History of Kensal North Dakota Schools Banks
I need a lot of help here. I haven't looked very hard yet. Chis Mack is a history teacher and will work on this with us.
I have a Kensal commemorative Buckle that is dated 1885. On the back is
printed:
Anton & Julius Fredericson Homes
First Bldgs.
1887
Soo Line R.R
1892
First Elevator
1892
Kensal First House 1893
Post Office
1893
First School
1894
First Tow Mill
1895
City Incorporated
1908
Fire Dept
1908
Around 1900
North Dakota Names and Places, Douglas A. Wick. The Soo line RR station was founded in 1892 in Sec 12-144-64, Kensal Twp., and named by local settlers for their former home of Kensale, county Cork Ireland, although some say it was named for an early surveyor in Stutsman County. The post office was established August 16, 1893 with George F. Armstrong of the nearby Arrow wood post office taking over the new facility. John Putman and C.J. Croonquist opened the first stores, and the village was incorporated in 1907
Postcard History Series, Main Street ND Geneva Roth Olstad.Arcaidia
Publishing Available from the publisher online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or by calling 888-313-2665. E-Mail sales@arcadiapublishing.com |
Looking East about 1950 |
Kensal is located in the northeastern part of Stutsman County on
the main line of the Soo Line railway which arrived in the fall of 1892. Kensal
is located on highway 9 north of Jamestown. It is approximately 18 miles
southwest of Glenfield, 13 miles northwest of Courtenay, 12 miles south of
Jaunita, 15 miles east of Melville, and 12 miles northeast of Edmunds. The
original town site was laid out by the Minnesota Loan and Trust Company, and
included one quarter section of land. The northwest 40 was purchased from Anton
Fredrickson and the northeast quarter from his brother Julius. The rest of it
from the Metcalf Land Company.
In general terms the site extended from just west of E.W. Strohs dwelling to the
row of willows east of the C.J. Croonquist's home (today this would be between
Messmer's house and Lillian Wolsk's house) and from a point just north of
the Albert Hanson's residence (later the Berg or Garfield Johnson residence) to
a line on the lot north of the Anton Feckler house (today the house is owned by
the Catholic parish).
John Putnam was the first pioneer merchant, followed in 1893 by C.
J. Croonquist, who opened with a line of general merchandise. In the winter of
1892, Dan Clancy opened the first restaurant, which was sold the next year to
Thomas Nihil. In 1901, Gustav Gunther established a butcher shop. After the
railroad went through, seven elevators were erected. Some of the early settlers
were T. R. Clems, barber; E. M. Tucker in hardware; C. W. McDonald. first
telegraph operator: Grant Partlow. W. S. Tufford. Glenn Faar. Jacob Peterson. T.
M. Hjorth. F. W. Bartz. and Frank Smith. The first Kensal House was built in
1883 and stood until the winter of 1978-79 when it was razed. In its place an
eight unit apartment was built for the elderly and is fully occupied.
A bank was established in 1903 with A. G. Randall as the cashier.
The newspaper edited at that time was the North Dakota State Journal with
William Dudley as editor and publisher. A small school was built in 1894,
followed by a larger one in 1903. The present building was built in 1961,
followed by a gymnasium in 1975.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated in 1900. Catholics
bought the old school as a place of worship in 1903, while the Lutherans rented
the Congregational Church in 1914.
In 1907, a commercial club was organized. Kensal was incorporated
as a village in 1908. The first officers were Jacob Peterson, Anton Feckler,
Albert Hanson, O. M. Wilkenson, Glenn Farrar, Ben Jones, L. C. Lane and T. J.
Walsh. A three acre plot of land was donated for a cemetery by Andrew Holm and
was controlled by the Kensal Cemetery Association.
Postmaster Thompson built the tow mill in 1895. It burned down in
1945. Haakon Ekren rebuilt it in 1946. The two businesses were discontinued
shortly thereafter. In 1983, the building was used for grain storage. It has
since been removed.