Early Pioneers Play
Large Part
in Early Developing of Town
It is the purpose of the article in hand to bring to the readers of
this Special number of the Gazette the history of the area embraced in
the original Municipality of Argyle, which is practically centered by
the present town of Baldur, in so far as its greatest depth north and
south and length east and west is concerned. Much time and effort has
been given trying to get accurate data for this effort. It has been a
rather difficult task. That there will be mistakes in dates and
outstanding individuals and happenings overlooked, is inevitable, we
nevertheless hope that all may read with plea-sure and profit — where
mistakes have been made the columns of The Gazette will lie open for
early corrections, of reasonable length (the editor reserving the right
to abbreviation of too great length or to re¬ject such criticism as we
authoritative reason to believe inaccurate.
While the country became populated and grew, many were the hardships,
difficulties and discouragements the people had to endure,
meet and surmount. The loss of stock, from crossing the Pembina Hills
twice to reach their destination, Brandon, to Carberry, Glenboro, to
Cypress River and then one day came the assurance that the Northern
Pacific railway was to be built. In 1899 surveyors came, grading was
commenced giving work to farmers and their teams. Ties were put down
between Otenaw, the district directly west of the present town and the
north and south were not sat¬isfied. To their way of thinking, a
station should be placed between, Greenway and Belmont. Then came a tug
of war. Sigurdur Christopherson, Mr. Jesse Chester, and G. W. Playfair
and others led in the protest. Mr. Playfair had protested by word and
against Greenway being placed where it was, declaring in the Pilot
Mound Sentinel (our local paper in those days), that its position was
such that it would never be anything but "a broncho siding". Finally
the site was promised, in the spring of 1890 but before title had even
been obtain¬ed for this, lots were being selected and buildings in the
course of erec¬tion.
Naming the Town
In honor of the occasion one of the railway officials, Mr. Lehorn
sugges¬ted the town be named Chesterville, after Mr. Jesse Chester. Mr.
S. Christopherson, father of the Icelandic pioneers, wished to name the
town after a pretty flower but could not rind a pretty flower growing
in the district with a suitable name so he suggested
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the name of a beautiful Nordic god,
supposed to be beautiful, the pure radiant god of innocence and summer
sun, namely "Baldur".
Baldur was the son of Odin the supreme God and Creator), (the son of
Griggagoddess of married love and of the hearth).
After many arguments and decision made by vote this name
was adopted for the town which was about to become the leading centre
of a rapidly growing business community.
Continued on Page 2
REMEMBER?
The first
bank in Baldur.
Mr. Frank Schultz was the town's first banker.
SPECIAL EDITION
Due to lack of space we have been unable to include Biographical
Sketches, history of local organizations and other material which was a
part of local history. We have nevertheless given a complete
history of Argyle and district, and Belmont. We hope to print another
Historical Edition in the near future which would contain all the
material gathered and not included in this Historical issue.
We wish to thank the following people for their aid in compiling
material for this issue:
C. Vickers
W. Christopherson
J. Craik
S. Odell
W. Cooper
Belmont High School
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