t*** ^ ^ JA ' mM. SSr • K Many references to the city are from a former numbering system as shown on this map. This map shows the present markings and the old. NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY 05 00040 4754 Valley City NORTH DAKOTA "The City of Five Name,1 PflQKORAUTHQF 1883 - 1983 A historical record commemorating the one hundred years since the In­ corporation of the village of Valley City into the city of Valle City and an IrrcZni of the city's beginnings since the railroad came to the second crossing o he SeVenne" River" in 1872. Historical references are.derived from the efforts of Thomas Elliott, Barnes County Historical Society, C. (Van) Vandestreek, publisher, Valley City Times-Record, and Gunder Berg, Times-Record staff member. Advertising committee consisted of O.B. De La Barre cha^an; Joe Noles Brownell Cole, Cal Sebelius, Nellie Lewellyn, Ralph McKay, Lo.s Brier, Ray Colville and anyone else who may have assisted in any way. Layout supervision: Arthur Dafoe, Diane Sommerfeld and Patty Dawson. Printed by the Valley City Times-Record. C. (Van) Vandestreek Gunder Berg Tom Elliott S06 „5m,rrt. H. B. « -l— Foreword This account of the one hundred-year life of the City of Valley City has been divided into four periods, responding to the four 25-year segments that have passed since the city's incorporation. Because much of the news of the first 25 years was dependent on the newspaper accounts of the day, and because publishers and editors of that period were more wont to deal with the politics and national news of the day, stories and "boiler plate" reproductions of column fillers either sent to them or purchased by them, the news of the first quarter century that is presented is more sketchy and unrelated to a specific year than what will befound in thesucceeding three quarters. The period from 1909 to 1982 is taken from the files of the Valley City Times- Record, selected for their ability to show the movement of the city, and the firms and people who passed through those years, each taking some small or large part in the ongoing movement of the community. Compiling a history in this fashion, it was felt the readers would get a spirit of transition, of living with the community as it made its changes, saw new faces arrive, old faces depart. They would also remember familiar names, familiar places and familiar incidents of their own period of time in the life of Valley City. Dedication This book is dedicated first to the pioneers who chose the land, remained here for settlement, and left their good traditions to their successors. It is also dedicated to all those who at some time called it their home or place of residence, and in so doing, formed the history of the community. —2— First on the Banking Scene in Valley City 1880 -1983 For 103 years a financial presence in the community, assisting you in your financial needs, boosting the community and providing sound savings and investment programs. We are proud of our many years in this city, proud of the changes we have made and the changes the community has made. Now, we are heading into a second century of sound banking practices, continued service to the community and leadership for the community. <j|h First Bank Valley City Members First BanRank SysteSystem 201 N. Central Avenue Phone 845-1323 • Member F.D.I.C. INTERNATIONAL iflOMULTIFOODS Buyers of All Grains Terminal Facility Located 1 Mile West of Valley City Phone 845-1921 Watts 800-532-8652 David P. Hanson, Grain Manager Not The Newest Not The Oldest The Globe Bar But A Thriving Club Monte & Jean Swanson That Has Been An Off-Sale, Dances, On-Sale Active Part Of 243 North Central Valley City's Service Clubs Since 1946 And Proud To Be So! Farm Labor Club 48 Years In Operation VALLEY CITY Ralph Bevins, Manager LIONS CLUB -4— —Prologue— The Story of the Settlement of Valley City By Thomas P. Elliott It was a hot day in July, 1872, when the worktrain General Rosser, chief engineer of the railroad slowly steamed westward from the miserable tent city construction train, had set up his headquarters on the of "Centralia" on the west bank of the Red River of the west side of the river, with some fifty tents laid out with North. military precision to house the various offices, mess Just a month before, track had been laid to the river halls and barracks of the railroad workers. A detail of on the east side and a village had sprung up overnight. infantry and a troop of cavalry were camped just to the Moorhead by name, it was destined to be known as the north of the railroad camp. As the worktrain moved "The Wickedest City in the World." slowly forward, the engineers, escorted by a squad of A bridge had been thrown across the river at this infantry, staked the right of way. The graders followed point and a rude collection of huts and tents housing a closely and behind them, the track layers. Infantry motley group of camp followers and speculators had soldiers provided protection in the event of an Indian materialized overnight. This was "Centralia." attack. Squatters would have been a better name for them as Out in front of the engineers there was a screen of the land on the west side of the river still belonged to cavalry, constantly on the lookout for possible raids by the I ndians and had not been surveyed. the ever-dangerous Indians. Among the more affluent of the tent dwellers was The going was tough. The prairie grass, centuries Charles Mulherin. He had opened a grocery store in a old, was difficult to cut with the horse-drawn im­ tent, stocked with a few of the staples necessary to plements of the time. Although the right of way in keep life together in the little frontier village. As the general followed high ground, it was necessary to cross railroad moved west, Mulherin moved with it, finally low places. Extensive filling and grading, using pick to be tied to his wagon and burned to death by Indians and shovel, horses and scrapers and some wagons somewhere in the west. consumed much time. Men and horses suffered from Nearby, in another tent, there lived a man named the summer heat and the inevitable hordes of George Peoples. Peoples also followed the railroad and voracious mosquitoes. later became the first mayor of Edwinton, later called There was precious little fresh water to be had as the "Bismarck." Still later, he became mayor of the sister summer rains had passed and what little water they city of Mandan. did find in the low spots was brackish and foul to the A log cabin had been built in the woods south of the taste. The water barrels had been filled at the first river crossing the previous fall by a Mr. A.H. Moore. crossing of the Sheyenne River, but were nearly empty With the coming of the railroad, this cabin served as when the head of the track crossed the Maple River. the first hotel in what was later Fargo. Mr. A.H. Moore Here the water was so low that it took a long time to fill was the grandfather of Dr. Max M. Moore of Valley not only the water barrels but the engine on the City. He served as a Deputy United State Marshal worktrain. during the next few years and later opened a store in The track edged westward as the days went Lisbon, Dakota Territory. uneventfully by. No large bodies of Indians were §•£*«#• • Earliest Valley City scene. sighted although several small groups, usually and reached up and opened the door to the coach. families, were seen in the distance and the cavalry Slowly and stiffly, several army officers and one lone rode off to investigate. General Rosser made his daily civilian climbed down to the ground and filed into the visit to the head of the track and conferred with his darkness of the cabin door. engineers. The graders and track layers, mostly Irish As the long, hot day drew to a close, the men on the but with a "Duke's Mixture" of other nationalities, west side of the river walked across the stringers of the respectfully doffed their hats and caps as the general bridge to the east side and supper on the worktrain. rode by. Many secretly wondered what they and the They wearily swung aboard and seated themselves at general were doing out here in the "great nowhere" the long tables in the mess cars. Not much time was with the everlasting heat, mosquitoes and wind. wasted in small talk while eating as each was thinking July passed into August and the head of the track of the cool swim and bath in the offing. Finished eating, reached the westward side of the Red River Valley. they trooped back to the bunk cars for a change of The country became more hilly and the problem of clothing and like a bunch of boys, raced one another to cutting through the low hills to maintain a good grade the river's edge. slowed the pace somewhat. However, August passed Reaching the site of the nearly completed bridge, and September found the going better as the stakes they noted a couple of strangers, surrounded by began to descend a long ravine and the next morning workers, standing at the east end of the bridge.