003

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library
• Subjects: Blanche; Helgeland; Mabel; Norway; Osen; Pacific; Theodore
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/41650

Although Binford is celebrating its 75th Anniversary as an incorporated village in June of this summer of 1981, it actually began its existence before the turn of the century. The town site, sometimes known as "Blooming Prairie", was purchased from pioneer homesteader Gabriel Gabrielson by the D.S.B. Land Company, and the Northern Pacific Railroad, having obtained right of way, extended its tracks through the settlement in 1899. The town was named in honor of Ray Binford, an attorney from Charles City, Iowa, who worked for the Johnson Land Co. He, together with a partner Oscar Greenbaum, operated the first grocery store in the frame building now housing the Stalvik Grocery. Two lumber yards were established in the early 1900's to provide materials for the rapidly growing community. Some of the names connected with these business were Ole Helgeland, E. M. Jackson, Carl Grove, Herman Osen, and Jack Simons. Among the first buildings to be built on "Main Street" was the Maurer Hotel. Mr. Maurer was employed on a crew laying track, and since there was no eating establishment on the town site, Mrs. Maurer filled this need by serving meals through an open window of the room which eventually became the kitchen of the hotel built by the Maurers and operated by them for the next forty years. After their retirement the hotel continued in operation under several different managements until the mid-sixties. It was torn down in 1976. A second hotel, known as the "West Hotel", situated on the east side of main street, was built just after the turn of the century. It ceased operation as a hotel a few year later, but served as living quarters for various families moving into the community. Later, as automobiles became a means of transportation, it was converted into a garage. About the year 1921, the building was purchased and razed by Jack Moore, who built the brick building which is now the Edlund Motor Company. Mr. Moore left our community some years later, but the garage continued in operation under the management of various local people - Albert Erlandson, Hartvig Finstuen, and George Olstad to name a few. Kenneth Edlund, formerly of Lit- chville, ND, purchased the business in 1936 and has been active in its operation since, assisted by his sons Gene and Lyle. Lyle is presently employed in the local post office as rural mail carrier, and Gene has been with Amoco (Standard Oil) for many years, operating now as Edlund Oil, servicing customers in the Binford, Sutton, and McHenry areas. The Northern Pacific Railroad was a main source of employment during the early days of the community and for the years to follow. Sam Standal, the section foreman, started many a young man on a "job on the section". All of the Standal sons, Olaf, George, Arthur, Walter, and Harry - worked on the railroad. Mr. Standal was section foreman continuously from the time the railroad "laid track" at Binford, until his retirement in 1937. The only times he was absent from his work were the two times he visited his folks in Norway. Among the N. P. station agents were W. E. ("Daddy") West, Geo. Standal, Oscar Gilbertson, M. H. Olafson, and I. H. Lahren. Our post office has had various locations over the years. Its first home was in the general store run by O. S. Gunderson (later known as the Ringlie and Sons Store). Sometime in the early nineteen hundreds it was housed in the building now occupied by Larry Halvorson's Hub Bar, and then it was moved into the building where we now find it. However, sometime in the early 1930's, it was moved into the building which is now the laundromat, and after many years in that location, was returned to its present location. Postmasters who had served in the past were Fred Lewis, John Knapp, C. E. Peterson (Irish) and at the present time Lee Anderson. Some assistant postmasters, past and present, were Belle Lewis, Gine Peterson, Olga Dahlin, May Brill, Peter Ramsfield, Mark King, Mabel Maurer, and Helen Sandbo. The present Post Office building was originally a dry goods store owned and operated by Albert Abraham. He contracted with a builder from Cooperstown to do the construction. The outer walls were made of cement blocks manufactured at a small block factory located near Lake Sibley. They were made by Andrew Brudvig. This factory was in existence only a short while, but the blocks were evidently of good quality and workmanship as they have withstood many years of North Dakota weather. Mr. Abraham ordered goods from a firm in New York state and acted as supplier for a number of men who used carts, wagons, or backpacks to transport supplies to farmers and others living some distance from a railroad. Living quarters for his family were on the second floor of the building. Since Mr. Abraham sold the building it has been of service to the community as a printing shop - home of the "Binford Times", which was our weekly newspaper, an electric appliance store, and a cafe. "The Binford Times" began its existence in 1903, published by Theodore Curry. A few years later it was purchased by Carl Peterson, who continued its operation until sometime during the nineteen thirties. Our news is now published by the "Griggs County Sentinel Courier" of Cooperstown. The Hub Cafe, in recent years re-named Halvorson's Cafe, began its existence in the building which in now the Stalvik Grocery. A. D. Shaw was its proprietor for many years, selling to Arndt Ronning in the early 1920's. He moved it to the building which is now the Hub Bar and sold it to George and Blanche Standal in 1944. They built the brick structure which now houses it in 1959 and continued its operation until their retirement in 1971. It is now run by Madeline (Mac) Halvorson. 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