Hampden History: Social Life

MAIL SERVICE

The following information was received from National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C. 20408:

Hampden, Ramsey County, N.D. ; Established as Northfield on March 4, 1902.  Name changed to Hampden on July 15, 1903.

The following is a list of Postmasters who have served in Hampden followed by their appointment date:

Ole Iverson, March 4, 1902; Joseph Elliott, June 26, 1902; Ole Knudson, September 16, 1905; Kenneth B. Williams, August 6, 1918; J. Rodney Williams, July 16, 1921; Erick Myhre, August 4, 1924; James McMillan, July 17, 1933; Marily B. Peters, December 28, 1963…

Mail carriers have been Gilbert Garnas, Ed Seward, Albert Ogland, and Carl Mortenson from 1920 until his retirement in 1965.  Norman Christian, 1965-…

Alfred W. Dahl was also substitute carrier occasionally.

Hampden Lodge No. 143, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in May of 1911.  They can boast of winning several trophies in competitive drill contests.  They have recently purchased the former John Waade Harness Shop Hardware and will renovate it for their lodge room. (The Harness shop was razed in the summer of 1999, and is no longer standing).  North Star Rebekah Lodge No. 81, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in March of 1912.

The first Homemakers Club in this community was organized March 20, 1935, with 18 members.  The officers were Mrs. Clarence Hedlund, president;  Mrs. O.W. Neidlinger, vice president;  Mrs. Glenn (Helen) Neidlinger, secretary, and Mrs. Carl Mortenson, treasurer.  Other members were Mrs. L.O. Flott, Mrs. Henry Reimer, Mrs. Palmer Freed, Mrs. Ted Taylor, Mrs. M.A. Knutson, Miss Selma Hosterman, Mrs. Pete Rudser, Mrs. Norman Hoiland, Mrs. Dale Roberts, Mrs. Theodore Olson, Mrs. Jerry Bragg, Mrs. W.L. Howe, Mrs. E.A. Neidlinger, and Miss Emma Waade.

They chose for their Motto, “Joy is not in things.”  The club colors were pink and green, and the flower was the wild rose.

The club has remained active throughout the years with almost a complete turnover in membership.  In later years other clubs were organized, the “Town and Country”, the “C and R” and the “Banner” Homemakers.