The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-17

Devils Lake. N. D., Dec. 17.-Thurs-
day, Dec. 16, 1909, the day that Devils
Se citizens accomplished the great
achievement which conspicuously
Arks Its approach to metropolitan
proportions will be printed on its
pages of history in letters of gold and
the entire state will chronicle 1t as
one of the most important accom-
pllshments Of the present generation.
Ihe erection, furnishing and opening
for business of the Devils Lake Grand
opera house, all within space of
less thar six months and represent
ing, without exaggeration, an invest
ment of S50,000 is little short of won
derful and the magnificent gathering
OF prominent and distinguished citi-
zens from every section of the state
which .braved the fierce blasts of a
wild North Dakota blizzard to attend
the formal opening expressed in a
manner that no words can describe
the pride that the state feels in the
progressiveness and enterprise of the
citizens of Devils Lake.
The formal opening and dedication
was an event Of magnificent elegance
from the arrival of excursion trains
till the last strains of the final num-
ber Of the grand ball and It places
Devils Lakes hospitality and ability
to entertain in class by itself, un-
surpassed by any city of its size in
the northwest.
Contractor valdimar Gram, the man
to. whom all honor Is due and on
whom Devils Lake has placed a crown
of glory for. his undaunting courage
and explicit faith in the city, began
the last day of preparation for this
notable function with scores Of SEEM
ingly unsurmountable difficulties be-
fore him. However he again proved
himself master and by rushing in
hundreds of extra hands he had every
thing in complete readiness at the
opening hour and when the curtain
went UP at o'clock, there was. as
sembled in that exquisite play house
one of the grandest audiences that
ever brilliant electrical Illumination
shown upon. 'S - "a. Is,
The beautifully rich gowns OF the
ladies, the gallant gentlemen in full
evening dress, the fragrant cut flow
ers which were found in all the boxes
as gifts to the guests, and the artis-
tic theater furnishings all combined
to make it sight of beauty, un-
equalled in the social history of the
state.
Devils Lake society was generously
scattered all through the house but
some of the prominent families enter
tained box parties, and the twelve
boxes were filled with handsome gath
erings. Mr.. and Mrs. ]. H. Bloom
were among these entertainers and
had as their guests Mr.. and Mrs. Ben
Whitehead of Williston; Dan v. Bren-
nan occupied another box with the
Misses Mary and Nell Norton. Edward
Watts and E. o. Burnheim of Minne-
apolis as members of the party;
President Frank L. McVey who was
the distinguished guest of Mr.. and
Mrs. Silver Serumgard enjoyed the
company of his host and hostess and
their two daughters, and Mr.. and Mrs.
NJ. H. Brennan; Mr.. and Mrs. F. p.
Mann and children, Fred and Adm,
Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Smith. NJ. D. Kav-
anaugh Of Crary and Earl Mann, were
happy box party while an equally
jolly one was that of Col. and Mrs.
]. M. Kelly and their guest, Mrs. p.
C. Donovan Of Neche, Frank and John
Prosser, and Miss Kathleen, John and
James Kelly; the most interesting box
party was that entertained by Mr. and
Mrs. A. B. Kerlin. Their guests were
q company of the most cunning and
Handsomely gowned little girls in
cluding Misses Evangeline Maher,
Katherine Cowan, Ada Burke, Dorothy
Serumgard, Elsie Stenson, Lois Jones
and Madeline Gets of Grand Forks.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. M. Fisher entertained
their children. Blanding and Sammy,
DR.. Pierce and Miss Elsie Turner and
in the box with Mr.. and Mrs. C. D..
Mills and Mrs. s. l.. Serene were Mrs.
Alice Nelson Page and Miss Irene E.
Finkle of Grand Forks. The j. w.
Maher box party was a handsome
gathering of young people as guests
of Mrs. John w. Maher including her
daughters, Misses Josephine and
Kathleen Maher, DIR. and Mrs. Clin-
ton Smith, Miss Etheline Ibberson Of
Minneapolis, Howard Maher and
Clarence A. Bonzer of Lidgerwood.
Mr.. and Mrs. Herman Huesgen had
family box party, Miss Mayme and
Master. Herman, being the guests. J.
Bert Moran entertained large party,
the guests being DIR. F. e. Murphy of
Grand Forks, Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene
Fenlen, DR.. Gilmet, G. W.. Moran.
Misses Nellie. Moran, Susan Cubbison
and Sylvia Manseau. There were also
delightful parties for the loges and
these included j. A. Shannon and
Hans Westergaard and guest; Mr.. and
Mrs. w. H. Reid and Mr.. and Mrs.
B.sJ. Ness and DR.. and Mrs. c. ]. Nc
Gurren.
~ Grand Forks Party.
No city In the state was better rep
resented than Grand Forks and for
this; reason the management chose the
choicest section in the parquet for
their pleasure. The party which rep
resented the Grand Forks Commercial
club and the Great Northern arrived
from Grand. Forks in Superintendent
Kelsey's special car and made one Of
the most brilliant parties at the the
ater and ball. Among them were
v