March 11, 1909, Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Co. sold Townsite Lots 5 and 6 to L. E. States. On June 16,1909, L. E. States and wife Mable sold Lot 6 to Jennie Nelson. On January 6,1927, Jennie Nelson sold to Lars O. Pladsen. Fred Fettig in his old shoe repair shop. Lars Pladsen rented the building to Cornelius Larson, who Fred continued the shoe and harness repair store and ran a shoe and harness repair store until he died from a brought in different lines of shoes. He started with heart attack, which he suffered while sitting in a chair in the Wolverines, U. S. Royal Rubber and Hood Rubber Company store in 1928. After Mr. Larson's death, a Mr. Ringdahl from products. Each year he added to his stock until he carried Columbus came and ran the store for Mrs. Larson for several Glov-ett, Red Wing, Hyer, Texas, Justin and Laramie boots. months until I. G. Yankovich from Williston came and ran The U. S. Royal Rubber Company later became know as U. S. the shoe and harness repair store while renting Mrs. Keds, Fred also carried LaCrosse tennis shoes. He had a Larson's equipment. complete line of tack and saddlery goods, polishes, laces, dye On April 14, 1938, the administrators of Lars Pladsen's goods, insoles and other shoe items which are still handled at estate, he died in 1933, sold the Lot to I. G. Yankovich. In 1942, Fettig's Shoe Store. All of Fred's sons helped and learned the Yankovich added the basement and back half of the store. business from the time they reached age 9 until they left On April 7,1948,1. G. Yankovich sold the Lot 6 to Peter and home with the exception of Roman who continued to help at Mathilda Fettig of Orrin, N.D. On April 8,1948, Mrs. Larson times after he was through with the Army and college, while sold the business and equipment to Fred and Margaret Fettig he was teaching in Crosby for 6 years. of Rugby, N.D. On January 19, 1949, Peter and Mathilda On July 1, 1976, Fred retired and leased the business to Fettig sold Lot 6 to Fred and Margaret Fettig. Roman Fettig. On July 1, 1978, Fred and Margaret Fettig The second floor of the building, which was two apartments sold the business and Lot 6 to Roman and Donna Fettig. before the arrival of Fred and Margaret Fettig, became the Fettig's home for themselves and their seven children: Loretta, Alfred, Richard, Duane, LaVonne, Roman, and Thomas. Carla Fettig was born here at Crosby hospital in 1952.

Roman, Donna, and Jackie Fettig. wmi Roman Fettig is continuing to sell the same high quality products his father sold plus he is continuing to enlarge the inventory, bringing in new products and lines of shoes. General shoe repair is still being done, from harness repair, tarps, shoes and whatever else he is able to repair and make. Roman, Donna and their daughter, Jacqueline, make their home on the second floor of the building just like his father used to. -71 - MiLann Furniture MiLann Furniture occupies the site which was part of the operated as a furniture store under the management of Ann original Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Company. Biel Brandt. Subsequent owners were: Frank Koester June 4,1909; Oscar MiLann Furniture opened for business on Farmer's Nelson December 6, 1910; S. S. Nelson and his wife Emma Appreciation Day, October 30, 1965, on a dream and a shoe January 18, 1911; M. S. Gas and H. M. Boe and his wife string. Our name, MiLann was a conjuncture of Milford and Regina September 25,1911; A. S. Anderson January 12,1912; Ann and it symbolized our theory, if we all work together we Nellie Hughes and her husband Fred December 17, 1914; can do anything. We were determined that if hard work could Martin Duffy and family June 14, 1916. The large brick make a business successful, ours would be. building on this site was often called the Duffy building, the As in all things life was not just sunshine, Mil's health Duffy family owned it until 1951. It housed a shoe store and a started to break; early in 1974 he was diagnosed as having harness repair shop. Ross and Lois Freeberg - 1951—They terminal cancer. In April of that year the business burned operated the building as a Coast to Coast store. Later owners down. Now was the time to prove that by working together we of the Coast to Coast business were Clifford and Bernice could do anything. With daughter Marilyn Knudson's Christenson; Marilyn Knudson, Ann Biel Brandt. inspiration and very real help we forged onward. The wooden building on the south half of the lot has One week after the fire we opened for business in the belonged to: Fred C. Schaber May 22,1913; Clements Halter Community building with a fire sale. In July, Crosby had a January 2,1914; Halter and Co. February 26,1915—C. Halter, flash flood; the windowwells of the Comunity building caught A. P. Black and Art Grunke - Halter started out carrying all the water around, we were now flood victims. This meat, fish, poultry, sauerkraut, pickles and cheese. Later he calamity upon calamity was becoming laughable and it carried a full line of groceries; Tom Lorenz leased the certainly didn't do any good to cry that only added more building to start his Gamble store; George Schultz and his water. wife Ava July 31,1944—we believe this was the only building That fall we lost Mil. Ann was left with no building, fire in town to have a freight elevator installed in it; George funds that were too meager and tied up in the estate and no Zelmer January 15, 1960—put a new front on the building choice but to start over again. The old theory together we can while he was running George's Bar; Milford Biel July do anything was mustered up; daughter Kathy and her 1971—furniture store annex; Ann Biel Brandt. husband Ron Racine volunteered to move home for 1 year Clemens Halter came to Crosby in 1908, from Souris, North and get things moving. Dakota. All stories should have a happy ending and ours does. Over He and Angus Black opened a meat market in a small the years the store has grown and our family has grown, each building at the south end of Main Street, on the east side. It continues to give support and have store projects. Tom has was located between the Scandinavian Hotel and the Crosby gone from a 3rd grader who sold the very first piece of Hotel. This building in later years was occupied by Matt furniture, to a 6 foot college senior who sells water beds. Now Kolstad, as a grocery store. days you might find a grandson out washing windows or In 1911 the Halter family left Crosby, and moved to Buhl, sweeping the sidewalk. We're in a new store we're proud of Idaho, and bought a small fruit ranch. and we have the pleasure of working with a wonderful They returned to Crosby again in 1913 and purchased a community of people. Thanks for the memories. business from Jack Weeding and John Buck. The same business he had operated in 1908. In 1917 he bought out a Mr. Shaber, who operated a meat market, just two blocks north of him. This business was known as "C. E. Halter's Meat Market." Angus Black and Art Grunke were employed by Mr. Halter. Mr. Halter formed a partnership with Mr. Grunke, and Mr. Black in the year 1924. They re-named the business: "C. E. Halter & Co., Meats, and Groceries," having added a line of groceries a few years earlier. Mr. Herman Emanuel and Art Kruecher were employed the next few years. In 1929 Mr. Halter sold out to Mr. Black and Grunke. Mr. Halter's son, Dorie, ran a grocery store in Fortuna at this time, and in 1933 he took over this business at Crosby from Grunke and Black. He operated the business several years until it closed down. The building was owned by Mr. E. J. Mcllraith and a beer parlor was operated in it by George Zelmer. He rented a building from Dune Monro (where the post office now stands) and ran a bar for many years on this basis. He then bought the former Halter and Black building on Main Street, that had been a meat market at one time, and at that time the building was owned by George Schultz. He put on a new front and it was known as George's Bar. This building stood on the site that now houses MiLann Furniture. Final ownership passed to Milford Biel and he and his wife Ann operated a furniture store there. It is still owned and The old Duffy Building and the original MiLann Furniture -72 Svangstu Jewelry and Gifts The first Jewelry Store in Crosby was owned and operated by Togstad Bros., in May 1911. In 1916 Boock and Korbel Drug sold exclusive jewelry and wedding rings. Engagement rings advertised for $25.00. This was the oldest establishment in Crosby. I, Mary Svangstu, remember the first jewelry store in 1918, began in the past Homestead Cleaners building which was erected on the east side of main street, where the new J. Co. Drug is. This store was owned and operated by M. J. Werges, Jeweler and watch repairman, well known in Crosby as Dutch Werges. He took an active part in all community affairs. Dutch had a great interest in golf. He was one of the main organizers of the present golf course at Crosby Country Club on Long Creek, 5 miles north of Crosby. In 1928 Dutch Werges and his loving wife Lydia bought the First Security Bank or Rousseau Bank Building, which is now Andy's Mens Store. Here he operated a fine exclusive Jewelry Store of quality jewelry until 1944, when he sold the building to Pearl and Andy Anderson. This is now owned by Darven Anderson and Dennis Freed. During 1940 to 1945 another watchman, Mr. Kirby operated with a bit of jewelry, a small store in the north half of the past Smutts Bar, now Crosby Floral Shop. In 2 years he moved to Mary and Alvin Svangstu the north block in the R. H. Points building. Because of ill health, he was forced to close out his business around 1945. previously occupied by Ekness Jack & Jill. This building was In 1947, Larry Forsberg operated a watch repair service owned by the late Fred Hughes. Since 1920 the building was with a small amount of jewelry in the building now occupied hostessed by a Pool Hall, Post Office, Reeds General Store, by Attorney Robert Kinsey. In the fall of 1968 Forsberg closed Gehrke Grocery, Ekness Jack & Jill and the present out, and the present Svangstu Jewelry and Gifts was born, Svangstu Jewelry. under the ownership of Mary and Alvin Svangstu. The Mary has been sole manager of the present store, equipment was purchased from Forsberg. They operated a thoroughly enjoying all. She feels she owes a great debt of very successful business carrying the finest lines of Gold, gratitude and appreciation to all her fine customers, and Silver, Diamonds and China Gifts. In need of more room, in indeed proud to be a part of Crosby's 75th Anniversary. We, October 1970 they moved to the present Svangstu Jewelry Alvin and Mary, are truly natives of Divide County.

Wesley E. Kocher, Licensed Public Accountant I moved to Crosby, North Dakota, from Devils Lake, North Dakota, in May of 1961 to manage the Ben Franklin Store and managed the store until November, 1965. In November 19651 joined the Calvin A. Calton Law Firm located in the Divide County Courthouse as his office manager and accountant. During 1966 Mr. Calton purchased the old Farmers State Bank Building and moved his office to that location. In 1968 Mr. Calton formed a partnership with the Mclntee and Whisenand Law Firm of Williston, North Dakota. I stayed with the partnership as accountant and office manager and in 1968 they hired an additional attorney for the Crosby Office, Mr. Michel W. Stefonowicz. During October of 1969 Mr. Calton sold his interest in the law partnership to Mclntee & Whisenand who retained the Crosby Office with Mr. Stefonowicz as attorney and myself as accountant and office manager. In April 1974 Mr. Stefonowicz left the firm and moved to Grank Forks. In 1975 I completed building my new - office building, purchased the equipment and income tax files from Mclntee and Whisenand and started my own business as a licensed public accountant. -73 - Ekness Super Valu The present Super Valu grocery store on Block I Southside and Joyce Ekness. Addition, south of the railroad tracks, was built for Del and Del Ekness, son of Idor and Julia Ekness of Westby, Mon­ Joyce Ekness by Roger Lund Construction Company, and tana, has done business in four locations in Crosby. The first opened for business March 9,1978. was with his brother Allan and father Idor when they This block according to first records belonged to Guy reopened the City Locker in November 1958. In June 1960 they Grove. In 1912 he sold it to Ole 0. Thorson Jr., who ran a purchased Jack Gerhke's Grocery Store where Svangstu livery barn where the present Super Valu building is. Jewelry Store is now. Del managed the Ekness Jack and Jill In January 1929 Ole 0. Thorson Jr., sold the west 140 feet to and Allan the City Locker. Jenson Brothers who built the old Great Plains building where the present Super Valu parking lot is. In November In December 1960 Del married Joyce Wehrman who had 1931 the Jenson Brothers Lumber Co., was sold to Piper Howe come to Crosby in the fall of 1959 and taught in the Crosby Lumber Company and in September 1933 they sold out to school system, grade 6, for two years. Del continued in the Midwest Lumber Company. In November 1948 it was sold to Ekness Jack and Jill until the spring of 1968 when he pur­ The Great Plains Supply Company. chased the Super Valu store across the street from Roy Smith In October 1964 Ole 0. Thorson sold the East half of the of Plentywood, Montana. Del and Joyce operated this block (where the present Super Valu grocery store is) to business under the name of Ekness Super Valu until March Great Plains Supply and they expanded their business. They 1978. moved to their new facilities on the east edge of Crosby the Del and Joyce have four children: Raymie 17, Randy 16, summer of 1977. On June 29, 1977, the block was sold to Del Rusty 13, and Rhonda 8.

Ekness Super Valu 1978

Engberg Insurance Agency (Lots 4-5-6 Block 6, Hennqs) The records go back to November 9, 1904, when Mr. T. E. Fox, a receiver for the Minot Land Office, sold it to Renhart R. Hering. At that time it was listed as NEy4 163-97, Divide County. On June 11, 1912, Renhart R. Hering and Minnie J. Hering, sold this property to Margratha Anderson. Margratha Anderson in turn sold this land to Halvor Halvor- son on February 6,1913, H. Halvorson sold this land to E. F. Volkmann. Then this land went to Divide County for taxes on October 26,1926. Until this time this land was vacant. On October 10, 1936, W. C. Pagel bought the above land from the county. Mr. Pagel built a 10x16 foot building and it was to be known as Pagel's Phillips 66 Station. On July 20, 1939, Mr. Pagel sold this land and service station to Hubert Nelson. Hubert operated the service station for several years and I believe he called it Hubert's Westland Service. About 1940 or 1941, he built 2 cabins that he rented to salesmen and other traveling people. In 1944, Hubert Nelson sold this property to Clifford Engberg and on February 13, 1946,1 bought the property from Clifford Engberg. It was at that time I took the old service station that was sitting very close to the highway t 5, and moved it south, which is presen­ tly my insurance office. The two cabins that Mr. Nelson had built were converted into my house after extensive remodeling. Ken Engberg Insurance Office -74- Forsgren Office Building In March of 1950, I moved from Hazen, North Dakota, to Crosby, to open a new practice of law business in what was then known as the Blue Bird Cafe Building, and is now owned and operated as a cafe by Adelaine Christenson. I had for­ merly practiced law in Hazen, following my discharge from the Marine Corps after World War II. Elected as Divide County States Attorney in 1950,1 moved my law practice into the Divide County Court House on January 1,1951.1 remained in that office for two terms. On January 1,1955,1 moved my practice of law into a suite of offices on the second floor of the Penney building owned by Andy Ingwalson. In 1956, I purchased the lot and barbershop owned by the estate of the late Alfred Martinson, who had operated a bar­ bershop in that location since 1932. According to the records, Alfred had apparently occupied it as a residence a few years before 1932. During the fall of 1956,1 gave the old barbershop building to Christ Anderson, who moved it out to what was commonly referred to as Andersonville, where it was even­ tually destroyed by fire. Starting in November of 1956, Cal Rosenquist built the present building for me, which I have occupied continuously since early spring in 1957. Cal had a lot of trouble construc­ ting the block building during the cold North Dakota winter. Among other things, he skeletoned in the entire building site F. Leslie Fors en in his office building here. with two by fours and plastic sheeting. Almost the first night after the site was enclosed, a foot of heavy, wet snow descen­ In addition to the practice of law, this office has served as ded, crushing and tearing the enclosure to shreds and kin­ the Divide County Service Officer for a total of twenty-tive dling. He finished it in sections of plywood protection, and I years, serving veterans of World War I, World War II, and moved into the new offices in May of 1957. the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts. Mike served as Divide The front offices were rented for six years by the Divide County States Attorney before entering into the present par County FHA, and later by the Farmers Union Insurance tn< Company; in December, 1975, the entire building was altered I have served as Divide County Justice tor eigni years tmu and renovated to accomodate the expanding law partnership entered my third term in January, 1979. Mike served for a of Forsgren and Stefonowicz. short time as Burke County Juctice.

Farmers Union Insurance During the early days of Divide County Farmers Union, C. The office of Farmers Union Insurance has been in dif­ E. Halter sold Farmers Union Insurance. Oscar Lansverk ferent locations in Crosby. The office was located in the who worked out of the Minot area, helped Divide and other Crosby Farmers Coop Elevator until September 1972, when counties get established in the insurance field, too. the office was moved to the front office of the F. Leslie For­ In the fall of 1944, Divide County Farmers Union was finan­ sgren building located on main street. The office remained in cially able to hire the services of a full-time Secretary- this location until January 1976 when F. Leslie Forsgren Treasurer, who additionally sold Farmers Union Insurance hired Micheal W. Stefonowicz and he needed the entire and managed the Credit Union in Crosby. Marvin L. Lervick building for his law practice. The Farmers Union Insurance was the first full-time person to fill this position and he con­ office then moved to temporary space in the Northwestern tinued until 1948. This set-up continued for several years until Federal Savings and Loan building, January 1976 until May the insurance companies expanded to the extent where they 1976. The Farmers Union Insurance office then moved to its could hire full-time agents in the county. present location at 109 South Main, in the building that was originally built to house an automobile parts store, after they In addition to Halter, Lansverk and Lervick, the following moved out then it housed an automobile body repair shop. In have served as Farmers Union Insurance agents out of addition to Farmers Union Insurance office this building also Crosby: Lawrence J. Lange, 1949-50; Joseph H. Gallagher, houses a Fabric Shop, Beauty Shop, and an Abstract Office. 1950-54; Owen Lansverk, 1954-57; Kenneth Unhjem and Farmers Union Insurance agency in Crosby is a multiple Robert L. Jacobson, 1957-58; Lyle Windfaldet, 1958-67; , line agency selling all lines of insurance and the selling of Harley Leverenz, 1967-70; and our present agent, Elman Real Estate is also handled out of this office at the present Braaten. who has served the area since March 1.1970. time. 75 - SuPfM Co. Crosby Auto Supply «U>a** Ervin Alberts, Manager a number of Crosby Montana-Dakota Utilities Building i businesses in 1979

"'""'"" " ::'-':- .•"-;

Long Creek Mercantile

Gins

Petersen's Coast-to-Coast

Sorum'sWestland Crosby Implement Company Crosby Farmers Co-op Elevator Co. On November 17, 1938, Farmers Union members in the elevator so at the June 1956 annual meeting stockholders Crosby area organized the Farmers Union Cooperative authorized the board members to build or buy additional Elevator Company of Crosby. They decided to do their storage. In August they purchased all the property, business marketing with the Farmers Union Grain Terminal and good will of the Osborne-MacMillian Elevator located on Association in St. Paul. They also decided to become af­ the Soo tracks in the north part of town. Thus, they doubled filiated with the membership organization by having their storage capacity, making 161,000 bushels in all, and had educational fund and Farmers Union dues check-off access to boxcars on both the Soo Line and Great Northern provisions in their by-laws. railroad tracks. The farmers who were elected to the first Board of direc­ In 1951 five large steel tanks were added to the elevator, tors at the November 17 meeting were as follows: C. E. providing a total capacity of 278,000 bushels. In 1975 the office Erickson, President; Ole H. Bakken, Vice President; An­ and lobby were remodeled and carpeted. In 1976 a new ser­ drew Holm, Secretary-Treasurer; Victor Malnaa and A. C. vice was added when the elevator contracted to sell bulk fer­ Lindsey, all of Crosby. tilizer and to provide spreading equipment for the fertilizer. Shortly after the cooperative was organized, the board Supplies are secured from the Cenex Soil Service Center, members and other Farmers Union members canvassed the recently located in Crosby. area and persuaded farmers to buy shares in the In 1970 the name of the cooperative was changed to Crosby cooperative. In most cases, farmers signed a pledge that Farmers Co-op Elevator Company. they wished to become shareholders. These pledges were In June of 1978 the Ambrose Elevator station at Crosby was taken by the board to the Farm Security Administration of­ purchased for $260,200 bringing the company total storage fice in Crosby to be used as collateral for securing a loan for capacity to 388,000 bushels. the co-op to get started in business. Gradually, the $50 share The following people have served as members of the Board pledges were paid up as the farmer-patron-owners earned of Directors since the elevator was organized in 1938: Ole H. enough dividends to pay for the individual shares, and in Bakken, C. E. Erickson, Andrew Holm, Victor Malnaa, A. C. turn, retire the FSA debt. Lindsey, Willie Christianson, Alfred Joyce, Emil Oien, John After securing the FSA loan, the Farmers Union Elevator Jacobson, David Fosland, Axel Haiberg, Lloyd Bummer, cooperative purchased an elevator already in business. In Carl Bentson, John Melgaard, Luther Gilbertson, Rolland 1939 they bought one owned by John Nordstog and hired Redlin, Melvin Stokke, all of Crosby, and Harry Thompson, Nordstog to be the first manager, a position he held until 1942. Ambrose. The present board members are: Ivan Erickson, In 1941 and 1942 two annexes were built to the elevator. President; Dennis Sandberg, Vice President; Donald Moe, Norman Bjella was hired as manager in 1942 and he served Secretary-Treasurer; Harlan Nordstog and Clifford Nesje, in this capacity until 1951. Verdean Peterson served from Crosby. 1951 to 1968, at which time the present manager, Gordon In its thirty-eight year history, the Crosby Farmers Co-op Smaaladen was hired. Elevator Company at 202 South Main has had a record of Securing adequate box cars for grain shipment became a being a sound financial institution. It has had a history of problem during the early 40's (and at various times being a progressive cooperative willing to change to meet the throughout the ensuing years). This predicament prompted needs of the patrons. A present it is the only known elevator board members to send the following resolution to GTA on cooperative which will be able to pay up all local stock November 29,1943: credits within two years. In 1975 it had the distinction of being "The Farmers Union Elevator Cooperative Company of the number one durum shipper to GTA. Crosby believes we are not getting a square deal in regard to Loyal patronage on the part of shareholders, dedicated cars, as we have the biggest elevator and two annexes in time and effort given by board members, and equally Crosby and have around 200 stockholders and all have around dedicated service given by managers and employees since 20 percent of our crops on the ground and in bins without 1938 have made possible the Crosby Farmers Co-op Elevator roofs. We feel like we have a big investment and would like to as we know it today. market grain through our own elevator. We make an earnest plea to you to try and do something for us at once." The year of 1945 was a big year for the cooperative because in that year a new elevator with 80,000 bushel capacity was built. Dedication ceremonies were held on July 28, 1946. to"'. Many farmers turned out to see the new elevator and to hear the main speaker, Glenn J. Talbott, President of the North Dakota Farmers Union. (Divide County Farmers Union members did not have a picnic that year but counted this gathering of members as their summer county-wide meeting.) About this same time the elevator built a locker plant across the street north of the elevator. The locker plant was soon sold to a newly organized cooperative, the Crosby Co-Op Lockers. This cooperative continued in business until sometime in the late 50's, at which time the elevator again had ownership of the building. The building was leased to private business enterprises and eventually sold. ' Boxcar shortages continued to be a problem for the -77 - Farmers Union Oil Company The Farmers Union Oil Company is one of the oldest the farmer-patron owners earned enough dividends to pay cooperatives in Divide County. It started in 1927. It was for the individual shares and in turn retire the Farm Security known originally as the Divide County Cooperative Oil Com­ Administration debts. Because of the help given the Farmers pany, which was organized by a group of Crosby Union Oil Company by the Farm Security Administration businessmen and farmers who were displeased, because the they had capital enough to add an addition to their small ser­ margins on gasoline were about 10* a gallon. Gasoline sold vice station. They purchased a big barn for $40.00 from the for 26£ a gallon so they knew what the commodity really cost. Federal Land Bank, which was moved in by sections and set On May 15,1927, the Divide County Cooperative Oil Company on the same location. This building added a service room for was incorporated with the following men elected as direc­ greasing and repairing automobiles, an office and a larger tors: A. N. Sorbo, Anton Otheim, J. T. Fjelstad, Ole storage area. Svangstu and N. E. Norman with Ben Braucht as manager. In 1942 a sub-station was established in Noonan. However, The first oil company provided bulk service which consisted it was discontinued after about a year of operation. of a shed on the Great Northern right of way, located west of In 1964-65 a completely new Farmers Union Oil Station was where the Power Creamery now stands. They had two bulk built on the same site. This station houses a fine, large and tanks one for kerosene and one for gasoline. Later a small adequate sales and merchandise display area, an office, par­ service station was purchased at the present location from ts room and a three stall service room. A warehouse for Dr. Hayes, a veterinarian. The co-op bought their com­ storage space was also built. modities from George Clark in the twin cities and handled There have been eight managers with the first manager of Hivis motor oil. The first sale of oil and gasoline reported on the Farmers Union Oil Company Cooperative being Henry sales slips was July 11,1927. It is interesting to note that also Smith from 1938-42. Others who served as managers were: in 1927 the sales amounted to $22,704.94. Arnel C. Flaten, 1942-44; Donald Erickson, 1944-45; Stanley During the hard 30's the co-op had to borrow money from Thompson, 1945-47; E. Homer Thompson, 1947-50; Herbert the bank to buy the needed gasoline for springs work. Each Engberg, 1950-54; Wesley Fredenberg, 1954-68 and our board member had to sign a note for the money they present manager is Duane Boldt who has been with us since borrowed. Several farmer-patrons also had to receive credit 1968. Our present assistant manager is Kenneth Kvale. from the co-op, thus the accounts receiveable often put the Also since 1938 we've had eight Farmers Union Central oil company in financial difficulty. Exchange Fieldmen—our present field man is Mel Hanson. 1938 marked a historic turning point for the cooperative. It These men have given much valuable help to board members was during this year that the stockholders decided to change and shareholders. In 1943 Floyd Belk a fieldman convinced their company to the Farmers Union Oil Company the board to invest $1500.00 in helping Central Exchange buy Cooperative. At this time they decided to have a 5% a refinery at Laural, Montana. Their investment proved to be educational fund and Farmers Union dues check off a very profitable venture. provision in their by-laws and to do their wholesale business Farmer-patron-owners in Crosby Farmers Union Oil Com­ with the Farmers Union Central Exchange in St. Paul, Min­ pany have earned a total of $1,345,747.00 savings, of this nesota. After the co-op became Farmers Union affiliated, a amount $455,848.00 has been paid out in cash. They have ear­ drive was made by the board members and others to get ned about 6V4% on their investment. Since 1938 the Farmers farmer-patron shareholders. They also decided to have a big Union Oil Company has also provided many services for its Farmers Union Oil Day Meeting to be held at the fairgroun­ patrons and it has been a successful operation. It is and has ds, with speeches about the benefits farmers received by been one of the trade centers in the Crosby community. The doing business with the cooperatives, followed by lunch ser­ managers and employees have put out a fine calibre of ser­ ved by the wives of the board members. After the meeting vice, a type of service that has earned them the Farmers several farmers signed up to be shareholders. The Farm Union Central Exchange Sparkle Award for several years. Security Administration helped the Farmers Union Oil Com­ The success of any cooperative depends upon the work of pany stockholders to become shareholders and to increase many people. Loyal patronage on the part of the the capital of the cooperative. The pledges signed by the shareholders, dedicated time and effort given by board farmers were taken by the board to the Farm Security Ad­ members and equally dedicated service given by our ministration Office to be used as collateral for securing a managers and employees since 1927 have made possible the loan for the co-op. Gradually these pledges were paid up as Farmers Union Oil Company of Crosby as we see it today.

The Farmers Union Oil Station -78- Pleasant Homes Motel The Pleasant Homes Motel, or Hingstville, as it is Ray Glasoe as contractor, they built 18 apartments in three commonly known, dates back to 1946, when Frank and Lydia buildings on the south side of the street. Bob Head was Hingst bought a block of land from the city of Crosby. The Frank's chief assistant during most of his construction days. land had been given to the city to be used for a park, and About the same time Frank fixed up 12 spots for trailer when Frank bought it the entire area was covered with deep parking on the south side of the street. Later Gulf Oil brought holes which had been dug in WPA days for planting trees, but in a seismograph crew and promised that they would stay in the project had been abandoned. The city agreed to sell the his trailer park if Frank would build more trailer spots. As a land to Frank for construction of apartments. result he completed 15 more lots on the north side of the Frank built 5 duplexes facing each other in two rows from street. east to west. In 1953 they turned the original duplexes around so they The first renters were Clovis and Ruth Ralph. They had to faced the street and began renting them as motel units. When use a chemical toilet, as flush toilets couldn't be purchased in they started the motel, Carmen and Doug Renkert lived in 1946, because there was still a shortage from World War II. the living quarters and operated the motel for one year. The five duplexes also shared the same shower in the In 1954 Frank and Lydia moved in with their three children, basement, and many of the tenants washed clothes in Lydia's Ken, Gail and Don, and operated the motel, apartments and washing machine. At the time Frank and Lydia had built and trailer court until 1958 when son Kenneth and his wife were living in the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Darlene moved in with their year-old daughter, Laurenda. Granrud. In 1955 Frank and Lydia built 5 more motel units north of Other early renters were the Melvin Steens, Ted Petersons, the office to bring the total number of rental units to 34. Jim Lundes, Bill Bakers, Ole Sortlands, Leland Andersons, Early in the 60's the need for apartments decreased so Jerry Gleesings, Arne Martins, Bob Mills', Orris Olsons, Frank converted six apartments into 3 houses which they Don Petersons, Charles Powers, and Adlow Shefstads. moved to 3rd Street Southeast. They sold two of them and are At the time Frank was also operating a mink farm on the now living in the third. premises. A mink farmer at Coulee was selling out, and In 1965 they sold the business to their son Ken and his wife. Frank bought the mink, cages, and cooler to keep horsemeat Ken and Darlene have not done any more building but have for their feed. He paid $29 apiece for 25 mink. Three or four done extensive remodeling, including carpeting and air years later he was forced to give it up because of a shortage conditioning. A major change was replacing the old PBX of old plow horses, which made up the minks' diet. He sold telephone switchboard with direct dial. This was the second the entire mink operation to Minot Hide and Fur. direct dial system installed in western North Dakota. The He also kept a milk cow which provided fresh milk, cream original PBX switchboard is now in the museum at Pioneer and butter for the family at a very reasonable cost. One night Village. several of Frank's friends decided that the logical place for a In 1975 Ken converted the units on the north side of the milk cow was in the creamery. There was room between street from propane to coal heat. He bought the old boiler Frank's haystack and barn for one person to walk, but from the grocery store at Ambrose and a used stoker from Homer Thompson and the cow went through that space Grenora, for a nominal fee. together, because the high-spirited cow decided she would Wes Burnside, a Motor Service representative who lives at rather lead than be led. Homer and his buddies finally did get Kenmare, was one of the original motel guests, and is still her into the creamery though, where she spent Halloween spending every second Monday at the Pleasant Homes Motel. night, much to the dismay of Neuman Power who found her A check through the records also indicates that many U. S. in the morning. senators and representatives, N. D. governors, other Frank kept 8 or 10 head of cattle for several years, and also politicians, high ranking air force personnel, movie stars, at the time was farming three quarters of land north of Long television and sports personalities, and other well known Creek. persons have spent the night with the Hingsts. When word came that the Fortuna Air Base was to be built, Ken and Darlene have been and are presently being there was a desperate need for housing, so Frank and Lydia assisted in the business operation by their three children, were persuaded to build some more apartments. In 1951, with Laurenda, Bonnie and James.

-79- Northwest Implement Company Northwest Implement Company started out as a branch Lester Lokken joined the firm as partsman in 1951 and he store owned and operated by the International Harvester remained in that position until 1971. Mervin Kroshus began Company of Chicago, Illinois. The main building was work at Northwest Implement in 1956 as a mechanic and has constructed by Sam Semingson for an implement business in continued to work with the firm since that time. Other people the 1920's. International Harvester leased the building from who have been employed at the company throughout its Semingson and hired Otto Fiskum as the first manager of history are Merle Buck, Ray Benter, Frank Motchenbacker, their branch store in Crosby. This building consisted of a Lyle Aho, and Marvin Mourn. All except Mourn worked in the showroom, parts area, and office space with a basement shop. He was employed as a partsman. John Barnes has been underneath. During the cold winter months the office was the employed as set-up and delivery man. only portion of the building that was heated. The original In 1973 the shop area was doubled with a 30 x 60 foot area building is still being used today but there have been some added to the building to accomodate the larger size tractors additions made to it through the years. and farm equipment being sold. Until 1946, the shop consisted of an old wooden frame Roger Lervick returned from Hong Kong in 1975 to join the building that was located between the original building and business to serve as Vice-President and General Manager. the present Crosby Top and Body Shop. It was only 26 feet by He had previously been employed by Caterpillar Tractor Co. 8 feet giving barely enough space for three tractor "stalls." as Sales Manager of the Far East Division. Maren Fagerland Some of the mechanics who worked in this shop were Homer replaced Bertha Lervick as bookkeeper in 1976. Other recent Thompson, who now lives in Bismarck; Adolph Carlson, who additions to the staff include Lynn Leininger as shop farms south of Crosby; and Bud Ruppert, who is still foreman; Dennis Lampert, as mechanic; and Wallace employed by Northwest Implement. Ruppert has been Garbel as part's manager. working for the company since 1941. Additions to the farm equipment line in the last years have John Bailey was the last man to be hired by International been Melroe and Krouse tillage equipment. Harvester to manage the branch in Crosby before it was sold. In 1942, Orville Tryhus and George Kostek took over the business on a trial basis and they purchased it from International Harvester in 1943. It became known as Tryhus- Kostek Implement and was affiliated with their business in Noonan which is still operational. After International Harvester sold their store in Crosby, Bailey was transferred to Minot where he was partsman at the Minot store for a number of years. While they were in their first year of business in Crosby, Mr. Tryhus traveled from Noonan to JwBTHWESI IMPLEMENT CO_ Crosby daily. In 1945 Tryhus served as mayor of the city for twenty years, retiring from that position in 1969. A new shop area was built south of the original building in 1946, this addition also included a new heating plant, Prior to 1946 Tryhus and Kostek bought the building from Semingson and they still own the building. A few years after the new shop area was built, a back annex was built in the area of the old shop. In addition a steel warehouse was built west of the main building on a lot purchased from A. U. Anderson. In the Crosby Propane early 1950's the present parts area and the fixtures of the Crosby Propane was started in 1950 at Crosby with Howard parts department were added. In 1966, the interior of the Kennedy as agent. He also managed propane plants at building was improved with the ceiling being lowered in the Williston, Tioga and Fairview and Wolf Point, Montana. showroom and paneling being installed. Prior to this time, people purchased propane from Otheims When the business was run by International Harvester, in 30 gal. drums. only trucks, tractors, binders, and reapers were sold. After In October 1953 Robert Chester took over the agency. In the firm was taken over by Tryhus and Kostek, they May 1960 he moved to Kalispell. broadened out their line to include other International Gayland Loken started with Westland Oil Co. in 1946, after Harvester farm equipment, International Harvester returning from overseas duty in World War Two. He started refrigerators and freezers, and ABC washing machines. driving a large semi-truck delivering propane bottles etc. His J. W. Christen was added as a partner in the firm in 1948 route was Williston and East Montana. He now delivers and he remained with the business until 1954. During that propane as far west as Westby, Montana, and east to Lignite. period the name was changed from Tryhus-Kostek He has worked for the Westland Oil Co. for 44 years, 19 of Implement to Northwest Implement Company. In 1956 the them in Crosby. business was sold to Marvin Lervick who was with the local Westland Oil Co. has been sold to Thunderbird Petroleum Coast to Coast Store. The firm is still under the ownership of Inc., Winnipeg, Man. Canada. Marvin Lervick and during this period of time he has Gayland's wife Sophia is employed at Svangstu Jewelry. continued to enlarge the line of equipment being sold and Son Bruce who graduated from Crosby High School and is serviced. In 1951 New Holland equipment was added and in married to Joan Flath of Garrison, N.D. They live in Golden 1958 he received the Versatile franchise. In addition, many Valley, Minnesota. Bruce is an accountant with Amaco smaller lines of equipment have been added through the Corp. in St. Paul, Minnesota. years. -80 Exxon Service Station January 17 of 1953, the Ottilie Miller house was sold to D. A. In 1965 Enco Station was closed. Sonny Knudsvig operated Gibbs. It was located at Herring's Addition Lot 5 and 6 Block it from 1966 to 1967. 4 of Crosby. This house was moved to the Hendrickson On March 16,1967, Mervin Jacobson leased the Enco Bulk Addition on property now owned by Robert Kroshus. The and Service Station under the name Merv's Enco. original house was demolished and replaced with a new Heating oil, tank wagon service, Goodyear tires, and U- home. Haul rentals, plus twenty-four hour wrecker service were D. A. Gibbs sold Lot 5 & 6 in Herring Addition on April 20, offered to the public by Mervin. During the past year a line of 1953, to the Carter Oil Co., West Virginia Corporation. dairy products and small grocery items have been added. During the year 1950, Alfred Anderson became manager of On February 26, 1974, Mervin and Beverly Jacobson the Carter Oil Bulk Plant. In 1953 Carter Oil built a new became owners of the bulk and service station. The Enco service station which was leased from August 1953 to March name was then changed to Merv's Exxon in 1975. In 1979 lead- 1954 by Duane Wells. free gas and a self-service pump were added. On April 22,1954, Alfred Anderson became manager of both Mervin and his wife (the former Beverly Westby), have the bulk and service station, operating under the name four girls. Marlys, now Mrs. James Nelson, of Tigard, Crosby Service Center. Mr. Anderson passed away Oregon. She and her husband have two children: Angela, 5 November 10, 1955. Ronald Hattel became the next lessee years old, and Jonathon, 9 months of age. Shirley, a from 1956 to 1957; followed by Walter Weise in 1958 and 1959. freshman; Diane, 8th grade, and Rita in 5th grade. The girls The fall of 1959, Humble Oil bought out the Carter Bulk and have all worked in the station from age nine on up. Beverly Service Station. It was then operated from 1959 to 1961 under does the bookkeeping. The family are members of Concordia the management of Oscar Svangstu. From 1962 to 1964 it was Lutheran Church. Merv belongs to Crosby Moose Lodge, and leased to Jerry Steven's. he and Beverly are members of the V.F.W. and American Legion Clubs of Crosby.

Merv Jacobson's Exxon Station. Picured are the Jacobson children—Rita, Shirley, and Diane. Tysse Painting Service The Tysse Painting Service in Crosby was started in 1924 many of the homes and business places in Crosby, besides by John Tysse Sr. In 1966 he retired and turned the business many places in the surrounding area. over to his son John Jr. i Jim Marcy began working with John Sr. in 1945 and is now Some of the places John Sr. painted were the Divide County working with John Jr. Court House twice, the Dakota Theatre when it was new, the John Jr. began painting with his Dad while he was still in old and the new Concordia Lutheran Church, the parsonage, high school. Since he took over the painting business he has the Presbyterian Church and Manse, Catholic Church and done a great many new and older homes in CrosBy and many Manse and the Assembly of God Church. He also painted jobs in a wide area. Paul Strom also works with John Jr. -81 Harvey's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Service and Mobil Bulk Delivery

In 1959, Harvey Peterman started working for the Mobil Oil Company as their consignee in the Crosby area. He replaced Orris Olson who had managed the bulk business for several years. In 1963, he leased the Mobil station from Ray Semingson and continued to operated that together with the bulk business until the end of June, 1975, when he closed the station. During the time the station was in operation, Harvey took training in automotive air conditioning and in 1976 took a course in refrigeration in Minneapolis. After closing the station, Harvey did air conditioning work full time along with the Mobil bulk business. In 1976, he added refrigeration work and since that time has been operating Harvey's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Service and Mobil Bulk Delivery. In 1976, a shop was built on some farm property that the Peterman's own in Hawkeye Township. Vehicles are brought there for repair and Harvey goes to the individual farms to «... -s»fc fix the air conditioning units on the larger farm vehicles. In 1977, the Mobil Oil Company offered the bulk business David and Harvey Peterman for sale. Harvey decided not to buy it and it was then sold to Chet Nygaard, who has the Mobil business in Noonan. Har- vey continues to handle the deliveries in the Crosby area. *«• several years. Since graduating from high school in 1977, Harvey is married to the former Shirley Benter of Crosby David is attending Dickinson State College and operating the and they have one son, David, who has worked with his father bulk business during the summer.

Star Feed & Livery Barn Svend (Sam) Gillan was born in 1883 in Osakis, Minnesota. He grew to manhood here and came to Burg Township in 1905 and filed on a homestead. He married Amallie (Mollie) Nelson in 1915. After they moved to Crosby he operated the Star Feed and Livery Stable which was located west of main street on First Avenue SW where the Crosby Auto Supply is now located. He also operated the star mail route from Crosby to the Plumer post office. He served on the Crosby Police Force for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Gillan had two girls, Doris and Theo. Mr. Gillan passed away in 1927. Mrs. Gillan married Carl Rosholt in 1936 and now lives in Williston.

Svend Gillund, owner of Starr Livery Stables -82 - Crosby Hide and Fur Co. Gordon Hide and Fur Company, was started in 1937 by blacksmith coal and new steel. Around Christmas time he Emil Gordon. He worked on his fathers farm in Frederick would get a truck load of frozen fish from Meadow Lake Township and did some trapping in the winter time. This was Saskatchewan, and sell them to the stores in Montana. On his too slow for him so he moved to Crosby and started buying way back he would buy rabbits. furs and skinning them himself. In 1968, he built a new place about V2 mile west of Crosby His first place of business was a small building on the west and carried on his business there until 1973 when he passed side of Hans Wold's blacksmith shop. In 1938 he hired Mervin away at the age of 63. His wife Etta still lives at that place. Kroshus and the two of them would skin rabbits and other Mr. Gordon will be greatly remembered for his honesty and animals late into the night with only a kerosene lantern for hard work. lights and a kerosene stove for heat. In June 1973, his place was leased to Harris Fagerland. The In 1940 he moved his business across the street and business name was changed to Crosby Hide and Fur Com­ operated his business there for about 25 years. At this place pany, and operated from that place for 3 years. In 1976, he owned about one half block so he could buy scrap iron, old Fagerland bought 5 acres from Sig Susag about Vi mile north cars, etc. During the years he spent at that place several men and built a new shop and house there. They buy furs, scrap were hired. Some of them were Gilbert Grove, Peter Malnaa, iron, metals, etc. They also sell new steel. The Fagerlands Oscar Malnaa, John Barnes, Melvin Hagen, Rolland Wells, have 8 children. and Harris Fagerland. Other things that were handled were

The Harris Fagerland Family

Glasoe Construction Glasoe Construction began in Seattle, Washington. It is owned by Duane Glasoe, a native of Noonan, North Dakota, who has been a carpenter since the early 1950's. The work consisted of remodel jobs, new homes and cement retaining walls in Lake Washington. We then moved to Crosby, North Dakota in 1975. We built a 4-plex for Noonan Homes and an addition to Good Samaritan Center in Noonan, North Dakota. We designed and built Tax Free Liquor Stores in Portal, Dun- seith and Pembina, North Dakota and Noyes, Minnesota. We have built several new homes in the area plus 3 new homes in Crosby and several additions and remodel jobs. Old Crosby on the Prairie by Freeman Ullman Assisted by Bill Lee

When asked by a member IE t* ^gga^ Crosby drove a stake and posted a notice that this 40 acre of the historical book ' *JH Sk. tract was "scripped" for a townsite. In 1904, he built a store committee of Crosby to \r'*'•»"» lm here and Crosby was on its way. Later, a Mr. S. S. Nelson was attempt to write the early ;-. 'F* |jj • brought to this spot from Portal by one Mr. Elling Anderson, history and developments, ^W ffl^JP .!J who was Anna Anderson Phelps' father. Mr. Nelson, I accepted it as a real igL, ;'*| |E3lf*jKS«3 evidently being much more aggressive than Mr. Crosby, challenge. After much f * q purchased the Crosby store and then things really began to reading, and getting /*sJlk« <** boom. Several other businesses were established which I information from others, I ^^MTM shall attempt to enumerate as I have researched from earlier have tried to give as com- jjp W . >*a^y records. Following is a list of those places plete a history as possible, %.,V.. ^ Perry's Rooming House .... Moved to present Crosby in 1907 knowing that nywikm \ft "J R. R. Herring Store Moved to present Crosby in 1907 passed since the birth of ^^i^W b r this fine little city. Freeman Ulman Dr. Lancaster s Office „„,„,, _ I shall here attempt to place the very early buildings in A DruS Store Mr C- A' Gus afson, Proprietor their respective locations and any omissions or errors are First State Bank E.J. Weiser, President very unintentional. My help in compiling this has come from C J Clark, Cashier Mrs. Phelps, who was 90 years old this summer. She came Rousseau Bros. I-H Machinery Dealership here from Iowa in September, 1903. They first located in Old Crosby Meat Market Jacob Schmidt, Proprietor Crosby. I am deeply indebted to Mr. Bill Lee, who is now in Pioneer Hotel & Restaurant Mr. Joe LaFlame, Owner the Good Samaritan Home and whose folks moved to the A building later moved to Crosby's new location and became present Crosby in 1907, for furnishing some of the very early Cleveland Variety Store. information. Others who have helped me are: Mrs. Signe Two newspapers No. 1 Mr. Paul Paulson, Editor Kvale (Lorentz Kvale's mother) who is also a resident of the No. 2 Mr. J. T. Hage, Editor Good Samaritan Home and came here in 1910; Mrs. Marie , ... John D Hawkinson, who came here in 1911; Mrs. Nina Cary, whose !,, ''.,V. r' " f Attorney folks came in 1912 or 1913; and Mrs. W. B. Hanmer who came State Bank of Williams County with her husband in 1915 and has lived continually in their The Crosby - Portal Stage L.ne which left Crosby Tuesday, home, built in 1915. My mother and two sisters and myself Thursday and Saturday at 8 a.m., arriving back here on came here in May, 1914 and my father had arrived earlier Monday, Wednesday and Friday at around 6 p.m. with a Mr. JessStice. Late in 1903, three men (namely Mr. S. A. Crosby, Mr. A. tt is Presumed that many of these other buildings were H. McKee and a Mr. Sinclair) made their way to this locality also moved to the new Crosby townsite after the Great from Portal, which at that time was one of the closest towns Northern rails were laid to their present location, in which to trade for this area. They proceeded to a spot There bein8 no established post office, the mail was brou ht from Portal and laced ln a bushel basket where which was the Southeast V4 of the Southwest V4 of Section 30 in g P what was then Civil Township 163, Range 97W, where Mr. P^e pawed through it until they found their mail.

Bill Lee

Nina Cary Anna Phelps

84 - Early Day Transportation In 1904, and thereabouts, it was not uncommon to see one The cars available here in Crosby, around 1914,1915,1916, oxen hitched to a buggy or a team of oxen hitched to a wagon. were: the Dort, Buick, Ford, and Maxwell. There may have Next, came the single horse and buggy and then the team of been others, but that is all I can remember in the years horses and buggy or lumber wagon. I imagine they were mentioned. known as lumber wagons because that was their first duty to Before the days of carload shipments of cars by rail into haul the lumber into these growing towns before the days of Crosby, the dealers used to drive their cars from either Minot the railroads, which arrived here in Crosby in the fall of 1906 or Williston. I can remember a good many times of and the summer of 1907. Lots of material those days were accompanying my father to Minot on the Great Northern hauled on stone boats (a heavy sled-like affair pulled on passenger trail and driving back a new car, an all day trip. skids). Gasoline was obtained at garages where thy had pumps A very common sight, here in Crosby, was Charlie located along the curb. The first of these pumps would give Anderson, who had a small team of mules and who used to one gallon of gas on a complete revolution of the handle shovel coal out of the box cars and deliver it around town. He attached to the geared pump; later, this was replaced by a also hauled many, many barrels of water on a stone boat and glass bowl into which could be pumped ten gallons of gas at a made delivery to various homes. He supported a family of six time and was marked off for each gallon. It was several yeas daughters and a son from his meager earnings, with this before the pumps became operated by electric motors. Also, team of mules. along the curb stood the free air stand. It was around 1909, in this area, before any cars were seen. It has been reported to me that Togstad Bros. (Jewelers) had Crosby's Airport the first car in Crosby, followed by Dr. Lancaster, who had a The grading of the airport was done during the "Dirty Richmond, which he had purchased in Ambrose. My father 30's", with W. P. A. labor in 1933. This was just the leveling of owned a 1908 Hupmobile, which he purchased in Williston. He the ground and removing rocks and obstructions. Later to be brought this with him to Crosby in the early spring of 1914. followed with the laying of 2,650 feet of asphalt. Lights along Many people living today do not realize that at one time there the runway were then installed along with a beacon which were more than 140 manufacturers of automobiles in the operates through the night. At present, there are 12 private United States. At one time, in my father's garage, we had a planes based here. There is a flying club and a good deal of book listing all those who were making automobiles. commercial crop spraying is operated from this fine runway. In the year 1920, there were only 1,104 automobiles The airport is located one mile north of the city.

Loads of flour. One load was made at the Crosby Flour Mill

Jan yEwfC. .na3te»||

Loads of mail being delivered to Crosby by horse and sleigh.

-85- Crosby's Early Government

In searching the early records, we find that the early gov­ to open at 9:00 a. m. and close at 4:00 p. m. Bonds to be of ernment was conducted by a board of trustees and that $100.00 denominations, bearing 8% interest. Crosby was operated as a village until July of 1911. Some of December 14, bills allowed to Crosby Lumber Co. for the following are items taken from some of these early lumber for sidewalks. Site for cistern discussed. meetings. The first meeting was held, June 6, 1907, with the March 7, 1908, here we find that George Parks was paid following members as trustees: J. C. Rousseau, Chairman; $47.14 for digging cistern. Ordinances number nineteen and George Jones, R. R. Herring, and A. A. Ashley as clerk. At number twenty were adopted. this meeting the bond of clerk was set at $50.00, bond of Special meeting March 24, finds new set of trustees, treasurer was $1,000.00, Justice of the Peace was $500.00, namely: R. R. Ryder, chairman, with Styer and Gibbs. This and Marshal was $100.00. Each trustee was to receive $10.00 first meeting of new board was held in office of George per year. A special meeting on June 10th changed the bonds Cudhie, clerk was H. W. Boock (druggist). of marshal to $1,000.00. George Cudhie was appointed village April 4,1908, at this meeting, marshal's salary was raised lawyer for $75.00 a year, to be appropriated from General to $75.00 per annum and lawyer's salary was raised to $100.00 Fund. Question of taxation came up with a levy of $500.00 to per annum. supply General Fund. May 2,1908, many more were ordered to put in sidewalks The question of a town well came up: clerk instructed to and garbage within the city was discussed. enter into correspondence with G. N. Townsite committee in May 25,1908, many more were ordered to put in sidewalks. regards to furnishing well. That well was dug just a few feet Both Soo and G. N. were contacted regarding hauling fire west of the present well. At this same meeting, clerk was apparatus at reduced rates. (Eventually hauled by Soo.) instructed to buy supplies such as record books, stationery June 1, 1908, moved by Styer, seconded by Gibbs, that and a seal. After due consideration, the seal adopted bore the chairman Ryder and Clerk Boock enter into a contract with words, "Corporate Seal, Village of Crosby, Williams County, Waterous Engine Co. for purchase of: one No. 6 fire engine N.D.". with all equipment, one No. 1 nose cart, 1,200 feet of 2Vfe inch June 13, next meeting, at which time ordinances number New Century fire hose, two 30 foot extension ladders, for one through number five were adopted. Meeting adjourned to $2,000.00. Motion carried. meet June 19—no business was transacted. June 25,1908, $100.00 taken from general fund and set up as June 26, it was moved and seconded that J. B. Burns, not Fire Protection Fund. Warrant for $100.00 issued to L. O. being qualified as marshal, that this office was declared Haugo for work on cistern. Warrant to John Vanderpan for vacant. J. A. (Jim) Moore was then appointed. Moved and $27.00, drawn for hauling 27 loads of gravel. seconded that the salary of marshal be fixed at $50.00 per July 6,1908, contract let with John Miller for building a fire annum. Ordinances six, seven, eight, nine and ten were hall for $75.00. adopted. July 14,1908, fire apparatus had arrived and clerk was to July 6,1907, Chairman Rousseau to appoint committees for issue warrant in the amount of $68.88. suitable site for dump ground. R. R. Herring and George W. August 2,1908, gasoline purchased for gas street lights. Jones were appointed. March 22,1909, we find another set of trustees: A. P. Black, Special meeting, July 20. Nothing having been done for chairman, J. C. Rousseau and Everett Evans. location of dump ground and owing to illness of R. R. March 31, 1909, petition of 40 voters to purchase road Herring, Jones and Chairman Rousseau were to act. machine in conjunction with Fillmore Township, discussed Ordinances number eleven through number seventeen were and purchased at price of $400.00. then adopted. April 14,1909, more sidewalks to be in. August 3, 1907, bills for a pound and payment for seal April 10,1911, contract with John Miller for building village ($4.00) were allowed. Bill of C. F. Bode for running sidewalk hall for $2,750.00. grade was tabled until he completed his work. June 8,1911, a petition by 31 qualified voters was presented September 7, no business conducted. asking that Village of Crosby be changed to status of City of September 14, Dr. Blake Lancaster was appointed Village Crosby. Agreed at this meeting that said election be held on Health officer at $10.00 per year. Clerk to notify S. S. Nelson June 11th. Results of said election were 100 to 1 to make this a and Frank Koester to place board walk, 3 feet wide, the city. First mayor elected was J. C. Rousseau, who had been entire distance of their east front on Main Street. Marshal very instrumental in working for the betterment of the was instructed to collect poll taxes, dog tax and pool table village. Many other items of business had been transacted by licenses. the trustees, such as assessments, building water tanks to October 5, 1907, George W. Jones to see about building a water stock, removal of Dora Wolford's hogs from jail. residential district, buying a pump for city well, and many November 2,1907, Marshal ordered to collect poll tax. other items that came before them. December 7, 1907, J. A. Moore received $9.30 as street The following is a list of the very early chairmen and commissioner and for watching a fire. Ole Berg received members of the trustee board, which first governed Crosby: $4.50 for 18 hours work watching a fire. (No fire equipment up Village of Crosby to this time.) Ordinance number eighteen in regards to 1907 -1908 J. C. Rousseau, chairman, A. A. Ashely, clerk, telephone franchise was adopted. George Cudhie, Attorney, J. A. Moore, marshal, George December 11, question of bonding village for $2,000.00 for Jones, J. B. Burns, and R. R. Herring, members. fire equipment and well for supplying sufficient water was 1908 - Kas. J. Ryder, chairman, H. W. Boock, clerk, George discussed.Election for this purpose to take place December Cudhie, attorney, Weeding, marshal, Styer and D. A. Gibbs, 28 Dolling place in rear of Security State Bank building, polls members. -86 - 1909 - A. P. Black, chairman, Ed Engebretson, clerk, George Benter, F. E. Carlson, H. F. Easton, C. C. Simmonds, P. N. Cudhie, act. clerk and attorney, Rousseau and Evans, Johnson. Block 3 sold to Emil Gordon, $35.00. members. April 6, 1942 - R. M. Bergem, mayor, William Ingwalson, 1910 - A. P. Black, chairman, H. C. Wood, clerk, George Frank Hingst, Thomas Lorenz, H. F. Easton, E. M. Bothun, Cudhie, attorney, Koester and Engebretson, members. F. E. Carlson. First meeting of City of Crosby. 1944 - Same mayor and council. 1911 - J. C. Roussear, Mayor, H. C. Wood, city auditor, D. 1946 - E. A. Tuftedal, mayor, F. E. Carlson, Easton, L. F. W. Madden, E. Evans, L. E. States, and Martin Duffy, Wenker, C. N. Bummer, O. M. Gubrud, F. Hingst. council members. 1948 - E. A. Tuftedal, mayor, K. Otheim, O. M. Gubrud, 1913 - D. W. Madden mayor, D. W. Donovan, city auditor, Earl Hanson, C. N. Bummer, M. L. Lervick, L. F. Wenker, H. I. Wilson, treasurer, D. W. Weeding, police, J. E. Atwood, Hanson resigned, replaced by Borsheim. J. A. Moore, H. A. Mohler, members. 1950 - O. Tryhus, mayor, O. M. Gubrud, Borsheim, S. I. 1915 - Donovan, auditor, Weeding, police, N. 0. Henderson, Allen, M. L. Lervick, Harold Hanisch, Kenneth Otheim. justice of the peace, C. W. Brace, attorney, E. 0. Halverson, H. A. Mohler T. W. Davod, O. M. Jones, W. J. Keck, members. 1916 - E. O. Halverson, mayor, Mohler, treasurer, Caufield, treasurer, Hawkinson, Jones, Simonet, Davis, Keck, members. 1917 - Hawkinson, Duffy Madden, Goetz, Larson, Simonet, members. Lewis Larson appointed auditor, 12/3/17. 1919 - Halverson, mayor, Lewis Larson, auditor, S. G. Lanning, Hawkinson, M. L. Murphy, John Jenson, George Jones, T. M. Ulman. 11/4/19 - O. Woolfrey appointed auditor. 1 1/20/19 Maiverson resigned, John Jenson, act. mayor, Orville Orlando Henderson, police. Tryhus 1921 - John Jenson, mayor, Woolfrey, auditor, Henderson, police, Vadnais, resigned as treasurer, C. J. Clark, appointed 1952 - O. Tryhus, mayor, Kenneth Otheim, Harold Hanisch, treasurer, John Borg, A. Knudson, Ulman, Jones, John Tysse, R. Sortland, 0. Sundhagen, S. I. Allen. Hawkinson, Lanning, members. 1954 - Tryhus, mayor, A. U. Anderson, Sortland, Kenneth 1922 - Jensen, mayor, Borg, Knudson, W. S. Nott, Jones, Otheim, Tysse, Walt Nelson, Sundhagen. Lanning, Ulman, members. 1956 - Tryhus, mayor, L. Rutherford, Nelson, George 1923 - Jensen, mayor, J. Borg, Nott, N. E. Norman, Schultz, A. U. Anderson, Dr. McPhail, Sortland. Lanning, A. Knudson, Ulman, members. 1958 - Tryhus, mayor, Earl Stakston, Paul Ingwalson, V. F. September, 1925 - Fire Hall built, cost $11,717.00. 1925 - Peterson, Sortland, Walt Nelson, Rutherford. September 2, $2,460.00 Chevrolet Chassis. 1958, Rutherford resigned, appointed auditor. John Benter 1926 - C. J. Clark, mayor, H. H. Martin, treasurer, Brace, replaced him. Nordstog, Lindbloom, Anton Otheim, Kolstad, Keck, Brace. 1960 - Tryhus, mayor, Stakston, Peterson, Lervick, 1927 - C. J. Clark, mayor, S. B. Brevig, treasurer, A. Ingwalson, Sortland, Benter. Otheim, Lindbloom, Smedshammer, Nordstog, Duffy, Keck June 30,1963, Rutherford resigned as auditor. July 1,1963, (replaced by Krueucher May, 1927). Kenneth Otheim appointed as auditor. 1928C. J. Clark, mayor, Duffy, Hughes, Nott, Otheim, 1964 - Tryhus, mayor, V. F. Peterson, Lervick, Sundhagen, Smedshammer, Nordstog. Stakston, Benter, Sortland. 1929 - Anton Otheim, mayor, J. A. Nordstog, police, H. H. 1966 - Tryhus, mayor, V. F. Peterson, Kihle, John Benter, Martin, Duffy, Smedshammer, W. S. Nott, J. K. Jenson, Sundhagen, Lervick, Sortland. Hughes. 1968 - Tryhus, mayor, John Benter, Milo Kihle, Ray Benter, 1930 - Anton Otheim, mayor, Black, Grunke, Nott, Martin, Lervick, Fred Anderson, Sundhagen. Smedshammer, Jensen. 1931 - Anton Otheim, mayor (Iverson tied at 200 each), Phelps, treasurer, H. H. Martin, Gehrke, Grunke, Jensen, Nott. 1932 - Otheim, mayor, Homestead, Gehrke, Keck, Jensen, Grunke, Martin. 1933 - A. Ingwalson, mayor, H. F. Easton, Black, Lofthus, R. H. Points, C. B. Gardner, Homestead. 1934 - A. Ingwalson, mayor, Homestead, Nordstog (April 35), Ev. Evans, Lofthus, Easton, C. B. Gardner, Points. 1936 - Sig Otheim in Evans place. 1937 - E. E. Engberg, police. July 22, 1937 - Ingwalson resigned, Homestead, acting mayor. April 4, 1938 - C. B. Gardner, mayor, P. N. Johnson, Sig Otheim, J. N. Power, Elmer Benter, George Lofgren, H. F. Kenneth Easton. Engberg April 1, 1940 - C. B. Gardner, mayor, F. Hingst, Elmer -87 - 1970 - Ken Engberg, mayor, John Benter, Ray Benter, Milo 1976 - George Larsen, mayor, Elman Braaten, Sig Enebo, Kihle, Anderson, Delmer Ekness, Sig Enebo. October 1971, Marlyn Tande, Ken Hingst, Roger Lund, Fred Hattel. Ekness resigned, February, 1972, Fred Hattel appointed to 1977 - George Larsen, mayor, Braaten, Enebo, Lund, replace him. Hingst, Hattel, Lund 1972 - Ken Engberg, mayor, Benter, Ekness, Enebo, Lund, Hattel, Kihle. Kihle resigned, replaced by Ken Hingst. 1974 - Ken Engberg, mayor, John Benter, Ekness, Enebo, Lund, Hattel, Hingst. 1975 - Ken Engberg, mayor, John Benter, Sig Enebo, Roger Lund, Ken Hingst, Fred Hattel, Delmer Ekness.

Herbert Engberg

1978 - Herbert Engberg, mayor, Lund, Tande, Braaten, Roman Fettig, Bert Anderson, Larry Ficek. Lund resigned in December, 1978, replaced by Fern Wallin. George 1979 - Herbert Engberg, mayor, Tande, Braaten, Fern Larsen Wallin, Fettig, Bert Anderson, Ficek.

Crosby Community Band in 1917. Rev. Arsonault was the leader of the band at that time Crosby's Band

In the very early days, many of the boys used to get Saturday nights those days, it was impossible to find a together with Fred Dobriner and Ed Engbritson and play parking spot on Main Street and for two blocks on each side of their various instruments on the streets on Saturday Main Street. The town was really booming and merchants evenings. Both Dobriner and Engbritson, being lovers of those days opened their doors around seven in the morning music, were directors of these groups. and did not close up until 11:00 o'clock in the evenings. A good band stand was built where they used to have regular Then again, in 1918, after having been disbanded a few practice sessions. It was first located on the corner where years previous, was reorganized with Rev. (Father) F. J. the Masonic Hall now stands (109 1st. Ave. NE). Then it was Arsonault as director. He did such a marvelous job and the moved to the front of the courthouse lawn where the marker people and the band boys so appreciated his work, that they honoring our war dead is located. From there, it was moved presented him with a Model T Ford touring car. They drew to the fair grounds and now rests at the Historical Society immense crowds on Saturday evenings for their concerts, grounds. After Father Arsonault left, Halle E. Covell, who which were provided on the Main Street intersections. On had a music store, took over as band director. -88 - Fires Affecting Crosby As the records of the fire department evidently are lost, I This was followed by an alarm at Ulman's garage where an will attempt to give you some of the fires that have taken explosion had occurred, blowing out all the windows in the place over the years. The very early fires were fought with 16x60 repair shop. This caused by Harry Wagner attempting very meager equipment and all were buildings of wooden to weld a barrel, which for many months had layed outside, construction. They paid men very meager wages to watch but had previously held gasoline. No fire occurred, but the lid the burned-out buildings, both day and night, to see that the imprint remained in the roof for many years. Harry was fire did not erupt again and start other nearby buildings on quite seriously hurt. fire. Then, we have Andy (C. E.) Anderson's Mens Store fire, From reports and pictures, it would appear that the first which pretty well burned out the building. This building was fire was the Farnum Cafe and Hotel building, which stood on also rebuilt. Andy and his wife were in Minneapolis the corner where Clayton Loucks now has his garage. The purchasing stock with which to start up again when another next fire to occur was the Stebbin's Laundry, which was fire occurred in their home. This fire started from a pot oil directly across the street from the Farnum building. Then, burner. They later conducted a big fire sale in the present there was a small fire in the elevator, previously written community building. about, but they were successful in extinguishing this before Then, we have the Melvin Hystad's auto parts store fire, much damage was done. This one occurred in 1910. located in the former Antonius tire shop. This building was Then, we have the fire at Gill's Store on July 4, but I do not never rebuilt. remember the year. This building was rebuilt. There was a grocery store operating in the former Kjorlein Then, the Atlantic elevator completely burned down on the hardware store building and that burned down completely. It Soo right of way. This building was rebuilt and later both is now the site of Gunner Petersen's Coast-to-Coast. elevators on the Soo were sold to Osborne and McMillan. One Korbel's drug store had a bad fire in the 40's, claimed to of these was torn down and the present elevator belongs to have started in the fireworks display in the window. Farmers Union and is used for sunflower seed. Then, in more recent years, we have had a fire in the On May 1, 1918, we had the disastrous fire at the Crosby former Palace of Sweets; the high school fire, which building light plant and Crosby Auto Co. Both were housed in the same was rebuilt and now is the site of the present elementary garage and located where the laundromat now stands. school and public library. Sabotage was suspected for starting this fire as it was war Then, in 1975, we had a bad fire which burned MiLann time. The flour mill, which was grinding flour for the Furniture, operating in the Duffy Building. It also took the government operated on electric motors. The night engineer, former Halter & Co. building. Mr. Carr, had just left a few moments before the fire started, to have his lunch. This fire started about 11:30 at night. It was Then, we have the Sportsman Bar (owned by Jerome a very hot fire as there were several cars in the garage and Schneider) fire. The bar has since been rebuilt. oil drums and gas were exploding. In the very early spring, a One of our bad fires, which occurred in 1966,1 had almost Home Guard was formed and they became very active fol­ forgotten. The Farmer's Cooperative elevator was struck by lowing this fire, patrolling the town at night. A few nights lightning and burned to the ground, along with a considerable later, they took shots at two suspicious characters who were amount of stored grain. Frank E. Carlson had operated this evidently trying to break into the mill. They escaped on foot elevator for many years, to be followed by his son, Frank, in the darkness and a car was later heard to start in the who operated it for a few years. Manager at the time of the vicinity of where Bakke's Repair now stands. The garage fire was Al Melby, who after the fire, moved to Alexander, was rebuilt, but the light plant was moved to the location North Dakota. This building was rebuilt with a very modern formerly given. plant and Mervin Olsen became manager until the business The Lew States livery barn was likely the next fire. This was sold to the Ambrose Farmers Elevator and George building was not rebuilt. Bakke became manager and then it was again sold to the Then, we had the Fay Hassie fire in the building now present owners, Crosby Farmers Co-op Elevator of Crosby. occupied by Jack & Jill.

East side residential area of Crosby taken in 1908, when the new town was less than a year old.

-89- Relocated Crosby -1907 Jubilee Committee Comment: Freeman has written a very complete report of Crosby's business district, past and present. In many instances, his information has also been included in the histories written by those in business now. In these cases, to avoid repetition, the present establishment is listed in each location. Our thanks to Freeman for his time and effort in compiling this information for our Diamond Jubilee Book. East Main Street-Block 1-North from G. N. Tracks A. S. Anderson Real Estate Office - He did a very flourishing George Moiander's Cafe - established before 1910. This later business with all the settlers flocking into "The Famous became Stebbins Laundry. This site is now Kenneth Sorum's Crosby Country". This property changed hands eight times Westland Service Station. Jess Atwood's barn, located east of from 1908 until 1916 when Martin Duffy purchased it. He built there in the early days, is now located a mile east of town on one of the first fine brick buildings on Main Street, and the Frank Winhofer farm. operated a Shoe Store. The upstairs was the site of early G. F. Hawkinson's Abstract Office. dances and a meeting place for Masonic Lodge and A. O. U. Cleveland Variety Store - was later converted to W. Lodge (Ancient Order of United Workman). This lodge apartments.Hendrickson Hotel - later was Crosby Hotel and Berg Hotel. The buildings of the Abstract Office, Store and Hotel have all been razed. Now, the new J-Par-S Apartment building. Halter & Black Meat Market - years later was Matt Kolstad's Cream Station, and Kolstad's Grocery Store. The lot is now occupied by Dennis Sundheim's Divide Abstract Office Building. Red Mill Cafe. Frank O'Loughlin Building - was located near the corner of the block until moved to its present location in 1917. This building was used for many years as the Postoffice. Herman Emanuel was Postmaster for 23% years. Richard Truax and Leonard Murray worked there for many years. The upstairs portion of this building was used as a very early Catholic Church. Later it was the office of Dr. T. A. Pennock, Chiropractor, then Dr. J. W. Payne's Chiropractic Office. A. I. (Andy) Ingwalson Building- was built on the corner lots in 1917. Now J. C. Penney's. Block 2 East Main Street First Divide County courthouse, at site of First National Bank Security State Bank - located on the corner was owned by Rousseau Brothers. It is now the location of Andy's Mens had a very large membership until dissolved in 1935. The Store. Duffy Building was completely consumed by fire April 5, R. E. Young's Grocery store - was a brick building. Later it 1974. Now, MiLann Furniture Store. housed Otheim's Hardware and Grocery, owned by Sig and Styer and Gullock Building - was a general store about 1908. John Otheim. In more recent years, Kenneth and Leonard The building was sold to F. L. Gill and burned on a July 4th. Otheim conducted the business as Our Own Hardware and C. K. Hassie purchased the property when he first came to Appliance store. Now, Mel's TV and Appliance. Crosby. Jacobson Drug Store - started in business about 1909. A. N. First State Bank - owned by C. J. Clark. He later built a new Postaloken then operated a bakery business which he sold to bank building across the street which is the office of North­ Martin Lindbloom. This is now the southern part of Jerome western Federal Savings and Loan. Schneider's newly-built Jerry's Lounge. Vacant Lot - In more recent years, George Larsen built and Fred Hughes Feed Store - at one time was B. Larsen's Meat operated Larsen's Super Valu. Now, Double LL Store, a Market. Now, the north part of Jerry's Lounge. clothing store. Chan Cowee's Barber Shop - Chan came from Reedsburg, Segarty Building - later became the site of Murphy Furniture Wisconsin, to Crosby in 1911, and barbered for over 50 years. Store and Undertaking Parlor operated by M. L. Murphy. After he moved his barber shop next door, this location was a Now, J. Co. Drug. bar, Forsberg Jewelry, Svangstu Jewelry and now Kinsey's Kjorlien Hardware - owned by Herman and Otto Kjorlien. Law Office. This corner of the block is now Gunner Petersen's up-to-date Jess Atwood's Dray Office - He was a very busy man Coast-to Coast Store. delivering the freight from the train. Bill Lee worked for him. Block 3-East Main Street Chan moved his barber shop to this building. Some of his Ashely and Segarty Building - a wooden structure that early day barbers were Bill Hanmer, Billy Sunde, Charlie extended to very near the alley. The main floor was a pool Ackerman, Lee Eddy, C. A. Butler and Brownie Wilson. This hall operated by Sears and McNair; later by Oberg and is now Arlen Olsen's Barber Shop. Lindbloom; at one time it was called the Pastime Bar Halter and Company - See MiLann Furniture history. operated by Lt. W. A. Chalcroft who catered to the returning -90- soldiers of World War I; later it became one of two Jul & Jul construction. The south section was a restaurant. The next pool halls operating in Crosby. Jul Hovelsrud was known as section was the hotel with about 35 rooms and the northern 'Big Jul' and Jul Kamprud was referred to as 'Little Jul'. The portion housed a fine auditorium. The first to operate the rear portion of the building was the site of Jack A. Kreucher's movie picture theatre was Frenchman, H. S. deMaulassene. Bakery. He was also very much interested in young people and The upstairs of this building was used, for many years, for trained girls and boys in many body-building techniques. dances and also housed a moving picture theatre operated by They gave demonstrations of human pyramid building and Art Ashley. It was converted into a hotel operated by Mr. performed in surrounding towns. He had fifteen boys in one Oberg; by Mr and Mrs. Al Mogaard; and Jul Hovelsrud. group, of which James Poling was one. A 1921 clipping gave There were 22 hotel rooms for which Murphy Furniture Store quite a run-down of his work with young people. The theatre provided the furniture. Located on this corner now is our was discontinued at the time Bill Ingwalson built the present Postoffice, which is in a new brick building owned by Bill Dakota Theatre across the street. Durick of Columbus and leased to the government. When the restaurant section was no longer in business, it John Hof acar Variety Store - later sold to Roy Burke. became office space occupied by A. U. Anderson, realtor. H. W. Boock Residence - was later occupied by Dr. Rainville. The hotel has also been owned by Allen Person who named These lots now are the location of the newly-built Wallin it the Allen Hotel; Ernest and Alida Mukin; and Al and Insurance Building. The Wallins refer to it as the Federal Barbara Beadles. I operated the hotel for them around 1965. Building since it also houses four Government offices; ASCS They later leased it to Gib Borgen who changed the Office, Soil Conservation Service, Farmers Home auditorium section into a restaurant. His partner was Jim Administration and Fish and Wildlife Service. See Wallin Clark, who also operated a dray business here in the late Insurance history. 1960's. The building was razed in 1974 and will be the location Erick Haugen's Tailor Shop - in the very early days. of the First National Bank. Their temporary building is now Millinery Store - owned by Heckel and Mertie Desrosier in on the corner of the lot. 1916. Several years later Dorothy Martin had a Dress and Hat West Main Street-Block 1-North from G. N. Tracks Shop, then Bus and Dorothy operated Martin's Insurance and Farnum's Cafe - now Crosby Motor's. Divide County Abstract Office there. (See Divide Abstract Perry's Rooming House - C. D. Perry was also a conductor on Company history.) Ken Kinstler operates Ken's Pizza Villa the Great Northern passenger train. This building became in this building during the winter months. In summer, he has the Ralph Rooming House, operated by the family for many his Ken's Chicken Inn Drive-In open for business. years. This is now Crosby Motors' used car lot. George P. Homnes' Law Office - for several years beauty Jack Armstrong's Pool Hall and Bowling Alley - later the operators had their shop there. More recently it housed New York Cafe, operated by Gus Blank. Now Forsgren and Wallin Insurance and the building is to be razed, to be part of Stefonowicz law offices. the First National Bank site. Jack Feeney's Pool Hall, Bowling Alley and Lunch Room - at Pilgrim Hotel - built about 1909 or 1910 by Guy Grove, who one time operated by a Mr. Bolstad. This later was a bakery was one of the parties instrumental in plotting the present owned by Cliff Gardner; by Kenneth Sortland; and Jerry town site. He was accompanied in this venture by H. I. Buck. This is now the Long Creek Mercantile operated by Wilson. Mr. Grove built the hotel in two sections of brick Mrs. Merle (Etta) Olson.

91 Joe La Flame's Pioneer Cafe - this became the site of the the days when there was not as much prepared medicine. Farmers Press newspaper, owned by D. A. Gibbs. Now, The drug store operated a very up-to-date soda fountain. American Legion Club. They had their own light plant in the basement. Now, R. H. Points Law Office - He graduated from the University Neumann Drug. of North Dakota in 1904. With his law business, he also loaned Roully Grocery - Now, Joraanstad's Style Shop. money, sold real estate and was in the certified seed John Knoph Hardware, Furniture Store and Undertaking business. He was one very busy and excitable man. Andy Parlor - The north portion of this building once housed a Miller operated Andy's Cafe here for several years, then theatre, later was converted to a restaurant operated for a Ryan's Cafe, and now the Chat'n Chew operated by George short time by Earl Christenson. He sold to Alex Vournas who, and Loy Bakke. with his partner Andy Miller, operated the Crystal Cafe in the Jones Hardware - the building was built in two sections. The 1930's. When they dissolved partnership, Andy started southern portion was once the Postoffice, followed by the Andy's Cafe one block south. Both men operated good Maytag Electric, forerunner of the present John Iverson restaurants where a person could get breakfast as early as Company of Minot. Now , Elroy Christianson's Gamble 5:30 a. m. and they served customers until midnight. Now , Store. Ben Franklin Store. Styer and Gullock Confectionary - Later, Easton Drug and now Crosby Optometric Clinic. See Easton Drug history. Block 2 West Main Street S. S. Nelson Store - in 1908. Frank Koester had his bank Bob Applegate's Cafe - The Citizen's Bank Building was located in the northeast corner of the building and remained constructed here in 1917. Sig Bue was bank president. Now, here for a short time before moving to Outlook, Montana. the Coffee Shop Cafe. E. A. Tannas occupied the basement as During the time he was here in 1910, bank robbers appeared. his law office. It is now Morris Hysjulien's Barber Shop. Charlie Clark in his bank across the street, got wind of the R. R. Herring Store - was sold to Berger Larsen; to A. H. robbers, grabbed his money and took out of town with a horse Lindke; to Caleb Hassie; was Jul and Jul's Pool Hall for and buggy. (So goes the story handed down to me.) There was a tailor shop downstairs in the very early days. At one time, Faye Hassie, a cousin of Caleb, had a grocery store which burned out. More recently, a Red Owl Store operated here under the management of Bud Hanmer. Now, Crosby Jack and Jill Store, owned by Ronald McCarty and Keith Baker. Dora Wolford's Cafe - about 1908. The First National Bank, a wooden structure, was built on this corner in 1913 and operated by Harry H. Martin. This was the last bank to close when the big depression hit in 1929. None of the four banks located here were able to open for business again and a lot of people lost their money. The Bank building was moved in the 1930's and a Standard Oil filling station built. Carl Jacobson was the first station operator. Others were Merrill Truax, Howard Allen, Kenneth Engberg, Arnold Hagen, Howard Bilstad, Gordon Brady, Paul Strom and Loren Owens. Others may have operated it for a short while, but these are the names I came up with. The station is now the Cenex Self- Service Station owned by Farmers Union Oil. The rear room of the station which was used for servicing vehicles is now occupied by Mort's Package Liquor Store owned by Steven Mortenson. West side of Crosby Main Street in 1915. Rees and Rees Barber Shop - in the very early days; then Reese's Shoe Shop; Clyde Kirby's Jewelry Store; and R. H. years; now, the Olympia Lounge owned by Robert Larson. Points Law Office. Mr. Points continued his law practice Togstad Jewelry - later E. 0. Larson's Drug Store, and the until recent years when he moved to the Good Samaritan site of the postoffice when I came to Crosby. It also was a Center where he passed away shortly after his 98th birthday. grecery store owned by Jack Gehrke and Cliff Gardner, and He had been a very active man all his life and when out Ekness Jack and Jill. Now, Svangstu Jewelry. hunting, would place some raisins and cheese in his pocket Bular's Tin Shop - the site of the First State Bank building, and he was good for all day and many miles of walking. This now occupied by Northwestern Federal Savings and Loan. law office now stands on the grounds of the Divide County George Cudhie's Law Office - built in 1908. Some of Christ Historical Society. Semingson's family operated a restaurant for a number of Kashaw's Dental Shop. years; Deb and Louise Chapman had the restaurant; Anton Meat Market - owned by Jack Weeding and Jack Buck who Stenerson had a beer parlor and lunch room; Fritz Gardner sold to Halter and Black. Now, the new building of Wes operated both a liquor and beer business; Lowell Knudson's Kocher's Accounting Office. Smutt's Bar; later the bar was operated by Bill Fennell; and Cleaning Establishment - in this area, operated by Fred by Burlinguette Properties, Inc. It is now Crosby Floral and Denton and also Robert Doughty. Gift Shop, operated by Mrs Robert (Nola) Olson. Peterson Bakery - (very early). Now, Kress and Swonder Boock and Korbel Drug Store - another of the town's first Insurance and Accounting Office. brick buildings. O. J. Korbel was a very good pharmacist in Jennie Nelson's Hat Shop - Now, Fettig's Shoe Shop. -92 - Gessler's Meat Market - sold to H. G. Paulson, who published Crosby Auto Company - owned by Knute Huso and Art the Crosby Review. Now, the Divide County Journal. This is Kately. Now, Crosby Launderama. now the only business in Crosby operated by a direct Blacksmith Ship - owned by Fred Doebriner and Ed descendant of one of our pioneers. Engbritson. Now, Tuftedal Chevrolet Co. Nothing was west of To the north was a house - owned by Tony Larson, now the here except a Softball diamond and ice skating rink. Dakota Theatre and the Montana-Dakota Utilities Office. H. C. Himber Variety Store - west of the present Jack and Photo Shop - near the corner of the lot in very early days of Jill. B. A. Mills later had his photo studio here. the Village of Crosby. Rogers Lumber Yard - to the south. An early manager was William Jentoft, then H. S. Swan. In more recent years Block 1-West of Main Street Sortland Implement has been located here and the building is Farmers Co-op Store and Locker Plant - was first structure now being used as a shop for school buses. built on the lot west of Crosby Motors and was managed by Martin Severson's Chicken Hatchery - across the street. Now Elmer Engberg. Now, Crosby Auto Supply. Rudolph Sortland's quonset. Duffy Brothers Livery Barn - owned by Jack and Martin Crosby's First Elevator - to the south. The grain was hauled Duffy; then Sam Gillan's Livery Barn. Later, Borg and by a horse-drawn hopper-built affair and was loaded by hand Otheim purchased it to be used as storage space for their into boxcars. used cars. It is now a vacant lot. Charlie Clark's Small Barn and Corral - He used to buy range Fire Hall - west of the Gamble Store. This City Hall building horses to sell to settlers. We kids used to play "Stump the houses the City Auditor's Office and City Council meeting Leader" by attempting to ride the horses. room, the Police Office, and the pumping station. The upstairs, in the early days, was the Pest House. Later, it was Block 3-West of Main Street the scene of many early-day dances and is now storage space Crosby's First Postoffice - In 1907 Hans Paulson was for city records. Postmaster. Later August Eriksmoen operated his general Cliff Poling's Feed House - in 1918, 1919 and 1920. It was store here, then Halle M. E. Covell's Music Store. equipped for grinding and loading feed. When R. H. Points Pip-Howe Lumber Yard - in 1916. L. E. Weeks was manager. bought the building he dealt in certified seed. In this location The rear of the building was used as the County Shop in the now, the City has built a 3-stall Fire Station which is used for days of the old "60 Caterpillars". Now, Hellen's Cleaners. storing the fire trucks and equipment and the ambulance. Vacant Lot - used for ice skating. Now, Crosby Clinic. Evans and Buck Machinery Warehouse - Now, Moose Lodge Dr. Lancaster's Hospital - Now, St. Patrick's Church. building, built in 1957. Lipke Rooming House - to the west. This was built in 1913 by Lew States' Livery Barn - Now, Tuftedal Chevrolet used car Gus Lipke and Russell Packard. The early-day school lot. teachers roomed here. Recently, Marian's Beauty Shop. Jim Bennett's Blacksmith Shop - He also had his well-drilling equipment stored there when not in use. Block 1-East of Main Street To the south of States' barn stood a few houses where blind Ted Buck's Photo Gallery - east of the present J. C. Penney pigs (liquor houses) operated against the law of the times. Company. Ted Buck was later associated with Claude Located in this area now are; 2-story apartment building, Simmonds in a store in the Duffy Building. Lund Construction, Inc., building and Merle Olson's Bear Kulaas Lumber Yard - Pat Murray, manager. Later, Crosby Alignment B-Line Service. Lumber Company; then the second Rogers Lumber yard in Crosby, operated by E. E. Smedshammer. Block 2-West of Main Street Lumber Yard - built in the late 1920's. After the yard closed, Magnus Kaggerud's Lunch Room - west of the Coffee Shop. Dr. George Lofthus had his osteopathic office in the building. Vern Antonius later had a tire repair shop there. Now, Ingwalson Motor Company.

The old Community Hall was built in the 1930's. Pictured (I to r) Andy ingwalson, Harry Easton, and w. E. Michaelson. - 93 - Block 2 East from Main Street East Main Street-South of Great Northern Tracks Crosby Eagle - east of Andy's Mens Store. The newspaper Fred Hughes had a coal office which later became the was printed by D. A. Gibbs; Later, J. C. Kloety Tire Shop; H. Jenning's coal office. In searching some of the early records, I. (Ike) Wilson's liquor store; Bob Head's Novelty Shop; and one finds many different coal dealers in Crosby's early days. Bertram Fagerland's TV Repair Shop. Now vacant. Hi Whitaker had a cream station in this same building which Old Telephone Office - now vacant. was located next to the street and just west of the Farmers Rousseau Brothers - had the International dealership. I often Elevator. There were four elevators on the Great Northern watched Dave Rousseau set up the old McCormick binders. right of way, namely: Farmer's Elevator, managed by Ed East Side Garage - built and owned by my father, T. M. Enger, National Elevator, managed by Percy Paulson and Ulman. It was a 74x60 ft. building of brick and tile, one of the later by Ray Rousseau, Rugby Elevator, managed by Herb few fire-proof buildings then. In 1928, he had a 60x26 ft. Landers, and the Far East Elevator, managed by John workshop added with a full basement. This was one of the Nordstog. East of there, was located the Standard Oil Bulk first steam-heated garages in this area. After 1941, he sold to station with early manager Alfred Erickson, followed by Ed Milo Gubrud (Gubrud Implement); then Wilbur Klebe's J. I. Hoag, who owned the first International truck with hard Case and Pontiac dealership; later Edwin Titterud became rubber tires, that I can remember. 0.0. (Ole) Thorson had a Klebe's partner. The building was last occupied as a TBA good sized livery barn located just north of where Ekness Store, Bob Steen was manager. The building was torn down Super Valu Store now stands, 201 South Main Street. after 50 years. Now, Farmers State Bank. Former Moose Lodge - to the north; then, library; now West Main Street-South of Great Northern Tracks apartments. Where the Northwest Implement is now located, 206 South Northwestern Bell Telephone Office - No "Central" service is Main Street, Tom Semingson had a coal office. Next door, provided here. All long-distance calls are placed through the west, was a paint shop owned by one Mohler, who sold out to Williston Office. Lee and Saverude. Next door, west, was Emil Simonet's Community Building - built by W. P. A. (Work Progress garage and cement business which later became Homestead Administration) labor during the "Dirty Thirties". This has garage and is now the present site of Crosby Top and Body, been used for public events, dances and a Teen Canteen more 110 Wall. Next door to the west was Scott Detray's Plumbing recently. Shop and next door, west, was Hans Wold's Blacksmith Shop. Emil Gordon later bought furs in this same building." This' Block 3-East from Main Street building is now owned by Anderson Brothers Lumber and Masonic Temple - built in 1927. The Kiwanis Club holds their occupied by Sig Gordon as blacksmith. Tuesday noon luncheons here. In 1929, next to the side walk, the Crosby Creamery was Senior Citizen's Building - to the north. This was built by built for Newman Power and James Lowe, donated labor and money and is one of the finest Senior Nothing west of there, in the very early days, until we come Citizen's buildings in northwestern North Dakota. They have to the Crosby Flour Mill, a very active group of members. Harry Thompson has been South of that location used to be a spot for winter ice president for 7 years or more. skating. Across the street east is the location of the new Elementary West, across the street, was located the Kateley and Huso and Junior High School and our up-to-date Library, operated light plant, after the disastrous fire uptown in May, 1918. The by Ruth Ralph. engines used to run the plant, operated on gas that was produced from lignite coal. One young man, Ted Butler, used

94- to care for the gas producers. The Electric Light Plant To the west of this location stood the stock yards, which Kately and Knute Huso, proprietors of the electric plant at was an early day hangout for International Workers of the Crosby and Ambrose, purchased the lines and equipment World (I. W. W.), also known as I Won't Work. It was in this from Noonan Electric Company for the purpose of fixing up a spot that they used to cook their coffee and mulligan stews in temporary plant until a big power plant could be constructed gallon cans. They used to beg or steal garden stuff and once at one of the mines. in a while someone missed a chicken that went in the pot. K. E. S. Huso, former resident of Crosby, died as a result of At that time, N. O. Henderson was policeman. He was a a car accident during a blinding snow storm near Eckelson, very dedicated and very fearless individual and was known North Dakota. Mr. Huso was a member of the Huso to patrol these stockyards both through the day and late into Construction Comapny who installed the water system in the night. I should have mentioned that after the light plant 1926. franchise was sold to M. D. U. in 1926, the building housing that plant became the site of one of Crosby's first The Crosby Water System manufacturing plants. When C. C. Howell built his weed In the fall of 1925, Reinhart Huso began to dig the trenches burners there, he employed ten to twelve men. for water and sewer lines. The water mains and sewers were Now, to give you some of the other low prices prevailing in laid in 1926 and the tower was also completed that year. The 1916, we find that on November 27 of that date, sirloin steak first well to furnish water was located one half mile west of was selling for 21* per lb., round steak for 19*, pork chops for the present county shop, on the north side of the road. The 19* a lb., and smoked hams for 28* a lb. This information building housing the pumping unit still stands there. Later a taken from an ad in an earlier paper and sold by Selvog and well was dug east of town that shut off a flowing well on the Nittel, later to become Crosby Meat Market. Volkman farm and there was some controversy over this for a considerable while. This well site is 2V2 miles east of Crosby. Divide County Courthouse Block In 1972, plans were made to build a modern water This was the location of Divide County's first court house treatment plant. At that time another well was dug so now we and was of wooden construction, built east and west. Mrs. have two wells at that location furnishing the water. A new Phelps worked in the auditors office in this building. After the line was also built. The total cost of this project came to construction of the new courthouse in 1917, this building was $615,000. The city received a grant from the federal sawed into two sections and one section was moved six miles government for $200,000, leaving a balance of $415,000 which southwest of Crosby to the Paul Person farm. The other is to be paid by bonds over a forty year period, bonds bearing section was moved ten miles south of Crosby to the Allen five per cent interest. This plant is completely automated Person land and stood on the corner of the road leading to and we have a 500,000 gallon fresh water supply (under­ Plumer Hall for many years. The rest of this area was given ground) located at the site of the plant. over to Crosby's first baseball diamond. Shortly after the first main was laid, Erik Anderson became Crosby's first water superintendent and also looked after the grading of the streets with a John Deere tractor and blade. Erik used to flush the mains quite frequently as there were many dead ends in those days and the water became rusty and stagnant. Following Erik, was Gus Haukedahl. After his death, he was followed by Kenneth Haugland, who held that job for many years until his retirement. He was followed by his son, Norman, who worked for around two years. He was followed by John Wilcox, who came here from Rolla, and took over as superintendent of the new plant. The Soo Line Tracks and Buildings The old Soo Line depot, which now stands idle, was moved here from Imperial (which was an old town located about a mile east and just north of the present Frank Winhofer farm and was quite bitter when the present Crosby was started) was moved here in the fall of 1906. After it became abandoned as a depot, Newman Power used it for a considerable length of time as a warehouse for his beer distributor business. In the early day, two elevators were located along the Soo right of way, namely the Atlantic, where Carl Gilbertson was the very early grain buyer and the Northland, which had a Pete Jacoski as the early grain buyer. One of these elevators is now owned by Farmers Union and is used for sunflowers. Among other buyers of early day grain were, John Kappadahl, Eugene Bothun, a man by the name of Uglum. Both of these elevators were moved here from Imperial by one horse and a capstan. A very short while after present Crosby was established, practically all of the Imperial people moved over here and within a very short while, all that was Ole THorsen's Livery Stable in the early 1900's left in Imperial were old coal sheds. 95 - After Thoughts After reading what I have written, I find that a few around the ankles. I know from a couple of experiences. We interesting details have been omitted. all had respect for our policemen. First of these items is the old pop factory located in the Now, about the discipline in school—if we got into trouble in area of the former Art Cary residence. This factory was school, we were also in deep trouble at home. The parents of operated by Miles Cary, Art's father and husband of Nina, those days stood solidly behind both our police and our school who bottled and shipped a great deal of pop to adjacent teachers. towns. This plant employed several men. We, as citizens of Crosby, owe a deep debt of gratitude to Second, Emil Simonet, along with his cement business, the pioneers who had the courage and the foresight to used to make a number of cement blocks. The house in which establish a village on these premises and to develop it into the Carmen Glass now lives is built of these blocks. This was one city which it is today. of the very early houses in Crosby and was owned by Frank Simonet, Sr., and was a rooming house in early days. This brings up another cement block factory that operated here after Emil had gone out of that type of business. This plant was located where the county shop now stands and they also built tile. This operation was around 1917, and operated by W. S. Wishart. Then again in the 1940's, Clarence Raum, operated a cement block plant in the old Evan's and Buck Machinery Warehouse located where the Moose Lodge now stands. In the very early days, and in fact, until the time the waterworks were installed along with the storm sewers, the whole southeastern part of the present town from around where Anderson Brothers Lumber yard now stands and up as far as the number two Farmers Co-op Elevator stands, was just one big slough on which we youngsters used to raft—the above mentioned distance. The water extended as far east as near the old Great Northern roundhouse. Now, a word about our early policemen and the discipline on the streets and in the schools, Jack Weeding was policeman for many years and used to patrol the business section on foot. When the curfew rang, he would be uptown with his buggy whip and those youngsters caught on the street, either felt the sting of that whip across the buttocks or Charles J. Clark is in the first car on the left.

A busy Main Street scene from 1910.

-96- F 644 .C9 C76 1979 c.2