Manfred History and Preservation Inc.

09/05/2026

A BIG THANK YOU!!! We appreciate the support!

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the 2026 Manfred Field Day on Wednesday, September 2nd including the following schools: Anamoose/Drake, Carrington/Sykeston, Fessenden/Bowdon, Harvey, Homeschools, Maddock, and Rugby.
Presenters: Traditional Classroom-Judy Frueh; Pioneer Clothing-Debby Schmitz; Traditional Games-Mona Gunderson, Brenda Kiefet, Beth Huseth, and Ian Halorson; Clothes Washing-Sharon McGarvey, Jeanne Hellesvig, and Daizee Loen; Butter Making-Roberta Cotton, Pat Lenz, and Phyllis Blanco; Horses-Gary Elfman; Horse-Drawn Implements-Mike Melby; Blacksmithing-Dean Hagen and assistants. Cook car by Jim Winsness, cook car attendant-Wanda Melchert with clothing assistance by Laurel Wentz and Judy Longtin.

Site Assistants: Pam Norstedt and Courtney Lautt. Guides-Pricilla Backstrom, Donna Corneliusen, Barb Lies, Shari Nyhus, Marlene Ripplinger, and Ruth Suich, Historic telephone-Hailee Morrison. Field Day Crew: Coordinator-Jamie Schindler, Zack Mason, Mike Melby, Will Morrison, Larry Schmitz, Merlin Schwartz. Hospitality: Rose Anderson, Lisa Goodman, DeeDee Knudson, Laura Muscha, and Shiela Schroeder. Photography: Claudia Berg, Tim Huseth, Mike Melby, Lisa Morrison, and Laurie Schwartz, Sound System: Perry Anderson. Facebook: Pam Norstedt. Chairs and tables: Bremen Friendly Neighbors 4-H Club, Kristen Allmaras-Leader. Mike Melby-Medical.

Special thanks to the Manfred Field Day Sponsors for making this day possible:
Major Sponsor-Harvey Eagles, Rose Anderson, Central Dakota Family Physicians, City of Harvey, William Detling, Cindy Ehni, Farmers Union Oil Company and C-Store-Fessenden, Fessenden Thrift Shop, First State Bank of Harvey, HAV-IT Services, Hinrichs SuperValu, KHND, Lautt’s Auto Body & Towing, NDTC, Ongstad Seed, Opdahl Body Shop, Opdahl Concrete, Patzer Truck Repair, Delores R. Payne, Karen Ravnaas, Sheridan Animal Hospital, Keith and Brenda Skalet, Susag Sand & Gravel. and Wells County Abstract Company.

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09/04/2026

Husband's Full Name: Adolph Gross

Husband's Place of Birth: Romania

Husband's Father's Name: Bernard Gross

Husband's Mother's Name: Hannah Kopp

Husband's Siblings' Names: Robert, Mollie, Jennie

Wife's Full Name: Christine Rose Rudel

Wife's Place of Birth: Romania

Wife's Father's Name: William F. Rudel

Wife's Mother's Name: Rosina Bietz

Wife's Siblings' Names: Fredrick (Edna Albus), Martha (Martin Olschlager) Lydia (Paul Johnson), Esther, Walter (Elevena Eikorm),

Children's Names: Edna (Dave Krueger); Lavern (Floyd Arndt), Esther (Ray Danielson), Donald (Lena Scott) Margaret (Orval Kuske); Kenneth (Alice Erfle), Wesley (Evelyn Schmidt)

Adolph and Christine Gross were married in Fessenden in 1914. They farmed in Oregon, Canada and Wells County and lived in the Manfred area in the late 1930s and early 1940s at which time their children attended school in Manfred. In 1942 they left Manfred. They lived in the house across the yard from John Smiths and later the Mike Thomas family lived on this land south of the tracks. Adolph died in 1960, Christine died in 1974.
Both are buried in Hillside Cemetery, Wells County ND along with some of their children. Their son Wesley was a volunteer at Manfred for MHP and helped in any way possible. He is missed.

Wesley was born June 2, 1934, near Manfred, ND, to Adolf and Christine (Rudel) Gross. He grew up in the area, graduating from Fessenden High School in 1954. Wesley served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1959, and then returned to Fessenden. He worked for the Wells Country Free Press, Reiner's Oil, the city of Fessenden, and as a janitor at Fessenden Public Schools for about 20 years. One of his great joys was interacting and joking with the students there.
Wesley was united in marriage to Evelyn Schmidt on January 1, 1965. He served on the Fessenden School Board before working at the school. Wesley was a long-time board member and Sunday school superintendent at the Fessenden Church of the Nazarene. His Christian faith was a central part of his life.
Wesley enjoyed attending school sporting events, collecting pens and coins, and gardening with his family. He and his wife, Evelyn Gross, served as foster parents for about 30 years, opening their home to more than a dozen children, several with developmental disabilities.
Wesley is survived by a son, Grant Gross, daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Lisa) Cobb, and grandson, Noah Gross, all of Laurel, Maryland; a daughter, Twila Gross and partner Antwone White, of Crystal, Minnesota, several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Gross, long-time foster son Freddie Entze, his parents, brothers Donald and Kenneth, and sisters Edna Krueger, LaVerne Arndt, Esther Danielson, and Margaret Kuske.
Pictured are Adolf and Christine Gross and Wesley Gross

09/03/2026

A lovely day for the Field Day yesterday!

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

A beautiful day in the neighborhood for field day with 4th graders

09/01/2026

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is THE DAY! Come and visit and learn about Blacksmithing, sewing, cook car, videos of threshing and horse drawn farm equipment, lunch, horse wagon rides, a school room experience in the school house. Walk through the buildings on your own. Nothing to buy, just enjoy!

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09/01/2026

Who can do this test?

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

MANFRED MONDAY!!

Harness and Shoe Shop
Location: In Meads Hardware Store Block 4, lot 7 was owned by James Mead

Proprietor: Arnt Anda

Year Started: Ad was found in the 1905 County Paper
Year Ended: 1906
History of Business: J. A. Mead succeeded E. W. Stein in the harness and heavy hardware business. In 1906 James A. Mead loaded up his household goods, dogs, and c**t and moved to Stanley, North Dakota to make his future home. He intended to enter into the grain business there and later branch out into real estate. The business was closed following his departure from Manfred.

08/30/2026

Who remembers YCL? Youth Citizens League was rural schools in the country learning about civics and love for country and debating. There Wells County conventions with student leaders held in The Festival Hall in Fessenden. Each person did projects and were graded on them for school. I think it was 5th-8th grades but not sure. There was a song we did..."We are the Manfred Girls" Not sure if it was for YCL or not! HA HA HA.. Can anyone finish it???
I will keep a daily school thing going until September 2!
Pam N