In honor of June being National Adopt-a-Cat Month, we’re sharing a few stories today of our furry friends from years past.
In 1908, a “man of domestic habits” wondered if all cats liked flowers. His wife’s cat curled his tail each time he sniffed their scent. Even more curious, the cat’s taste in blooms matched his mistress’s, a fact she often used to convince her husband to buy the more expensive flowers.
In the early 1920s, Nancy Hendrickson took up photography while caring for her ailing mother. Showing patience and skill, she mostly photographed her pet cats dressed and posed as humans. One cat flew in a rocket, another scrubbed clothes on a washboard. Others typed on a typewriter, won boxing matches, or played the piano. Nancy turned this quirky hobby into a successful career winning awards, getting published in national newspapers, and selling postcards. As one writer put it, “During the hard times, her cats were her breadwinners.”
In 1924, Sam Brand wanted 20 to 30 cats for rat catching. His newspaper ad read, “This is a chance for boys to get a little spending money. Bring me your spare cats.”
By the late 1950s, Bismarck Airport had its own feline welcoming committee. When planes landed, the cats would scamper up the ramp to greet passengers, then head straight to the galley for cream from the stewardesses. Amiable Old Tom got scolded for heading to the cream too quickly. Coy Singapore Susie was pampered in a first-class seat, complete with an airline bib. Energetic Dynamite once hitched a ride all the way to Jamestown. Travelers loved them, and the airport got letters to prove it.
In the 1970s, Carolyn Johnson of Burlington ran her own cattery, breeding and showing Himalayan cats, including Sam Sin, a four-time national champion.
In the 1980s, the Dawsons went even further raising bobcats and bobkittens. The feisty kittens had to be fed five to six times a day, but they were seen as an alluring business prospect.
In the 1990s, Leo liked working in flower beds, Kat spent hours watching butterflies, Orson B. Wells took naps, and Nookums liked lounging on top of the fridge.
Whether for companionship, business, shows, rat catching, or laughs, North Dakota cats have always held their own. So why not adopt, and continue the tradition?
Dakota Datebook by Cody Goehring
Sources:
- Holiday Calendar, “National Adopt A Cat Month,” https://www.holidaycalendar.io/holiday/national-adopt-a-cat-month
- Mott Pioneer Press, May 2, 1908, p5, “Do cats like flowers?”
- “Cat scrubbing clothes on washboard,” circa 1920, SHSND 10200-00004, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=MS_I_195697
- “Cat Piano player and singer,” circa 1920, SHSND 10200-00019, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=MS_I_195712
- “Little Bear the solo flyer cat,” circa 1920, SHSND 10200-00075, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=MS_I_195767
- “Cat and typewriter,” circa 1920, SHSND 10200-00080, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=MS_I_195772
- “Winning cat of boxing match,” circa 1920, SHSND 2012P020-00903, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=PH_I_133768
- Mandan Pioneer, November 13, 1963, p12, “Rural Homesteader Merits Many Titles”
- Morton Prairie Roots by Marion Plath Peterson of the Morton County Historical Society, 1976, p598-600
- Mandan News, November 26, 1978, p14, “Area Death: N. Hendrickson”
- Lamoure County Chronicle, July 3, 1924, p5, “Wanted”
- Bismarck Tribune, May 29, 1958, p7, “Old Tom, Singapore Susie, Dynamite Have Gay Time Meeting Airplanes Here”
- “Walt Beeler, Northwest Airlines Station Manager in Bismarck pretends to scold Old Tom, a cat that routinely greets planes at the airport,” May 29, 1958, SHSND 00080-01521, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=PH_I_204097
- “A Northwest Airlines Stewardess Florence Tschider and the cat Singapore Susie, watch as Bismarck airport's other feline, Old Tom, consumes a bowl of cream on the airplane steps,” May 29, 1958, SHSND 00080-01522, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=PH_I_204098
- “Northwest Airline Stewardess Florence Tschider welcomes Old Tom aboard with a dish of cream,” May 29, 1958, SHSND 00080-01523, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=PH_I_204099
- “Northwest Airlines Stewardess Florence Tschider holds Singapore Susie and a bowl of cream onboard an airplane at the Bismarck airport,” May 29, 1958, SHSND 00080-01524, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=PH_I_204100
- The Minot Daily News, December 24, 1977, p28, “For Fun Not Profit, Says Himalayan Cat Collector”
- Burlington Centennial Book by The Burlington Historical Committee, 1983, p218
- “Bobcat kittens at the Dawsons,” June 28, 1988, SHSND 10983-00422_00008
- “Pat Jessen and her cat, Leo, working in a flower bed,” 1995, SHSND 32398-00448
- “Orson B. Wells, the cat, taking a nap,” 1995, SHSND 32398-02086
- “Kat the cat watching a butterfly,” July 1996, 2010P006-00369
- “Cat on top of refrigerator,” 1997-1998, SHSND 2010P006-00324, https://statemuseum.nd.gov/photobook/details?I%20RecID=PH_I_50515
