Kenrose Medlang:

Reply from Bonnie Smith Kohler: Mountain Iron, MN.

Thank you to you and Vickie Metcalf for the reminder for Kenrose. I am sure she was thrilled with all the cards she received from well wishers. Wow to be 90 years old hey?
Bonnie

Bonnie, It was our pleasure to be able to do this for Kenrose. She was certainly there for us in our day. It’s our turn to be there for her. Gary

Message/Pictures from Sharron Gottbreht Shen (59): Everett, WA.

When reviewing some older entries of the blog, I noted the aerial photo of the GN Railroad Yard posted by Dick Johnson. I rushed a query to Gary asking if an expanded view of that area might show the Round House. Dad bought that structure in 1952! Total surprise to me. George tells me that Dale harvested a bumper crop of Flax, probably in 1952. Floyd Richard said indeed 20 bushels to the acre was a great crop at that time. I checked some grain history and found that Flax sold for $6.21/b in 1947. Anyhow, the Flax sale bought the Round House. Dale proceeded to have it deconstructed by foreman Paul and his brother, Big Mose Morin. George thought there were at least three Belgards who completed the team. It took over 6 weeks to draw all the nails [six 2×6 drums] and store the huge beams and lengths of lumber. George said that the claw hammer designed for nail removal had a special lever that Mose frequently broke – after several solder repairs, Dad was begging Mose to take it easy. The men made $1.00 an hour! So bad. As an RN, my first job 1961 paid $2.39/hr – some progress.

Please note George Gottbreht’s Smithy; this became Dad’s first gas and motel stop 1951/52. I have a postcard of the original shop sent by Evelyn Gaudette Gottbreht to her aunt Maude Tennancour Paulson, the post date was August 1915. The sign above the door reads General Blacksmithing. Dad’s conversion of the shop to a thriving small business was a start, and his survival of the tipped tractor accident lead to the Flax harvest and eventually to much of the lumber for our new home and the expanded Dale’s finished in 1954/55. Uncle Roland said the traction was bad for the steep hill and Dale raised the drill bar to reduce drag and over it went. Dad was protected by two steel rods and managed to crawl out from under – and Uncle then said “…but we got her finished.” And then he added, “Dale died too young, he was just getting started.”

Gary will attach some remarks by Dick Johnson and I thank them and so many for the feast of new insights found at Gary’s table. Sharron

Railroad Round House

From Dick Johnson (68): Dunseith, ND

Gary,

The old roundhouse was where the train locomotives were serviced and
then turned around to head back south. It was located south of the
elevators and as Sharron says, her dad bought it in ’52-’53. He tore it
down and used the lumber to build their new house right behind Dale’s. I
helped Rick Gottbreht move the house about a hundred feet west. The
timbers under that house are huge! It was well built to say the least.
It was one of the first ‘flat roof’ designs in the area. The high school
(the ’56 addition) was also flat roof design. Rick made an upstairs and
completely remodeled the inside to a beautiful home. I bet Sharron would
know that the old roundhouse lumber was used to frame their house.
Thanks for including me in this email!

Dick

FRIENDS VS NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS

From Phyllis McKay (65): Auburn, WA

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Always bring the food.

FRIENDS: Will say ‘hello’.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, playing dominoes or cards and just being together.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is doing.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds’ back-ends that left you.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, ‘I’m home!’.

FRIENDS: will visit you in the hospital when you’re sick

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: will cut your grass and clean your house then come spend the night with you in the hospital and cook for you when you come home

FRIENDS: have you on speed dial

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: have your number memorized.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Are for life.

FRIENDS: Might ignore this.

NORTH DAKOTA FRIENDS: Will forward this to all their North Dakota Friends and those who once lived in North Dakota.