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S.G. Roberts Home, 1115 8th St. S.
The S.G. Roberts house, which was built in 1880, was originally located on Roberts Street between Second and Third Avenues. In the Summer of 1920, the home was relocated to its present location on South Eight Street. The story of how and why it was moved is relayed to us in a 1966 letter from Gilbert Haggart, who lived in the house for many years. “In 1920, street cars past the house (were) continuously pounding and
Read MoreRoberts and Haggart Families
The Roberts and Haggart families were twined together through marriage and business, and both clans featured prominently in the early history of Fargo. Brooks, Maine-native Samuel G. Roberts arrived in Cass County, North Dakota in January of 1872, making him one of the earliest settlers in the area. He had fought bravely in the Civil War in the Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers and the Ninth US Veteran Volunteers,
Read MoreNorth Dakota Agriculture College (NDAC)
North Dakota Agriculture College (NDAC) was established in 1890, by a law that allowed for an agriculture college to be formed in Fargo, North Dakota . This was part of the United States government’s effort to create colleges for the study of agriculture and the sciences. The following appeared in the Daily Argus on May 2, 1890: “At the meeting of the Fargo Agricultural College board yesterday afternoon t
Read MoreFargo Hebrew Congregation
While there is little information on the Fargo Hebrew Congregation, it was the first Orthodox Jewish temple in Fargo. On July 6, 1886 William Giles, Abraham Rubel, and David Mezirow incorporated the temple, however it did not open its doors until 1906 and it took two years to complete the building. The synagogue was built across from Island Park on First Street. Until it opened, the congregation held services in the
Read MoreThe Biography of Alexander Stern
Alexander Stern (June 7, 1857-1934) Alex Stern was born on June 7, 1857 in Giessen, Germany. He immigrated to the United states in 1871. Mr. Stern arrived in Fargo in 1882 and opened the city’s first clothing store. He is the first know Jewish person to land in Fargo. On July 5, 1885 he married Bertha. They had three sons: William, Samuel, and Edward. Mr. Stern was a very influential man during the foundin
Read MoreLena Bertha Kopelman
Lena Bertha Kopelman April 29, 1869 – December 3, 1947 “My mother… [was] a wig maker and maker of hair switches and other hair goods. [She] taught us all how to weave human hair and we became fairly adept at it, but we could never make our fingers fly like our mother did… Kopelman’s Beauty Shop was one of the very first beauty shops in Fargo… Rose, Dorothy and I helped to make the shop
Read MoreFargo’s Hebrew Ladies Aid Society
The Hebrew Ladies Aid Society was founded on August 13, 1904.[1] It was created in order to help the people of the Jewish community and fulfill the responsibility to the Jewish community. They helped the community by financing the community businesses, educate the children, and perform other acts of civil service. Below is Linda Mack Schloff’s recount of their purpose. Rochele Gela Mann recalled the efforts
Read MoreJewish Immigrants to Fargo North Dakota
The first Jewish immigrants into Fargo were part of the middle and upper classes of Germany. They were formally educated. The main reason for immigrating to the United States was to escape persecution and violent attacks that their homelands ignored and in some cases encouraged. After the town started to solidify, many unsuccessful farmers from North Dakota and Minnesota sought refuge in Fargo. In addition to the
Read MoreMary Dodge Woodward speaks
Listen to Ms. Woodward, as narrated by Dr. Ineke Justitz, by clicking the play button below. Mary Dodge Woodward speaks Mary Dodge Woodward was well informed for someone living in the isolated Dakota territory. In the two excerpts read by Dr. Justitz, Mary discusses the weather in the Dakota territory and the surrounding environment as well as solicitations and politics. She mentions the grain elevators resembling Ba
Read MoreFargo’s First Christmas Tree
Fargo’s First Christmas Tree In 1873 the people of Fargo went to church services in Moorhead as a church had not been established. As the people of Fargo believed that the Christmas tree being planned for in Moorhead was more for the children of that church they decided to have their own. Two trees were sent for but were stolen mid route. It was decided that the men from Moorhead that were suspected o
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