Oliver County, North Dakota - Center History

***************************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. http://www.usgwarchives.net/nd/ndfiles.htm
***************************************************************************************

(c)2002 Cecelia Albers (submitter)

                            History of the reason of the name....Center, Oliver County, ND
                                 From a North Dakota Writer's Project by Thomas Brown.

"The name came about through the energies of H. H. Albers, County Commissioner when name was changed and Wm V. Kiebert,
county auditor at that time.  The way the name was decided was by drawing a line through the county-north and south, east
and west.  This method showed the exact center is three-quarters of a mile northwest of where the present county courthouse
building now stands, near both the Ernest Hagerott land and the school land.  When the exact center was determined, it was
discovered the land lying there was too much like a hog-back.  This condition caused Mr. H. H. Albers to suggest the site
be chosen from a better location.  This suggestion was made because of the possible necessity of having to dig 500 ft. for
water, as well as the stony gumbo land there.  With these things in mind, Mr. Albers suggested the present site as being
the more advantageous in every way.  About the same time Ernest Hagerott, Charles M. Whitmer, H. H. Albers with Mal Smith,
were sitting on the south bank of Square Butte Creek at which time Mr. Hagerott said he would give the county the land upon
which to build a courthouse.  

However, it was suggested by some residents in the Hannover neighborhood that the county courthouse be placed or moved to
that place.  Several of the residents drove to the home of County Commissioner H. H. Albers (who resides in the Hannover
community and was County Commissioner 38 consecutive years, up to the last election), with the object of persuading him to
work for the carrying out of the suggestion.  This he refused to do, because he (with Mr. Wm Kiebert, County Auditor) had
spent the best part of seven days in arranging for the Center site, for which Albers received nothing.  He told them, if
they wished to work for the change to do so, because he had had enough of it, having arranged all the necessary details
regarding meeting places in the several neighborhoods, where voters might gather for the purpose of recording their
desires, by organizing affidavits of agreements to the removal of the county seat and the place where it should be placed.
A Notary Public traveled with him (a them), which fast saved the others much personal inconvenience in their endeavor to
rearrange the position of the courthouse.

Better judgment prevailed, and a tar-paper shack was erected (or the old building hauled from Bentley, N.Dak.)  Frank
Schmeling, County Treasurer, contracting to haul the county safe to Center.  The strongest wagon obtainable was used for
the purpose, but it collapsed on the way to Center.  This caused delay.  To save further delay in moving the save, a plank
skid was made upon which to move it.  Several horses were needed to do this, for large drifts of snow existed, through
which it was necessary to pass.  Time was the essence of the contract, on account of a ninety day limit, part of which time
had elapsed before the safe was moved, as well because of a desire on the part of some that the courthouse remain where it
was.  The safe was brought to the new location just in time. Almost as soon as it was at rest Chas.V.Day appeared at the
Courthouse and asked Mr. Schmeling if he could do business with him.  The latter said, " Come on in."  The reason for the
question was in order to bring about a change, it failed of its object.  The date when the power to change the location of
the courthouse was given was on Nov. 4, 1902 by public vote, and it was moved within the ninety days allowed, which would
mean on or about February 2nd, 1903.

Notes:  A story told by H. H. Albers, John Light's and Ernest Hagerott's offered land so a hat was thrown into the air to
decide who's property the courthouse would be located.  H.H. Albers served as County Commissioner from 1900-1938.  The
contract to haul the safe was awarded to Otto Scherer.