Barnes County: A Moment in Time
1922
100 Years Ago...
Liberty Cafe
Since M. Boline was burned out of his old stand in the Liberty Cafe building he has been looking around for a new location. This he has obtained and will soon open up an up-todate lunch counter in the Axtell Drug Store. Mr. Boline and C.M. Axtell have joined forces and the new lunch counter will be the result of this action. Mr. Boline states that he will put in a first class counter and will be ready to greet his customers in the new location within a few days. The new counter will extend along the south wall of the drug store, the soda fountain and drug department occupying the north wall.
Window Display
The Straus Clothing Company has a very nifty window display, conceived and carried out in detail by that prince of artists, Ed Bloom. It represents a miniature baseball diamond with Jamestown and Valley City as the opposing teams. Jamestown is up for the ninth inning with a score 3 to 2 in favor of Valley City. Mr. Bloom has the players named and such artists as Joe Heiling, Rev. J. S. Wilds, and numerous others are represented in the figures playing in that game. The editor is there with a notebook and pencil and Manager Hank Sampson is posing very serenely with his big sombrero hat. The whole scheme is very cleverly portrayed and Mr. Bloom has made a most attractive display.
1947
75 Years Ago...
New Ice Cream Freezer Installed at Co-Op Creamery
Installation of a new 40-80 Creamery Package continuous ice cream freezer at the Barnes County Cooperative Creamery was announced today by Roy Bryngelson, manager. “This new freezer will assure patrons of a topquality ice cream that is deliciously smooth in texture and rich in butterfat content,” Bryngelson said. It will be the creamery’s endeavor to supply the local market with the locally-produced product he added. “The manufacture of ice cream in Valley City offers an outlet for surplus milk and cream in this area at a time of the year when production is above normal,” he continued. “The greater return from dairy products marketed through ice cream brings to farmers of this area a larger income which undoubtedly will tend to increase business within our city. Home products consumed by home people tends to create greater home prosperity.”
Moon, Wind Get Credit for Matt Peterson’s Fish
Matt Peterson, handless Veteran of the Spanish-American war, was nonchalent today as he pulled two northern pike—one 14 3/4 and the other 18 pounds— from the Sheyenne River here within a half-hour’s time. “Sure, they’re bound to bite—there’s a full moon and the wind’s from the northwest.” said Matt. He used a heavy hook with minnows as bait. Matt caught the big fellas in one of Valley City’s fishing spots, directly behind the municipal power plant, between 8:15 and 8:45 this morning. Since fishing season opened Friday, fish ranging from 1018 pounds have landed from the river.
1972
50 Years Ago... VCSC honors
Norm Mills
Thursday was Norm Mills Day at Valley City State College. Highlighting the festivities was a convocation in Mills honor fittingly held at the Memorial Student Center. He was a principle agent in planning and carrying out the center’s addition. Student representaive Scott Sturlaugson started the program by enumerating some of the offices, organizations and contributions . Mills had credited to his college record at VCSC. The program was turned over Dean Cy Kruse who listed Mills administrative achievements including his positions of student center director, director of housing and most recently director of counceling at the local campus. Current Student Center Director Phil Mueller spoke on Mills personal accomplishments, praising him for his ability to listen and to be willing to help anyone anytime. On that note, Doug Meyers Came forward and presented Mills with a plaque signifying the appreciation of the Tau Sigs for all Mills had done for the organiziation. This was followed by another award presentation. Scott Sturlaugson gave Mills a plague on behalf of the student body. Then Mills stepped to the podium and drew instant response from the audience with the line, “The thing that concerns me most about this day is that it sounds like an obituary poem.” He went on by reading a poem that emphasized the way he felt: “Be proud of yourself but remember there’s no indispensable man.” In closing his remarks Mills again chose the words of a poet to emphasize his feelings. He concluded his remarks with the poem by F.S. Perls: “You are you and I am I. I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I and if by chance we meet, it’s beautiful.” “And that’s what it’s been. beautiful,” He remarked quietly.
With Our Servicemen
Sergeant First Class Louis O’Brien has been promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant according to an announcement by Captain David J. Maasjo, Commanding Officer of Headquarters Company of the 141st Engineer Battalion. Master Sergeant O’Brien is operations sergeant for the company and served 18 years in the North Dakota National Guard. Master Sergeant O’Brien is the son of Mrs. Agusta O’Brien, Valley City, and is employed by the North Dakota State Highway Department at Devils Lake as materials specialist and lab foreman.
1997
25 Years Ago... Arbor Day brings ND 4 trees closer to goal
North Dakota is four more trees closer to its goal of 100 million trees in 11 years , following an Arbor Day Celebration in Valley City Wednesday. Sharon Bartels of the North Dakota Forest Service said Wednesday’s 8 a.m. ceremony in Chautauqua Park was a little colder than the first Arbor Day would have been 125 years ago, but 16 people have turned out to dedicate the trees. A flowering crab tree was donated by the Sheyenne Valley Garden Club and a blue spruce was donated by Wagar Nursery in memory of Alfred Benson, Mary Wagar’s late father. Also, an emerald maple was planted as was a Linden donated by Bettin’s Floral in Valley City. This is the 21st straight year Bettin’s had donated trees for Arbor Day. Bartels explained Arbor Day started with J. Sterling Martin in Nebraska City, Neb. She said Martin, a newspaper publisher, moved to Nebraska territory and found the area largely treeless. He and his wife started planting trees, Bartels said, and the idea caught on with neighbors. Then Martin used his newspaper to promote planting of trees.
Vo-Tech students head to nationals
Two graduating seniors from Valley City Vocational Technical Center, Dana Didier and Chris Tombarge, won first place in the 1997 Ford/AAA Auto Skills Competition held May 10 at Bill Barth Ford in Mandan. Chris is the son of Carl and Pam Tombarge, Valley City, and Dana’s parents are DuWayne and Bev Didier of Eckleson. Both students attend Valley City High School. This is the second consecutive year the local vocational students have come home with the coveted first-place trophy which now entitles them to go on to national competition. The national event will be held in the mall area in front of the capitol in Washington, D.C., June 16. The students and their instructor, Jeff Bopp, will have the next month to sharpen their skills for the trip to nationals. Bopp says for their first-place effort, the duo received a Sears toll box, a jacket, three hats, a lighted magnet, a multi-tool and fender covers. They also recieved several scholarship offers: Denver Institute of Technology, $3,000; Northwestern College at Lima, Ohio, $3,000; Ford Asset (Automotive Service Educational Training) Program, $3,500; Bismarck State College, $500; and North Dakota State College of Science, $500. The contest is co-sponsored by Ford Motor Corporation and the AAA American Automobile Association. Bopp says his department is appreciative of Stout-Ross Ford of Valley City because each year they have loaned his students the use of a practice vehicle. While in Washington, D.C., the students will start all over with a written test and then a hands-on competition. Bopp says they will also have some free time for touring and sightseeing.