Listen to the Weekly Radio Readings by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member
Recorded November 2019
November 3, 2019: Another interesting story comes from the Roosevelt Centennial Book, a copy of which is in the Roseau County Museum. This one was called “One Man’s Portrait” and was told by Knute Oseid in 1983.
Roosevelt’s original residents are a wealth of information on our fair town’s history. This little hamlet has a very interesting and often unique background which many people know little about.
Through the miracle of cassette taping, I was able to interview Knute Oseid with help from his son, Don.
Knute, age 89, is a well-known former resident of Roosevelt who grew up in the area. California is now Knute’s home, yet he keeps up on his hometown and shares his memories of his years in Roosevelt.
November 10, 2019:Today I’ll read from a book by Ray Geroy called “Sandridge Settlers” written about 1980, and reprinted in 2018. In the prologue to the book, he describes the Sandridge of his book as beginning very nearly at a cemetery called Pine Grove, somewhat near the southeast corner of Roseau County. Here the land becomes pure sand, and the lowly Jack Pine tree begins to flourish in its natural habitat. Less than one-half mile to the north or east runs the east branch of winding spring-fed Roseau River.
Townships involved are Beaver, Reine, Elkwood, and an unorganized one north of Elkwood. Mention is made of people in other parts of Roseau County including Roseau.
In a letter to Jennie Geroy about 1920, one of her school chums from Warroad tells how they had “gone to the Sandridge” over the weekend.” Mr. Geroy remembered well that this land was always called by that name throughout the ensuing years. Roughly speaking, the time of the Sandridge story runs from 1900 to 1935.
November 17, 2019: Today I’ll read another family story from the book “Sandridge Settlers”, written by Ray Geroy in about 1980. It’s full of stories of tough settlers. Check it out at the Roseau County Museum.
The people of the Sandridge came from many lands and were of numerous nationalities, so it is no surprise that Trondheim, Norway, is the setting for the story of Gunder and Marit Hammer! Marit was 11 years old when she came to the United States and 18 when she married Gunder.
After living at Warren, Minnesota, for many years, they decided to move to Roseau County where 160 acres of land could be had for $1.25 per acre plus some other amenities such as building a cabin and living on the land for one year.
November 24, 2019: I read the story of Gunder and Marit Hammer last week, which is part of a book by Ray Geroy called “Sandridge Settlers”. Today I’ll read a story from the same book about their son Palmer Hammer.
Palmer Hammer became a legend to the people of the Sandridge. After he had bought the truck and cream route rights from Ole Moen, there came upon this wild land, a period of many years of faithful service to the settlers by Palmer and his truck. He hauled cream and other goods from River Store to Roseau, plus the many people who were willing to ride on the back of the truck and the ones who rode in the cab. He was a man who would get most anything for the ones who did not ride along. It was even said that he would buy ladies’ articles!
Thank you to for letting us share the history of our county with your listeners.