Barnes County: A Moment in Time
1923
100 Years Ago...
27 Influenza Cases
Dr. C.E. Allen reports twenty-seven cases of influenza at the college dormitories with the infirmary overflowing and four trained nurses on duty caring for the patients. Reports last night indicated that the worst of the epidemic was over as several of the cases nearing complete recovery while no new cases are reported. Many cases are reported around the city and the doctors are more than busy answering calls.
Soo Train wrecked at North Valley
Broken rail derails three coaches on No. 105; No injuries
As Soo Line Train No. 105 drew into the station at North Valley City this morning a broken rail just east of the main crossing gave way and three coaches and the front end of a fourth were derailed. Nobody was injured and the damage to the equipment was very slight but the train was still held up in Valley City.
The train had slowed down for the station when the accident occurred or serious damage and injuries might have resulted. The conductor of the train happened to be sitting near the safety valve and, as soon as he felt the rail give way, pulled the safety and set the brakes. The train was stopped in less than two hundred feet and all derailed cars remained upright.
The train was stopped directly over the main crossing east of the station and that thoroughfare was blocked all morning although vehicles from the north were able to detour and get around the wreck.
1948 75 Years Ago...
Eleven nursing students receive caps at exercises at Nurses’ Home Eleven freshmen students received Mercy caps at the traditional and impressive “capping” ceremony at The Nurses’ Home Sunday, February 22.
The group was addressed by Dr. P. T. Cook, who as chief of the medical staff of the Mercy Hospital, welcomed the girls to the ranks of the Mercy Student Nurses. C. H. Bliss, Director of the Physical Education Department of the State Teachers College, gave an excellent talk in which he stresses the importance of service in the work of the nurse and briefly outlined the areas this service should embrace. Mrs. W. H. Gilsdorf entertained the group with several songs. She was accompanied by Mrs. Ronald Holiday at the piano. The Nurses Glee Club, under the direction of Mrs. Fred Geisler, also sang. Miss Muriel Welander, a junior student, introduced the numbers.
The students receiving caps were: Rita Neussendorfer of Munich, Ione Undem of Rogers, Shirley Hesch and Patricia Norgaard of Valley City, Beverly McCrory of Linton, Ella Mae Rogne of Dazey, Mary Jean Larson of LaMoure, Bonne Ellingson of Litchville, Vonnie Lee of Devils Lake, La Vonne Leith of Doyon and Shirley Rorvig of Binford.
Plow reaches Cuba community
Cuba community was visited by the snow plow this past week. On Monday most of the men of the immediate Cuba vicinity assisted the plow in opening the Cuba crossing and the roads right through Cuba. Wednesday the caterpiller plow opened the road as far as the August Erickson farm where they spent the night, returning to Valley City in the blizzard on Thursday. Many others are still snow bound and with weather conditions continuing bad, the plowed roads soon fill in.
1973 50 Years Ago... “The Kitchenaires” are the new sound
“The Kitchenaires” is the unique new sound recently heard in Valley City.
The musicians participating in the band are members of the Adult Recreation Club. Their instruments range from pots and pans to banjos and accordions.
“Wabash Cannon Ball”, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, and “That’s My Baby” are just a few of the musical group’s selections.
Thus far, the group has entertained at the Sheyenne Manor, the Eagles, at Our Saviors, for the Valley City Cares and at Tower City.
Under the direction of Mrs. Myrtle Monson, the band has been practicing for about one year. The group was originally formed “just for something different to do” and was named by the members of the ARC.
Band members and their instruments include Olga Haugen, drums; Fern Peterson, tamberine; Orva Rasmussen, washtub; Anna Monson, kettle; Valley Peterson, plastic bucket; Aleen Hull, Julia Fossen, Grace Potratz, and Mrs. Dena Olson, bell; Mary Bayliss and Anna Monson both on covers; Mildred Gorum, frying pan; Mary Sorenson, jug; Helen Rasmussen and Clara Jacobson, both on the washboard; Florence Odegard, accordion; and Tony Engebretson, banjo.
Occassionally John Krausch will accompany Engebretson on the violin.
They usually practice every Monday afternoon at the old armory or at Our Saviors Lutheran Church followed by choir practice.
Other ARC members come to hear the practice while playing cards or other games and drink coffee.
Presently, there are 116 paid members belonging to ARC. Cost of membership is one dollar annually and the group meets twice a month at the K.P.’s. There, they have a potluck dinner and play cards and various games.
After the Winter Show, club members hope to host an old-fashioned style show with entertainment by the Kitchenaires and possibly their choir.
Officers of the Adult Recreation Club include Orva Rasmussen, president; Mrs. Albert Potratz, secretary; Mrs. Thelma Benzinger, treasurer; as well as different chairmen of the card, decorating, kitchen, and nominating comittees. Historian is Helen Rasmussen.
“The Kitchenaires” have “far-out” music!
Wildlife group releases wild turkeys
Four hens and three tom wild turkeys were released north of Valley City along the Sheyenne River as a project of the Barnes County Wildlife Federation in cooperation with the State Game and Fish Department.
According to Leo Vetter, a member of the Bismarck office, the birds, all adults of various ages, should find natural habitat in this area with sufficient amounts of food and shelter on land owned by Palmer Paulson. The rate of increase is difficult to determine. Instances of large reproduction have been recorded in areas following transplanting the birds around the state while other experimental settings have failed.
Even though the hatching of young chicks may number to four or five annually, the death rate before maturity is high Vetter said illegal hunting of the birds is a prime cause of this.
The Barnes County Wildlife members hope this is not the case this year here. Eventually, the possibility of offering wild turkey hunting license may become a reality in the local area.
The smaller of the birds, a young tom and the females average 1012 pounds while the mature adult male may tip the scales near 20 pounds.
These seven birds were trapped 10 miles south of Bismarck on a wildlife conservation concerned ranchers land.
Melvin Staub is the acting president of the local club. Monthly meetings are held the second Tuesday at the First National Bank Community Room at 8 p.m. A film is usually shown dealing with various aspects of wildlife, hunting, conservation, reloading shells to name a few. The meetings are open to anyone interested and the club is
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open for ideas and suggestions on ways they, as a club, may improve the wildlife population in the county.
The club as a whole has completed volunteer work projects such as tree planting, riprapping areas along Ashtabula Lake which have proven later supply the ideal conditions necessary for Walleye Pike reproduction.
This club began with a quart of walleye pike eggs, held until hatched later released them in St. Mary’s lake. The state department estimated that 10,000 fish could be produced. The project was a success; the count was over 15,000.
These and other numerous improvements can be accredited to the club. According to director Leon Pytlik, the protection and assistance given to fish and game now will make this a better recreation area in the future.
The shooting of wild turkeys in North Dakota has a specific time period. Only 220 licenses were issued from the state department last year and only for the Bismarck area. These birds in the Valley City area will be protected by federal law for several years said Director Paulson.
Two Valley City merchants have joined together to bring a new store to Valley City – The Linen Closet.
Georgia Manstrom, owner of Cotton Patch Treasures, and Mary Jean Burkhart, owner of Em Jays, opened their venture Feb. 16.
“We did this because we felt it was needed in Valley City since The Fair Store closed,” Burkhart said.
The Linen Closet is housed in the former Grandma’s Attic store which was operated by Shirley Bestge, at 304 Central Ave N.
Customers will be pleases to see antiques from E & S Antiques and flowers from Bettin’s Floral interspersed with merchandise at The Linen Closet.
Keith and Cheryl Olson now occupy the space formerly occupied by the JCPenny Catalog Store, which is housed within the same area as The Linen Closet.
Anyone looking for that perfect wedding or personal gift will find it at the new store, the owners say. They also offer wedding and personal registries.
New items are arriving daily at The Linen Closet and once they have all their inventory, Manstrom and Burkhart will have a grand opening.
Now available at the new store are bath and body products by Crabtree & Evelyn, towels, soaps and rugs, bath accessories, kitchen hand towels, aprons, placemats, kitchen candles and scents.
Since they are called The Linen Closet, of course there are table linens, bed sheets, pillow cases and Battenberg lace products.
“We also have a new type of sheet called the T-shirt,” says Manstrom.
The sheet is made of T-shirt fabric and is cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Working in the store are Faye Burrows, who also works at Cotton Patch Fabrics, and Nyla Kleinsasser, who is also employed at EmJays.
The new owners will take one day a week off from working at their other stores, Burkhart will work at the new store on Wednesdays and Manstrom on Thursdays.
Sweet smell of success Bettin’s Floral moves to larger site
By Jean Schlegel
TR Writer Bettin’s Floral has moved to a new location across the street. They are now in the former JC Penney Catalog Store in Valley City.
Owner Cheryl Olson says they moved Jan. 30. They also share a space with the new store, The Linen Closet, located in the former Grandma’s Attic store. Olson has her plants in the front window and also has silk wreaths, swags, and garlands interspersed throughout The Linen Closet, along with antiques from E & S Antiques.
Spring is just around the corner and Bettin’s has spring plants, artificial bushes and other types of flowers available. Balloons are still popular with customers, Olson says. She also has FTD (Florists Transworld Delivery Services) available.
With more space now available, Bettin’s not only has a larger working area, they also have more space for their wedding corner.
Cheryl’s husband, Keith, has been usy getting spring bedding plants ready at their other business, Bettin’s Greenhouse and Nursery at 147 Fifth
1998
25 Years Ago...
The Linen Closet fills need for household accessories
By Jean Schlegel TR Writer
Ave. SW. The store is also open Saturdays and holidays for customers wishing to get their spring bedding plants.