Barnes County: A Moment in Time
1924 100 Years Ago...
Hotel Rudolf Through a recent business transaction, Rudolf Giselius, proprietor of the Hotel Rudolf, acquired the Rex Theatre building on fifth avenue. Mr. Giselius stated that he contemplates on using the newly acquired property as an annex to his hotel. Because of the crowded condition of his present house, Mr. Giselius felt it necessary to branch off onto another building and because of the fact that he now holds a lease on the entire upstairs of the hotel block, it will make it very convenient for him to have this annex in the adjoining building. Rooms in the new hotel annex are being redecorated and remodeled to be in the very best of condition for up to date rooms and suites for people wishing quiet, comfortable quarters. The building was purchased from L.A. Veiley, now at Yakima, Wash. The consideration of the transaction was not divulged. The new annex has in it about twenty good rooms which will be entirely refurnished with furniture, hot and cold water, private baths, etc. Mr. Giselius believes the rooms will be ready for occupation within a very short while. To make the rooms as quiet as possible there will be no entrance leading from the hotel so that the only entrance will be the stairway between the Rex Theatre and Bowen’s Billiard Parlor, according to Mr. Giselius.
1949 75 Years Ago...
Body of Sgt.
Nielson returned home
The remains of another Barnes County war hero, the late Sgt. George A. Nielson, has been returned from overseas for final burial.
Sgt. Nielson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nielson of Valley City, was killed in action in Luxembourg, Germany, on March 3, 1945, at the age of 24 years.
Funeral arrangements made by Holberg-Peterson Funeral Home.
Six V.C. people in car accident west of Medina
A Valley City woman and her daughter were injured, along with four others, in an automobile accident one-half mile west of Medina on Highway 10 Wednesday afternoon when a car driven by Chris Hoff of Valley City turned over and went into the ditch.
Passengers in the Hoff car were his wife, Pauline, Mrs. T. Hoff and baby, William. Pauline Zaun and Erman Zaun, all of Valley City and Esther Hoff of Jamestown.
Mrs. Christ Hoff, 1101 Third Street, Valley City and her daughter, Esther, were brought to Mercy Hospital. Both had severe bruises, but there were no fractures, attending physicians said.
In a second accident near Jamestown Wednesday, two cars collided on Highway 281. The drivers were Peter O. Knutson, Ashby, Minn., and John J. Freih, Edgeley. Freih had his wife and son Glen as passengers. Glen was treated for cuts in a hospital here.
Both accidents were investigated by D.G. McFarland, Highway Patrolman, and C. B. MeHarry, Stutsman County Deputy Sheriff.
1974 50 Years Ago...
Gambles Grand Opening Chamber of Commerce representative Ted Thorne officially cut the ribbon to begin the grand opening celebration of the Gambles Store hosted by new managers Herman and Murial Meyer, Gambles Division representatives from Minnesota, North and South Dakota was present for the three day grand opening, as well as Guy Kleinsasel, Don Nelson, Morrie Zwack, and Morrie Smith, Clark Schilke (local store employee); Vernon Hanson, Joe Vold, CC executive secretary Thorne, Richard Earls, store employee; owners Herman and Murial Meyer; and employees Karen Halldorson, Pat Braunberger, Janet Paulson, Mary Ann Winkler, Jodi Meyer and Ione Wilson. The grand opening will involve three night openings until 9 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Monday. Coffee and cookies served, registrations for free prizes, give-away items, plus specials, said Meyer. The store now employs five full-time plus four part-time persons. Meyer and his wife, and two children, came to Valley City in November of 1973 from Clara City, Minn., where he was with a variety store organization. He said that in his business he has been transferred around the northern county frequently and has yet to find a community that has accepted in and his family more readily than the residents of this town.
1999 25 Years Ago...
Schmidt steps down after 38 years
‘When good things happen to a person it’s a good idea to let it go to one’s heart - not one’s head.’
This was some good advice handed down to
Washington School Principal Leo Schmidt many years ago and he says, “I’ve tried to live by that very advice.” he says.
And he has, in fact, lived by that advice given to him by Lena Vangstad more than three decades ago.
Schmidt plans to retire as principal June 10 after 38 years in the teaching profession - 31 of then spent at Washington School.
“I’m looking forward to retiring, but I’m not looking forward to turning in my keys,” he says.
Schmidt had, for many years, imagined in his mind what it would be like to write his letter of resignation. He had things in mind of what he would say, but when it actually came down to do it, he just couldn’t, he says.
He became melancholy thinking back at all the good times. So he finally ended up just writing something short and simple.
The thing he’ll miss most when he drives past Washington School will be that he will see and think about all the pleasant things connected with the school.
“I’ll no longer be a part of the school atmosphere,” he says wistfully.
“What I won’t miss will be the 10-to-14-hour days,” he adds, “And eating my lunch standing up.”
Many people seem to think that teachers and administrators put in short days, but this just isn’t true, according to Schmidt. At least it hasn’t been in his case.
Schmidt remembers well the first day he had to unlock the door to Washington School as the Principal. “My hand shook so much I had to take both hands to unlock the door,” he says with a laugh.
Looking back, one of the changes he has seen over the nearly 40 years in the teaching profession is the make up of the family setting.
He has seen the traditional family change to the single family and then to the blended families.
Also, there has been a significant change in enrollment. The enrollment increased the first 25 years of Schmidt’s teaching experience and since that time, it has been on a slow decline. Going hand-in-hand with this change was first the increase in staff and then the reduction of staff.
“There has been an increase in technology and access to information and kids have so much access to information (nowadays),” Schmidt says.
He says educators are now looking for ways to provide “age appropriate information.” In other words, there is just too much information out there that some youngsters aren’t ready for, but have access to.
“One thing that hasn’t changed is the students enthusiasm to attend school. The students are still coming to school, eager to learn and socialize.”
Also, Schmidt says the students’ standardized test scores have been increasing steadily over the past 30 years.
There has also been an increase in special education services over the years which “has been wonderful in meeting the needs of the special education students,” he says.
Schmidt’s background
A native of Napoleon, ND, Schmidt graduated with a two-year standard degree in 1957 from Valley City State Teachers College (as it was called then) and then spent one year at Wimbledon teaching grades seven and eighth. He then went back to college at Valley City State and received his bachelor of science degree in 1961 and started teaching fifth grade at Ritchie #2 Elementary School until 1964.
Schmidt’s next move was to Jefferson Elementary School where he taught fifth grade until 1967. He then became the full time assistant elementary principal at Jefferson for one year before accepting the principal’s position at both Lincoln and Washington Elementary Schools from 1968 to 1975.
He graduated from Moorhead State University in 1968 with a master’s of science degree in elementary school administration. It was that same year that Schmidt started his long journey as principal at Washington School which has lasted for 31 years.
Many awards at
Washington
Schmidt is proud of the many award of excellence for which the teachers and staff at Washington School have been recognized.
Since 1989, they have received three Milken awards; three Presidential awards for excellence in science and math teaching; a North Dakota Hot Lunch Cook of the Year award; a North Dakota Special Education; and an International Reading Association Exemplary Reading Program award.
Good things must go to the heart not the head
Then in 1992 it was Schmidt’s turn. This is one of those times when he had to remember his former teacher’s advice to not let good things go to his head - but instead, go to his heart. He was presented with a national award - the National Distinguished Principals award.
“I think I’ve had a rewarding career in Valley City. I’ve made my share of mistakes as a principal, but the people have been willing to forgive and move on,” he says.
Schmidt and his wife, JoAnn, will continue to reside in Valley City. She has also been in the teaching profession for 36 years and plans to continue teaching. They have one son, Kyle, who is an endodontist in Humacao, Puerto Rico, who is married to an optometrist.
The Schmidt’s are active members of St. Catherine Catholic Church. He’s a member of the Valley City Lions Club and enjoys hunting, fishing, photography and into genealogy.
After all these years, Schmidt says the people of Valley City have seemed to have accepted him as the principal of their children.
He’s grateful for that and thanks the parents for sharing their most precious possession their children.