Dave Seifert

10/20/2007: On this date in 1922, a fire broke out in downtown Fargo that caused an estimated $160,000 in damages. Flames started in a store room of the Harrington Hardware Store, and spread quickly to other buildings on the Tyler Block.

10/19/2007: North Dakota is called the “Duck Factory” of the United States. The numerous wetland areas in our state make for an ideal environment for producing waterfowl. Anyone who has traveled the state has no doubt watched the numerous flocks of geese and listened to their “honks” as they fly gracefully overhead.

10/16/2007: In the words of Jacob H. Myers, his new voting machine would “protect mechanically the voter from ‘rascaldom’, and make the process of casting the ballot perfectly plain, simple and secret.” Mr. Myers made this statement in 1892 in Lockport, New York. His new automatic booth then appeared in 1895.

10/14/2007: On this date in 1908, Bert Morris of Fargo maybe should have just stayed in bed.

10/12/2007: Tom Mix, the famous Hollywood silent movie cowboy of the 1920’s has a romantic connection to North Dakota. If fact if it wasn’t for the town of Medora, in Western North Dakota, Tom wouldn’t have married the woman he did!

10/7/2007: Serving arrest papers has always been dangerous. The Fargo Forum on this date in 1913 reported that two lawyers were imprisoned by the man on whom they attempted to serve garnishment papers.

10/4/2007: In yet another example that whiskey and cards don’t mix, an innocent bystander lay seriously wounded in French Joe’s gambling joint on Front Street in Fargo.

9/30/2007: Judges in Fargo agreed that in the marriage ceremony, couples must vow to “love and honor” each other. When it came to obeying each other however, not all of the judges were in agreement.

9/29/2007: The cost of a college education today is probably all relative.

9/26/2007: Wilmot P. Sanford enlisted in the United States Army in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts in 1872. He was a member of Company D, 6th Regiment, United States Infantry. Private Sanford was eventually stationed at Ft. Buford, located at the junction of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers in western North Dakota.