REFLECTIONS OF LANSFORD, NORTH DAKOTA AND COMMUNITY "Heart of the Mouse River Loop" g>°VZ°%s o % m NORTH DAKOTA % % ^ STATE LIBRARY /;>6-i9ife j Bismarck, N. D. 58505 F Reflections of Lansford. 644 North Dakota and com­ .L3L munity . R<1 c.l NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY BISMARCK 58505 JAN 2 5 1979 PNORTH DAKOTA H DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY [BOJKJRJUJHOR. 3 3105 00147 1067 r\n~ POEM From those of us who did compile, Bits and pieces and stories wild, Rummaged books and records too, Even came a-visiting you. We fret, worried, and sighed a hit, Trying desperately to get All the information we could find. We beg you, please, to be So kind If some mistakes you'll no doubt see, We did our best for you, by gee, With pictures, writing, fingers flying, Typed the articles, there's no denying; Hope you will smile some and chuckle, too, About the facts compiled for you. By: Irene Jevne and Evelyn A us i ry m«fck, N JJ'LANSFORD IS ALIVErr People who contributed towards this book: Elmer and Madrid McLean Betty Skagen Etta Johnston Virginia Jevne White Louise and Harry Jevne Jean Zimny Paul Smetana Alice Undlin Anna Gunning Donna Bommelmon Joey Undlin Gert Helming Irene Jevne Colleen Carlson Evelyn Aus Nina Brossart Harry Middaugh Art Baggenstoss Helen Sidener Marlene Tossett Janice Talley Peg Tyler Joan Middaugh Ralph Helming John O'Keeffe Fred Tyler Townships: Blaine, Elmer and Madrid McLean; Mountrose, Harry Middaugh; Lockwood, Joey Und­ lin; Van Buren, Louise Jevne; Lansford, Irene Jevne and Evelyn Aus; City of Lansford, Colleen Carlson and Ralph Helming. PHOTO RESTORATIONS AND REPRODUCTIONS IN THIS BOOK WERE FURNISHED AT COST By PAUL'S FREELANCE PHOTO PAUL SMETANA LANSFORD, NORTH DAKOTA 58750 - 2 BLAINE TOWNSHIP /. L. Vanice sod house, where George Adams' farm is today. In the year 1901 most of the land in Blaine Town­ In 1918, a big, consolidated school was built ship, 160 N., Range 83 W., and in Montrose Town­ which took care of the children in the whole town­ ship, 160 N., Range 82 W., had been filed on. The ship. Five school busses were used to transport the homesteaders came to Minot by train and then hired children, and as many as seventy students were in buggies or dray wagons to get to their claims. attendance. The good-sized basement was used for Walter Morris filed on the S.E. quarter of section school programs, basket socials, dances, as well as 13 in 1901 and then returned to his home in the East. basketball. Lansford had no facilities for basketball In April, 1902 he and his family returned to Minot so the teams held their practice sessions and games with their goods and cattle in immigrant cars. The at Blaine School. Walter Morris was the first clerk river in Minot was flooded and the depot surrounded of the Blaine School board and his daughter, Mrs. by water, so the passengers and their possessions Madrid (Morris) McLean was fhe last clerk when had to be floated to dry land on barges. The road the school closed. The children of Blaine and Mont­ north to Renville County was located west of the rose townships attended Sunday School at a present highway 83 and was called the "Minot location west of what is now called Renville Corner. Trail." A band of friendly Indians camped all that first summer by a small stream near the Morris In the year 1917, the grasshoppers destroyed most claim. of the crops, and in the 1930's, the dust storms and In 1903, the tracks of the Great Northern branch lack of rain caused much hardship. The people of line were extended northwest from Granville, Blaine and adjoining Montrose Township, however, through Blaine Township, thus making the transpor­ were of sturdy stuff and managed to weather the tation of building materials, stock, food, and ma­ hardships and continue to have their pot-luck din­ chinery a much simpler task. The townsite of Lans- ners, card parties, and dances. William Langer ford was established at its present site in 1903 with was Governor of North Dakota during the the Great Northern railroad tracks passing depression years and many a family benefited from diagonally from southeast to northwest. The Soo his help in supplying food to those in need. Line tracks came through Lansford in 1905 from the East to Kenmare. A small town by the name of Truro was located Also, in the summer of 1903, there were enough north of Blaine Township on the Great Northern homesteaders with children to band together and set railroad. It boasted a small store, where groceries up a three month summer school session in a and dry goods could be purchased, and also two bachelor's homestead cottage. Each family with grain elevators. Around 1946, the elevators were children donated money to pay the first teacher, moved; one to Mohall, and one to the Howard Henry Mrs. Mabel (Kennicut) Broden. who had arrived farm near Westhope. To the East on the Soo railroad with her brothers to file on claims. The children line was the townsite of Hurd, where George either rode or walked to school and brought boxes to Mueller operated an elevator owned by Ben Wolf of sit on. In 1904, the men of the township decided a Lansford. better school system was needed, so they held a meeting to organize a school board. Walter Morris Robert McLean also filed on a home-site claim at was elected clerk, and other members included about the time Walter Morris did. Robert's son, Robert Blowers, Jack Gibbs, and J. D. O'Keeffe. It Elmer, and Walter's daughter, Madrid, were was decided to have a school built on each side of married June 5, 1921 and celebrated their Golden the Township, plus a barn and two "out-houses." Wedding anniversary in 1971. It is through the The first teacher in the new school near the Walter graciousness of this lovely couple that this excerpt Morris section was Carrie Quick. has been written. BLAINE TOWNSHIP Frank Bourn's car in 1909. Esther, Madrid and Emma Morris. Walter Morris' cook car - Esther at stove. Plenty to eat on the Morris farm in 1914. Inside of a cook car set up, ready to eat -1912. Walter Morris homestead shack, 1902. Esther, Madrid, Arvada, Walter, Boyd, Madrid, Esther and Avery Morris Mother Arvada, Avery, Dad Walter and Boyd. ready to go up Minot North Hill, April, 1902. - 4 • BLAINE TOWNSHIP Blaine school bus - Charley, Avery, Esther, Emma, Madrid, Lotus (cousin) and Boyd Morris. The first Blaine school house - originally called Elm, School buses at Blaine School. and later changed to Blaine. Walter Morris threshing machine at Sam Johnson farm. Walter Morris threshing rig. ELMS TOWNSHIP Mathias Elm's Home - built by Mathias in 1905. What is now Elms Township was organized April Four one-room schools called Shiloh, numbers 1, 2, 7,1903, and was called Jefferson Township. The first 3, 4, were located in the Township. Later number 1 business meeting was held April 23 of that year at was called Roosevelt, number 2 was Running, num­ the George Bickett home. E. P. Keefe was appointed ber 3 was Forfar, and number 4 was Bickett. The to act as monitor and Hans Styles as clerk. The first first school board members were Iver Bjerkan, Louis election was held that day with T. L. Smith and An­ Tarvestad, and S. B. Parker. The clerk was T. L. drew Running appointed to act as judges. Those Smith and the treasurer, Andrew Running. In 1903 elected to hold offices till the next annual election to the first teachers were Jennie Cooper (Roosevelt be held in 1904 were: Supervisors, E. P. Keefe (chair­ school No. 1), Katie Keeler (Running school No. 2), man), S. B. Parker, and H. J. Welch; Clerk, T. L. and Winifred Cole (Forfar school No. 3). The Bickett Smith; Treasurer, Andrew Running; Assessor, Jerry school No. 4 opened in 1905 and was taught by Jen­ Keeler; and Road Overseer, W. G. Luther. nie Cooper. School terms in the beginning were three Jefferson Township had a population of 300 in months in the summer, but in 1913, terms were of 1903. In 1905 the Township was renamed Elms nine month's duration from September to May. For­ Township after Mathias Elm who homesteaded there far and Running schools were closed in the 1930's, in 1902. The Township was divided into four dis­ with the Bickett and Roosevelt schools continuing tricts, numerically — 1-2-3-4, for which one overseer until the middle 1940's. In 1958, the school district was needed for each district. At this time the offices was divided and re-districted, with the children in in the Township were Supervisors (3), Treasurer, the east part going to Glenburn and those from the Clerk, Assessor, Justice of Peace, Constable, Pound west part going to Lansford. Master, and Overseer. One of the most talked about homes was built by Among the first men to homestead here were Paul Charles Offenbacker in 1910. It was noted for its Carr, James Davis, F. E. Welch, and Henry Willis. By size, style, and quality. The house had hardwood 1910, all land in the Township was homesteaded or floors, beautiful woodwork, fireplace, and a nice bought. basement, and was classified as very modern at that James Davis was proprietor of the Half-Way time on the Dakota prairie. It has since been House on the old Canadian Trail. Travelers heading remodeled and modernized, but still retains its north would stop here to feed and rest their horses original floor plan and outside appearance.