Ramsey County ND Archives History .....History Of Brocket ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nd/ndfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 6, 2015, 1:58 pm HISTORY OF BROCKET Brocket, North Dakota, is located on State Highway No. 1, in the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 27, Township 155, Range 60, in Ramsey County. On November 8, 1899, George F. Wallace homesteaded on the quarter of land where Brocket is now located. On June 25, 1900, he sold 80 acres to F. H. Stoltze for a town site. His sale of lots began in the fall of 1901 with D. F. Humphrey, postmaster and manager of the Stoltze Hardware and Lumber Co. in charge. In 1901 the railroad bed was graded through Brocket to Edmore, with the steel reaching Brocket by May 1902, then continuing to Edmore. Brocket was a beehive of activity by June, 1902, as shown by the following business establishments. In April, the State Bank of Brocket owned by A. J. Gronna, B. M. Gronna, and E. O. Engesather opened for business with Mr. Engesather as cashier. There were three general stores: Koski, Lahti and Pilghren, Monson Bros. (John and Louis), and that of S. H. Lonbakken. There were two drug stores: the Palace Drug Store, owned and operated by M. D. Butler and L. A. Movius, and the Lion Drug Store owned and operated by John Dahlen and F. A. Norby and later sold to the Palace Drug Store. There was also the F. N. Stoltze Hardware and Lumber Co., Vierhus Bros. (Frank and Con K.) Hardware, Mrs. Johanna Erickson's hotel which housed the office of Dr. S. M. Ferguson, physician; Simonson's restaurant, Stratmoen's blacksmith shop, Ophaug Bros. Livery barn, Isaac Patron's Harness shop, Olaf Nelson's pool hall, and a creamery company incorporated as the "Finnish Creamery Co." The first dwelling began with the Ruttle home and the first dwelling completed was the Engesather home. During the summer of 1902, Laski and Dahlen opened an implement business, and Herman Kalliokoski opened a jewelry store. Several elevators were built: the Imperial elevator, which later became a part of the Equity Elevator which burned in January, 1935, was built by the Imperial Elevator Co. of Minneapolis, and the North elevator of the present Brocket Grain Co. owned and operated by O. A. Boyum, was built by the McLaughlin Land Co. of Cando. During the summer of 1903, the children from the south eastern part of the Lillehoff School District were attending school in the Olaf Nelson pool hall for which a total rental fee of $45.00 was paid. The children in the southwestern part of the district were attending school located on what is now the Louis Sundeen land. In September of 1 903, the south half of the district voted on a proposal to consolidate and bond for $5,000.00 to build a school in Brocket. The consolidation won but the bond issue was defeated. School was held in the basement of the State Bank in December, 1903, then moved to the Dahlen building for January and February, 1904. On April 16, 1904, they again voted on a bond issue, this time in the amount of $3,500.00 and this carried. On June 20th, the contract was let for the west half of the present building, without basement, to Olaf Torson of Lawton for $2,825.00. The minutes of November 2nd state that Stoltze was paid "$300.00 for block 8 in Stoltzes first addition to Brocket" and the building was accepted from the contract. This same year, Mr. Currie's newspaper, the "Brocket Review" made its appearance, and the first photograph gallery opened for business. In 1905 the Citizens State Bank was organized by L. B. Ray, P. E. Johnson, David Kirk and A. F. Morvitz with Mr. Morvitz as cashier. In 1910 it was purchased by the State Bank of Brocket. In the school board minutes of March 29, 1905, we note a petition had been received asking for a school to be built in the northwest quarter of the district where the children were attending school in a two-room dwelling on what is now the Kenneth Olson farm . On April 14, the clerk had been instructed to advertise an election to determine the sentiment on a $500.00 bond issue to build the school, but no further mention is made on the outcome of this election, if it was held. Children in the northeast part of the district attended school located about one mile east of what is now the Thorsten Evenson farm. Thus, it was inevitable that about two years later, on March 12, 1907, an election was held on the consolidation of the north half of the district, and this passed. They voted down transportation, but noted this was mandatory when schools consolidated. The election on May 7, favored a bond issue for $4,000.00, and on July 27 the bids were opened and the contract was awarded to C. M. Stone on a bid of $2,246.00 complete, and at a special meeting on December 23, 1907, the new addition, which is the east half of the present building, was accepted. A modern gymnasium, adjoining the school, was built in 1 950 and dedicated May 19, 1951. Brocket was incorporated as a village on April 15, 1907. The Articles of Incorporation of the Farmers Telephone Co. which was located in the Drug Store building, was dated April 18, 1908, and was in operation until the dial system went into effect January 1, 1960. About this time (1908), the ladies came in for some special attention as two hat shops opened for business: one upstairs in the Morivitz home, and the other combined with the sale of dry goods in what was later known as the "Shafto Building." Church services were held by various denominations in homes and various buildings. The Vaage Lutheran Ladies Aid was organized on November 4, 1903. The laying of the cornerstone of the Vaage Lutheran Church took place on June 30, 1916. The Altar Society of the Catholic Church was organized early in 1910 which is also the date given for the completion of their church. This building was replaced with a more modern structure in 1957. Electricity came to Brocket in 1917 when the municipal light plant was built. This was in operation until the contract with the Ottertail Power Co. became effective on May 24, 1946. Woodman and Royal Neighbor Lodges were organized and were active for years. The American Legion was organized on September 13, 1919 with 15 charter members. They later purchased the "Opera House" which they operated as a movie theatre for seven years. It then changed hands several times and closed about 1930. In 1960 they purchased a more modern building on Main street for their club rooms and a community recreational center. The American Legion Auxiliary was organized on February 29, 1928 with 33 charter members. Both organizations remain active. The Community League was organized at the Otto Tweten home on October 28, 1919. On March 5, 1923 they purchased 6 acres of land for a park from Henry King for $600.00. In time this park was beautified with flowers, shrubs, trees, a flag pole and recreational facilities suchas a baseball diamond, a cement tennis court, 6 holes of golf, picnic tables, and a cabin for cooking. The League disbanded on May 23, 1946. A volunteer fire department was organized in May 1927. Fire equipment was purchased in the fall of 1928, and a new fire hall was completed by October, 1956. The Star Route mail service began in July 1951. Brocket had the service of a daily mixed train. The official population by the census is as follows: 1910-180; 1920-240; 1930-276; 1940-291; 1950-212 and 1960-150. During the intervening years, between the "early days" and the present, because of fires and many other reasons, a number of business ventures have come and gone, and this you will agree is typical of all communities. A locker plant was in operation for some years as were general, implement and hardware stores, barber shops, pool halls, a Standard oil bulk station, an unusually large and well stocked lumber yard and, important to the fair sex, the services of a beautician were available for a time. Physicians served Brocket from 1902-1950. There was always great interest and enthusiasm shown for community centered activities such as "Woodman Days", home talent plays, community chorus concerts, chautauqua programs, P.T.A. organizations and local band concerts. A skating rink was provided for winter recreation and there was loyal support of the baseball team in summer. At present, the business activity of Brocket is centered in the following: the Post Office, the Brocket Grain and Equity Elevator companies, the Melvin Jacobson Store and Alvin Draeger Store, Miller's Hardware and Lumber Co., Vybrials Cafe, one bar, the Lawrance Matejcek and Albert Moilanen service stations with auto repair, a Ramsey County highway maintenance equipment shop, and a bulk Cities Service Oil station operated by J. H. Butler. The organizations and clubs active at this time include the P.T.A., the Altar Society, the United Lutheran Ladies Aid, the Birthday Club, and the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. There is some question as to how Brocket got its name. Some say that it came from the name of Abraham Raketti and some say the railroad named it Brocket. I am indebted to all who so willingly assisted with various phases of the research necessary for this history, but I especially wish to thank my husband, Dr. John Engesather, who lived in Brocket from 1902 until 1950 and thus had a great deal of first hand information, and Mr. and Mrs. John Eidsness who shared with us the task of assembling this information on a typical North Dakota town. Mrs. John (Laura E.) Engesather October 1, 1960 Additional Comments: Extracted from: Brocket diamond jubilee, 1900-1975 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nd/ramsey/history/other/historyo62gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ndfiles/ File size: 10.1 Kb