As homesteaders
settled on the prairies, little shacks popped up all
over the area. Newport was built in 1882 on the SW ¼
sec. 36-145-66 on land owned by Elizabeth and William
Keepers and named for Col. R. M. Newport, treasurer
of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The post office was
established on July 24, 1882, with Edgar Leavenworth
as the first Postmaster.
The Northern Pacific
Railroad wanted to purchase more land for the first
railroad coming north from Jamestown. The Northern Pacific
Railroad and Keepers could not agree on the price of
lands, so the Northern Pacific Railroad accepted Lyman
Casey’s offer of a free township on section 35
one half mile west, naming the town Melville, after
Howard Melville Hanna, a major stockholder in Carrington-Casey
Land Co. Melville is the oldest town in Foster County.
All the buildings
were moved to Melville from Newport. These were the
Leavenworth and Wing Store; Robert Walters Hotel; and
Antonio Ohners Saloon. Edgar Leavenworth became Postmaster
on May 2, 1883, in Melville.
Phillip and Obed
Wiseman organized the first bank in 1907. Its deposits
were $87,000. The officers were Obed Wiseman, Pres.;
Peter Zink, Vice Pres.; Anna Zine, Asst. Cashier; and
Phillip Wiseman, Cashier. The bank was robbed September
28, 1916 of $4,205. It closed in 1927 because of clerical
error in its charter. The Wiseman brothers later bought
the Leavenworth Store.
Land was obtained
by Pre-emption, Squatter’s Rights, Tree Claims,
the the Homestead Act. They came by covered wagon, horseback,
and ox team. Every odd numbered section was owned by
the railroad. They could be bought from the railroad.
Section 16 was school property. Mr. and Mrs. Martin
Clark were the first passengers on the train in 1883.
He was the section foreman. Bill Sorenson was an early
depot agent.
The town school
was built on land given by Peter Zink. There was a county
school earlier on SE ¼ Sec. 11-195-65. At first,
school was four months in the summer. Later, they had
school six months in the summer and three months in
the winter. The first winter was so bad, they only had
five days of school. On June 15, 1961, Melville School
joined the Carrington School District.
Mrs. Peter Zink
(Theresa Littner) was the first woman to come to Melville.
The Congregational
Church was built in 1886 by local subscription and labor.
They had a regular pastor until 1922. The parsonage
was built by the Ladies Aid in 1890. The church burned
in about 1935. The first townhall was built in 1896,
and it burned in 1924. There were four grain elevators;
three burned and one moved out. The businesses in town
were five General Stores owned by Leavenworth, Kidder,
Shearer, McElrowy, and Hill. There was a Hardware Store
and the Putnam and Miller Lumber Co. The implement dealer
was first George Ackerman, and later August Zink and
Gilbert Bower. Louie Pothier ran the Pool Hall. The
wagon maker was John Robertson. Antonio Ohners had a
hotel in 1883. The blacksmith in 1884 was A.K. Speers.
There was a garage run by Zine and Bower. The Wiseman
Brothers owned the livery stable.
The fraternal lodges
were Woodman #3536 started on December 3, 1896. The
first presiding officer, T.H. Burnhan, was noted for
champion degree team in the state. Charter members were
Geo. Ackerman, J. Copeland, J. Douglas, Joe Dodd, J.
Dodd, C. Ferguson, R. Farquer, Wm. Hussey, Ed Miller,
Frank Schieb, M. Schieb, Wm. Seely, J.C. Willyard, F.Winsch,
and Wendland Zink. The other lodges were "Masons,
"Rebekah", Royal Neighbors, and the McKinley
I.O.O.F. organized February 1, 1905 by O.L. Bobo, C.A.
Bennet, F.A. Dodge, and Wm. Wescom. Each of the lodges
lost their charters. The I.O.O.F. being the last.
Socials –
Ladies Aid, Community Club, Whist Club, and Sewing Circles.
Dramatics –
Home talent plays and a kitchen band. – Male Quartet.
Athletics –
Ball team was the best in the state.
Boy Scouts –
The Scouts were started by Bob Heyer (Depot Agent).
They are still in existence headed by Wm. Trecker. Roller
Skating, Camporees, Crafts, and Archery; they won many
awards for outstanding work.
4-H Girls –
This was started by Ester McAffe, and the latest leader
is Carol Reimers.
The Greatest years
for Melville were from 1910 to a peak in 1915. In 1912,
170 lots were sold – many going to Peter Zink
and the Wiseman brothers. Melville was called the Best
Small Town between Jamestown and Leeds, ND (end of track).
When the Pingree/Wilton branch railroad was built in
1912, that business territory was cut off from Melville.
It started a great decline a couple of years later.
The greatest loss
was by fire. Several stores, two townhalls, two livery
barns, three elevators, two hotels, the pool hall, the
creamery, and many homes and the church all burned.
Buildings by the
dozens were moved out. The lumber company, one elevator,
one store, the depot, the hardware store, the schoolhouse,
and many homes all moved out. At the present time Melville
is like a ghost town. Only five houses are occupied
and about ten people remain. There are no businesses.
All of us that once lived in Melville were proud of
our town and enjoyed life here. |
