Barnes County: A Moment in Time
100 Years Ago...
No. 4 hits Ford Coupe last eve.
W.S. Hardie of Fargo, driving a Ford Coupe, was struck by No. 4 at the fifth avenue crossing at 11:25 last night. The car is badly wrecked but Mr. Hardie was lucky in escaping unhurt.
Mr. Hardie was going south on fifth avenue at the time of the arrival of No. 4. The Barnes County Imp. Co. building obstructed the view of the track and evidently Mr. Hardie did not see the train approaching. The car was struck on the right side at about the center. It was carried to the east end of the depot on the front of the engine but remained upright. The glass is all broken and the right side is badly caved in but the motor is not hurt in any way.
Mr. Hardie was riding and is shaken up with a few slight bruises in all. He is a traveling salesman for the Willard Storage Battery Co., headquartered in Fargo.
Farmers Elevator Burned
It is reported that the Farmers Elevator at Pillsbury burned to the ground yesterday morning. The origin of the fire, which broke out about 2 o’clock in the morning is unknown. The loss is about $35,000. This was one of the best elevator properties in this part of the country and many farmers of the district have been interested in it.
1947 75 Years Ago...
To Graduate…
Cadet Frank Larson, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Larson,
514 Lincoln Ave., Valley
City, is a member of this year’s graduating class at Wenworth Military Academy at Lexington, Mo., and he will receive his diploma at the 67th annual commencement exercises to be held there May 29, Major Leon H. Ungles, dean, has announced.
Commencement exercises got underway with the baccaluareate service
held May 25. Following this five days of special events have been scheduled including field day activities, alumni meetings, the graduation dance, breaking of ground for the new Wentworth Memorial Chapel, presentation of diplomas and a special farewell ceremony on May 30.
Mr. and Mrs. Larson left Saturday morning to attend their son’s graduation.
Fingal Seaman on USS Cascade
Alvin R. Koslofsky, 19 , fireman, first class, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Koslofsky of Fingal, ND, has been assigned to the destroyer tender USS Cascade, on duty with the Philadelphia Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
Koslofsky, who reported to the vessel form the distilling ship USS Abatan, entered the Naval service Jan. 9, 1946, and received his recruit training at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, Calif.
1972
50 Years Ago... VCSC installs mall
An activity started during Earth Week on the VCSC campus continues long after the actual week of observances with members of the community joining forces with the college students and faculty to produce an area on campus for the students to enjoy nature. A parking lot, centrally located on campus, has been taken out and in it place will be a mall with shrubs, flowers and picnic tables. The college students have donated their time and muscle but little could have been accomplished without the concern of local businesses. H.O. Benson donated shrubs, trees and the use of a sod cutter while Maurice Wick of Wick Construction donated the cement for the walks. Other donations have come from Smith Lumber, Carpenter Lumber, Beyer Cement,
Nielsen Construction and Plenty Housemoving and Excavating. The City Street Department has helped with some of the work on the mall and Municipal Utilities moved the overhead wires and transformers underground.
1997
25 Years Ago...
Kathryn receives unique gift
By Robin Wark TR staff writer
The City of Kathryn received a gift recently.
The gift did no come with a bow or in nice wrapping paper, but rather a business. The Dew Drop Inn Restaurant opened recently.
“It is a gift to the community,” Kathryn Postmaster Sherry Johnson said. “I think that all the people are really thrilled.”
Kathryn resident Mel Bjerke agrees.
“I think that it is wonderful - to put the time, the effort and the money that has been put into this,” he said. “It is really an improvement. Even at the post office we feel that it could contribute to revenue generation. We think it is definitely a plus.”
The restaurant was opened by Ruth Nelson in the former Frostad’s Cafe building. The community had been without a restaurant after the Cozy Corner Cafe closed.
That was one of the reasons Nelson decided to open the Dew Drop Inn.
“I was tired of lounging around and wanted to help keep this town alive,” she said with a laugh.
Nelson had grown up in Eastedge and later operated restaurants in Oregon and Montana. She returned to North Dakota and in 1980 opened the Cozy Corner Cafe in Kathryn. Nine years later she sold it.
Now she is back in the food business with the Dew Drop Inn. However before the business could
open a major renovation and restoration project had to take place.
“They didn’t really change the front look that much and we appreciate the impact on the character of our little city,” Bjerke said.
Nelson said the interior of the business will continue to be decorated this summer and will include various memorabilia from Kathryn’s history.
The restaurant serves a wide variety of homecooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It features an assortment of desserts and a daily lunch special.
VC man cited for heroic action
US West has presented one of its highest honors in employee recognition for heroic actions to Wayne Keller of Valley City. The US West Vail Award was awarded to Keeler May 22nd for his efforts in saving the lives of a father and his son during spring floods.
On Sunday evening, April 21, 1996, Wayne rescued a neighbor and his son from drowning after their canoe had capsized in the flood waters of the Sheyenne River. The two were hanging onto a tree in the cold water calling for help. Keller and his son Nate were able to use their own boat to rescue them. They had to struggle to get across a strong current to where the victims were located. After the victims were rescued from the cold water, Keller made certain they were secured with warm blankets and transported them home from further recovery.
On May 22nd Keller received a Vail Bronze plaque for recognition of his heroic act, a $5,000 cash award, a matching gift of $5,000 to a charity of his choice, 100 shares each of US West Communications and US West Media Group stock and a Vail watch. Keller designated the
American Red Cross and the ALANO Society of Jamestown as recipients of the $5,000 charity award.
The last Vail award at the bronze level was presented in North Dakota in 1970. The Theodore N. Vail Award was started in 1920 to recognize employees and retirees who performed outstanding acts of heroic services which exemplified Mr. Vails ideals, the first president of AT&T. Although the Vail Award originated with the Bell System, it was adopted by US West and its subsidiaries following the divestiture of AT&T and its Bell Operating Companies. There are six levels of recognition in the Vail Award program of employee and retiree acts in emergencies when their reactions to beyond the normal instinct actions expected of an individual. More than 2,500 presentations have been made since 1920.