Bit of
History:
Claire City
New Effington 1913-1988
(excerpts taken from book)
Rumors in 1911 were of a
railroad coming to the area.
A man names Mr. Julius
Rosholt came here to
organize and form a
cooperative of farmers and
businessmen. Each
farmer living within a
certain area, north and
south of the proposed
railroad was asked to pay
$200 per quarter to start
this venture. The
farmers were very willing to
do this, as hauling grain 20
miles was a big task.
The railroad became a
reality by the fall of 1913,
with tracks being built from
Fairmont, ND to Veblen.
Within a couple of years,
the farmers were bought out
by the Soo Line Railroad
receiving 50 cents on a
dollar for their shares.
Before the railroad was
finished, a townsite was
picked and "lots" were sold.
Corner lots on Main Street
were selling close to $500.
The original townsite land
was owned by Edward and
Laura Odden and Andrew and
Lydia Nordlund, who then
sold it to Rosholt
Securities (Julius Rosholt).
On the day of selling of
"lots", a band from
Minneapolis provided the
entertainment. P.A.
Dahl's dray wagon was used
as a stage.
When the railroad came, the
townspeople of Effington,
located five miles southwest
of Hart Township, realized
the necessity of moving
closer to the railroad.
Crews came from Aberdeen
with horses and steam
engines to help with moving.
With a new town come the
problem of naming it.
This was quite simple.
They decided to put NEW in
from of Effington, which was
named for Effie Staffer
Pratt, one of the few women
who secured a homestead.
1914 Population: 100
- - Town
Board Minutes - -
The first town minutes to be
recorded were in May of
1914, and some of the
interesting items were:
Lewis Monson was chosen
president, T.C. Thompson and
S. Arneson were members.
A.L. Casey was assessor; H.O.
Less, justice of peace; A.G.
Johnson, secretary; and P.A.
Dahl, constable and street
commissioner, for which he
got paid five dollars for
constable fee and 30 cents
an hour for street cleaning.
They met every two weeks in
the beginning. The
corporate seal cost $2.43,
which was purchased in
September, 1914. Otto
Zeller was paid $390 to
build the town fire hall and
the lot cost $430.
In 1915, Geo. Harris, John
L. Moen (half a year) and G.
A. Rud were members. Elais
Monson was justice of the
peace; Haugan Larson,
constable; and John Paulson,
street commissioner.
That year, they purchased the
following fire equipment:
cart, bell - $10 and 500 ft.
of hose - $300.
Everyone on Main Street that
year was asked to put in
sidewalks.
Three jail cells were
brought from Aberdeen for
$75 in 1916. August
Jensen was the new chairman
and 500ft. more of hose was
purchased. Four street
lamps had been purchased,
but the town would only
provide the gas for them.
The board chose to have
Patriotic Day on May 17,
1918, at the Woodman Hall.
Major changes that have
happened through the years.
Electricity was provided at
first by a plant which was
located on the west end of
Main Street. In 1930,
Otter Tail took over
servicing the town and some
rural areas with
electricity, so the plant
was closed. The sewer system
was installed in 1953, which
was a great improvement.
The former Peoples State
Bank building was purchased
in 1937, by the town and
converted into a Municipal
Liquor Store. A larger
facility was needed and a
metal building with a wood
front was added to the west.
A more efficient water
system was needed, a bond
issue was passed in 1975 and
lines were laid in 1976.
A small town located 20
northeast of Sisseton, SD
and 27 miles southwest of
Fairmont, ND
New Effington celebrated its
Diamond Jubilee: July 2-3,
1988