^Stf3*G DIAMOND^ ^ JUNE 10 -11, 1957 ^ STATE BISMARCK, ti. DA 1882 1957 STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION BISMARCK, H. DAK.r • ••*-. F Petersburg Diamond Jubilee. PU?x NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY BISMARCK 58501 AUG 2 3 1974 TH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY NORTH DAKOTA BOOK OR AUTHOR 3 3105 00040 4374 North Dakota State Library Bismarck, ND 58501 Dedication This book is dedicated to those early settlers of the Petersburg- Dahlen area of North Dakota who courageously faced the hardships, pri­ vations and dangers of the early pioneer days in order that their children and their children's children might have a heritage and a home on what was then Dakota Territory. Acknowledgement The Editing Committee would like to take this opportunity to I hank all those who have helped in amy way to make this book become a reality. Special thanks to Marvin Breton, Olaf Haugen, Ingward Reiten, Bin'g Iverson, Clyde Ralston, Anna Hanson, Mrs. Eihler Ricmcrs, Car) Ftam Jr., and others who spent countless hours in helping us to ga'Jher material and checking its authenticity. The committee has taken every precaution within our means to eliminate errors from tihis hook. We have stated .the facts as they were reported to us. To the best of our knowledge we believe them to be correct. —The Editing Committee: Carl Flem, F. L. Byrnes, Glenn Resell History of Adler, Dahlen and Petersburg Area In the year 1881 the first settlers arrived in the vicinity of this com­ munity. In 1882 the first government survey was made in these parts. The land was opened for settlement in the spring of 1883. Accordingly, although the earliest settlers might choose the land on which they wish­ ed to make their future home, they could not file upon the land until it was opened for settlement. Public land was available under the pro­ visions of three laws, namely, the Homestead, the Pre-emption, and the Tree-claim Acts. A quarter section of land could be obtained under each of the three acts. However, there Were restrictions to this privilege. No person could make use of his homestead and his preemption rights at the same time. Tree-claims were restricted to one in each section, and homesteads required residency. Moreover, pre-emption to be proved up required a fee to be paid of one dollar and twenty five cents ($1.25) per acre, which very few of the early settlers could procure. The result was that very few were able to obtain more than one quarter-section of land. The first settlers, who came before the land Was placed on the mar­ ket, were known as "squatters." Sod houses, dug-outs in the hill-sides, and rough board shanties banked up with sod, served as their first homes. On April 14, 1883, the date of the opening, the Land Office at Grand Forks was besieged by land-seekers, and in a few days much of the land was taken up. New settlers began to arrive, and new shacks sprang up on the prairies. Many of these "squatters" came with no intention of making their future home here. Many were unmarried, or "bachelors," and many of these left to find work elsewhere, in spite of the residency requirements of the law. But there were a few who really planned to make their claim their permanent home, and they began the work of transforming the virgin prairies into productive fields. The past does not end: it only glides silently from yesterday to to­ day and then into the tomorrow; but something in the heart of man makes him love to recall old friends, retell old tales, and recount old experiences of joy or hardship. i To a degree, these desires are satisfied by this Diamond Jubilee. Your committee has judiciously named this historic event, for the word, "Diamond," somehow fires our imagination. Webster defines a diamond as something transparent, free from flaws, and highly valued; so it is that our Diamond Jubilee is something that is clear in purpose, free from pretense, and very precious. We believe this celebration will bring warmth and comradship to the families of this area. We need celebra­ tions of this kind not only for commemoration but to brighten the light of hope and new enthusiasm for all of us. The light of the past, memory, and the light of the future, hope, become intertwined in such celebra­ tions as this Diamond Jubilee. Seventy-five years ago, there were still American frontiers to be homesteaded and immigrants (mostly from western Europe) were mi­ grating to this country. Some of the hardiest pioneers came from the Scandinavian countries to this area. These sturdy pioneers, by their cour­ age, hardihood, self-sufficiency and restlessness, pushed our North Da­ kota frontiers westward. They blazed trails, put up their sod shanties, and endured at times almost unbelievable hardships. Yet some of them lived to see the raw prairies transformed into well-kept farms, the trails into hard-surfaced roads. They helped to build those white-painted school houses which gave to the countryside that air of a certain stabili­ ty and marked the beginnings of a new and typically American culture. But we must not forget the shawled and bonneted women of that era. For they too, had the courage, the self-sacrificing spirit, and the deter­ mination to build permanent homes and leave a heritage for future gen­ erations. Sometimes the men might become discouraged. Oftentimes, it was the women who had the vision to see the churches and the schools and the golden opportunities for their sons and daugters in this new land. The hospitality among those early pioneers has become a treasured legend of those days of the dugout and the sod shanty. In this book, you will find recorded instances of the open-handed hospitality of those early pioneers. " 'Tis the human touch in this world that counts, The touch of your hand and mine: That means much more to the human heart Than shelter or bread or wine. For shelter is gone when the night is gone And food lasts but a day. But the sound of your voice Will live in my heart ahvay." We believe the following very short poem epitomizes the hopes ami aspirations of those early pioneers better than we can do in words of our own. "Men look to the East for the driving things, And the light of the rising sun: But they look to the West, to the crimson West, For a view of things that are done. For the eastward sun is a new born hope, From the dark of the night distilled. But the western sun is the sunset sun. The sun of a hope fulfilled. For there in the East we dreamed a dream Of the things we hoped to do: But here in the West, the crimson West, The dreams of the East come true." 3 History of Petersburg You might expect that in 75 years of history, the scenes and skyline of any village would change a great deal. The purpose for which a towrt is established quite often determines how rapidly these changes take place. Boom towns grow quickly to meet the needs of those that it serves. When these needs no longer exist, the towns begin" to shrink and eventually become ghost towns. The primary purpose for establishing a townsite where Petersburg stands was, and still is, to serve an agricultural community — a place where people could market their produce and buy their needed supplies with convenience. Agriculture has long been the backbone of our econ­ omy. When the rural people prosper, so do the people engaged in the businesses that serve them. The agricultural area surrounding Petersburg developed rather quickly, so it is only natural that Petersburg also de­ veloped rapidly as a center of 'business. Before relating the history of the several businesses of the Village, it may be well to look briefly at how this town got its name and loca­ tion. The original plotting for the townsite was first proposed by the St. Paul, 'Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad Company. They proposed townsites along the railroad right-of-way at intervals of six miles for this seemed to be a reasonable distance in order to provide market centers for all communities. In the mid-years of the 20th century, their reason­ ing may be questioned but we must remember that modes of transporta­ tion and highways have advanced beyond anything our forefathers antici­ pated even in their most fantastic dreams. The early settlers, desiring to be close to future townsites, estimated that the first town in Nelson Coun­ ty would foe five miles west of the Nelson County line. They based this belief on the location of towns already located east of Nelson County. Among the early settlers to arrive in this community, was L. H. Pet­ erson. To this man came the honor of naming this town. There were two reasons for his decision to name the town Petersburg. First, to honor his own name; and, secondly, to honor the old manorial estate of Petersborg in Telemarken, Norway. Telemarken was Mr. Peterson's original home and birth place. Petersburg Business Community Early day view of Petersburg's Main Street General Stores The first building built in Petersburg was a general store erected by L. H. Peterson in 1883. This store was located just west of the present Adamson Lumber Yard. The building was later moved to the present property of Harry Erickson. A part of the original building is still 'being used as a granary.