Dakota Datebook

On this day in 1990, the Fargo Forum ran a profile on the pastor of Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fargo, not for his ministry, but for his work two decades earlier as a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter.

Originating in Chicago in 1914, the movement known as “Baby Week” sought to raise awareness of the high infant mortality rate in the U.S. and to educate young mothers and girls about early childcare. Researchers from the Children’s Bureau estimated the infant mortality rate in the U.S. at nearly one in ten in the 1910s. National attention fastened on the issue, and Baby Week was born.

On this date in 1952, the public was invited to a tree planting ceremony on the state capitol grounds at Bismarck. The Washington, DC Evening Star reported that North Dakotans were dedicating a tree by the Senate entrance to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Reclamation Law sponsored by Senator Henry Hansbrough. Members of the North Dakota congressional delegation and their staff participated in the ceremony.

On this date in 1908, newspapers published a proclamation by North Dakota Governor John Burk, establishing an annual Arbor Day celebration.

A sundog is an optical phenomenon well known in North Dakota. It often appears as a rainbow-like spot on each side of the sun. When especially bright, sundogs can look like extra suns flanking the real one, sometimes connected by a glowing halo. In rare cases, a third bright spot appears above the sun. Sundogs form in extremely cold weather, when sunlight bends as it passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere, creating bright spots and halos.

Local organizations and clubs often invite distinguished guests to share information and provide programming. Bismarck’s Rotary Club hosted such a guest at its April 22, 1936, noon lunch, when North Dakota’s Department Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Philo George Harrington, spoke on the Spanish-American War.

In February of 1898, Mrs. Ina Cooks of Detroit, Michigan, came to Wahpeton. Her purpose was to establish the 90-day residency required for divorce in North Dakota. She rented rooms and lived quietly until the court proceedings in June.

The North Dakota economy faced serious challenges during the 1920s. The state relied heavily on agriculture, which had boomed during World War I. But when the war ended, demand dropped suddenly and dramatically. Many farmers had invested in new equipment during the boom years, only to see their income fall as European agriculture recovered. As markets for North Dakota’s crops shrank, farm foreclosures increased. Farmers who had borrowed against their land to expand now found those debts coming due.

Henry Stahl sank a well near his home in Williston. It took him several weeks to dig down twenty-four feet and install a pump. He thought nothing of it, his only goal was to have a convenient source of water. But it turned into something more.

In 1947, Bernard Baruch was a multimillionaire financier who advised presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Harry S. Truman. On this date in 1947, he gave a speech to the South Carolina House of Representatives. During that speech, Baruch introduced a new term into the American consciousness when he said, “Let us not be deceived. We are today in the midst of a Cold War.”

The day known as Tax Day is the deadline for American taxpayers to file an income tax return for the previous year. It falls on April 15 most years. If the fifteenth lands on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. But it was not always that way.

Robert “Bob” Bain was born in Minnesota and worked as an insurance agent for 38 years. Beyond his career, he played a major role in developing Bismarck: he promoted hockey, served on the City Park Board and City Commission, and volunteered with the United Way.

On this date in 1920, police in Fargo arrested Ed Letofsky for selling illegal liquor. Claiming he sold only to “accommodating friends,” Letofsky was sentenced to ten months in prison for marketing his homemade raisin whisky. His operation was based in his own house, and the still in his basement was so large that officers had to call back to the station for help removing it. After his arrest, Letofsky quickly confessed and even explained to the court how he produced and sold the liquor.

After a March 1966 blizzard that left a whopping 38 inches of snow in northeast North Dakota, the spring thaw that followed created a whole new set of challenges for North Dakotans: protecting their buildings and homes from rising river levels and flooding.

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln’s attention was understandably focused on the conflict. The government’s focus was diverted from issues affecting the American West. Tensions between Plains tribes and settlers were allowed to escalate, as there were no resources to spare. The U.S.-Dakota War was sparked by competition for land and resources, resulting in loss of life on both sides and the dislocation of the Dakota.

Prairie fires were common across North Dakota. They were most dangerous during the hot, dry summer and fall seasons. Dry prairie grass provided an ideal source of fuel for these widespread fires. Prairie fires occurred regularly and caused extensive damage to buildings and fields of crops. They were a natural but dangerous, characteristic of the ecosystem before the introduction of manmade features like roads and buildings.

Kate Richards O’Hare was an American activist and longtime member of the Socialist Party of America. She championed reforms in favor of the working class and gave speeches across the country. Her speaking schedule became more intense when the United States entered World War I. She was staunchly against the war and insisted it only benefited wealthy businessmen. She continued to promote reforms to lift up the working class. But it was a speech she gave in Bowman, North Dakota, on July 17, 1917, that got her into trouble.

The first successful airplane flight in North Dakota took place at the Fargo fairgrounds in 1911. North Dakotans were instantly enchanted with the marvelous aviators in their flying machines and embraced aviation with enthusiasm. There was no looking back. North Dakota aviators like Carl Ben Eielson, Florence Kilingensmith, and Oscar Westover have gone down in aviation history.

On a quiet April evening, a truck parked on a Fargo street drew the attention of bystanders, who called the police to investigate. On this date in 1930, four men woke up in the Fargo jail, charged with illegally transporting liquor. But the bigger scandal was that Fargo police chief E.J. Madison was also implicated.

Prior to the advent of steam, farms across the Great Plains were powered by flesh-and-blood horsepower. Horses and mules did the work. This form of horsepower came with many disadvantages. The average farm was 100 acres. A farmer walked countless miles to plow his fields behind a walking plow, and walked even more to plant and cultivate the crops. The animals had to be fed and cared for year-round, even when they weren’t working, adding additional expense.