The Alamo Farmer

Check out this issue of the Alamo Farmer from 1916; it seems like the author might have slightly exaggerated the commercial prospects for the area. Or maybe he was just an optimist, a not uncommon attitude for a farmer.

Alamo School Update

The old school still stands, and things are happening in Alamo due to the oil boom. Homes have been sold and there's lots of talk about more people moving in or other development activity. One interesting change is that the present owner (I've forgotten their name) are converting the stage end of the gym into a two story home. Apparently they're remodeling the locker room area too. The picture shows a doorway cut into the gym wall above the locker/entryway, and a new 2nd floor window has also been cut into the opposite side. The roof above the locker room could then be used as a deck? Also are pictures of Shirley and I on the old school steps.

Lorraine (Jenny) Quie

During our visit to Williston in August, we were fortunate to catch Lorraine Quie at home and were able to spend some time with her. She was Shirley and my 1st and 2nd grade teacher, and made a positive and lasting impression on us, as I'm sure she did for all her students. It was a joy to visit with her!

I've reproduced a class picture from those years here, even though it was posted earlier in this blog.

RIP Hilton Scarr

Published in the Williston Hearld on Friday, April 9, 2010
http://www.willistonherald.com/articles/2010/04/10/obituaries1

Hilton J. Scarr, 80, a Williston and Alamo resident passed away on Wednesday evening, April 7, 2010, at the Bethel Lutheran Home, Williston.

His funeral services are at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2010, at the Bethel Lutheran Home Chapel. The Rev. Steve Anderson and Associate in Ministry Judi Scarr Martin are officiating. Interment is to follow in the Riverview Cemetery.

Hilton J. Scarr was born to Harold and Judythe (Bloom) Scarr on March 10, 1930, in Crosby. He was baptized at the Opdahl Lutheran Church and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Alamo.

He was raised in Alamo and attended school there, graduating with the class of 1948. After graduation, he attended Minot State College in Minot.

In 1950, Hilton joined the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1954. On June 9, 1956, he was united in marriage to Beatrice Herland in Williston. To this union a son, Terry Jerome was born on Dec. 16, 1966. Hilton was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Williston.

Hilton farmed in Alamo, Saskatchewan, Canada and Thief River Falls, Minn.

Hilton is survived by his wife, Bea, Williston; his brother, L.E. (Betty) Scarr, Peoria, Ariz.; his sisters, Elaine (Archie) Kress, Minot, and Judi (Gary) Martin, Glasgow, Mont.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Terry Jerome Scarr; his mother and father, Judythe and Harold Scarr; and his mother and father-in-law, Inga and Bert Herland.

Friends may visit www.eversonfh.com to share thoughts and remembrances of Hilton.

RIP Archie Kouba

This is reproduced from the web site for the Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot, North Dakota: www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com

Archie J. Kouba, 89, Watford City, formerly of Alamo, Williston, and Minot, died on Saturday, April 3, 2010 in a Watford City nursing home.

Archie was born on July 30, 1920 in McLean County near Max, ND to Jim and Carrie (Sherbina) Kouba. After graduating from Minot High School, Archie entered military service in 1942 and served in the U.S. Navy until his discharge in 1945. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II. He served a short time on a submarine and then was a Fire Controlman First Class on the USS Forrest DD-461, where he experienced kamikaze attacks and his ship being hit. Following his honorable discharge, Archie taught an electronics course at F. E. Warren Military Base in Wyoming before he returned to Minot. He attended Minot State Teachers College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

Archie married Stella Knapstad, a 36 year depot agent for the Great Northern/Burlington Northern Railroad, on March 2, 1951 in Cheyenne, WY. They made their home at various places where she was the depot agent and he was an educator, principal or superintendant. He taught at McGregor and Trenton and was principal at Alamo prior to serving as superintendent at Alamo, Taylor and New District Eight near Williston. During the summer months he earned his master’s degree in school administration from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. Archie had majored and minored in a wide range of subjects so he taught math, science, English, woodworking and drafting. One of his favorite sayings was “coming to class without a pencil is like going to war without a gun.”

Archie was a member/former member of Williston Church of the Nazarene, American Legion, VFW and ND Association of School Administrators. He especially enjoyed woodworking, carpentry, reading, golfing (he was a scratch golfer) and cooking. He was an accomplished electrician and mechanical draftsman. In these days of contracts and legalities a handshake with Archie was binding. His word was his bond. His life’s lessons live on and he will be missed.

Archie’s loving family includes his children: Albert “Rusty” Kouba of Tucson AZ, Ronald (Sheila) Kouba of Minot, David (Julie) Kouba of West Fargo and Debbie (Bruce) Erickson of Watford City; grandchildren: Joseph (Carly) Kouba, Tucson, AZ, Jonothan Kouba, Tucson, AZ, Jeffrey (Rhonda) Kouba, Blaine, MN, Kristin (Bill) Pearson, Yorktown, VA, Brian (Nassim) Kouba, Southern Pines, NC, Michael (Joni) Kouba, Odessa, TX, Jennifer Kouba, Williston, Matthew Kouba, Fargo, Chad (Nicki) Mathiason, Fargo, Laurie (Jeff) Mills, Frederich, MD, Christopher (Javon) Wahus, Bismarck, and Jason Wahus, Watford City; great grandchildren: Jordan, Tatyana, Ramsey, John, Hanna, Lisanne, Nicholas, Alexander, Makenna, Jace, Tyler, Abby, Jordan, Kennadi, Ciera, and Gunner; sister-in-law: Josie Luchsinger of Helena MT and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Archie was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brother: James Kouba and son-in-law: Robert Wahus

In Memory of Diane Kay Voeller

Sioux Falls - Diane Kay Voeller, age 59, died on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 after a lengthy illness at Avera Dougherty Hospice House.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 23, 2009 at St. Therese Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM on Thursday at George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Liturgical Prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 35 years, Rod Voeller; two daughters, Jennifer (Ryan) Reuter and Angie (Tyson) Hilton; grandson, Karsten Reuter; two granddaughters, Kayla Reuter and Brianne Hilton all of Sioux Falls, SD; mother, Alma Monger, Williston, ND; two sisters, Marilyn (Ron) Woitzel, Gardner, ND, and Elaine (Merlyn) Esterby, Alamo, ND; many nieces and nephews. Diane is preceded in death by her father, Orvin Monger.
A complete obituary and online registry is available at www.georgeboom.com

Link to Diane's Obituary

School Fight Songs

During the 1991 Appam-Alamo-Corinth Diamond Jubilee Pageant/Talent show, former Alamo School Band members played the school fight songs (Our Director prior to 1970, and then Anchors Away) under the direction of Cliff Gronfur. Larry Johnson was the Master of Ceremonies. The video was made by Penny Johnson Slagle.

Dateline 1960: Alamo Defends Title

Alamo successfully defended its North Missouri Basketball championship title in January of 1960 (it's hard to make out the date - so I hope that's correct) by defeating Wildrose 47 to 32. See "On the Bench" editorial that describes the conditions that favored Alamo's 'deliberate' style.

Other big new events in 1960 include:

• January 2nd: U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. See Youtube video of NBC news item of an interview recorded with JFK on January 5th
• February 9th: Adolph Coors III, chairman of the board of the Coors Brewing Company, is kidnapped and captors demand $500,000. Coors is later found dead and Joseph Corbett, Jr. is indicted.
• Theodore Harold Maiman developed and patented the world's first laser, and demonstrated its operation in May at the Hughes Research Laboritories in Malibu, California, using a synthetic ruby crystal grown by Dr. Ralph L. Hutcheson.
• The top selling single for the year was "Cathy's Clown" by the Everly Brothers (See Youtube video recorded in 1965) followed at No. 2 by "Please Don't Tease" by Cliff Richard and The Shadows (See Youtube video). I don't know what this says about musical evolution, but it must have been hot stuff at the time.
  

Dateline February 1968: Trenton Eliminates Alamo

Well - it looks like another bad year??? But maybe in the grand scheme of things it just wasn't all that important although the bus ride home was probably a little quiet. And, after all, it's not whether you win or lose, but how you played the game!

Grenora Nips Alamo - January 18, 1967

This Williston Herald article carries a sad headline, but at the same time preserves a moment of history from our little community. There are lots of 'treasures' like this sitting around in peoples archives; the only way they live again is by sharing them in a public forum like this. Please help me find and post them! Dennis: if you have a better copy - let's replace this microfiche version.

Alamo 'In the News'

The fun thing about looking back at past issues of the Williston Herald is that you run across unexpected news. Well, not exactly news since it is something less than current, but interesting in any case. The article about Donette is from January 11, 1968, followed by January 23rd for Ellen. The Alamo picture was taken in June of '09. Tanner Overland mowed the airport and landed there in July - his picture from the air is looking roughly northwest.

Appam - In the News

I found a couple of older Appam news updates from the Williston Herald which might interest you. In addition, I have added some air pictures of Appam. I don't know the date of the older one: it is from a picture taken by Dennis and can be seen in his photo archive (see link below). Also included are some from June of 2009. Keith and Barb Overland's son Tanner was kind enough to fly Shirley and I up over the area - I've attached his picture of Appam.

Appam Reunion 2009

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dakotadj/NDSAVEPICS#

Check these pictures out of the Appam reunion and Eagles Nest and Dance at Alamo Fire Hall..

Alamo Recieves 3rd Place Trophy

This picture of Harry Millard receiving Alamo's 3rd place trophy is interesting although the microfiche image is poor. But still more interesting is it's placement under the headline announcing that 3500 Marines were sent ashore in Vietnam. A seminal event, to say the least.


From WikiAnswers: When did the Vietnam War Start?

1. December 11, 1961 -- U.S. aircraft carrier "Core" arrives in Saigon with 33 helicopters and 400 air and ground crewmen assigned to operate them for the South Vietnamese Army. Also, U.S. pilots start to train & fly support missions with the South Vietnamese Air Force. This really marks the first larger scale participation of U.S. military "advisors".
2. August 7, 1964 -- In response to the incidents involving U.S> naval vessels U.S.S. Maddox and the U.S.S. Turner Joy, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passes the "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution," allowing the President "to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force" to prevent further attacks against U.S. forces. Many people view this as the "official" start of the war, although there was never a declaration of war.
3. March 8, 1965 -- The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam, as 3500 Marines land at China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang. They join 23,000 American military advisors already in Vietnam. The arrival of combat troops is considered by some the start of the war, although American military advisors have been in Vietnam for over 10 years.

Cottonwood Lake Lives Brief Life

When I was back in Williston, I stopped by the Library and checked out some past editions of the Williston Herald. Unfortunately microfiche is not ideal, but you can still make out much of the original material. Since I didn't have any particular date in mind, I looked at January through March of 1960 through 1967 and ran across a number of Alamo related items. I'll add them here as I get a chance for your enjoyment.

Alamo Pictures - from June 2009 trip

Here is a link to some old Alamo area pictures I got copies of during our June 2009 trip.

Click for link to Alamo picture album

You can download them, view them individually, or view them as a slide show. Enjoy!

Included is this Press-Graphic article about the dedication of the Alamo airport. Does anyone have more information about this?

Appam Reunion Update

Shirley and I attended the dance in Alamo and have a few pictures to show for it. Many people were taking pictures, so I hope you will add or send a link to your picture albums; then we all can see and enjoy! If you need help, please let me know and I'll post them for you.

Dave Hagen's Appam Reunion Pictures (click to be redirected to the on line album - select slideshow to automatically scroll through them)

Lucy Pilgrim Storbakken Appam Pictures - please identify people in the comments for future reference. She handed out a CD with these pictures during the reunion. My grandma Alma Johnson is shown in a couple.

Appam Reunion: June 26-28th

From Beverly and Gary Sundquist:

The Appam Community Celebration is over. Thank you for coming and making it a great time. A special thank you to our host, Rich Holm, for making each and every one of us feel as if we were an important part of his family. Without his gracious hospitality this event could not have happened. Thanks Rich! We had a wonderful time and created memories to last forever. Thanks also to committee members Arlys Esterby Sovik, Beverly Johnson Sundquist, and Larry Johnson for their generous donation of time and talents as Rich and I (Donna) began planning the activities. Gary Sundquist's band provided a great evening of entertainment with our hosts the Alamo Firefighters. We are so glad that Gary is drinking from the saucer because his cup has overflowed! A special thanks also goes to a great family effort by the children of Stafford and Bertha Johnson as they served a delicious brunch after the Sunday worship service.

Some of those special moments were recorded on digital cameras by our friends and classmates. They are now ready to be shared with each of you. Almost 600 photos have been received by John Anfinson at Comtechnd. He has graciously volunteered his site to house the photos so that you can look at each of them and save or print them as you wish. (If you still have some to share - burn them on a cd and mail them to John at 2015 1st Ave E, Williston, ND 58801 or if you have just a couple to share e-mail them to him at anfinson@comtechnd.com and he will add them to the collection.) Thanks again John.

Click Link to see the Photo Archive

You will then see each of the submitted photos in a small format. If you click on a photo it will appear in a larger format for easier viewing. Any of these photos can be saved and/or printed as you wish at no charge so have fun. Feel free to share them with any and all of your friends and family, especially those who may not have been able to attend the party.

Please find below the Contact List which contains the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of anyone who filled out the form during the registration process at either the dance or at Rich's home on Saturday. I am sending a copy via e-mail to each person who included an e-mail address on the form. Again, please feel free to print it and share with other Appamites or forward a copy of this e-mail to classmates who may not have been included on the list. We don't ever want to lose contact with our friends and family from Appam - A small town with a BIG heart!

Clarice Berve Anderson

I received a phone call from Betty Pettis [Holm] and Clarice is in the hospital in Sheridan, WY and is not expected to make it...She has had many complications with the Lupus and is failing right now. Her boys have been called by Betty. Betty has been a true friend. I will keep you posted when I hear anything but please pass the message on to those who knew her so that everyone knows. I hope someone can tell Warren Bilquist as well. You can email me with questions as this is a public blog and I do not want to put too much up right now. Thanks. Please send your prayers.

APS Video

Since no one has posted any new pictures recently (or sent them to me so I could scan and post them), I've created a new video from the pictures I have. It's set to Enya's 'only time' from her 'a day without rain' CD. I hope you enjoy it. But think how much better it could be if you would send your picture, etc., so we could have some new material.

Link to video on Youtube

or view the video below