Archive for April, 2011

30
Apr

Why Streets Are Dirty

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 30, 1906

Why Streets Are Dirty

Pointers For The Ones Who Object to Conditions.

Habits That Leave Trail of Dirt in Every Street and Alley – Everything Goes Into the Gutter.

Objection is frequently found to the condition of the streets and aleys (sic) in Fort Dodge as regards cleanliness and appearance. Chief Tullar has worked a vigorous campaign in this behalf during the present spring, a few fines have been assessed and the conditions are now fairly good. To those who find material for objection to the appearance of Fort Dodge’s streets the following list of a few causes for the same may be of interest:

Are You One of These?

The porter or janitor who sweeps refuse intot he street.

The teamster who drives through the streets with dirt sifting through cracks in his wagon or falling from the running gear where it was left after dumping.

The smoker who throws cigar or cigarette stubs, cigarette boxes, tobacco sacks or burned matches to the pavement.

The man who mows his lawn and throws the grass into the street or alley.

The woman who is neat and tidy at home, but who drops theater programs, candy boxes and equally offensive things on the street.

The man who reads a letter, tears it up and throws the pieces on the pavement.

The fruit vendor who throws tissue paper wrappers, banana stems and refuse into the gutter in front of his stand.

The ice cream merchant who places freezers on the curb and lets briny water run into the gutter, leaving a sediment of salt.

The conduit digger who never pretends to clean the street after tearing up the pavement.

The store clerk who does his sweeping out after the streets have been cleaned.

The man who repairs buildings and throws the refuse into the street.

The drivers of meat wagons who litter the streets with brown paper.

The man who gathers garbage from residences and restaurants and scatters it about.

The bill boards which are constantly discarding large slabs of old posters.

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30
Apr

Hubby and Furniture Gone

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 30, 1904

Hubby and Furniture Gone

Webster City Man Hopes to Meet Wife in Heaven.

Tells Her to Be “A Good Girl,” But Shows No Inclination to Meet Her on Earth.

Webster City, April 30 –

“Mollie: You’ll never see me again. I’m tired of this kind of a life. Be a good girl. I hope I’ll meet you in heaven. Goodby, Albert.”

The above note and an empty house was what greeted Mrs. A.A. McFarland yesterday when she returned to this city from a visit in Afton. The note was laying on a table but that comprised about all of the furniture in the house. Beyond the information contained in the note there was nothing else to enlighten the woman as to the whereabouts of her husband.

The McFarlands lived on John street which is in the extreme northwest portion of the city. McFarland has been employed on the North western in this vicinity and has made his home in this city with his wife for two or three years. About a week ago Mrs. McFarland went to Afton to visit her relatives and expected to be absent about two weeks. For some reason she shortened her visit and arrived home yesterday.

She was met at the train by one of her neighbors who had learned of the proceedings during her absence. The key of the house was found at Crandall’s grocery store. When the home was unlocked it was a cheerless place. Nearly all of the furniture, including the cooking stove had been sold. A note, which was found on the table explained that the husband had left for other parts and did not expect to return.

Mrs. McFarland took a trip to Homer yesterday in search for her missing husband. He has a sister who resides there but no trace of the man was found. They told her he had left for Missouri.

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29
Apr

And Now They Are Both in the Toils

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 29, 1904

And Now They Are Both in the Toils

Harry Himmellman and Sam Beisell “Get Even” With Each Other.

Now Both Are Under Arrest

And Must Answer to the Federal Jury on Charge of “Bootlegging.”

As the result of a case of “getting even,” Harry Himmellman of Radcliffe, Iowa,  must answer to the federal grand jury on the charge of selling intoxicating liquor contrary to the revenue laws. Himmellman testified against Sam Beisell of LaPorte, when Beisell was taken before a United States commissioner for alleged “bootlegging,” and in a spirit of revenge Beisell turned around and swore out information against Himmellman, charging him with disposing of intoxicants without first paying Uncle Sam his due and at the same time endeavoring to employ the charge against the other to clear himself. As a result both are being held over to the grand jury on the same charge.

Last October Beisell it is alleged made a practice of selling beer while conducting a restaurant at Radcliffe. He later moved to LaPorte, a small town near Waterloo, and was arrested there some time after his arrival. At his hearing Himmellman, who had been in his employ in the restaurant at Radcliffe, testified against him. When it had been apparently proven that liquor had been sold in his place of business, Beisell in turn attempted to shoulder the blame upon Himmellman, claiming that if the latter sold beer in the restaurant it was without his knowledge. He was bound over to the grand jury.

When Beisell had been disposed of the authorities began to pick up evidence against Himmellman and a few days ago his arrest was decided on. Wednesday Deputy United States Marshal G.F. Gustafson was to go down to Radcliffe to place Himmellman under arrest, but the trip was made unnecessary. While walking along the street Tuesday afternoon thinking of his contemplated trip for the next day Marshall (sic) Gustafson felt a hand on his arm and turning gazed in the face of Himmellman, whose arrest he was to make the next day. The unexpected meeting was something of a surprise, but when Himmellman “braced” the marshal for a dollar the officer nearly lost his feet.

“You want a dollar do you?” he said as soon as he recovered his breath. “I guess you won’t need a dollar for a few days. You’d better come along with me.”

“Well I’ll be d——, I’m telling the truth when I say I’m sorry I met you,” was all Himmellman could say and then he and the marshal marched up to the city jail where the Radcliffe man spent his time until this afternoon when he was given a hearing before Captain W.H. Johnston. He was bound over to the grand jury and being unable to furnish bones was taken to Cedar Rapids where he will remain in jail until his case is disposed of.

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28
Apr

Five Story Office Building Proposed

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 28, 1905

Five Story Office Building Proposed

Thomas Snell, Millionaire, Would Do That for the Town.

Has Had the Plans Prepared

Fire Proof Structure at Corner of 8th Street and Central Avenue Wold Be built as an Office Building – Wants Half Room Rented.

Plans are out for a large five story office building that will be erected on the southeast corner of the intersection of Eighth street and Central avenue, opposite the Oleson Drug Company.

The building, if the proper arrangements can be made, will be put up by Thomas Snell.

Mr. Snell has always had large interests in Fort Dodge, and has taken this manner of expressing his regard for the town.

The plans call for a structure fireproof in every particular. The dimensions are 65 by 140 feet, and the estimated cost will be from $150,000 to $175,000. The plans are arranged with a court which may be used as a light shaft if at any time later it is decided to extend the building on east the full 120 of the Snell lot that faces on Central avenue.

The building will of course front on Central avenue and will extend clear back to the alley next to the Crescent restaurant. It will be the most modern in every way, and will be by far the finest building in the city. The first story will be furnished for store rooms, and the four upper floors will be fitted for office use exclusively. There will be 100 rooms on these floors. The building will be supplied with double passenger elevators, and there will not be one of the details of the up-to-date office building left out of the structure.

The plans are now in the hands of Frank Farrell who has been for many years the local agent of Mr. Snell, and he will at once make an attempt to comply with the conditions that must be met before the work of erection is started.

The only thing that is needed for the assurance of the building to Fort Dodge is the renting of two of the four upper floors, and Mr. Farrell hopes to be able to do this without any great amount of trouble.

(Editor’s note: In 2010 dollars, the building would cost between $3,592,422 and $4,191,159.)

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27
Apr

Drink Habit Was Too Strong

   Posted by: admin    in Police court, Uncategorized

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 28, 1905

Drink Habit Was Too Strong

Luke O’Brien Has Gotten in The Toils Again.

He is One of the Regular Customers At the Mayor’s Court – Can’t Break Off.

In spite of his terrible oath to get out of the city, Luke O’Brien, alias Happy Hooligan, has again fallen into the toils, and was put to work this morning cleaning up around the fire house. He was out of sight all day Thursday, and it was supposed that he had really departed, but this morning this bug juice receptacle was found in his usual state of coma and given his time honored place in the jail. He will have another ten days on the streets.

There is the same quality about this Happy Hooligan that is so very noticeable in the caricature character originated by F. Opper. His personality will draw a row of brass buttons to him by irresistible force for more than six blocks and he has become so used to the “come with me,” that he runs to meet the officer when he sees him approaching.

Luke O’Brien is certainly one of the strongest living temperance lectures that ever existed. Once a strong man with at least a fair amount of intellect, he is now a tottering wreck both physically and mentally and there is positively no show for him but a lonely death – possibly in a cell at night – and a grave in the potters field.

When he left the city hall Thursday morning he had every intention of getting out of Fort Dodge for good and all. He went down the steps and out onto the street full of this determination, but he was so shattered that he positively had to have just one drink to straigten (sic) him up so he could get started. The one drink was not enough, and he soon had forgotten everything in his burning thirst. He kept drinking all day and this morning woke to find his resolution unfulfilled and himself in the same old place behind the bars of the city jail.

The case of Luke O’Brien is certainly a most pitiable one.

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27
Apr

Signs of Approaching Summer

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 27, 1904

Signs of Approaching Summer

Police Make a Raid On a Camp in Duncombe’s Woods on Tuesday Afternoon and Arrest Five.

The police paid a visit to the Duncombe’s woods Tuesday afternoon and although they did not find the first flowers of spring they found what they were looking for – the first hobo camp of the year. In the past the Wearies seem to have been drawn to these woods as if by an irresistible force and despite indications to the contrary now that they have again begun to frequent their favorite abode summer must be near at hand.

The hoboes (sic) were housecleaning, or as near as they ever come to it, when the police made their unceremonious visit. Coats, trousers, shirts, socks and other wearing apparel that had seen a winter’s wear, in some cases probably without a single change, were hung out to “air” on an improvised clothes line stretched from the limbs of nearby trees.

Only two of the knights were “at home.” They were in the act of building a fire and as there was nothing in sight that they could possibly cook, the conclusion was drawn that the rest of the gang was out foraging. This conclusion proved to be true.

The two found at the camp gave their names as Robert Anderson and Alva  Bruney. They were given an hour to get out of town and they took the chance. A second visit was made to the camp a few hours later and the remainder of the party, three in number, were transported to the city bastile. They gave the names of William Gundy, Gus Turner and Erick Johnson. They were arraigned in police court this morning and like their companions given an hour to shake the dust of Fort Dodge from their shoes.

Two drunks completed the line-up in police court this morning. They were Joe Bockert and Arthur Simpson. Both pleaded guilty and were fined $1 and costs.

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27
Apr

Child Dies in Mother’s Arms

   Posted by: admin    in Death

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 27, 1904

Child Dies in Mother’s Arms

Sad Death of Infant of Mrs. Jorgen Soppeland

Mother Had Child Wrapped in Shawl While Attending Sheldon Funeral at Badger.

While enroute to the cemetery Tuesday with the body of the late Oliver Sheldon, a resident of Badger, the four months old baby of Mrs. Jorgen Soppeland died. To protect the child from the severe winds the mother wrapped a covering about it, believing it perfectly protected from exposure. Not until the cemetery was reached was it discovered that the baby was other than well, when in stepping from the cariage (sic) the covering was removed and the baby found dead. The immediate cause of its death was not known until a physician pronounced it due to heart failure.

The little one seemed in perfect health prior to the journery (sic) to the cemetery and was bright and exhibited no signs of disease. The incident is particularly sad and is made even more so under the existing circumstances.

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27
Apr

Receives a New Ambulance

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 27, 1904

Receives a New Ambulance

Handsome Vehicle of Last Design, Arrives For That Company – Red Cross Private Ambulance.

One of the newest acquisitions to the Laufersweiler undertaking establishment is an ambulance, snow white in color. It is the output of the Cunningham company, Rochester, New York, manufacturers of fine vehicles, and arrived in the city Monday night. It is fitted with all the latest equipment and is in every respect the finest thing of its kind manufactured. Hardly had the new ambulance been unloaded from the car in which it was shipped when a call was sent for its use, and a five mile trip into the country made with it. It is a Red  Cross ambulance and besides bearing the symbol and words private ambulance, has the name “Laufersweiler” in gold letters near the driver’s seat.

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26
Apr

Household Recipes

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The Webster County Gazette: April 26, 1878

Household Recipes

Lemon Jelly Cake

Two cups sugar, two thirds cup butter, half cup of water cold, three and a half cups flour, two teaspoonsful baking powder, whites of seven eggs. For jelly between each layer, two eggs, two grated lemons, one cup sugar, small piece of butter. If the rind of your lemon is bitter, do not use the rind. Cook and stir.

To Prepare Lard to Keep Through the Summer

To one gallon of lard put one ounce of sal soda dissolved in a gill of water. Do not fill your kettles more than half full, for it will foam and perhaps boil over. No other water is required than what the soda is dissolved in. When it is done it will be very clear, and will keep two years. Strain through a coarse cloth and set away.

A Cheap Pudding

Select two deep earthen dishes, fill one with tart apples cut fine and half a pint of water or less. Cover the apples with a tender crust, then turn the empty dish over it and cook fifteen or twenty minutes in a hot oven. Do not remove the cover until the moment the pudding is to be eaten, and have it done at the right time. Serve with cream and sugar, or other sauce.

Baked Ham

Make a thick paste of flour and water (not boiled) and cover the entire ham with it, bone and all, put in a pan, on a spider or two muffin rings or anything that will keep it an inch from the bottom and bake in a hot oven. If a small ham, fifteen minutes to a pound, if large twenty minutes. The oven should be hot when put in. The paste forms a hard crust around the ham, and the skin comes off with it. Try this and you will never cook a ham in any other way. (Editor’s note: The words in italics are my best guess, as the copy was obscured.)

To Boil Rice

Rice to be used as a vegetable, should never be served mushy. The grains should be separate. Wash the rice in two or three waters until it is perfectly white and clean. To every cupful of rice add one and one half cupsful of water and a little salt. Boil until you see little dimples on the top; take off the cover and push the pipkin (in which it should be boiled) one side on the range or stove, where it will keep hot but not cook, until the moisture evaporates. Don’t stir it unless you wish to use it as a poultice.

Selecting Flour

First look to the color; if it is white, with a yellowish colored tint, buy it; If it is white with a bluish cast, or with white specs in it, refuse it. Second examine its adhesiveness – wet and knead a little of it between your fingers – it is works soft an sticky it is poor. Third, throw a little lump of dried flour against a smooth surface; if it falls like powder it is bad. Fourth, squeeze some of the flour tightly in your hand, if it retains the shape given by the pressure, that, too, is a good sign. It is safe to buy flour that will stand these tests.

Recipe for Preserving Eggs

Take of good salt one half pint; unslacked (sic) lime a piece the size of a tea cup; put both in a jar or tub; pour into the vessel two gallons of boiling water; let it stand  till perfectly cool then put in your eggs. Be sure they are  fresh and clean. Care must be taken not to crack any of them in putting them in, as they will spoil immediately, and spoil the others. Keep the eggs entirely covered with the brine and keep in a cool place, the cooler the better, if they don’t freeze. Two much salt will harden the yolkes. I have heard of eggs being kept good for two years in this way, by a commission merchant. – Mrs. G.A.D.

(Editor’s note:

  • Sal soda is sodium carbonite.
  • A gill is about 4 ounces.
  • According to Wikipedia, a pipkin is an earthenware cooking pot used for cooking over direct heat from coals or a wood fire. It has a handle and three feet.
  • I don’t recommend using the four methods for testing flour before buying – it won’t make  you popular in the local grocery stores.
  • Unslaked lime is calcium oxide.)

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25
Apr

Interesting Sights at the Pottery

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 25, 1904

Interesting Sights at the Pottery

Improvement Has Been Made Over the Old Order of Things.

Filter Press Latest Thing

Description of Method of Making Stoneware – Rapid Work by the Men.

A large filter press has been installed in the pottery of the Fort Dodge Stoneware company. the functions of this press is to separate all the impurities from the clay. The clay when put into this press is in its ordinary state. During the process is it forced thru several fine screens by which all foreign substances are removed. Following this process the clay is placed in a large vat, with sides which allow water to pass thru while at the same time retaining the clay. The water is forced thru these sides by a pressure of one hundred pounds to the square inch. A peculiar and interesting fact is that when the water comes from the vat it is as clear as crystal, although it has been forced from clay.

When the clay is taken from the filter press, it is very stiff and has not a particle of water in it. It is then placed in another machine and mixed with a small quantity of water and stirred until the desired firmness and texture is reached, when it is taken to the rooms in which it is to be made into crockery.

The filter press is to take the place of a grinding machine which only grinds up the impurities and does not remove them. By the use of the new machine, in the future no rough surface or foreign substances will be found in the products of the Fort Dodge Stoneware Company.

After the clay has reached the room in which it is to be made into crockery it is worked by hand if it is to be made into jars. Then it is placed on a revolving board and to the eye of the spectator as if by magic a jar is seen to form without an apparent movement of the clay moulder’s hand. But if the moulder is watched closely it can be seen that he forms the clay by gradually forcing it into the desired shape.

The only things made by this process are the large jars and fancy wares, such as flower pots, etc. the small jars, milk pans, butter jars, etc., are made by machinery. The clay is put into a small mould and a large stick is dropped in the mould and the clay is quickly formed int he desired shape.

The jugs are made in two sections, the lower section being made a great deal on the same plan, the greatest difference being in the mold. After the two sections are made the two molds are fastened together and then placed in a dryer. After being in there for a given length of time they are taken out and the molds taken off and the handle is put on. They then are put in a dryer again and after being removed are glazed. The upper part of the jug and the inside is glazed with a mixture of Michigan and Alabama clay which gives it a brown color. The lower part is glazed with a white substance which makes the lower part of the jug a brown color. This process of glazing is called “slipping” by the employees of the pottery. Then the jug or other article is ready to be taken to the kiln to be baked.

About 800 jugs can be made by an expert jug maker in a day and he has three assistants who take the jugs to the dryer, get the moulds ready for him and put the handles on the jugs. An expert can make about 800 milk pans and butter crocks a day, while the larger crocks and fancy ware take much longer time to make.

A fact that seems marvelous is the very great weight of clay needed to make the different products. The clay in a thirty gallon jub weighs about 120 pounds and the jug completed weighs about the same.

A large line of sample goods is always kept on hand at the pottery and a very good display of them is made. A visit to the sample room makes a person think that everything that is possible to be made out of clay is made at the local pottery.

(Editor’s note: A recent Messenger article about the Fort Museum states that a replica of the showroom will be built at the museum to show off goods of the Fort Dodge Stoneware Company.)

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