A few odds and ends remain from the notes I took at the Heritage Center. People in the Sheldon area have always shown the tendency and ability to take care of matters themselves. I couldn't help but notice this. "A movement is on foot for a farmers' elevator at Anselm and $6,000 stock has already been subscribed. Fred Wall, Jake Kaspari and other leading farmers are pushing the project. There is strong talk among farmers who have money to back their talk of a farmers' elevator at Sheldon also."
Maybe dimes were scarce and this was a high enough price but a store advertised a three pound can of beans for ten cents, and sirloin steak cost fifteen cents a pound.
A drunk in the town drew attention to himself as noted by this story in the February 28, 1908 issue: "John Burke tired of the quietude furnished by farm life, peacefully strolled into the village last Saturday afternoon. Unintentionally, he partook too freely of the 'White Eye' and became hilarious, so much so, that it was necessary for Marshal Mougey to delve out a few handsfull of law before Burke would really give in. Burke, not liking the idea of remaining in the cooler over Sunday - which, in reality, is the finest kind of cooler at this period of the year - finally decided to hire a livery to take him to his abode, so John let him off easy. This is Burke's first visit to Sheldon since the episode of a few weeks ago."
And another animal story: "Billy, the brown spaniel belonging to P.J. Hoff, is no more. A few days ago a neighbor drew a bead on him and plunked one pellet of cold lead into his frame. This disagreed with Billy to such an extent that he expired on Wednesday morning. Billy was a good-natured, harmless dog, ever ready for a little fun with the boys and seemed to especially enjoy chasing thrown base balls and stones."
And one more story about animals appearing in the June 5, 1908 issue: "Sheldon is to have a circus here Friday, June 19. This will be the first circus that has ever showed in this town ... There have been one or two miserable little affairs camp here, one had a coyote and a badger and the other a few horses. Tom-Tom the largest elephant in captivity will be here..." A news blurb followed the appearance of the circus and told of how they had gotten into town late and had to dispense with the parade. They had gotten lost on the trail from Milnor and lost time.
One more blog on this topic to follow...
