| Summary: | Sports ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SPORTS IN PARK RIVER by Clarence Everson The Indian natives were the first sportsmen in the region. They hunted wild game and birds with bow and arrow. This provided food for their survival. The stream provided good fishing also. Trappers took beaver and other fur-bearing animals from the river. Legends tell that Park River was so named because the Indians drove large herds of buffalo into a stockade or park on the river's edge. Piles of buffalo bones were a common sight in the fields. Foot racing by youth across the country side was a great sport in the 1880s. The Catherwood boys from east of town were fast runners. Joe Catherwood was a sprinter in the 100-yard dash and mile run. Tom Catherwood ran swiftly over stubble fields. Andrew Catherwood became a strong distance runner. They raced men from Grafton with sizeable betting made on the outcome of these contests. These events started the intense rivalry between the two towns. Horse racing was a big summertime attraction during the late 80s and gay 90s. Two race track events were held on the best all-weather one-half mile track in this part of the state. Some of the local horsemen were Jim Dougherty, Jake Birder, George McEwan, Ed Swarthout and the Randalls. Birder's barn still remains north of the hospital. Baseball was played by the town team up on the fair grounds. Players did not use gloves in those days. The battery usually was Mike Kelleher, pitcher, and Joe Rippel, catcher; Gilman Stenerson, pitcher and Fred Warner, catcher. Horse and buggy races following the river road to Grafton were exciting in the gay nineties. In December, 1903, a Hockey Team was organized by Arthur Armstrong, Captain. There was practice every night from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tennis was a popular sport. In July, 1903 there was a tennis tournament between Edinburg and Park River. Members of the Edinburg Club were: Mr. Robertson, Dr. Bell, Dr. Brandson and A. Aos. The Park River tennis team included: W.S. Weber, Joel Myers, CH. Raster and Frank Lord. In August, 1904, a team came in to play baseball with a local team at the fair grounds. The foreigners were: Jail Bird Fatty, Box Car Blacky, Mulligan Shin, P.J. Murphy, Saginaw Curley, P.A. Slim, Shy Fatty, Overland Frenchy and St. Paul Kid. In July, 1902, horse races were run at the Walsh County Fair on the 3rd. The purse was $825.00; free for all- $350.00; 2.25 minutes trot or pace, $200.00; 3:00 minute trot or pace, $150.00; running horse, $75.00; running pony, $50.00. $5.00 to enter, $5.00 to start. The purse was divided- 60 percent, 25 percent, 15 percent and 5 percent deducted from winners. Bicycle riding was a very popular pastime. A local Bicycle Club constructed a banked one-third mile speed track inside the horse racing track. The first Park River High School graduating class was in 1894. The PRHS football team performed in the yard behind the Windsor Hotel. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, UND student and Arctic explorer, was the first coach. In 1900 Park River lost to Grafton in what perhaps was the first interscholastic (high school) football game played in North Dakota. In 1901 the University of North Dakota defeated Park River 5-0 in football. In 1905 the PRHS football team was champion of the Northeastern Red River Valley District. W.E. Hoover was the coach. William Warner, Clarence Thompson, ends; Gates Leedham, Halldor Halldorson and Worth Botsford, tackles; Lars Wambem and Clair Kreitzberg, guards; Carl Foss, center; Dave Mills, quarterback; Carmen Douglas and Oscar Gullickson, halfbacks; Nels Levin, fullback. 1905 Park River High School Football Team Seated in front: Gates Leedham and Haldor Halldorson 2nd Row: William Warner, Clair Kritchberg, Carl Foss, Lars Wambain, Worth Botsford, Clarence Thompson Back Row: William Hoover, Coach; Oscar Gullickson, Nels Levin, Dave Mills and Carman Douglas 1905 Track Team Seated: Haldor Halldorson, Coach William Hoover, Clarence Thompson Standing: Oscar Gullickson, Clinton Matteson, Gates Leedham, Carmen Douglas 191 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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