The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 12, 1906

And Still They Come

Two Automobiles Have Been Bought by Local Men – A Cadillac and a Thomas.

The ranks of the local automobilists have been swelled by the arrival of two cars in the city. Ed Rank arrived Saturday night in his new Thomas heavy touring car. This machine is one of the best built in this country, and has a fifty horse power gasoline engine with the cylinders cast separately. It seats seven with comfort, having in the back, two revolving seats besides those ordinarily found in touring cars. The body is painted a rosewood finish while the running gear is red. The car is very long, as it has 114 inches wheel base. It cost its owner $3,500 and is guaranteed to make a speed of sixty miles per hour by the makers.

Another of the doctors of the city have purchased a machine. Dr. Dorr, who has bought a Cadillac runabout from the local agency. There are now four doctors of the city who make their rounds in machines and all of them think them more to their advantage than the using of horses.

Tags: 1906, Cadillac, Dorr, Rank, Thomas

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 29, 1906

Observance of Memorial Day

Day Will Be Observed Here Tomorrow With Fitting Ceremonies

Stores Close in Afternoon

Parade Through the Street – Music by Band – Speech, Reading and Music At the Cemetery – Program in Full Given.

Memorial day, May 30, which comes tomorrow, will be observed in Fort Dodge in the usual fitting manner. The G.A.R., W.R.C. and similar societies have taken great pains in preparing a program worthy of the hearing of all.

Nearly all of the stores of the city will close in the afternoon. The morning will be attended with the usual business transaction. At the post office the genera; deliver will be open from 7 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. The carriers will make a business delivery at 8 a.m. and at 11 a.m. and theusual forenoon residence delivery. Carrier windows open from 5 to 6 p.m. Business collections will be made at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Most of the offices and similar places of business will be closed. The Messenger will issue its daily publication as usual. The Chronicle will suspend. Following is the official program of the day in full:

Program for Memorial Day.

Marshal, Asa Wrenn.
President, M. Mitchell.
Speaker, H.W. Stowe.
Fort Donelson post will meet at G.A.R. hall at 9 a.m. and procession will move at 10 o’clock to the following order.
Martial band.
Carriages with president, speaker, Rev. Carroll, and Miss Minnie Oard.
C0. G. I.N.G.
Fort Donelson post G.A.R.
Sons of Veterans
W.R.C. in carriages.

Program at Cemetery

Call to order by M. Mitchell.
Music by band.
Prayer by Rev. Carroll.
Reading roll of honor by adjutant. Assemblage will rise and uncover during the reading.
Reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address by Miss Minnie Oard.
Memorial address by H.W. Stowe.
Music by the band.
Benediction by Rev. Carroll.
The G.A.R. post will reassemble at the First M.E. church and will march back to the post room.

The railway freight offices of the city will be closed during memorial day.

(Editor’s note: G.A.R. is Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for Union soldiers. I do not know what I.N.G. and W.R.C. mean.)

Tags: 1906, Carroll, Memorial Day, Mitchell, Oard, Stowe, Wrenn

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 29, 1906

Big Police Court Grist

Five Offenders Feel the Law – Will Work on Streets as Soon as Weather Clears.

Five offenders against the law and order of the city were brought up before Mayor Bennett this morning in police court. Four were plain drunks and the fifth was charged with fighting. John Dorcey, Thomas Kennedy, George Wells, and Peter Ewing admitted having been drunk and were fined a dollar and costs each. Mack Christianson the fifth of the party filled up on fire water yesterday afternoon and attacked Mr. J.J. Scanlon in his blacksmith shop. A rousing fight resulted and Christianson had to be taken from the place by the police. He was treated the same as the others and the police were ordered by the mayor to place all on the city streets as soon as the weather cleared.

Tags: 1906, Bennett, Christianson, Dorcey, Ewing, Kennedy, Scanlon, Wells

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 29, 1906

Are Heavily Fined

Erring Couple Taken From 4th Street Rooming House get Heavy Fines in the Mayor’s Court.

On the complaint of the keeper of a South 4th street boarding house, who stated that a man and woman who were registered at the place as man and wife were evidently not married, Chief Tullar raided the place last night and arresting the two placed them in jail.

Before the mayor this morning they gave their names as Frank Richmond and Nell Earley, frankly admitting the charge against them. Richmond was fined $25 and costs and the woman $10 and costs. Both were sent to jail in default of payment. Richmond works in a lunch counter on 1st avenue south. A watch and chain stolen from the rooming house were found on him. The Earley girl is employed at the Logan house.

Tags: 1906, Earley, Richmond, Tullar

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 19, 1906

Accident at the Circus Grounds

Seats Fall Upon Miss Ruth Peterson Prior to the Evening Performance.

Bad Accident Barely Averted

Caught in a Rush For the More Popular Places The Young Lady Was Thrown to the Ground The Seats Falling Upon Her.

During the performance of the Sells-Floto circus at Oleson park last evening an accident that might have resulted seriously for many people occurred. It was only averted by the presence of mind of those in the vicinity, all escaping but the one young lady, who, besides a badly sprained ankle, is suffering from many bruises as a result of the accident.

She is Ruth Peterson, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Peterson, residing at 1727 Fourteenth avenue south. It was during the early part of the evening, before the large crowds has assembled. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson and daughter were seeking seats in the west end of the tent near the entrance from the menagerie. As they started up the tier of seats, a general rush was made for the better places, and in the hurry about them a portion of the seats were thrown to the ground, one of the supports thus weakened, slipping out of place.

In the excitement and confusion several people were thrown down from their seats, but all escaping except Miss Peterson, whose right foot was caught beneath the fallen seats and twisted in such a manner as to temporarily dislocate the bones. She was badly bruised by the fall, and for a time suffered much pain.

At the time of the accident the crowd in the tents was small, but yet large enough to cause a general rush to apparently safer quarters. That section of the seats was immediately rearranged and strengthened.

The employes (sic) of the circus came to the assistance of Miss Peterson at once, and after caring for her as best they could, arranged a property chair taken from one of the dessing (sic – should be dressing) tents in a place of advantage, where in spite of the pain suffered, she remained, seeing the circus to the finish.

Before leaving the circus grounds, however, Miss Peterson’s ankle had become twice its normal size, and she was taken to the city, where a surgeon’s aid was secured to care for the dislocation.

Tags: 1906, Peterson, Sells-Floto circus

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 17, 1906

Weddings Wednesday

Widick-Brown, Scharfenburg-Powell, Proeschold-Scharfenburg Nuptials, Sister and Brother Participate.

At the home of the bride’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Henry Widick, occurred the wedding of Miss Anna Widick and Mr. Lloyd Brown Wednesday at high noon. About forty guests were present among whom were relatives from several surrounding towns. About forty guests were present among whom were relatives from several surrounding towns. Immediately after the ceremony, which was performed by Rev. Phil Baird, a wedding was served. This afternoon a reception was held at the home of the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Brown, of Prospect Hill. The young people will not take a wedding trip, but will go to housekeeping on Prospect Hill. Both participants are well known in the city where they have resided several years.

Double Wedding.

On Wednesday evening at the home which Mr. Henry Scharfenberg has prepared for his bride, a double wedding was performed which joined together as husband and wife, both Miss Bertha Scharfenberg and Mr. Daniel Powell and Miss Clara Proeschold and Mr. Henry Scharfenberg. The services were conducted by Reverend Zuerrer of the German Lutheran church. All four of the young people are to be congratulated.

Tags: 1906, Brown, Powell, Proeschold, Scharfenberg, Scharfenburg, wedding, Widick, Zuerrer

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 17, 1906

Manson Will Celebrate

Commercial Club Meets and Decided to Celebrate the Fourth.

Mansion will celebrate the Fourth of July. The Commercial club of that city held a meeting Wednesday night and decided that the city should do itself proud. Committees will be appointed and preparations started at once. The Manson Democrat says regarding the celebration:

“It will take over $500 to do the thing up right, but there is not the least doubt that such an amount can be raised very quickly if the right start is made. One of the best speakers in the nation will be hired, one of the best concert bands will be engaged, two of the best amateur baseball teams in the state will play and several good free attractions will be engaged. It will be a celebration worth coming fifty mies (sic – should be miles) to see and enjoy and will be the means of re-establishing Manson as the amusement center of this section on the Fourth of July.”

Tags: 1906, Fourth of July

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 16, 1906

Historical Society is Exploited

Residents of the City are Considering the Matter Seriously.

May Be Organized Very Soon.

Scheme Provides for the Exhibition of Objects of Historical Value and Filing of Authentic Records – Interest is Manifested.

A movement is on foot to organize a local historical society.Nothing has been done as yet towards making the mater (sic) an actuality, other than to discuss the feasibility of such an organization, its requirements and mode of maintenance, but it is very probable that within a short time amtters will be so arranged that it may be placed before the public.

The promoters of the idea first conceived the scheme of organization during the recent Golden Jubilee of the First Congregational church in the city at which time Rev. Breed delivered a stereoptican lecture on the “Faces and Scenes of Fifty Years Ago.” The lecture dealt with the early pioneers and the old land marks which are fast disappearing to make way for modern life and progress in such a manner as to cause a few to realize what the city of fifty years ago really means from a historical standpoint and how we are letting the means of authentically recording this history slip from our grasp. They immediately set about to reduce things to a practical basis and in very short time a meeting will be called which will be open to all those desiring to lend their individual aid along these particular lines.

The scheme, as it has formulated itself so far, is to maintain a temporary home for such objects of historical value as would be either loaned or given to the trustees of the society which would be on exhibition to the public at all times. When funds and occasion permit a permanent home for these relics of other days would be erected. A plan for the gathering together of all material of historical value dealing with the early pioneer life  of the city, that not so remote, and the later history will be followed up and placed in such hands as would make it an authentic record, which will be placed in a place of safety for generations to come.

When it is realized how small the number of pioneer settlers is how fast that number is being made smaller then will be realized the importance the organization and the maintenance of such a society.

Many years (ago) Major William Williams wrote a history of Fort Dodge. This is the only thing of its kind that the city has, and to which the citizens may refer in case of desiring to learn the things which transpired during the earlier days. The only other documents we have are human ones, and from them will be gathered that which will fill in the gaps necessarily made.

All interested will undoubtedly give this matter their individual attention, and assist in what way they may in the organization of a local historical society.

Tags: 1906, historical society

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 14, 1906

Great Western bridge in Fort Dodge

Runs Out on Bridge

Runaway Sunday Morning Ends up in Middle of the Big Great Western Bridge.

A horse belonging to a Lehigh man broke away form its driver Saturday night about ten o’clock and tore at full speed half way across the Great Western railway bridge southeast of the city, finally stopping only when it became stuck in the ties.

It was found utterly exhausted and badly bruised and skinned by a party of boys a few hours later. The problem how to get it back to the ground seemed a serious one, but this was finally accomplished by unhitching it and leading it back. The buggy was not badly damaged and was pulled back by hand.

The accident is a most peculiar one. If a train had happened to come along while the rig was fast in the middle of the bridge a bad accident would have been likely to have occurred. It seems also strange that the animal did not rear and plunge  until it went over the edge of the railing and dropped to the ground nearly a hundred feet below. As it was, however, neither the horse nor the vehicle were badly damaged.

Tags: 1906, Great Western bridge, horse