Clay County Historical Society

• CCHS Awarded Certificate of Commendation from AASLH• History Tour of Clay County September 25• Win Dinner at Sarello's! Romance Raffle Drawing Valentine's Day• Long-Range Plan to be Implemented• Moorhead, MN: Wickedest City in the World?

Moorhead's Center Avenue about 1872. The view is to the west from about 5th Street.Moorhead's earliest months were characterized by lawlessness and lack of civilsociety. A series of shootings early in 1872 led citizens to petition the governor toappoint a county government - and a sheriff. Flaten/Wange Collection

II President's ColumnWe who are involved closely withCCHS feel the organization's activitiesare professionally done, but how do wemeasure that?

Well, it's nice to be told. We are excitedthat the Clay County Historical Society has been selectedas a 2004 award winner by the American Association forState and Local History. We were notified by that Asso-ciation in early July that the recent Eating Out in ClayCounty exhibit has won a Certificate of Commendation.AASLH's awards program, started in 1945, is the mostprestigious recognition in the nation for efforts inpreservation and interpretation of local, state, andregional history.

The Long Range Planning Committee members oftenconsidered this matter of quality and its measurement aswe met over the last year. We found ourselves makingassumptions about what people wish to view, or learn, orin what they wish to participate-and how successfulCCHS's efforts are in meeting those expectations. Thereseemed to be a general agreement that the Board needs todo more specific market research and program evaluationwithin the county. We plan in 2005 (hopefully with grantmonies) to conduct a structured national MuseumAssessment Program with the public. Elsewhere in thisnewsletter you will find a more complete report byDonna Voxland on the Board's long term strategic plan.

It takes a lot of effort to continually try to improve.Unfortunately, it also takes money, and during the lastyear the Board has had much discussion about CCHSfmances. We concluded that the organization mustincrease its funding in order to meet its goals incollections and programming, and it must diversity itsfinancial basis so it is less dependent on single sourceincome. We will also attempt to greatly strengthen ourendowment program.

There will probably be a newsletter supplement in thenear future detailing these financial matters.

CalendarJune 2004-March 2005

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue: Weddings in ClayCounty exhibit

August 13, 2004-January 24, 2005Mexicanos in the Red River Valleyphoto exhibit

December Holiday Open House

Winter 2005 Display Class by Pam Burkhardt

Jan. 8, 2005 Rok Day, traditional spinning andweaving, Fiber Artists Guild members

January 29, 2005-March 12,2005Here Comes the Bride: Weddings in Americatraveling exhibit from Rogers Historical Museum

CLAY COUNTYHISTORICAL SOCIETY

Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Avenue NorthPO Box 501, Moorhead, MN 56561-0501Phone: 218-299-5520/Fax: 218-299-5525

www.info.co.clay.mn.us/h istory

BOARD OF DIRECTORSDale White, President, MoorheadHelen Rudie, Vice President, FargoAlvin Swanson, Treasurer, MoorheadJohn Elton, Secretary, HawleyBen Brunsvold, County Rep., MoorheadCarolyn Barden, MoorheadRose Bergan, HawleyRodney Erickson, MoorheadDarren Leno, MoorheadPearl Quinnild, BarnesvilleDonna Voxland, MoorheadSherry Watt, Glyndon

STAFFLisa Vedaa, DirectorPam Burkhardt, Collections ManagerMark Peihl, ArchivistAlvera Murch, BookkeeperJanet Nelson, Volunteer CoordinatorJane Renner, Office Assistant (funded by Experience Works)

NEWSLETTER PRODUCTIONLisa Vedaa, Editor lisa.vedaa@cLmoorhead.mn.usPam Burkhardt, Contributor pam.burkhardt@ci.moorhead.mn.usMark Peihl, Contributor mark.peihl@cLmoorhead.mn.us

http://www.info.co.clay.mn.us/hmailto:lisa.vedaa@cLmoorhead.mn.usmailto:pam.burkhardt@ci.moorhead.mn.usmailto:mark.peihl@cLmoorhead.mn.us

Eating Out in Clay County exhibitrecognized with national awardThe Clay County Historical Society is proud to announcethat we can now claim to be a national award-winningorganization! In July, the American Association for Stateand Local History announced that CCHS had been awardeda Certificate of Commendation for our exhibit Eating Outin Clay County.

The AASLH Annual Awards Program, now in its 59th year,is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in thepreservation and interpretation of local, state, and regionalhistory. Awards for 2004 represent 102 organizations and

individuals from the. United States. Award

winners will be honored ata special banquet duringthe AASLH 2004 AnnualMeeting in S10Louis,Missouri, on Thursday,September 30, 2004. Agenerous contribution from

The History Channel will once again help underwrite thecost of the Awards Banquet.

The awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish andencourage standards of excellence in the collection, preser-vation, and interpretation of state and local history through-out the United States. The awards program not only honorssignificant achievement in the field of local history, but alsobrings public recognition of the opportunities for small andlarge organizations, institutions, and programs to makecontributions in this arena.

AASLH is a not-for-profit professional organization ofindividuals and institutions working to preserve andpromote history. From its headquarters in Nashville,Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, andsupport for its members who preserve and interpret stateand local history in order to make the past more meaningfulin American society.

Ghost Towns will be a feature ofCounty History Tour September 25The next CCHS History Tour will be right in our ownbackyard! Mark Peihl will lead a tour to historic sites inClay County on Saturday, September 25.

Participants will enjoy a relaxing ride in a deluxe motorcoach from Red River Trails. Lunch will be served byMosaic caterers from Fargo in a restored and nostalgi-cally-decorated grainery on the Tom & Sherry Watt farmnear Glyndon.

The tour will depart from the Hjemkomst Center at 8:00a.m. and will visit several historic sites in Moorheadbefore venturing out to other historic sites in the county.Did you know that Moorhead is the site of the worst avia-tion disaster in the history of the state? The pilot was theonly survivor ofthe October 30, 1941 Northwest flightfrom Chicago. The neighborhoods of Moorhead andBarnesville's infamous red light districts will be visited,as well as the locations of several "ghost towns," such as

Catton, Lafayette and East Burlington. Other sites to bevisited include the Stockwood Fill, Probstfield Farm, OldGeorgetown, and Gantz Reservoir, pictured below duringconstruction, about 1907. The reservoir was developed toprovide a source of water for steam locomotives and theCity of Dilworth.

Cost of the tour is $35 per person and includes bus fare,morning coffee and rolls, and lunch. Registration dead-line is Friday,September 17. Toregister, send yourname, address,phone number andpayment to CCHS,PO Box 501,Moorhead, MN56561.

Outreach Displays

Hawley Public LibraryMoorhead Public LibraryBarnesville Public LibraryFargo CVB

OpenAugustAugustAugustAugust

CloseOctoberOctoberOctober

November

The Hawley Public Library concludes a series ontoys. Part 3 GIRLS' TOYS features toys meant toprepare a girl for her future role as a mother andhomemaker. Dolls, laundry and ironing toys fromearly years are featured as well as WWII-era paperdolls.

Part 2 of the toy display will be at the MoorheadPublic Library. BOYS' TOYS features active toysrecalling the days of noisy activity. Be ~ ....£.:o.••• - >prepared to knuckle down with these d -(: rplaythings from the past.

HAIL TO THE CANDIDATE! is on rr ®the campaign trail again and will ~caucus at the Barnesville PublicLibrary. This display contains memorabilia and inter-esting facts about the presidential elections heldbetween 1871 and 1984. Artifacts include pinbackbuttons, a partisan cookie cutter and sheet musictitled With Garfield We'll Conquer Again.

WELCOME! The hospitality industry is the topic thissummer at the Fargo Convention and Visitors'Bureau along 1-94. Serving dishes, plates andmenus from the past may tempt visitors to samplethe gustatory welcome we provide today! Don'tforget your room key!

The Five Generations of wedding dresses section ofthe Old, New, Borrowed, Blue exhibit is nowfeatured in the CCHS hall case.

CCHS arranged a new display of exquisite,hand-decorated china in the lobby area. Theseitems were painted by Beulah Forness who holdschina-painting classes in the building Tuesdaymornings.

Clay County Historical Society July/August 2004 Newsletter

II II Artifacts & DonorsDonors include:Moorhead: Blaine Wright, Northern Prairie Fiber

ArtistsFargo: Juliet Hanson & Juliet Hanson Estate,

Gothard Knutson, Phyllis ThysellOmaha, NE: Bob & Lavonne Woods

Artifacts include: box of (14 reels) 16mm moviefilm from Bergstrom Studio with some showing onarea projects [not viewed yet]; 1935 FM telephonedirectory; 1930, 1933, 1935 Detroit Lakes - Mahno-men telephone directories; Fiber Crafts Guild min-utes, newsletters, member ship lists and programlists from April 14, 1976 - April 29, 1981; photo of achild (Bob Woods) with his birthday cake in the liv-ing room of the Peterson* house in Moorhead; (17)instructional booklets on topics such as how to readblue prints and working with sheet metal [associatedwith an earlier collection of similar items]; WMSTRyearbook; 2nd ed. (1958); Tummy Tingles publishedin 1937 by the Wheat Flour Institute with recipesand poems for children; wood and metal puzzle;Minn-Kota fishing motor (1950s); watch chain whichbelonged to Dr. Bottolfson, Moorhead with 2 fobs("University of Minnesota, B. T. Bottolfson, 1916" &"ICS, College International de Chirurgiens)"

*The Peterson house was built around the JohnBergquist log cabin now owned by the museum.The cabin was revealed during a restorationcompleted in the 1980s.

Juliet Ledry Hanson & Juliet Hanson Estate items:box of glass plate negatives, film negatives, photo-graphic how-to booklets & prints taken in Clay &Becker Coso by uncle Andrew T. Olson; framedphoto of John Olson WWI soldier (brother of AndrewT. Olson); donor's wedding dress & veil; dress/veilpatterns with left over material & lace; mother'swedding dress & hat; matron of honor's hat; HaroldHanson's wedding suit; Juliet's wooden sled; smallparlor organ (purchased in Hawley) and stool; wallbracket lamp with intact, original glass reflector; (3)pieces of rosmalling by Juliet Hanson and otherclothing.

Clay County Historical Society July/August 2004 Newsletter

Board adoptsLong-Range PlanBy Donna Voxland, Long-Range PlanningCommittee Chair and Past-President

I am very happy to report that theLong Range Plan is finished and hasbeen approved by the Board ofDirectors. In June 2003, we beganbrainstorming to develop a one tofive year plan for the staff and board

to use as a guide for future direction and also forprioritizing our needs and dreams despite the budgetsituation we were suddenly faced with due to countybudget cuts. We listed our strengths and weaknessesand then proceeded to discuss each of our resourceareas in terms of what we need to do to strengthenand enhance each area.

We went off on many tangents, but they proved tobe very constructive and interesting side roads. Weall feel that we have a better understanding of ourorganization as it is now and where we would like tosee it be in five years. We have already implementedsome goals such as a New Board Member Orienta-tion, a Clay County History Fall Bus Tour, initialsteps toward an Endowment Fund Drive, an activefundraising committee, an active membershipcommittee and others.

Some five-year goals involve more than our hard-working current staff are able to do in their alreadybusy days. One major long-term goal is to hire atleast one more part-time staff to enable us to expandour programming and exhibits. We are very excitedabout the finished product, and we invite you torequest a copy of your own. I want to thank the verydiligent staff and board members who faithfullyattended the 15 meetings that often seemed a bitoverwhelming. We plan to continue to meet everycouple months, in addition to our board meetings, toinformally chat about how we are meeting our goalsand to always be open to new directions andchanges.

Win a dinner for twoat Sarello's in new/;/;1(omanerz" Raffle

In the spirit of our new exhibit Old, New,Borrowed, Blue: Weddings in Clay County, CCHSis kicking off a raffle for a volley of romanticprizes! The drawing for the Romance Raffle willbe held on (drumroll, please) Valentine's Day,February 14,2005. Be at the Clay County Museumat 3:00 p.m. that day to hear the winnersannounced (need not be present to win).

The first prize in this"Romance Raffle" is a-what else?-romantic din-ner for two at the fabulousSarello's fine restaurant in ~Moorhead. Sarello's is ,~located at 28 Center MallAvenue. Voxland Electricgenerously donated $100 for the dinner.

CCHS Collections Manager Pam Burkhardt hasvolunteered her fine talents to lovingly craft anentire yard of exquisite bobbin lace in a beautifullydelicate heart pattern for use in a bridal garter,handkerchief, christening gown, guest towel, orwhatever the winner wishes.

The third prize is a Scandinavian wrought ironcandle holder for dreamy dinners at horne. Otherprizes include one dozen gorgeous red roses, $20toward creative framing for a photo of one'schoice by expert framer Steve Johnson, and a boxof de-li-cious chocolates.

Tickets for the raffle are $2 each, and can bepurchased at the CCHS Office Monday throughFriday, or from CCHS Staff and Board Memberswhenever you see them out and about.

"Wedding Hearts"bobbin lace pattern

We have just one small favor to ask....

Our newsletter is sent at a non-profit bulk 'Itrate, and cannot be forwarded, nor can it *be held when you are temporarily away. \j('

Unless we have your correct address or instructions not tomail out the newsletter during a certain time frame, youdo not get your newsletter, and we are charged an addi-tional 70 cents for every newsletter that is returned to us-more than a first class letter.

Please help the historical society save money for educa-tional exhibits and programs, and assure that you get yourCCHS newsletters, by notifying us of your winter addressor letting us know if you are going to be away for anylength of time. Your help is appreciated!

HERITAGE-HJEMKOMSTINTERPRETIVE CENTER

PREHISTORY OF THE RED RIVER VALLEYJuly 12-September 26

Discover the geological history and Native American tribesof the Red River Valley with information & artifacts relating to

recent archaeological surveys conducted around the valley.

ROSEMALINGJuly i-September 26

Learn about the beautiful work of Telemark rosemaler, KnutMevastaul (1785-1862). Porcelain dolls by Judith Blanchard.

TASTE OF THE VALLEY FINE ART EXHIBITAugust 2-September 24

Experience a Taste of the Valley with original artworkby the region's finest artists in this juried art show.

TEAM UP! Explore with Science & SportsOctober i-December 31

Test your skills in sports such as basketball, tennis, soccer,and football while learning about geometry, physics, force,

and friction. Learn about local college and high schoolsports teams from the Red River Valley.

Donations to CCHSmake a thoughtfulmemorialFor that special person on your list who has every-thing, a contribution to the Clay County HistoricalSociety is a perfect gift! Consider recognizingsomeone you love or want to honor with an invest-ment in the Endowment Fund; a card noting yourinvestment can be sent in the name of someone youlove for any event:

Birth of a child or grandchildSpecial eventHonor your mentorAnniversaryAnd many more ...

To find out how to support the Clay County Histori-cal Society, contact Lisa at 218-299-5520.

Reflect on the past .... commit to the future!

Volunteer Rewardsmonthly drawing resultsCCHS is happy to announce the recent winners of themonthly volunteer prize drawing! Congratulations andthank you to these special people for volunteering yourvaluable time and talents:

March: Al RienietsApril: Sam LeathesMay: Jane Renner

June: Helen DanielsonJuly: Faith Meurrens

The monthly prize drawing was created as a token ofappreciation to reward our wonderful volunteers!Every volunteer who volunteers during a month hastheir name entered in the drawing once for each timethey volunteer. Prizes include gift certificates to arearestaurants, museums, stores, and other amusements.Some items are great to use in entertaining your grand-children! The prizes are donated by volunteer coordi-nator Jan Nelson and CCHS Board Members.

Clay County Historical Society July/August 2004 Newsletter

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue:Five Generations of Wedding GownsBy 'Pam Burkhardt, Collections Manager

A special section ofthe Old, New, Borrowed, Blueexhibit is titled Five Generations of Weddings. CharlotteWatson, formerly of Fargo, is responsible for keepingthis collection together. She donated these and relateditems in 1999. Four dresses come down in an unbrokenline with another, the oldest, coming from Charlotte'suncle's family. The six dresses represent the followingfive weddings:

1. Mary Rogers married DonaldMcLeod in 1865.2. Selma Westerson married CharlesJohnson in the early 1880s.3. Edith Johnson, daughter of No. 2,married Frank Newberry in 1919.4. Charlotte Newberry, daughter of No.3, married Philip Watson in 1948.5. Ann Watson, daughter of No. 4,married Lawrence Miller in 1977.6. Ellen Watson, sister of No. 5,bridesmaid at Ann's wedding in 1977.

This article focuses on the 1865wedding dress, one of the oldest,complete dresses in the museum'scollection. We were fortunate toreceive detailed information about thedress, its maker and history. Using thisinformation, we were able to fmd evenmore!

Donald William and Mary McLeod'sdaughter Margaret married WilliamGimblett, a minister (1906 to 1910) atthe Plymouth Congregational Churchin Fargo, North Dakota. In 1956,Margaret wrote about the dress:

[written by] Margaret McLeod Gimblett The onlysurviving member of her immediate family. [datedFeb. 9th 1956]

Using this information, more was found on the internet.A memoir written by an unnamed "Old Durham Boy"included recollections of mid-19th century Ontario includ-ing D.W. McLeod and his bride. You can read moreabout D.W. McLeod at the source titled Early Days inEnniskillen at www.ontariogenealogy.com/Durhamlenniskillen.html

It caused no little surprise in thecommunity when Mr. McLeod married.It was generally supposed he was aconfirmed bachelor. The bride he chosewas Miss Mary Rogers, sister of DavidRogers so well and favourably knownto many readers of The James Papers.A touching compliment was paid thebride and groom on the night of theirreturn home from their wedding trip.The company of the militia of which Ihave spoken, quietly gathered late inthe evening, and at 12 0 'clock fired aright royal welcoming salute. Thecompany was afterwards entertained bythe bride and groom. The noise of the

firing caused great excitement as therewere few in the secret outside of thosewho took part.

Rev. D. Rogers of St. Thomas addedinformation to these recollections.There is no evidence has been foundthat Rev. Rogers has any relation toMary Rogers McLeod.

A view of the front of the 1865 dress asseen in the exhibit. The dress is blue silkwith collar, peplum and sleeves edged withblue fringe. It will be moved with the othersto a featured position in the CCHS hallcase for the duration of the Old, New, Bor-rowed, Blue exhibit, through March 2005. The first store 1remember ever being

in, was that of D. W McLeod. A big sign on the frontthen, informed any who cared to know, that it wasThe Farmers General Store. He also owned the

foundry and wagon shop, across the street and downa short distance. D. W was brother of John McLeod

Married in Enniskillen, Ontario, Canada July 11th1865 on her 24th birthday. This - her wedding dresswas made by Miss Nell Kennedy, a dressmaker

friend. The dress has been kept by 3 of her daughtersin their turn from the eldest - down to the youngest.

http://www.ontariogenealogy.com/Durhaml

!Ioorhead, !IN: lfickedesl

Moorhead saloon interior, about 1912. Did saloons like this one make Moorhead "theWickedest City in the World?"

fil}' in Ihe Iforld?Local folklore is filled with colorful legends, oft-toldfables and outright myths. Among the most popular inClay County is the notion that Moorhead was onceknown as "the wickedest city in the world." Or the U.S.Or ... someplace. The story often compares our countyseat with "Port Said, Egypt; Marseilles, France orShanghai, China." I'Xe wondered for years about theorigins of this tale. We may have recently come up withan answer.

Most local histories published in the last fifty yearsinclude some mention of the more unsavory aspects ofMoorhead's past and often repeat the "wickedest city"phrase. The city did go through two problem eras.

Moorhead popped into existence when the NorthernPacific Railway, building west from Duluth, reachedthe Red River in Fall 1871. The railroad stoppedconstruction for the winter. Moorhead, like Brainerdbefore it in 1869 and Oak Lake in 1870, became theover-winter end of the line and a magnet for legitimatebusinessmen and settlers as well as gamblers,prostitutes, thieves and various other ne'er-do-wells.Like many other towns, Moorhead went through afrontier period when lack of law enforcement andestablished civil society made life pretty hairy for localresidents. And, as in many other towns, this periodonly lasted a few months. A series of shootings earlyin 1872 induced law-abiding citizens to petition theGovernor to appoint a county government - and asheriff. By 1873 things had settled down in Moorhead.But the stories of the wild days of 1871-1872 lingered.

Moorhead's other "colorful" period began June 30, 1890when, by constitutional mandate, all the saloons in NorthDakota closed. Fargo liquor dealers moved across theRed River. On July 1, Moorhead added a vanguard offive new saloons. Many more followed. Through the1890s, alcohol became a huge part of the local economy.In 1900, the number of saloons peaked at 45 - in a city ofabout 3,700 people. The businesses brought in a lot ofmoney for schools, streets and other improvements, butthey also brought crime to Moorhead's streets, corruption

to city government and a new, unenviable reputation tothe city generally. After the turn of the twentieth century,reforms alleviated some of the city's problems. Moor-head "dries" attempted to close Moorhead's saloonsunder the state's local option law. This allowed voters ina city or township to vote on the saloon issue in that cityor township. But wet interests in Moorhead proved toostrong. In 1915, the Minnesota state legislature passed acounty option bill. On May 17, Clay County votersdecided to close all county saloons. On June 30, 1915,

Moorhead's north bridge saloon district 1902. The view is to the eastacross the Red River from Fargo's Case Plaza. Nearly all the buildingson the Moorhead side of this photo are saloons. The liquor dealerstended to congregate around the Moorhead ends of the two bridges tobe as close to dry North Dakota as they could. The north bridge isvisible at right. Flaten/Wange Collection.

exactly 25 years to the day after North Dakota's barsclosed, Moorhead's saloons shut down as well.

Local historians have often lumped both of these two,distinct periods together. Stories of violence and lax lawenforcement in the early 1870s are told in the samebreath as the tales of corruption and saloons from the1890s. This may make for better story but gives theimpression that throughout the 19th century Moorhead

was wild, violent, corrupt and drunk, ignoring the twodecades in between of relatively normal life.

Until recently, the earliest reference to the "WickedestCity" story I could find came from Edith Moll's 1957NDAC master's thesis, Moorhead, Minnesota: FrontierTown, 1871-1915. Edith never actually uses the phrasebut titles a subchapter on the saloon era "The MostWicked City." In 1966, Erling Rolsfsrud expanded on thestory. In his Cobber Chronicles: an Informal History ofConcordia College, he claims "Residents of present-dayMoorhead may well be shocked to learn that once theirhome was called 'The Wickedest City in the World.' This

Chicago Tribune reporter Floyd Gibbons at work. Floyd Gibbons:Your Headline Hunter, Edward Gibbons; New York: 1953.

reputation it earned shortly after its establishment in1871, and kept it - with good reason - for nearly threedecades." Rolfsrud never mentions where he received hisinformation but it's tough to keep a good story down. Thetale was subsequently repeated in numerous local histo-nes.

So, did Moorhead deserve such a reputation? Not likely.The problems Moorhead faced in the 1870s and 1890swere not that much worse than other border or frontiertowns. Dodge City, Kansas and East Grand Forks,Minnesota probably could give Moorhead a run for her

money in the wicked department. Dozens of towns haveclaimed the wickedest city moniker. (A quick Googlesearch on the internet revealed at least 40 such places.)Foremost may be the seventeenth century pirate havenPort Royal, Jamaica, described by an eye witness as "thewealthiest and wickedest city in the New World." (PortRoyal's reputation may have been enhanced by itsspectacular demise. On June 7, 1692, a huge earthquakesent the city sliding into the sea - an end reminiscent oftwo other wicked cities, the Biblical towns of Sodom andGomorrah.)

There must be some basis for the Moorhead story. Themost likely source we can find is 19305 Chicago Tribunereporter, war correspondent, international adventurer andsavvy self-promoter Floyd Gibbons. Recently we cameacross an article about Gibbons in the Moorhead CountryPress which may shed some light.

Raphael Floyd Phillips Gibbons was born July 16, 1887in Washington DC. His father, an egg and dairy sales-man, moved the family to Des Moines, Iowa in 1898where he started a successful trading stamp business.Three years later, they moved to Minneapolis, where, in1906, Floyd took a job as police reporter with theMinneapolis Daily News. Always a bright kid, Gibbonsquickly developed a clean and spare but personalizedstyle which endeared him to readers. This led to stints ascrime reporter for the Milwaukee Free Press and theMinneapolis Tribune. By 1912, he was reporting for theChicago Tribune. Gibbons covered Pancho Villa'sexploits on the U.S.-Mexican border, and later GeneralJohn Pershing's attempts to catch the bandit. In 1917,while on the way to Europe to cover World War I, hisship, the S. S. Laconia, was sunk by a German subma-rine. Gibbons' first hand account is still a classic injournalism. Gibbons followed the U.S. Marines throughthe Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Woods campaignswhere he lost his left eye to machine gun fire. ThereafterGibbons wore a white, hand-knit eye patch. It became histrademark.

After the war, the Tribune sent Gibbons to cover moreconflicts. In the 1920s and 1930s he reported on the IrishRevolution, Polish-Russian war, the conflict between theFrench and North African tribes, the Polish Revolution,the war between Japan and China over Manchuria, theItalian-Ethiopian war and the Spanish Civil War. Hebecame the first American to cross the Sahara Desert andcircled the globe twice. In 1929, he began radio broad-casting for NBC. His distinctive style and fast talking (hecould speak 217 words per minute) made him an instant

Clay County Historical Society July/August 2004 Newsletter

~'Warning in Russian'~By PLOD «:UmJON'S

Pamoue B~ aumu

Gibbons' syndicated column, "The Adventurers' Club", ran in Moor-head's Country Press and many other newspapers nationwide.Country Press, April 16, 1937.

Gibbons' reporting, books, lecture series, syndicatedcolumns and radio commenting made him a celebrity -and a wealthy one. Early in 1937, he bought a private75-foot yacht, the Adventurer (a rarity for a reporter!).Gibbons entertained friends, other reporters and celebri-ties onboard.

Sometime that spring, visitors included Neal O'Hara,well-known writer and columnist for the brand new TheCommentator magazine. O'Hara's column for themonthly, called "He Wouldn't Fool You," featured short,pithy items of timely trivia. (Example: "AlthoughColonel [Charles] Lindbergh is a near-millionaire, hepays only from $60 to $75 for his suits ... There's no suchthing as gray hair. It's either the natural color of yourlocks or it's white ... Montana, Washington, NorthCarolina, and South Dakota are the only states in theUnion that have never had a dreadnought named in theirhonor.") In the April issue, O'Hara related, "We oncespent a week-end on Floyd Gibbon's yacht and counted128 fresh eye-patches hanging on door-knobs, hooks,neck-tie racks, and the like." (Gibbons went throughdozens of patches a day as they became soiled.) ThenO'Hara went on to say, "And in a conversation withFloyd, who has knocked about in Port Said, Marseilles,Alexandria and Shanghai, we asked what was the tough-est town he'd ever been in. He said it was Moorehead[sic], Minnesota."

mentioned the piece, it generated considerable interest inMoorhead. Country Press publisher John A. Whaleypicked up the story: "Localites were more than a little bitamused at this sombriquet. 'Perhaps,' said one old-timer,'Mr. Gibbons hit town twenty-five years ago when thiswas the "jumping off' place for harvest labor in NorthDakota and lumberjacks for the north woods. Theselaborers were none too handsome to look at,' he said,'and a stranger who happened over in those days wouldget the impression the town was a tough one all right. '

"If Mr. Gibbons should happen in Moorhead today hewould find an entirely different set-up from that oftwenty-five years ago. 'The toughest-town' crack is soridiculous that we feel it too humorous to be suppressedfrom the people of this county.

"Letters of 'where do you get that stuff have evidentlybeen forwarded to Mr. Gibbons from indignant citizens.A column by Floyd Gibbons entitled 'Adventurers' Club'appears weekly in this newspaper."

In his travels, Gibbons apparently did visit Moorhead -and the experience stuck with him. Born in 1887, itclearly wasn't during Moorhead's frontier days oftheearly 1870s. It had to have been during the later stages ofthe city's saloon era. His biography, Your HeadlineHunter, byhis brother,Edward,mentions nospecificMoorheadvisits butsuggests twotimes whenhe may havepassedthrough. In1906, beforehis employ-ment at theMinneapolisDaily News,Gibbonsspent "a fewmonths"working in alumberyardin the tinytown of

Floyd Gibbons at age 20, about the time hewas living at Lucca, ND - and may havevisited Moorhead. Your Headline Hunter-Floyd Gibbons, Edward Gibbons: 1953.

Twin Cities' newspapers which occasionally sent scribesto cover Moorhead's saloon problems.

Lucca, North Dakota. (After hours he moon-lighted forthe local newspaper, apparently the Lucca Ledger,published as part of the Fingal Herald during the timeperiod.) Lucca sat where the Soo Line and NorthernPacific Railways crossed south of Valley City. Gibbonshad two alternate routes to Lucca from Minneapolis,either on the Soo Line through Hankinson and Enderlin,ND or via the NPRy - through Moorhead. He may alsohave made an occasional trip or two to Fargo-Moorhead.Either way, as an impressionable 19-year-old, the "oldtimer's" none too pretty laborers may have affectedGibbons. The other chance was as a crime reporter for the

Even so, was Moorhead the "toughest town" Gibbons hadvisited? Again, not likely. Gibbons, ever vigilant for achance for self-promotion, probably pulled a memoryfrom his past and sprang Moorhead on 0 'Hara fullyknowing that The Commentator columnist would quotehim. And it worked.

And it may still be working. Of the recent local historianswho have repeated the story, Gertrude Knutson, in herfine 1982 history of Trinity Lutheran Church, suggests it

1_1-_-_-_-_-N~e_w-_-c~C~H~_s-_-Mlllliiiiiiiilelllliiiiiiiilmlllliiiiiiiilblllliiiiiiiile_r-_S-h~iP~S__ &_-_R___..-e_D___..e-W_-a_-l_SIiiiiiillIiiiiiillIiiiiiillIiiiiiiiiiiiIIICCHS extends a special thank you tothe following individuals who renewedtheir memberships or became newmembers in May and June:

NEW MEMBERSHarold Anderson, MoorheadKevin & Kristy Campbell, MoorheadFargo-Moorhead Heritage SocietyJessica Henry, Hastings, NECity of HitterdalSusan Nordin Family, MoorheadJanice J. Peltz, FargoCharles Peterson, Hillsborough, CAPaul Pratt, Gardner, NDRonnie & Donna Tang, FeltonSandra Thimgan, Battle Lake

RENEWALSMarjorie Aakre, MoorheadNorman B. Akesson, Davis, CAAllen County Public Library, Fort

Wayne, INMarlene Ames, FargoOlive Andvik, MoorheadMary E. Bolstad, MoorheadIrene Burkhardt, FargoChamber of Commerce of Fargo-MhdGene & Betty Christensen, GlyndonEdward & Elizabeth Clark, MoorheadGrace E. Clark, MoorheadPatrick A. Colliton, Fargolone Diiro, MoorheadCarroll & Joan Engelhardt, Moorhead

Katherine Erickson, MoorheadRodney Erickson, MoorheadClara P. Evenson, FargoJim Fay, MoorheadMaurice Floberg, MoorheadDorothy Garven, Los Angeles, CAMae Gee, MoorheadRobert L. Gerke, MoorheadDennis & Patsy Gilbertson, AudubonMarilyn Gorman, MoorheadRaymond & Joan Grefsrud, HawleyBurton & Catherine Grover,

Bellingham, WAPearl I. Grover, MoorheadPatty Gulsvig, MoorheadBette Haring, Lake ParkPaul Harris & LuAnn Hagel, MhdHolly Heitkamp, FargoRalph & Ethel Hest, MoorheadDr. John R. Holten, MoorheadDouglas P. Johnson, Bemidji, MNVera Knapp, MoorheadDonna Knauber, SabinAlbert Knutson, MoorheadKent & Donna Knutson, MoorheadLee Kolle, BorupRichard & Sharon Krabbenhoft, West

FargoMargret Kragnes, MoorheadJames H. Landblom, FargoGrace Landin, MoorheadPatricia Lynde-Hemmah, GlyndonMac's, Inc., MoorheadDorothy Martell, Fargo

Donna McMaster, MoorheadEthel R. Medalen, MankatoMoorhead Area Retired Educators

AssociationMoorhead Drug CompanyMilo M. Moyano, MoorheadRobert & JoAnn Nyquist, MoorheadEsther Olson, MoorheadGary H. & Rebecca Olson, MoorheadDana & Ginni Powers, Rochert, MNSara Pudas, Champlin, MNRoberta Radford, MoorheadRigels, Inc., MoorheadGary & Nancy Ronsberg, HawleyVilera Rood, MoorheadPaul H. Rustad, FargoLois Selberg, MoorheadPhil & Adeline Seljevold, MoorheadArdis & Milton Severson, Detroit

LakesTeri Smith, Valley City, NDOlin & Ruth Storvick, MoorheadAndrew & Patricia Svenkeson, Forest

Lake,MNIrene B. Swenson, MoorheadArnold Tranby, MoorheadGalen & Sharon Vaa, MoorheadEvert Wiisanen, MoorheadJim & Clara B. Wilkins, FargoSusan Woodstrom & Karen Helfand,

Minneapolis, MNMarilyn Wussow, MoorheadDick & Kathy Zaylskie, Fargo

was aviator Wiley Post who came up with the line. It's anunderstandable mix-up. Both 1930s adventuring celebri-ties wore a trademark eye patch. (Indeed, in a 1962episode of the TV show The Untouchables, crime-fighterElliot Ness, played by Robert Stack, asks Floyd Gibbons,played by Scott Brady, how he managed to get a room ina swanky Chicago hotel. Gibbons replies that he let themanager believe he was Wiley Post!)

Of the local histories which touch on the subject, perhapsDr. Clarence "Soc" Glasrud's "Saloons and Politics"chapter in A Century Together: A History of Fargo NDand Moorhead MN, 1875-1975, probably sums up the"Wickedest City" question the best. Soc writes that evenbefore "the drying up of Fargo concentrated the liquorbusiness in Moorhead, the town had a 'tough' reputation,though perhaps no more than any semi-frontier end-of-the-road railroad town. There are legends of fathers refus-ing to give their daughters' hands in marriage when theprospective son-in-law revealed his intention of movingto Moorhead. But the story is quite possibly apocryphal,and the title 'Wickedest City' in the state or nation is aboast that others have made. Nevertheless, there arestories of the early-day wickedness - related to alcohol-that a candid history of Moorhead must not overlook."

CCHS now RSVPVolunteer StationDue to popular demand, CCHS has registered to be astation for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program(RSVP). RSVP is part of Senior Corps, a network ofnational service programs that provides older Ameri-

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cans the opportunity to apply their life~}~

There is only one Kennedy family listed in the 1861Canadian census for Enniskillen, Lambton County,Ontario. The head of that family was Eleanor Kennedy -a widow with five children. One daughter, also namedEleanor, would have been lOon or before August 14 of1861. This Nell would have been 14 or 15 by July of

Five Generations, continued from page 7

of Bowman ville, who was M P. P.,for two or threeterms, representing West Durham.

Sponsor, Patron, Sustaining and Supporting MembershipsPlease help us thank these membersfor supporting the Clay CountyHistorical Society by patronizingtheir businesses:

SPONSOR ($500+)We need you!

PATRON ($200-$499)Mac's, Inc.Thibedeau & Co. & Richtman's

Printing

SUSTAINING ($100-$199)Chamber of Commerce of Fargo

MoorheadDilworth/GlyndonlFelton ISDFirst National Bank of HawleyHawley Public SchoolsCity of HawleyKorsmo Funeral ServiceMoorhead Antique MallMoorhead Area Public SchoolsMoorhead Area Retired EducatorsMoorhead Drug CompanyMoorhead KiwanisRigels, Inc.Sellin Brothers, Inc.State Bank of HawleyState Bank of MoorheadVikingland Kiwanis

SUPPORTING ($50-$99)Ace HardwareCity of BarnesvilleBentley & Bentley, DDSCass-Clay Creamery, Inc.EventideFargo-Moorhead Heritage SocietyMcLarnan, Hannaher & Skatvold,

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Dr. Yvonne CondellJim & Portia DanielsonDorothy DoddsPaul & Joyce EidboCarroll & Joan EngelhardtRodney EricksonGreg & Mary Alice Gillispie

______________ Patty Gulsvig

Sincere thanks go to these individuals John & Beverly Hestin the Patron, Sustaining, and Support- Lois Ivers Altenburging membership levels! Dr. John Jenkins

Audrey JonesPaul & Florence KorsmoRichard & Sharon KrabbenhoftJames H. LandblomDon & Alvina LeinEthel R. MedalellDan & Faith MeurrensLarry & Jan NelsonRobert & JoAnn NyquistE. Robert & Donna OlsonPaul PrattLarry & Elsie QuamMel & Margaret RistvedtHelen RudieDavis & Hazel ScottLois SelbergTerry Shoptaugh & Deborah JanzenNels & Myrtle SnustadCarol SpichkeJim & Chris StenersonRoger StenersonOlin & Ruth StorvickDon & Rose-Mary StromKenneth & Mary TangenBruce N. ThorsonPhyllis ThysellRon & Deanna DIvenMark & Donna VoxlandArthur & Marie WennerDick & Kathy Zaylskie

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Individual Patron ($200-$499)Darren & Jane Leno, MoorheadRichard T. McMurray, Annandale, VAKatherine Mentjes, LeCenter, MN

Individual Sustaining ($100-$199)Robert & Selma AndersonRoland & Carolyn BardenKevin & Kristy CampbellJohn CaronJohn & Audrey EltonBurton & Catherine GroverAndre & Emily HouglumEsther OlsonLynne OlsonCharlotte OnstineL. Maynard & Elaine OssLloyd & Bev PaulsonElsie PitsenbargerBill & Evelette SnyderTom & Sherry Watt

Individual Supporting ($50-$99)Marjorie AakreRod & Audrey AngstmanCarl & June BaileyJim Bergquist & Jane EastesAl & Meredith BloomquistPeter C. BrownRichard & June Chenoweth

Clay County Historical Society July/August 2004 Newsletter

1865 and would have been capableof making this dress (had shebecome a dressmaker's apprentice).The dress has a simple style withfew sections to cut and sew. Thereis some piecing at the waist in theback. When you read the descrip-tion of the dress, you will see howthis piecing was hidden.

Further research using the 1881Canadian census shows no Kenne-dys in residence in Enniskillen. Ofcourse, this Nell Kennedy may nothave been the one named in theGimblett note. In addition, Kennedyfamily members may have moved,died, or and the widow and daughters married.

Mary Rogers' silk dress is typical of the mid-1860s. Thefabric is a blue, windowpane check consisting of large"squares" of medium blue silk crossed by thin, black andmedium brown lines. The bodice has piping in eachseam. The top-line of the garment slopes down from neckdown to the arms. Sleeves are tight at the armseye andopen very wide at the lower arm. White undersleeves areusually worn inside these open sleeves. Typical of thisperiod, shoulder seams are not at the top of the shoulder,but sit a few inches down on the back of the bodice. Also,the sleeves are set-in lower on the arm than our modemshoulder seams are.

A separate collar conceals a plain, round neck-line. The skirt has yards of fabric flowing outfrom all sides. For extra fullness, back of theskirt is gathered at the waist by a series of tinypleats called cartridge pleats. The pleatedfabric was pieced in and not part of the body ofthe skirt. This piecing was hidden by a peplum- a short skirt, attached to the waist of a dress.However, this peplum is actually part of thebelt, not the dress. The skirt has one pocket atthe right side seam. The collar, sleeves andpeplum are all trimmed with blue silk fringe.The dress is lined with a light brown cottonfabric. The family kept the extra fabric andfringe.

Left: A view of the back of the 1865 dress.

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Weddings in Clay County 30 dresses from 1865-1977,photographs and Hands-on Center

Clay County Museum Hours: 10-5 Monday-Saturday, 10-9 Tuesday, 12-5 SundayHjemkoqlst Center, 2021$t Avenue North, Moorhead, MN • FREE ADMISSION

CLAY COUNTYHISTORICAL SOCIETY

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DSustaining $100

oPatron $200DSponsor $500

+ Support preservation of your heritage+ Bi-monthly newsletter+ Discount on Acid-Free Preservation supplies+ Discount on photo reproductions from archives+ $1 off admission to Hjemkomst Center Exhibits+ Access to CCHS history tours+ Voting Privileges

In addition to the great benefits listed above, Supporting, Sustaining,Patron and Sponsor members a certificate ready to frame and display,and a listing in all CCHS bi-monthly newsletters.

To become a CCHS Member please complete and return this form or acopy of this form with check for dues payment to:

CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYPO Box 501, Moorhead, MN 56561-0501

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http://www.info.co.c1ay.mn.us/history