The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 16, 1904

The Jolly Peanut Club

A New Fun Finding Organization is Organized.

Eight Young Ladies Band Together As Eight Kernels in a Peanut Shell.

Seven members of the Jolly Peanut club, accompanied by Mrs. Harry Vincent as chaperon and Bruno Schroeder as coachman, left the city this morning in a large carryall for Humboldt, where they will spend the day in the various manners of enjoyment best known to young girls. The club was organized some time ago, but this is the first expedition into other lands as an organized band of funfinders.

The young ladies, eight in number, spent the night at the Schroeder residence, sleeping all in one bed, arranged by laying two big mattresses on the floor side by side. This was done in an attempt to live up to their name, it is supposed, like eight little kernels in a peanut shell. The girls were up at 4 o’clock this morning to be ready for their lark, and all in their big carryall passed thru the streets at 6 a.m. , rousing the town from its slumbers with the  hubbub of tin horns secured by them the night before the occasion.

The Peanut club was organized by the  young ladies for a good time organization, and they plan to follow as closely as possible the life and doings of “Eight Girls and a Dog.” The dog is not as yet forthcoming, but the club is otherwise complete with eight as lively girls as are often seen in a bunch.

The members of the club are as follows: Doris Olney, Hazel Schroeder, Olive Maher, Lulu Kepner, Talma Kitchen, Jean Marquette, Beth Wright, Hazel Clark.

Tags: 1904, Clark, Kepner, Kitchen, Maher, Marquette, Olney, Schroeder, Vincent, Wright

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 16, 1903

Webster City Meets Heavy Loss

Northwestern Felt Show Company’s Plant Burned to the Ground Monday Night.

The City’s Leading Industry.

Company Was Capitalized at $100,000 and Employed 105 People – Insurance was Only $36,000, Making Loss Reach Fully $56,000.

Webster City, June 16 – The plant and stock of of the Northwestern Felt Shoe company burned here on Monday night about midnight. The fire started int eh basement and spread before effective work could be done by the fire department. This morning nothing but the smoking ruins remain of what was a prosperous industry employing one hundred thousand dollars of capital, using the labor of 105 persons in the plant, aside from several hundred who worked on the products of the factory in their homes. There was $36,000 ($862,181 in 2010 dollars) of insurance only, and the net loss will be about $56,000 ($1,341,170).

It was a most unfortunate blow to the leading industry of Webster City. The institution was getting on a splendid foundation and looked forward to a steadily growing business. It is too early yet to know what the policy of the stockholders will be in the matter of rebuilding the plant.

The company was working into a large and increasing business and had every prospect for a successful season. It had only recently raised its capital stock to $100,000 ($2,394,94) of which $75,000 ($1,796,211) was paid up. As a result of the fire, George (last name unreadable), who came from New York and invested his capital in the plant, is left practically without a dollar, and the loss is almost equally heavy upon other stock holders.

The loss is divided as follows:

The cause of the fire is a mystery. When discovered by the night watchman it had secured a good start in the basement. The building is situated across the river on the east side, and has no city water protection. The volunteer department did its best, but could not check the flames. The machinery fell thru from the third story to the basement, and the building was left an utter wreck. Only the books and a few minor articles could be saved. The company has $20,000 ($478,989) of shoes stored at other places about town, all of which are contracted to be delivered by September 1.

The loss which the fire will occasion to Webster City is evidenced by the fact that the weekly pay roll amounted to $700 ($16,764).

(Editor’s note: The inflation calculator converts the following amounts from 1903 dollars to 2010 dollars: $700 to $16,764;$12,000 to $287,393; $20,000 to $478,989; $36,000 to $862,181;$56,000 to $1,341,170; $68,000 to $1,628,564;$75,000 to $1,796,211; $92,000 to $2,203,352; $100,000 to $2,394,948. I have also put these amounts in the text in italics for easy reference.)

Tags: 1903

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 15, 1905

News of Miss Emelia Goldsworthy

Former Fort Dodge Girl Continues to Rise in Art Work.

She Will Teach in Normal

Leaves Excellent Position in Indianapolis Schools to go to Kalamazoo, Mich. – Picture in Indianapolis Paper Fine Work.

Friends of Miss Millie Goldsworthy, a former Fort Dodge girl will be interested to know that her picture appears in a recent Indianapolis paper, below it is a very complimentary notice concerning her.

Miss Goldsworthy lived in Fort Dodge during her girlhood and commenced her studies in art in this city. Later she went to Chicago and then to New York and abroad, to study, and has made herself one of the finest instructors of art in schools, in the United States.

From time to time news of her continued success has reached Fort Dodge and her flattering offer to each in a summer at school for teachers was the last news of her continual rise. The following item shows that after efficient work in Indianapolis she goes to teach in a Michigan normal school. The manner in which she has spent the last few years, and the way she has rendered herself to those with whom she has associated, is shown in the item:

“Miss Emelia M. Goldsworthy will sever her connection with the city schools at the close of this term, to become head of the department of art instruction of the Western State Normal School at Kalamazoo, Mich., Miss Goldsworthy was honor (sic) guest as a farewell reception given in the art department of the Shortridge High School. Miss Seegmiller, Miss Selleck, Otto Stark and others assisted in receiving, and leading artists of the city were among the guests. Miss Goldsworthy has been connected with the schools here for seven years and visited fifty-eight buildings. The association with teachers and pupils has been very pleasant, and Miss Goldsworthy regrets that she much leave them. Before coming here she was supervisor of drawing at Calumet, Mich. She studied at the Chicago Art Institute and Pratt Institute, and spent the summer of 1900 abroad, visiting the galleries of Europe. Other summers she has spent sketching at Ipswich, Mass., and the neighborhood of Indianapolis and Brookville. Miss Goldsworth (sic) has received many good-by (sic) letters from teachers and pupils, which she will take with her as treasures from her agreeable life in this city. A number of Indianapolis teachers will go to Kalamazoo with Miss Goldsworthy to attend the summer session of the Normal school.”

(Editor’s note: Google resources tell me that she was born in Platteville, Wis., in 1869 and died in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1955. She apparently married some time after this article, because many of the references I found list her as Emelia Goldsworthy Clark. On FamilySearch.org, I found a marriage record of Emelia Goldsworthy to Irving Clark in Kalamazoo, Mich., on 2 June 1920. He was 49, she was 50.)

Tags: 1905, Goldsworthy

The Fort Dodge  Messenger: June 15, 1903

Sunday’s Chapter of Accidents

Heroism of Sister Saves Two Year Old Daughter of Mrs. Anna Svaleson from Death.

Child’s Clothing Was on Fire.

Katie Hanson Falls Eight Inches and Breaks Her Collar Bone – Sylvester Worley Has Hand Pierced by Blow From Pick.

A painful accident which came very near resulting in the death of a child, occurred on Sunday morning. The little two-year old daughter of Mrs. Anna Svaleson while playing alone in an upstairs room of her home on Eleventh avenue south, in some way lit some matches which set the child’s dress on fire. In a moment the little girl’s garments were ablaze and her pitiful screams could be heard for blocks away. The little one’s sister, who was down stairs came to the rescue and smothered the flames which would soon have caused the child’s death and probably set the house on fire.

The little girl was badly burned about the abdomen and thighs but will recover within two weeks.

■ ■ ■

Katie Hanson, the thirteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Hanson, living at 1026 Eleventh avenue south, fell a distance of not over eight inches from a hammock on Sunday, and broke her collar bone. The child was lying in the hammock which was almost touching the ground when the rope broke, letting her fall. She struck on her shoulder, in such a manner as to break the bone.

The injury was given prompt medical attention, and is not regarded as serious.

■ ■ ■

While attempting to move a dummy coal car in the Illinois Central coal shed, Sylvester D. Worley had his hand pierced thru by a pickax which was being wielded on some coal by Isaac Hedgecock at four o’clock Sunday afternoon. The pick went clear thru Mr. Worley’s hand, causing the wound to bleed copiously and giving Mr. Worley intense pain. Medical attendance was immediately summoned but the wound was not dressed without considerable loss of blood. The injury was purely accidental.  Mr. Worley will recover without permanent inconvenience.

Tags: 1903, Hanson, Hedgecock, Svaleson, Worley

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 14, 1904

Pin Lodges in Her Throat

X-Ray Examination Reveals Pin in the Throat of Six Year Old Girl.

The six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Behrens, living on Eleventh avenue south, swallowed a pin Monday afternoon, the pointed instrument lodging in her throat. Physicians were called and the child was given an X-ray examination at the office of Dr. Saunders. The ray revealed the pin, but it was decided by the doctors to await further developments. It is thought no serious results will follow.

Tags: 1904, Behrens, Saunders

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 14, 1904

Strong Line in Police Court

Mayor Northrup Has a Busy Session This Morning – Hines Heaves a Brick.

Fellow Boarders in a Fight

Otis Felky Refuses to Help Officer Make Arest (sic) and is Himself Arrested.

Mayor Northup had a good sized line-up to go through when he convened court this morning. Eight defendants were arraigned and a total of $78.65 assessed in fines. Of this amount, however, by no means all of it was collected.

John Hines was arrested for heaving a brick at Harry Wilson, a young man who makes his home at the Tremont House. Hines lives at that same place and it was there that the trouble started that ended in his arrest. The complainant testified that defendant had started a war of words when he entered the hotel and finally dared Wilson to follow him into the street. The young man refused to take the dare but he forgot to dodge a brick which Hines hurled at him. The missile bounded off his head and drew first blood.

Officer Pete Ditmer was called to the rescue and Hines was conveyed to the “jug.” The prisoner claimed that the young man was bothering him and other testimony showed that the defendant was not all to blame. He was fined $1 and costs, but afterwards discharged on his promise to keep out of trouble.

Otis Felky was fined $5 and costs and sent back to jail because he refused to assist an officer in arresting Ed Gannon and Pete Coyne Monday night. Gannon, Coyle and Felky were in the John Koll saloon. They started a fight and were ejected from the place. Gannon and Coyne were “mixing it” when a policeman came along and attempted to arrest them. He called on Felky to help him, but Felky merely advised him to journey to a warmer climate. A bystander assisted the officer and after the arrest was made Felky was hunted up and given a berth with his companions. Gannon and Coyne were each fined $10 and costs.

John Strand imbibed a quantity of Milwaukee buttermilk Monday night and went to his home in West Fort Dodge where he was later arrested for disturbing the quiet. He explained that when he arrived home his wife accused him of stealing a bottle of medicine and he became indignant at the accusation and found it impossible to keep his indignation to himself.

John Pool, a cripple, was arrested for being drunk. Pool said his home is in Rapid City, S.D., and that he was only passing through Fort Dodge when arrested. He was fined $1 and costs. Michael Carroll, another cripple, giving Omaha as his residence, blew in from Waterloo and took an overdose of Fort Dodge liquid barb wire. He was given the minimum.

J.A. Hay was arrested Monday for dumping rubbish on North Sixteenth street. He was fined $1 and costs.

Tags: 1904, Carroll, Coyne, Ditmer, Felky, Gannon, Hay, Hines, Northrup, Pool, Strand, Wilson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 14, 1904

Close Pool Halls at Eleven O’Clock

Pool and Billiard Halls, Now Closing at all Hours, Must Close on Time.

Ordinance to be Adopted

Other Business Transacted by the City Council Monday Night.

A uniform closing hour for pool and billiard halls is to be established in Fort Dodge. The question of taking this step was a subject of discussion at the council meeting Monday night and resulted in the council’s deciding to take such action. The city solicitor was instructed to draw up an ordinannce (sic) to this effect. It will probably be presented to the council at its next meeting. At present there is no closing hour for pool and billiard halls and although no attempt has been made to open them on Sunday it is a question if  under existing conditions their closing on that day could be enforced. Complaints, the police say have been made from several sources that warrant their closing at a stated hour. At present they close at various times from 10 o’clock on.

The following petitions were presented to the council Monday night:

To have First avenue north from Ninth street to Tenth street paved full width. Granted, and Barber Asphalt company notified to make the change at the same price specified in the contract for a thirty-foot street.

From L.E. Chapin and others objecting against manner of replacing paving in the alley between Fifth and Sixth street and Central and First Avenue north taken up by the Fort Dodge Light and Power company in laying gas mains. Referred to the street and alley committee.

Contract for the construction of a sanitary sewer on Second avenue north was awarded to J.W. Mooney at the following figures:

Per lineal foot: 29 1/2 c
House connection: 25 c
Lamp holes: $7 each
Fllush tank: $27 each
Moving siphon: $3

Contract for the construction of sanitary sewer on Fifth street was awarded to C.A. Kling. The following was his bid:

15-inch pipe: 75 c
Catch basins: $26

The sewer committee reported on a proposed sewer in West Fort Dodge, recommending the sewer in question be built as follows: Commencing at the southwest corner of block 1, West Fort Dodge, thence east on Fourth avenue south to Second street, thence south on Second street to Fifth avenue south; thence east on Fifth avenue south to Third street, thence south on Third street to Seventh avenue south; thence east on Seventh avenue south to Fourth street.

The report was approved and placed on file. A resolution of necessity for the same sewer was passed.

On motion the street commissioner was instructed to bring to grade the sidewalk adjoining the N. Fleet property.

The water committee reported in regard to petition for extension of water mains on Second avenue south from Sixteenth to Eighteenth street. The report which recommended that the petition be granted, was accepted.

The Salvation Army petitions the council to be granted the right to erect a temporary building on the southeast corner of Eighth street and Central avenue for the purpose of holding summer meetings. The matter has been referred to the fire committee.

Tags: 1904, Chapin, Fleet, Kling, Mooney

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 13, 1905

Coalville Has More Coal Veins

Favorable Prospects for New McEwen and Collins Mine.

The Shaft Has Been Finished

Was Pushed Down at Very Rapid Speed – Will Install Machinery and be Ready to Work Fifty Men by Next Winter – Excellent Facilities.

William McEwen of Coalville, was in Fort Dodge on Saturday and was able to report very favorable conditions on his new mine he is opening at Coalville. The Collins Brothers are interested with Mr. McEwen in the new mine which is located under the town of Coalville just alongside the railway track and near to the store. Many people had supposed that the coal deposits in this part of the town had been mined out long ago, but Mr. McEwen has demonstrated in his preliminary work of the past six months that there is a fine coal deposit there and he firmly believes it is of considerable size.

The prospecting drill demonstrated that there are two seams of coal, one at a depth of about 65 feet and the other about 80 feet down. Both veins are of lump coal of good quality and the top vein is about three and one-half feet thick and the lower four feet thick.

As soon as this was demonstrated and other drill holes had revealed the proof that a good many acres surrounding them were underlaid in the same way, Mr. McEwen started sinking a shaft and has just completed the work. It is a large shaft with three compartments, two for hoisting and the other for ventilation. The work was crowded with three shifts of men working eight hours each and the entire shaft was put down at an average speed of four feet per day. They went through some soft ground that required careful handling and through a great deal of very hard rock that needed large charges of dynamite. It was by no means an easy job to do so and the speed accomplished was very creditable.

Hoisting machinery will be installed and they will get the mine in shape to put large quantities of coal on the market this winter. Being right on the railroad track, they will be well equipped for shipping their product. They expect to work about fifty men net (sic – should be next) winter mining coal. There is but little water in the mine. They are able to hoist all that accumulates in the sump in twenty-four hours in about an hour and a half each day.

Tags: 1905, Collins, McEwen

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 13, 1905

Co-operative Store at Moorland

Company is Incorporated at The Farmers Elevator Company of Moorland

Many Farmers are Interested

The Company Plans to Handle Every Kind of a Business That Would be Needed There – Will Operate An Elevator, a Store and Real Estate.

Articles of incorporation were filed with the County Recorder in this city this morning, incorporating “The Farmers Elevator Company of Moorland.” This company has among its stockholders all the principal business men of that place as well as many farmers of the  surrounding country.

The articles of incorporation give considerable space to the kind of business the company is to engage in. The company has among its objects the operation of a grain elevator, the running of a co-operative store, which will handle dry goods, groceries, hardware, farm implements, boots and shoes and in fact all other products ever handled by a general store and will in addition transact real estate business.

The elevator is also to be run on a very liberal basis and the company will handle grain, live stock, swine, sheep and all dairy products. The company is organized in a way to indicate that it meant to absorb all business interests in that town.

The articles of incorporation do not give the capital stock, but allows for an increase in the stock up to $25,000 while the company is to have $3,000 paid up stock in the treasury on its date of incorporation which is June 10.

The president of the company is to be Joe Fiala. The vice president is T.A. McCarville. James A. Halligan is secretary while E.J. Halligan is treasurer. The other stockholders in the ocmpany on the date of its incorporation are as follows. F.G. Cochran, E.C. Kusterer, Joe McCarville, E.S. Fiala, Joseph Stanek, B.E. Peterson, F.H. Blunck, M.J. Barrett, N.L. Ornis, and Mr. J. Frosland.

(Editor’s note: The inflation calculator gives the amount of $598,737 in 2010 dollars for the original $25,000, and $71,484 for the original $3,000.)

Tags: 1905, Barrett, Blunck, Cochran, Fiala, Frosland, Halligan, Kusterer, McCarville, Ornis, Peterson, Stanek