Barnes County: A Moment in Time
1923 100 Years Ago...
All trains on both the Northern Pacific and Soo Line are annulled with business at stand-still A recent storm has left business at a stand still.
One lone telephone wire out of the city is still in operation, although it is not working very good. The Times-Record is still without wire press report service and little chance of getting any outside news in the near future.
Trains on both the Northern Pacific and Soo Line has been annulled. Train No. 7 was the last train to pass through the city over the Northern Pacific while Train No. 107 was the last train to go through the city on the Soo Line. A freight extra is tied up at North Valley City as well.
All telegraph wires on the Northern Pacific are down and the local office has no means of communication with outside points on their systems. The Soo Line reports their wires working between the city and neighboring towns but are unable to get any information as to the extent of the storm.
Radio enthusiasts inform us that they managed to get a little information last night but that the static was so bad that operation of their sets had to be discontinued. Available information indicates that the storm is raging throughout western Canada and extends through the north central states and at least as far south as Iowa.
School was dismissed at noon and classes have not been resumed as yet, the school authorities feeling that it would be unsafe for children to venture out.
The temperature started dropping yesterday afternoon and fell to about twenty degrees below zero during the night. The snow yesterday was damp but the cold snap froze a good share of the snow lying on the ground and the air is not nearly as thick this morning. Indications were at noon that the worst of the storm was over as the air was clearing and the wind was diminishing greatly.
The Times-Record goes to press today with no outside news, market reports or weather reports. No news was received from Bismarck as to the doings of the legislature.
The weather made it impossible for the delivery boys to cover their routes last night but indications are that the paper will be delivered tonight and those who did not get last night’s paper will receive it soon.
Man sets out on pilgrimage
T. Melvin Lee made his annual pilgrimage yesterday to the home of his parents fourteen miles south of the city, making the trip on foot. The occasion was the seventy eighth birthday anniversary of Mr. Lee’s mother. As Mr. Lee makes it a point to visit his mother on her birthday and as the roads were in no condition for vehicular travel Mr. Lee decided to make the trip on foot. He reports that he made the round trip, 28 miles, in 8 hours. Incidentally, he left the city at 6:10 yesterday morning with the thermometer standing at 19 below zero.
1948
75 Years Ago...
Lee’s Market to celebrate 50th anniversary of business in Valley City Lee’s Market on Main Street, one of the real “old-timers” in the Valley City business world, will celebrate their 50th anniversary of business operation next week.
The February 24, 1893 issue of the Times-Record carried the following news item:
The Sheyenne Valley Meat Market opened up for business last Saturday in the building next door east of Carlson & Bergreen. They carry a full line of meats and accommodating and clean service at the mottos of the market. Jimmy Lee is well known to our people and will undoubtedly command his share of the business.”
During all these years, this pioneer meat market and grocery store has been operated by the Lee family and has always been at the same location except for a short time when rebuilding and remodeling work was necessary.
The store was first opened on Feb. 19, 1983, by the late Jens J. Lee, pioneer businessman of Valley City and father of the present owner, Lloyd. At that time it was exclusively a meat market, but at the death of the elder Lee 30 years ago, a grocery, fruit and vegetable line was added.
Under the management of Lloyd, Lee’s Market has kept pace with the modern trend and continues to rank with the best super-markets in the territory.
Included among the employees are several who have been with the store for years. Selmer “Sim” Kyseth holds priority with 30 years of service. Alfred Lee has been with the company for 19. Morris Kyseth has been employed there most of 34.
Lee’s Market will celebrate its Golden Jubilee with daily anniversary bargains as a reminder of their large patron of the half century of faith in this community.
Barnes County Co-Operative To Enlarge Building
Further plans for the completion of their new $100,000 plant were discussed by the stockholders of the Barnes County Co-operative Creamery at their 17th annual meeting held in the city auditorium.
Much preliminary work has already been done, and architects Max and Gerald Bentow of St. Paul have prepared plans and specifications for the new two story building addition.
Actual construction operations will get under as soon as weather conditions permit, with Contractor N.M. Nielson in charge. Some of the foundation work was completed last October.
When completed, the creamery plant will have a west front of 83 feet facing fourth avenue and a 156 foot front along Front street. The present building will not be remodeled until after the new two story building, 86x83, is completed. Under this plan, creamery operations will not be interrupted while the entire work is in process.
The west front will be used for office space as at present, with butter and ice cream manufacturing equipment in the rest of the one store building.
The first floor of the two story section will be used for mild bottle operations, meat processing, coolers, boilers, ice machines, and lockers. On the second floor will be the print room, milk drying room and warehouse space. A hydraulic elevator also will be installed.
At the stockholders meeting, capable manager Roy Bryngelson showed another successful year of operation in his annual report. William Lindberg, Land O’ Lakes representative of quality improvement work, illustrated his talk with a series of charts on better and cleaner milk production.
State Dairy Commissioner William Murphy stated that the co operatives have always been out in front to improve the dairy industry. He also praised the work done by the FFA and 4-H clubs.
A part of the program was given over to a new cooperative institution, known as the Valley Breeders Co. operation association. Clarence Metcalf, president of the group, explained the aims and purposes of the association which is the improvement of dairy herds by articles insemination for purebred sires owned by Land O’ Lakes Herd Improvement division at Anoka. Minn.
1973 50 Years Ago...
Dazey Hall now a youth center “See you at the hall tonight,”; “Going to the hall tomorrow?”; “How about the hall on Saturday afternoon?” These are some of the calls and remarks that can be heard every day now in the corridors and classrooms at North Central.
The Hall is the Dazey Community hall, and the young people in the North Central area are beginning to make use of the ping pong and pool tables, the soft drinks and the just plain “making the scene” that goes on there everyday and most evenings.
No official name has been given to the project as yet. “Youth Center, Community Center, and Teen Canteen” are some of the words parents use to identify the place; but to the kids, it still just called the hall.
From the northern end of the county into Valley City is some distance to drive for a movie or other entertainment. At least on generation of teens has done it, through, and parents in the North Central area have long wished for a closer place where their young folks could find companionship.
Sponsored by the Dazey City Council; and financed in part by voluntary contributions the hall opened its doors this week. Although primarily aimed at junior and senior high tastes, the facilities are open for everyone to use. parents who come as chaperones are soon joined by other parents, and a pot of coffee started in the hall kitchen for chaperones is shared by all.
So far, no restriction has been put on visitors; but it is unofficially understood that anyone in the North Central area is welcome. The question of identification has not come up for discussion as yet. Future plans include more and better facilities a candy machine, shuffleboard games and more ping pong and pool tables. What used to be called a jukebox is another hoped for item.
A Hannaford vending firm is helping to find used equipment suitable for service. Voluntary contributions are still much needed to help pay purchasing and operating costs. While the council, headed by chairman Gary Jorissen, is doing most of the work lack of city finds make the project too expensive for the board to finance it entirely.
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