The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-06-24
OLD SETTLERS PICNIC ONE :.
OF THE BEST EVER HELD
It was worth waiting for!

Tuesday, June %, was Old Settlers
day and gala day it proved to be
Although heavy rains during Sunday
and Monday made road conditions
very heavy it proved that the old
timers yet had the spirit of early
days and to the picnic they came
Some came on foot, some by team 9TH
ers by auto, while several came sew
eral hundred miles by train in order
to meet their friends of early days.
The Green Township band appeared
on the grounds about II 80 and for an
hour delighted the picnickers with
their music. That organization is be.
coming quite popular with the people
of the county, as they are ready at all
times to respond to a call, and many
were the compliments paid them
Tuesday. Prof. Kenneth Mcfarland,
the leader of the organization, may
justly be proud Of the Green Township
> band.
A few minutes after II o'clock it was
announced that coffee was ready and
for an hour there was steady stream
of picknickers to the stand with
pitcher or bucket in hand to get it
filled with that delicious Minneopa
coffee. The coffee was furnished free
by the Valley City Grocery Co. 1t
was made and served by Miss Ida
Ratzlaff, a graduate of the domestic
science department Of the Valley City
Normal school. It was some coffee
and seemed to hit just the right spot.
Manager Ward made a hit with the
old settlers with his generosity and
high-grade coffee and the coffee lovers
of Barnes county will long remember
the names of Minneopa coffee and
Miss Ratzlaff.
After the picknickers had enjoyed
their dinner the band gave short con-
cert at the Chautauqua auditorium.
The band concert was followed by an
address of welcome by Mayor Platou.
The Normal Mems Glee club, under
the leadership of Dean H. e. Goodsell,
delighted the large audience with
their selections. President Sim Ma
son next introduced Walter F. Cush-
ing, secretary of the North Dakota
railroad commission. Mr.. Cushing
was a resident of Valley City during
the early sos and still has soft spot
in his heart for Barnes county. He
related some of the experiences of old
and expressed his delight in meeting
SO many of the old timers. Mrs. Wylie
Nelson was next called on. For IS
years Mrs. Nelson has been favor
tie with the Barnes county pioneers
and her smile and good cheer always
brings gladness to the hearts of the
old settlers. J. F. Jaberg, an early
settler of Sanborn, and yet resident
Of Potter township, made a few re-
marks and expressed his delight at be-
ing with the old settlers at their an
nual picnic.
The speech of the day was made by
George P. Jones. His talk was de-
Iightful; he possesses pleasing per-
sonality, good voice, a master of Ian
guage, broad in his thought, and when
he finished every nearer was proud to
be an American citizen and resident
of the great state of North Dakota.
After the singing of America the
gathering wendell their way to the
west gate of the grounds to witness
the sports. The sports concluded the
day and we'll pleased lot of old tim
ers turned their faces homeward, all
with a determination to come back for
the midsummer picnic of 1916.
Following is summary of the field
sports, giving name of entries and
winners:
so Yard Dash-Old settlers over SO
years of age: Entries, Thos. Van
Steenberg, w. Van Steenberg, c. w
Schroeder, D. w. Clark. Winners
First, D. w. Clark; second, Thos. Van
Steenberg. Time: IL seconds.
so Yard Dash-Boys between IA and
16 years of age: Entries-Chas. Stone
Arthur Busdicker, Chas. Hazelgrove
Bernard Nokken. Winners-First
Bernard Nokken; second, Arthur Bus
dicker. Time: seconds. ....#,.
so Yard Dash-Boys under II year!
of age: Entries-Carl Hansen, Car
Lee, Andy Maresh, Melvin Hardwood
Russell Bigelow, Cliff Golfer. Winners
First, Carl Hansen; second, Melvin
Hazelwood. Time: 9 IL seconds.
so Yard Dash-Girls between IA ant
is years of age: Entries -Hild'
Turk, Charlotte Gray, Florence Obere
Florence Engen. Winners = First
Hilda Turk; second, Charlotte Gray
Time. IN seconds.