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11/18/2015: On this date in 1912, it was Dakota Day at the Northwest Products Show in Minneapolis. The show was held in conjunction with the Second Minnesota Conservation and Agricultural Development Congress. The Congress focused on the state of agriculture in Minnesota, but the Northwest Products Show highlighted products from a much broader area, and Dakota Day specifically spotlighted North and South Dakota. The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican noted that South Dakota was giving away potatoes, while forty young gals at the North Dakota booth handed out beautiful flowers.

11/20/2015: Mention the winter of ’96 - ’97 to anyone who was here, and they likely have a story to tell. The brutal season brought blizzard after blizzard, making it one of the snowiest winters in state history. Fargo received over 117 inches of snow, well above the average of 47.

11/25/2015: On this date in 1897, Mayor John Dinnie of Grand Forks issued a proclamation designating a day of thanks. He said the people of the city and the surrounding area had a great deal to be thankful for, including a very good harvest and a newly-built plant to provide electric lighting.

11/30/2015: During World War II, metal was in short supply and in high demand. The line between military and civilian resources was erased. The military was the first priority for the allocation of resources, and civilians were urged to “make do or do without.”

12/1/2015: On this date in 1916, Bismarck and Mandan were working to join forces to bring their cities closer together – travel-wise. They were trying to make the Red Trail a better highway and a more effective method to get from one city to the other.

12/8/2015: On this date in 1738, Pierre La Verendrye was midway through a 10 day stay with the Mandan Indians; reportedly, he and his group were the first white men to provide written records about the Native Americans they encountered.

12/17/2015: On this date in 1895, a convention was being conducted in Fargo to consider the needs of each of the counties in North Dakota regarding immigration. Delegates assembled from all parts of the state and created the North Dakota State Immigration Association.

12/18/2015: The nature of the Christmas gift has changed over time. In the 19th Century novel "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge's clerk Bob Cratchit only wanted some extra coal and food for his family.

12/21/2015: A big change was made in the voting laws of the United States in 1970.

12/22/2015: On this date in 1922, children in North Dakota knew exactly where Santa Claus was – he had arrived by train in Bismarck that afternoon on the No. 8 train, having abandoned sleigh and reindeer for the modern convenience.