Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-04
R. B, GRIFFITH
GIVES BANQUET
Celebrates Founding Of On
tario Store by Enter
tanning Pioneers.

"A banquet, unique in the history OF
the industrial life of the state, was
given by the R.. b. Griffith company
Thursday night. It was given in cele-
bration OF the fortieth anniversary OF
the founding of the Ontario store.
And the guests were resident OF
Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and
the surrounding country who traded
with Mr.. Griffith when he opened his
store, in a small building on DeMers
avenue, forty a ago Wednesday.
It was one of the most interesting
and enjoyable gatherings held in the
city in many moons.
200 Pioneers There.
There were nearly 200 of the pion-
,ers of this section at the banquet.
Two OF them have lived here for fifty
years They are George AkerS who
mas been hero 81 years, and D. Nj.
Holmes, who has been here SO years.
All of thcnl--that Is, all the guests OF
honor-have been here 40 years or
more, and they are the ones who
helped give Mr.. Griffith his first start.
They were at the banquet, not SO
much to accept of Mr.. Griffith's hos
pitality. but to give testimony of the
work Mr.. Griffith has lone for the
community.
Early Days.
Mr.. Griffith presided at the dinner.
In his opening remarks, he told OF
the beginnings Of the Ontario store.
He came to this section forty years
ago, expecting to start a store at
Larimore, which FAC been described
to him "as the Chicago of the north
west An uncle of Leroy Carter,
who has been with the Ontario store
since a month after 1t opened, was
-. g. At~ Nd
to this section.
En- route to Larimore from Ontario,
Mr.. Griffith stopped at st. Paul and
purchased his first stock of supplies.
It was shipped to Larimore, but
when Mr.. Griffith reached this sec
ton, he discovered that Ojata was
the busting city of the prairies. The
railroad came no farther, and the
supplies had to be transported the
y rest Of the way by OK carts.
Mr.. Griffith came to Grand Forks
and went on to I-arimore, only to
find that there was no town there.
He returned to this city, somewhat
discouraged and not knowing what to
do. He noticed, however. that there
was a Chicago store" and a Missouri
store" here, and he wondered why it
wouldn't be n good thing to start an
Ontario store in this city. There were
many people coming from Ontario
each year, he knew, and he figured
that It would be rather a homelikc
store for them.
So the Ontario store was started.
It has been here ever since, and it
has grown steadily each years in the
volume Of business and influence.
chiefly because of the personality and
ability and character of its founder
and because of the faith and enthusi
asm Of those who worked with him.
On the opening day, Mr.. Griffith
took in Just $3.50, and at the ban
luet last night were two or three who
contributed part of that days sales.
DIR. Wheeler Speaks.
1t was ar evening of "reminiscences
In which a number OF the pioneers
took part. DR.. H. M. Wheeler wa:
the first one to speak, and he put the
guests in good humor by telling a few
stories and ~recounting q few of his
early experiences as a physician. He
paid a tribute to Mr.. Griffith, as al
OF the speakers did. He said Mr.
Griffith had been a good business mar
and a good citizen and at times he
'.even suspected him of leaning
toward Christianity"
George Aker, the first of the
Z pioneers at last nights banquet, told
Of his trip to Grand Forks. He spoke
Of sleeping along side his sled or
7 Christmas eve in 1870 and Of the
long. hard journey to Grand Forks
the next morning during a bitter
4 storm.
Other Speakers.
d. M. Holmes also spoke of the
early days. He told of the first day
J. he saw Mr.. Grifith-the day when
he walked into his (Mr. Holme's)