History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 57

Author: John W. Mason
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 765

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The result of all these patriotic efforts was that. in the fall of 1899, it was found that enough money had been pledged to warrant letting the con- tract for the building. The contract was let to J. M. Herder. A site for the building was secured on the grounds of the Washington school. The build- ing was completed and opened to the public in the early part of May, 1900.

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It was a frame building, ornamented with pillared entrance and carved doors and windows; the interior finished in oak; walls tinted in a deep terra cotta. The furnishings, tables, etc., were of oak to match the wood work. Everything in good taste, without attempt at anything showy-a library building of which the people of Fergus Falls of that time, or of any time, might justly feel proud. Miss Lillian Stringham was appointed librarian of the new library. A small fee was required for membership, and only mem- bers were entitled to the use of the books. It was the purpose of the board, eventually, to make the library free to all. The entire cost of the library was about eighteen hundred dollars.

THE CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

While the public library, established by the generous donations of the people of Fergus Falls, served a useful purpose and was a credit to the community, it did not measure up the ideals of a library such as would meet the requirements of the increasing population of the city. With a view of providing for the future needs and educational advantages of a growing city the people decided that something more substantial and permanent in the way of a library was demanded. With this idea in view an application was made by the library board to the Carnegie library foundation for a donation to aid in the erection of a permanent library. This application was made in 1903 and a donation of fifteen thousand dollars was granted, on the usual conditions that the city would furnish the ground on which to erect the building and provide for a permanent tax for the support and mainte- nance of the library. The requisite tax was readily voted by the citizens and the excavating for the building was begun in the fall of 1904.

At the solicitation of the board a number of plans were submitted by architects, that of Vernon A. Wright, of this city, being accepted. The work of superstructure was begun in the spring of 1905, and the building was completed and opened to the public January 24, 1906.

The foundation is of granite, solid, substantial and enduring. The walls are of light grey Roman brick, with Bedford stone trimmings. The roof is of red Spanish tile, and the building throughout is practically fire- proof, the main interior walls being constructed of brick, and the floors of reinforced concrete. The design of the building is adapted to the site, being one story high in front and four stories in the rear, there being a consid- erable declivity in the back part of the lot on which the building is located. The building stands about the middle of the block, facing east, on Court street.

The interior of the building is in keeping with the substantial character of every portion of the library, and all the appointments are models of taste and convenience. Paneled wainscoting of Flemish oak extends to a height

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of six feet around the walls, and the adamant is finished in a light terra cotta, with a beamed ceiling above. The furniture is of the mission type, and is in keeping with the general finish.

Going down stairs, from the main floor, the visitor finds a small room used for library purposes. This is a sort of half-way story. Below this, and occupying almost an entire floor, is the assembly room, designed to accommodate public gatherings. There is an outside entrance to this room, on the north side of the building, so that visitors can enter without in any way disturbing those who may be in the reading room above. At the open- ing of the library it contained nearly three thousand volumes, with a capac- ity for many thousand more. A great many volumes have been added since the opening.

Miss Lillian Stringham, who was the librarian of the first library, con- tinued to serve in this capacity in the new library. Her entire service as librarian in this city was about ten years. She was succeeded by Miss Amy A. Lewis, the present librarian, having held this position since 1910. The present library board is composed of the following: A. R. Kitts, president; Mrs. Robert Hannah, secretary; H. M. Wheelock, Joseph G. Norby, Mrs. C. J. Sawbridge, Miss Elsie Wright and Mrs. H. W. Bertesen.

From the last annual report of the librarian and board of directors, dated June 30, 1915, the following items are gleaned: Number of volumes in library at beginning of year, 5,089; number of volumes at the end of year, 5,499; number borrowers' cards in force this date, 2,331; total volumes loaned during the year, 18,162. Of these, 11,441 were to adults and 6.721 to children.

The financial statement is as follows: Balance on hand, July 1, 1914, $777.28; received from city tax levy, $1,895.85; from other sources, $112.53; total. $2,785.66. Total expenditure, $2,251.12. Balance on hand July 1, 1915, $534.54.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF FERGUS FALLS.

The Schumann Club.

The Schumann Club of Fergus Falls dates its organization from March. 1897, when twelve women of the city perfected arrangements for launching the club. This was not the first musical organization in the city. Some years before the Schumann Club came into existence there was an organiza- tion known as the St. Cecelia Society, the pioneer musical society of the city, which had been organized by Mrs. James A. Brown. The Schumann Club was in no sense an outgrowth of the St. Cecelia Society, the latter hav- ing been discontinued for some time before the organization of the present club. It is true that many of the members of the St. Cecelia Society were charter members of the Schumann Club.

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HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. FERGU'S FALLS.

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PUBLIC LIBRARY, FERGUS FALLS.

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The Schumann Club is essentially a musical organization and has never given particular attention to things historical, as is evidenced by the fact that none of the members seemed to be able to recall the names of the first twelve charter members of the club. The first records of the club are miss- ing and the newspapers failed to chronicle the first meeting. It is known that the first president was Mrs. C. L. Hilton, and that Mrs. Elma Hixon Benton was secretary. The present officers are as follow: Mrs. John L. Townley, president; Mrs. E. Solem, first vice-president ; Mrs. Fenwick Tay- lor, second vice-president ; Florence Carlson, secretary; Agnes Hatch, treas- urer; Mrs. Cyrus Beall, librarian.

The club gives combined musical and literary programs bi-weekly throughout the year. At each meeting some composer is discussed, and extracts from his work are given by one of the members. During the win- ter season two or three concerts are given by outside artists, and these spe- cial programs are always generously attended by the public at large. The regular programs of the club are held in the Presbyterian church and the room is frequently filled with the members of the club and invited guests. The membership now includes eighty-nine women of the city, and it is safe to say that no local organization is doing better work in its particular field. Well may Shakespeare say: "If music be the food of love, play on."

The Ljom Singing Society.

The oldest musical organization in the city of Fergus Falls and, doubt- less, in Otter Tail county, is "Ljom Sangforening," which means Ljom Singing Society. It was organized January 27, 1883, with a membership of six: J. C. Knoff, B. Ertsgaard, J. Haakons, K. Rosenberg, O. B. Hanson and Mr. Lynne. A little later, in the same year, C. Gunerius, O. P. B. Jacobson, Henry Collins, Mr. Sparre, Mr. Bang, Mr. Bjorge and Mr. Sol- heim were admitted to membership, bringing the total up to thirteen. Mr. Lynne was the first leader, serving a few years, when Mr. Fremstad suc- ceeded him. When Mr. Fremstad removed from Fergus Falls, Mr. Knoff acted as leader.

I.jom has had its ups and downs, but has never disbanded and has always stood high in the esteem of the people of Fergus Falls. It has always participated in the Sangerfests or song recitals given by the Norse singing societies of the Northwest and has compared favorably with similar organizations in this part of the country. Indeed, at the Sangerfest held at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1910, Ljom was awarded a beautiful silver goblet.

Several members of Ljom were members of the great glee club of Norwegian-American singers which went to Norway in 1914 and sang at the centennial exposition in Christiania.

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Charles Gunerius and John Prestbo have been recent directors of Ljom, the latter serving eleven years with rare fidelity and ability. He was succeeded last winter by A. A. Aasen, who is an accomplished musician, and who is proving a worthy successor to Mr. Prestbo. The present mem- bership of the society is over thirty, two of whom, J. C. Knoff and H. J. Collins, having been faithful members ever since the society was organized -a remarkable record.

Woman's Club of Fergus Falls.

The Woman's Club of Fergus Falls was organized in 1897 by Mrs. F. J. Evans, Mrs. F. G. Barrows, Mrs. C. L. Hilton, Mrs. H. M. Wheelock, Mrs. G. O. Welch and Mrs. W. O. Mann. Mrs. Welch was the first presi- dent, Mrs. Wheelock, vice-president, and Mrs. Mann, the first secretary. The club was organized for the purpose of general cultural work, and during the years it has been in existence it has engaged in the study of literature, painting, sculpture, architecture. sociology and kindred subjects. Starting out purely as a study club, it has maintained its high standard of work, and has stood for those things with the highest aesthetic value. During the past year the club has been studying the English drama. The membership now numbers twenty-seven. The officers for the current year are as follow : Mrs. Martin T. McMahon, president; Mrs. Charles Rolla Wright, vice- president; Mrs. W. L. Patterson, secretary; Gertrude Tennant. treasurer.

A sketch of the Woman's Club would not be complete without men- tioning some of the special work which it has done during the past few years. Believing that it is more blessed to give than to receive. the club has done not a little philanthropic work in the city. It was directly responsible for the organization of the Town Improvement Society, which seeks to promote the civic welfare of the city. Each year the Woman's Club gives from ten to fifteen dollars' worth of reference books to the public library. For the past four years they have given from ten to forty dollars in prizes to the children for the best gardens. They have also been incidental in bringing to the city a most excellent exhibit of original paintings from the state art exhibit. And finally, whatever money the club has left over at the end of the year, and it is usually a very liberal sum, they give toward the relief of the unfortunate of the city.

Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized August 5, 1896, at Fergus Falls. The charter members were Mrs. Amanda Butler, Mrs. B. B. Haugen, Mrs. Rhoda A. Way, Mrs. Martha Freeman, Mrs. J. O. Williams, Mrs. Mary Robertson, Mrs. Linda Perry, Thea Rudh. Lena Bjor- naas. Mrs. Nancy Underwood and Maude Shave.

The first officers were: Mrs. Amanda Butler, president; Mrs. Bettie

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Haugan, vice-president; Mrs. Jane P. Williams, treasurer; Maude Shave, recording secretary. The present officers are Mrs. Myra Beers, president ; Mrs. Amanda Butler, vice-president; Mrs. Josephine Eddy, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Rhoda A. Way, recording secretary ; Mrs. Ida Nichols, treas- urer.

The union at one time conducted a rest room but for lack of support it was closed. The present membership is forty-five. There was an organiza- tion of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at one time previous to this with a large membership, but it gradually declined and finally dis- banded. Mrs. Martha Freeman was president of that organization, and the meetings were held at the home of Mrs. Nancy Underwood; Mae Sue Underwood was secretary and Mrs. Jane P. Williams, treasurer.

The present union was organized by Mrs. Susanna Fay, a national organizer, and after Mrs. Freeman's death, was named "The Martha Free- man Union," in honor of one who was for many years a faithful member and an earnest worker, as well as one of the oldest members. It is the desire to keep her name in remembrance.

Chippewa Club.

The Chippewa Club of Fergus Falls was organized on January 20, 1902. The first officers were as follow: William L. Parsons, president ;. A. B. Cole, vice-president; Robert C. Lincoln, secretary; E. A. Jewett, treasurer. No capital stock was issued nor is any member liable for any of the obligations incurred by the corporation beyond the amount of member- ship fee of one dollar a month. The club is purely a social organization and during the winter season gives a series of dances for its members. Harry M. Wheelock is the president of the club.

Fergus Falls Commercial Club.

For more than thirty years there has been a continual effort on the part of the merchants of the city to have an organization of some kind which would have for its purpose the furthering of the interests of the city. In those early boom days of the eighties, shortly after the city began its career in 1881, there came into existence the Fergus Falls Board of Trade. This is not to be confused with the "bucket shops" of later years; it was a busi- ness organization of the merchants of the city and had nothing to do with the buying of grain.

The first organization of this kind in the city was held March 13, 1882, and at this initial meeting a constitution was adopted, officers elected and tentative plans discussed whereby the business interests of the city might be improved. James Compton presided at the meeting and J. D. Boyd acted as temporary secretary. After the adoption of a constitution the fol-

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lowing officers were elected: Robert Miller, president; Jacob Austin, first vice-president ; James Compton, second vice-president; John W. Mason, third vice-president : Peter Claire, fourth vice-president ; J. P. Kennedy, fifth vice-president ; J. D. Boyd, secretary ; C. D. Wright, treasurer. The board of directors included A. G. Tod, Moses E. Clapp, E. A. Jewett, C. J. Saw- bridge, Horace Pickit, S. Shoemaker, Edwin M. Wright, E. C. Chapman, C. C. Clement, W. J. Hall, D. Bell, B. N. Johnson, W. D. Parkinson, J. W. Earl and P. McMaster.

It is not on record what definite results followed the organization of the Board of Trade, nor can it be ascertained how long it was in existence. This organization lapsed and others came in to take its place in after years. In fact, it is impossible to follow the devious path of the several such organizations which have come and gone since the initial effort of 1882. Not so many years ago there were two rival organizations in the city at the same time-chamber of commerce and a commercial club-but the city was not large enough to maintain both organizations. As a result of the divided efforts of these two rival organizations neither one was able to command the support of the citizens-and both died. For a short time the city was without a business men's organization, but in the falls of 1915 a number of interested citizens began to agitate the organization of a new commercial 'club on a new basis, and thus came into existence a club which proposes to bury all factional jealousies and work together in harmony for a better and bigger Fergus Falls.

The present Commercial Club of Fergus Falls had its inception at a meeting held at the Kaddatz hotel on October 28, 1915. The need of such an organization was manifested in a striking manner by the fact that about one hundred and forty men were present at this initial meeting. Mayor Cole presided and stated the purpose for which it was called. It was the unanimous opinion of those present that it was desirable to effect an organi- zation of the business and professional men of the city for the purpose of looking after the general welfare of the city. Several men made short speeches and all advocated an organization of some kind looking to this end. A resolution was finally adopted authorizing the chairman to appoint a com- mittee to prepare a constitution and by-laws, the committee to call a second meeting when a permanent organization should be effected. This commit- tee consisted of A. R. Kitts, F. E. Adams, John Lauritzen, Roy Baker and G. C. Mantor.

The club was formally but temporarily organized at a meeting held on December 16, 1915, with the following officers: George W. Frankberg. president ; John Lauritzen, vice-president; G. C. Mantor, secretary; F. J. Evans, treasurer. At this meeting there were not yet one hundred members

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on the roll and permanent organization was deferred until that number were obtained. By February 28, 1916, the required number had been secured, and the meeting on this date effected a permanent organization by electing all the officers selected at the time of the temporary organization with the exception of the treasurer. Adolph Boe was elected to this office instead of F. J. Evans. A board of fifteen directors was elected, consisting of the following: George W. Frankberg, A. G. Anderson, D. M. Brown, W. L. Robertson, John Lauritzen, M. Benson, J. G. Durrell, A. B. Cole, T. M. Alexander, Adolph Boe, A. R. Kitts, Ole Lee, Olaf Schei, J. S. Ulland and C. R. Wright.

This club, unlike all former organizations of a similar nature in the city, has sufficient funds at its disposal to do effective work. The member- ship fee is five dollars, with annual dues of twelve dollars. This insures a working fund and marks a radical difference between the club and previous organizations. With practically all the business and professional men of the city behind the movement there is no reason why this club should not be a power for good in the development of the city.

Town Improvement Society.

'Tis not every city in the state that can boast of a purely voluntary organization which has no other purpose than to help beautify its city. The city of Fergus Falls in 1911 saw the beginning of such an organization bearing the title of Town Improvement Society, or. to be brief, the T. I. S. This organization has enlisted the hearty support of more than two hundred members, who pay dues of twenty-five cents a year. Additional financial support is derived from benefactions and bequests from interested persons. Each member signs a pledge to ( 1) keep my own premises and the adjoining alley in a sanitary and orderly condition; (2) destroy weeds and waste papers; (3) throw no rubbish on vacant lots.

The society co-operates with the city park board in its work. Since it was organized, five years ago, it has expended an average of five hundred dollars a year on beautifying the city. Its greatest work, probably, has been in beautifying the banks of the river. In the spring of 1916 the society planted thirty-eight trees along the river banks. The abatement of the fly nuisance has been another feature of the society's work, and so much has been accomplished along this line that the presence of flies has become a comparatively rarity. F. T. Ferry is the president for the current year.

Park Region Anti-Tuberculosis Society.

About ten years ago a local organization was organized in Fergus Falls to take charge of the sale of Red Cross stamps at holidays. This society, locally known as the Park Region Anti-Tuberculosis Society, has kept its organization intact during all this time and has gradually extended the

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sphere of its work. Now it is interested the year around in the distribution of all kinds of literature bearing on the treatment of tuberculosis. Dr. D. G. Ristad has been the head of the Society for the past year.

STREET RAILWAYS IN FERGUS FALLS.

Few people of the present generation know that more than thirty years ago Fergus Falls was on the point of establishing a complete system of street railways in the city. But such is the case. In the summer of 1882 everyone was agog with the idea that the infant city was to assume a metro- politan air if street cars could bring about the much desired result. Apropos of street cars in the city, the Journal of November 30, 1882, appeared with the following article, which is sufficiently explanatory of the situation as it then appeared :

"The Fergus Falls Street Railway Company is fully organized and ready to file articles of incorporation, and erect and operate a line of street cars within the limits of the city as soon as circumstances permit. The incorporators are as follow : H. G. Page, Jacob Austin, C. O. Wheeler, J. H. Allen, E. J. Evans, Peter MacMaster, M. E. Clapp, A. G. Todd, James Compton, C. D. Wright, all residents of Fergus Falls. The operation of the company will be under the direction of a board of seven directors to be elected annually on the first Tuesday of June, and until the first annual meeting the above persons will constitute the board, with H. G. Page, presi- dent ; Jacob Austin, vice-president; E. J. Evans, secretary, and Peter Mac- Master, treasurer.

"The operation of a line of street cars will be of great benefit to the city, and will greatly enlarge the value of real estate in the outlying districts. This proposed line will also connect the two railroad depots and thus be a great convenience to the residents of the city. The capital stock of the company is fifty thousand dollars divided into shares of ten dollars each."

But the dream of street cars was not to be realized. The effort to organize the company consumed all the energy of the incorporators and nothing came of the plan. The idea of a street railway system in the city lay dormant for exactly thirty years. In the spring of 1912 a second attempt was made to provide the city with street car service, but this effort, like the first, was not productive of results. The owner of the street car franchise in Breckenridge, with Nels Haagenson and U. Huss, applied to the city council for a franchise in Fergus Falls in March, 1912, and the question of granting the same was voted on at the April election. It is needless to say that the franchise was willingly granted by the voters. The promoters proposed to operate a single line from the Northern Pacific rail- road station through the streets of the city to the state hospital northeast of the city. The franchise called for definite action within a year from the

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time it was granted and provided that it should lapse at the end of the year if nothing had been done by that time. It lapsed.

On April 5, 1916, Alderman Eriksson, now mayor of the city, offered a resolution cancelling the franchise of this street railway company. The franchise had expired by limitation, but it was thought best to formally can- cel it to clear the records, and the resolution was granted.

FERGUS FALLS OFFICIALS.

It is not generally known that the city of Fergus Falls has an official family numbering fifty-two, but, counting all of the officials from the mayor to the chief of the fire department, it is found that it totals that number. Some of these are elected and others are appointed by the mayor, council or water and light commissioners. A summary of the officials of the city, with their tenure, salaries and method of selection has been carefully com- piled from the official record.

The chief executive of the city is the mayor, who is elected annually and serves without a salary. Leonard Eriksson is the present mayor. The mayor appoints the chief of the police department and as many patrolmen as are provided for by the council. The present chief is A. H. Johnson and the patrolmen, two in number, are Judson Burton and Joseph Holt. The chief receives a salary of seventy dollars a month and the two patrol- men receive sixty-five and sixty dollars a month respectively. The mayor also appoints the library board. of eight members, who serve two years and without a salary. The library board in turn selects the librarian, who is paid a monthly salary of sixty dollars. The present librarian is Amy A. Lewis. The library board is composed of A. R. Kitts, Mrs. Robert Hannah, C. D. Wright, Mrs. C. J. Sawbridge. Elsie Wright. H. M. Wheelock, C. A. Renny and Mrs. H. W. Bertelsen.

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History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 57

Author: John W. Mason Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages: 765

Author: John W. Mason
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 765