Come Celebrate
Whitman
Whitman, ND
Centennial
July 6, 2012
Next Meeting Feb 21, @ 7:00 pm at the Wagon Wheel Cafe in Michigan, ND
New to this webpage: Whitman School Newsletters - scroll down and click on the link.
New to this website: Donor Hall of Fame - Link is below
More Photos added to old pictures page!!!!
Attention: Help Wanted
If you wish to help in any way contact
Bob Vasichek at bcvasichek@polarcomm.com
A Call for talent!!! - If you have a special talent and would like to
participate in the Whitman Program - Contact the Ed Pawlikowski
at 701-247-2310 or eddyp@polarcomm.com
We are also looking for parade entrants - you may Contact
Dale Mayer or Kenny Shirek
If you wish to make a donation to the centennial
committee - Send them to Bob and Carmen Vasichek
PO Box 153
Michigan, ND 58259
Still on the Slough!!!
Home of the Whitman Weasels
Welcome to our website
We are also looking for pictures, articles, movies, etc. of Whitman past.
You can either scan them and email them to the webmaster at the address below, or
snail mail them to Bob and Carmen Vasichek at the above address, they will be returned.
Come and enjoy good food, good music,
good friends, good times and good
memories that will last another century!!!
Aerial View of Whitman
A Brief History of Whitman
The Soo Line Railroad began construction of roadbed for the Fordville-Drake Line in 1910.
By 1912 they had the first train service. The railroad civil engineer who laid out the lines
and planned where the towns would be was a Mr. E.A. Whitman; so the name was given to the town.
It is also said that the townsite was surveyed and laid out in winter; hence came the slogan,
"Dahlen on the Soo - - Whitman on the slough."
The Farmer's Union Oil Company of Whitman was organized on April 4, 1936. In the spring of
1946, Clarence Pic became delivery salesman. In 1958 the Whitman Fire Protection District
was organized. Fire Chief Ray Skjervem with Asst Earl Johnson had at their disposal a
new fire hall erected in 1959.
On September 29, 1930, the first meeting of the stockholders of the Whitman Cooperative
Elevator Association was held. That same year the elevator and property was purchased
from the Whitman Landf Company. In 1949, a new elevator was built with a 45,000 bushel
capacity.
Answering the recreational needs of the growing community was done in 1925 with the
building of the Community Hall. The $4800 the job took included a piano and a
silent movie projector.
It was the Autumn of 1932 when John Johnson came to Whitman, building a blacksmith shop. In
1950 his sone Earl Johnson began the Johnson Auto Service alongside the original shop.
Two tavern's have adorned Main Street Whitman, Alme's, once Sandal's cafe
and Rysavy's tavern dates back to when Frank Zizka was postmater.
George Lamb began the Whitman Lumber yard then in 1917 his brother, John R., took it over.
It closed in 1949 and merged with the Michigan Lumber Company.
In 1936 it was felt that a central body should be setup to handle town affairs
and as a result the Whitman Commercial Club came into being. This organization
worked smoothly and handled many problems of a public nature. Activity of the club slowed
during the war years because of the call of duty to several active members. A skeleton
organization handled such war duties as bond drives, Red Cross, scrap iron drives, etc.
The first Sarnia postmaster was Embrik Nestegaard, a bachelor who lived in a sod shanty on the hill
across the road from the M.T. Lillehaugen farm. When he resigned in 1898, Tosten
Lillehaigen was appointed. Whitman was born in 1912 and so a post office was erected
immediately, ready for use by 1913.
The schoolhouse burned down on January 14, 1962. The school was originally built in 1914.
Whitman boasted a high school intermitently from 1917 to 1950 and ginally consolidated
with Michigan in 1959.
Whitman wasn't without some of it's own heros, These serviceman were killed in action:
Pfc Frank Rysavy - Killed in action on Boganville Island, March 12, 1944
Pfc Stanley Zizka - Killed in action on Gaudalcanal, November 5, 1942
Pfc Edward G. Sommerfeld - Killed in action in Korea on June 2, 1951
Click here to old photos of Whitman
Click to View Whitman School Newsletters
Souvenirs are available now and will be available the day of the celebration!!
If you wish to order souvenirs now contact Deb Anderson @ 701-259-2286 or
Doris Karas @ 701-247-2310.
These are the two designs that are available. You can order
Tshirt with either design or sweatshirt with either design.
Food vendors will be on Main St.
Enjoy the parade
Raffle for a Nelson County Historical Society Rifle
Chances are $5.00 per ticket, Contact
Whitman Centennial Committee personnel for tickets also,
you may purchase tickets from Paul at the Buckshot Lodge.
Donor Hall of Fame - Click to view
Webmaster: eddyp@polarcomm.com