Circa 1910
140 3RD St, Arthur, ND 58006
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,400 sq. ft., 1 acre lot
Own a piece of American history while enjoying small town living 37 minutes from Fargo. Classic American four-square style home with original details and a large park like yard in a family friendly community.
What I love about the house.
Classic American four-square style home with lots of craftsman details including, wood mouldings, birds eye maple floors, pocket doors, wood staircase, laundry chute, bookcase door to "secret" half bath, colonnade, huge cast iron pedestal bath tub, and decorative leaded glass windows. Rooms include a grand foyer, library, living room, dining room, large remodelled kitchen, unfinished walk-up attic on the 3rd floor, and 3 season porch. Includes new Culligan Water softener and reverse osmosis drinking water setup. The house has 9-foot ceilings on the main floor and 8-foot ceilings on the 2nd floor and unfinished basement. A new roof and seamless gutters were added in 2006.
Ode to Arthur
A Thank You Letter
I have lived in the small town of Arthur, ND for these past 12 years. My husband, my 18-month-old daughter and I moved here without knowing a soul. We found a house that we loved and decided to take a leap of faith. I looked forward to the anonymity and lack of social pressures that being in a new community would afford me. Much to my surprise the, what I thought was a sleepy little town, has given me a gift of a wonderful social experience.
Small town life offers more than many people realize. My husband and I have lived in big cities and small towns. People are people no matter where you go. We all desire love and safety. We all want some drama and excitement. Arthur has been especially gracious and accommodating.
When we were unpacking, we had multiple neighbors visit with welcomes and apple crisp. I told my husband that we didn’t move to Arthur, we moved to Mayberry! I soon found that the thriving little town we now occupied had a plethora of friendly, social circles.
Two of my dearest neighbors were widows in their 90’s who were very socially active. I enjoyed many coffee dates and visits around their kitchen tables. Ade Williams and Helen Williams are both greatly missed as they passed within the last few years. Our next door neighbors welcomed us and made us feel safe and watched out for. Thank you, Mary Anne and Kenneth Hanson!
My children and I loved attending the many summertime tea parties hosted by the much-missed Community Coordinator Marie Shields. These magical events usually raised money for a good cause and were always an experience and I am grateful that my kids will have them among their childhood memories.
I met many young families with children who became great friends and allies in the tumultuous journey of parenting. I have had the honor of being helped by good Samaritans in my times of need of which I will never forget. Thank you, Don and Mary Jane Paul and Patty and Mike King!
Northern Cass K-12 School is a highly rated school with a very active and supportive community. They utilize the Nurtured Heart Approach and Celebrate Greatness every month. They boast an active Destination Imagination program, sports teams as well as many other programs. My children and been very happy and have thrived at Northern Cass School.
I discovered two thriving church communities, an accommodating well-run grocery store (among other businesses in the Arthur Mall), and busy daycares. I have taken part in a book club, a garden club, and a mom's group. My husband and I have enjoyed dances at Johnson’s Barn, NFL games at Coaches Corner and dinners at Kelly’s Café.
My children have enjoyed countless hours at the huge and beautiful Arthur Park with new equipment, beautiful landscaping, basketball courts and even a playhouse. Halloween trick or treating, summertime bike rides and lemon aid stands are just a few of the memories that my children will take away with them.
Long walks on the Rails to Trails path are a favorite of my dogs, and I. Arthur is all of this and more with the ease and convenience of having the Fargo/Moorhead community only 40 minutes away.
My family and I have enjoyed many community events such as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Arthur Mall and the annual Memorial Day services at the Community Hall. They are always a handy time to visit neighbors that I don’t see on a more frequent basis.
I am not a social butterfly. I am an introverted and shy person. I don’t usually enjoy large crowds and find most social situations awkward. I minimized my social involvement because of this. If the town of Arthur has gifted me with the rich experience of small-town living for the last 11 years, then I wonder what it would do for a more sociable and outgoing person? My family and I are moving out of state this summer. We will look back on our years in Arthur with much fondness. Thank you, Arthur. Stay the great community that you are. A small town with a big heart.
-Heidi Tungesvick
History
August and Etta were married in 1903. They had five children Edward, Elfrieda, Elizabeth and Emma. All of the children attended Mayville State College and became teachers. Mr. Sommerfeld was a farmer and encountered all the difficulties of the early settlers including scarlet fever, tornadoes and endeavoring to fetch the doctor on horseback for medical emergencies.
The Sommerfeld House was built between 1910 and 1920. The land on which their home was built had at one time belonged to a part Native American, who willed it to his father before his death. The father sold it to a land company. The only other house in the area at the time was the house that Ben Hellands lived in. The two families called it "Sunrise Hill" as they were the first in Arthur to see the sunrise each morning. Sunrise Hill is actually the 1st beach of ancient Lake Agassiz.
August and his brother Julius had a steam threshing rig and threshed for five neighboring farmers. The crews numbered in the twenties, with bundle, grain, and water haulers, etc. In the case of rain, the housewife had many to board until they could resume threshing. The men slept in the haymow with blankets provided by the owners.
After retiring from farming, Mr. Sommerfeld was a custodian at the Arthur school and did carpenter work. Etta always had a large garden and was generous to all her neighbors with fresh vegetables. August died in 1960 at the age of 83. Several years after Mr. Sommerfled's death, his wife, Etta, sold the house and property to the Arthur Farmers, Elevator. Mrs. Sommerfled became confined to a wheelchair. She died in 1970 at the age of 88. Both were diligent workers and contributed much to their community and church during their lifetime.
(Information gathered from One Hundred Years with Arthur, compiled and issued on observance of The Arthur Centennial 1882-1982.)
