A look back at early area history as found in the archives of the Enderlin Historical Society and Museum ��� by Susan Schlecht
The following article is from the April 28, 1904 edition of The Ransom County Independent.
PLAY BALL
An Enthusiastic Meeting � A Committee Appointed � A Paid Team of Crackerjacks
A meeting of baseball fans was held at Reed�s barber shop last evening at which a committee was appointed to solicit funds for a team for the coming season. It seemed to be the consensus of opinion that we ought to have a �crackerjack� team this year, and to that end it was thought best to hire about seven players, have partially enclosed grounds, erect a large grand stand and charge an admission fee of 25 cents to all games. Those who have investigated the matter say that such a course will pay all the expenses of the team and leave a nice sum in the treasury at the end of the season.
The location of the grounds and the subject of Sunday base ball was extensively discussed. The soliciting committee was authorized to see Mr. Kaber and if possible secure a diamond on the old race track south of town.
Sue�s comments: I find it interesting that the early-day baseball fanatics were willing to hire players to guarantee them a winning team but were debating the issue of �Sunday baseball�! Also, that first ball park evidently was not where our current Hendrickson Field is located. Does anyone know where the �old race track south of town� would have been located. It is interesting that Enderlin was only 13 years old at the time but they had an �old race track�! What did they race?
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From the same issue of The Independent, we find these interesting bits of information.
The improvements at the mill are progressing rapidly under the direction of an expert millwright from the cities and Mr. Munt informs us that they will be turning out a larger amount than ever before of their celebrated Enderlin Best Flour in about two weeks.
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Messrs. P. J. Boyle and T. J. Corcoran came in from their farms last Tuesday to make a few purchases preparatory to seeding operations. Both gentlemen left an order for printed stationery with the Independent.
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Willis Wylie of Valley City, who has the contract for the excavating and hauling for Enderlin�s new school house, started on that work yesterday noon.
(This was the first brick school building for Enderlin; it burned in 1933.)
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This article was found in the following week�s edition of The Ransom County Independent, May 15, 1904.
BALL TEAM ORGANIZED
Last Monday evening, a base ball meeting was held in Attorney Kvello�s office at which it was decided to have as good a team as could be obtained.
We have about five players right here at home who are as good as any amateurs and better than many professionals. Add to these a first class battery and a couple of infielders and the Enderlin club need fear no team in the state.
A spirited discussion on the subject of Sunday games resulted in referring the question to a committee consisting of Messrs H. E. Blair, Herman Shirley and W. G. Engle, who decided as we understand, to commence the season with a schedule of no Sunday games � then if the team could not pay expenses to give Sunday games a trial.
E. A. Forgeot was elected manager, W. H. Reed Treasurer and C. A. Kvello secretary.
There has already been subscribed over four hundred dollars and the organizers hope to raise enough to enable them to put up a good grand stand and enclose the grounds. Land has been secured from W. A. Kaber on the site of the old race track where a first-class diamond can be made and everything points to a series of fine games. Sheldon and Lisbon will both put up strong teams and these, our old friendly enemies, will keep us side-stepping to make good our old title of best team in the county.
It is hoped to play the opening games on the home grounds in about two weeks.
Sue�s comments: They certainly weren�t wasting any time if the new ball park was going to be ready in TWO WEEKS! Maybe all they had to do was fill in the gopher holes! In future issues, we shall see how the team does!
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From the September 29, 1904 issue of the Independent, we find these interesting bits of information.
Mr. C. W. Bantel, one of our prompt paying subscribers, came in last Saturday and squared up for a year�s subscription. The gentleman had just finished threshing a fifteen bushel crop and is very well pleased with the results of his year�s work.
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The Ransom County Immigration Association on Wednesday sold the southeast quarter of section 18 in Shenford to Ludvig Liening for $4,000 cash, with no buildings on the place. Six years ago this quarter changed hands at $900, the association selling it to Frank Koehler. Three years later they bought it back from him for $2,000. It joins the farm on which Mr. Liening has lived for fifteen or twenty years.
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The May 26, 1904 edition of The Ransom County Independent, gives us some insight as to the results of the newly-organized �ball team�.
GETTING EVEN
Our Ball Team Gives Lisbon a Drubbing Such as We Got Last Year � Then Some
The game on the home grounds last Sunday was an overwhelming defeat for the visitors � 19 to 2.
A goodly contingent came over from the county seat, including the celebrated First Regiment band, to see their sluggers do things to the locals and they were good rooters, too.
The visitors were first at bat and when, by a bunch of errors, Hanson crossed the home plate those rooters gave the roof of the grandstand a severe strain, but it stayed on and thereafter they never had an incentive to enthuse. They got in one more score in the second after which a string of beautiful round ones recorded their score in the totals column.
Our fellows pounded out five in the first, two in the second, then rested for a couple of innings and knocked out ONLY twelve in the fifth. That was enough and they practiced bunting for the balance of the game.
Ford was in great form and was ably backed by Bobby with the pillow. With sixteen strikeouts and only three safe hits he didn�t give the boys in the garden much chance for grand stand plays, but they were �Johnny on the spot� when called upon.
In justice to the Lisbon team, it must be said that Hanson, their crack pitcher, had a game arm and had to quit after two innings. Skiffington, a high school boy, took his place and did very well. Several other of their best men could not come, so the county-seaters think they can even things up in the return game which will be played on the Lisbon diamond this coming Saturday.
The Lisbon team are a gentlemanly lot of fellows and it is always a pleasure to play with them � win or lose.
ENDERLIN vs. TOWER CITY
On the local diamond this afternoon � 22 to 0 � favor of locals. �Nuf Sed.
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Sue�s comments: The writers for the early papers certainly wrote to entertain as well as inform with their flowery and descriptive language!
I guess they did get a ball park and a grandstand built in about two weeks, which we found out last week was their plan! Their team of �crackerjacks� accomplished what the organizers wanted them to do � avenge a prior loss to rival Lisbon!