Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-26
OLD SONGS SUNG
AGAIN BY THE
PIONEER SETTLERS

kAS WeuN a. old. 0CQUA1nt8nCoS pens
renewed and old memories revived q
Of the early days In the Red River
Valley YER reclaimed at the meeting
Of the Old settlers, Of the Valley On
the fair grounds Tuesday. Prof.
Fran5 Rickaby Of the state university,
who is making a collection Of these
old songs, states that q number were
given him during Tuesdays gather
ing.
"old selkirk." a song celebrating
the old boat which sailed the Red
the list. Another was "The Red
River Valley" submitted by Mrs.
George Rutherford. who says that she
first heard 1t in 1873. Miss /. B.
Cavalier of Pembina, n. D.. whose
mother came to this country in the
early days. presented material for a
n Others from whom material
for songs or old songs intact were OBJ
tanned Tere Mrs: r. g. Gemmill Of
Grand Forks. Barney Hakgerty Of
Grand Forks, Mr.. McIllraith of East
Grand Forks and Peter stoughton of
Grand Forks.
Mr.. Rickaby states that the early
settlers recall the old songs more
often when approached individually,
when they discussed old times with
some one individual rather than
when with, a crowd. He states also
that ~recollections Of the early days
are stronger in their minds apparent
time.
The headquarters tent at the rear
OF the Liberia Arts building will be
maintained during the remainder Of
the week.
The following speech by T. A. Sui
Ivan Of East Grand Forks was trans
mitted by radio from. the VIM. Zed-
lick station in that city Tuesday aft
erHoon to the meeting Of the Old Set
tiers association at the fair grounds:
Radio Speech.
Early Settlers
1t gives me. great pleasure to extend
TO you a message from Minnesota on
behalf of our people and desire to ex-
tend to you the happiest c~ongratula-
tions. Il desire to congratulate the
committee in charge Of the organiza-
ton OF the early pioneers. and the
Fair association for the. recognition
mi hope this organization shall be
kept together and the meeting on this
occasion be made an annual affair. I
cannot express to you the warm feel
ing which cherish for the early pto-
neers. Coming TO the Red River val
ley a mere boy in the spring Of 70
saw this community grow from a wild
uncultfvated prairie to one of the
most prosperous agriculture districts
IN the world in less than a genera
ton. The very foundation for this was
made possible by the good men and
Women who settled here almost q
generation ago who blazed the trail
md vhn fnSV0hf fA4 ~-oz.--LlAA A.
h~ardships, many of whom are not
with us today, many Of them are
sleeping by the hill side. AS we ~
by let US bow heads in reverence
and place a flower as a fond memory
of them.
The Red River valley is the Mile
valley of the western hemisphere. Ma
ture was lavish when it was created,
1t is favored over all other sections
OF the western world. It has the mos
fertile soil in the temperate zone. A
generation ago it became known far
and wide as the Bread Basket Of the
World" and this valley still maintain.
and defends that title against all 9th.
er sections of the North American
continent. Today we are not only the
Bread Basket of the World but alsc
n Potato Basket" the alfalfa
Basket" the DAIRY Basket" as the
splendid exhibits at our fair today will
demonstrate. I am glad to live in q
comm unity where the men and WON.
en- are broad minded. liberal and pro.
gressive. where men and women ~
different -nationaIities and different
religions settled some 40 years ago
a God lowing people under one fas
and enjoying the peace and blessings
OF Almighty God are the personi1ca.
ton OF h early pioneers of today.