The first public school was organized in a part of the J. S. Tufford dwelling and was taught by Miss Queen Gott, who was succeeded the following year by Miss Nelia Burdick. The first school house was built in 1894 on the present site of the Roman Catholic church, and in which Miss Mintie Smith was the first teacher. The growing needs of the community necessitating a larger building, the original school house was moved about 3 1/2 miles southeast of town where for several years it continued its beneficent work in Negosek township, when it was sold to Adolph Semke who moved it to his farm 3 miles southwest of the Negosek school site, where for the last six or seven years it has formed part of his dwelling house. On the site which it occupied in Kensal the second school building, much larger than the first, was erected in the year 1896. At first the interior was in one large room. Early needs however, required its division into two rooms. In 1903 the present commodious school building, consisting of five large rooms, appropriately situated in a three quarter block and conveniently located on the north side of town, was erected. The present corps of teachers includes Professor Sven Hansen, Miss Josephine Erlandson, Miss Cecelia Whelan, Miss Blanche Richart and Miss Hilda Anderson.
Kensal has not been lacking in religious opportunities. The smoke from the first locomotive had scarcely cleared away when a Congregational minister appeared on the scene and conducted a service. This was on the 3rd day of December. 1893. That first minister was the Rev. E. H. Stickney, superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society for North Dakota through whose efforts, primarily, Kensal's first band of Christians found themselves in a church edifice of their own November 12, 1899, when the Kensal Congregational church building was dedicated. The Congregational church organization was effected July 13, 1894.
In the spring of 1900 the Methodist Episcopal church was dedicated and the Roman Catholics secured a place of worship when, in 1903, the present large school house to which we refer later, was completed by purchasing the building which had grown too small for the needs of the public school. This they modeled into a most delightful house of worship. With the tide of immigration a large number of that faith have settled in the vicinity of Kensal, and as a result the erection of a new $10,000 edifice is contemplated for the near future.
Rev. William Snape is the present Congregational minister, Rev. H. W. Hynes is the pastor of the Methodist church and Rev. G. Bierens is the present Roman Catholic priest. Besides these the Lutherans are represented by Rev. S. K. Tollehauge, a minister of the Norweigan Evangelical Synod, who conducts services in both Norwegian and English once in three Sundays in the Congregational church.
At first only one street, Third avenue, was "cut through," and that but one block in length. With the booming of the town in 1902 this street was extended one block and widened from 70 feet to 100 feet. This second block was named Main street. This necessitated the widening of the first block to correspond with that of the second, which when completed will greatly enhance the beauty of the town, besides amply provide additional room for the increasing trade.
Two big fires entailing much loss will live in the memory of the Kensal people. The first fire occurred about 11:45 p. m., Friday, September 13, 1907. It started in the Farmers Mercantile company's store, a two story double building, and being driven by a strong northwest wind, rapidly devoured the following buildings:
J. Peterson Co.'s hardware; O. E. Holmes' drug store and ice house; the Central hotel; T. R. Clemo's barber shop; Anton Neva's harness shop and H. A. Stinson & Co. 's general merchandise store. The greater portion of the goods from all the stores, save the one in which the fire originally started, were saved. The opportune arrival of the Courtenay fire department alone saved the entire block from the ravages of the flames. The Kensal Implement company's store was the only building left standing in the block when the fire had spent its force. The other fire is of recent date. Just about supper time of November 9, 1909, an overturned lantern in Frank Neva's livery barn caused the fire which, before it could be gotten under control, consumed his large barn together with sixteen head of horses and two cows, hay, harness, etc, entailing a loss of over $5,000. It was in this latter fire that the fire department, organized in September, 1908, rendered such excellent service. To their efficient labors, particularly in saving the small barn in the rear of the Rollef Berg furniture store is due, in a large measure, the fact that another business block was not reaped by the fire fiend. Beside the Neva barn fire the department has been called out on three other occasions since its organization as noted abovethat of the Harris barn, the slight blaze at the J. J. Clancy home and the explosion in the Soo pump house. The first and present officers follow:
First Officers
Chief0. A. D. Kolb
Asst. ChiefE. W. Stroh
Capt. Hose Co.James McRae
Capt. Engine Co.J. O. Ashley
Capt. Hook & Ladder Co.G. Partlow
SecretaryO. M. Wilkinson
TreasurerGlenn Farrar
Present Officers
Chief E. W. Stroh
Asst. Chief O. m. Wilkinson
Capt. Hose Co. Ben J. Jones
Capt. Engine Co. J. J. Brom
Capt. Hook & Ladder Co. Glenn Farrar
Secretary L. C. Lane
Treasurer Glenn Farrar
The information on Trails to the
Past � Copyright may be used in personal family history research, with source citation. The pages in entirety may not be duplicated for publication in any fashion without the permission of the owner. Commercial use of any material on this site is not permitted. Please respect the wishes of those who have contributed their time and efforts to make this free site possible.~Thank you!
