Richland County Township History: Christine
Christine City Taken from: The Richland County History Book Pages 133-134
It all began with a store:
A single general store owned by John and Ingebr Munger marked the site of Christine in 1883. A post office established the next year was located in Mungers store and John Munger was postmaster.
The area was settled by Scandinavians and named for a Swedish operatic prima donna, Christine Nilsson, although many different names have arisen as to its origin. John Bisbee platted and named the site. The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad built a depot at Christine in 1886.
The first home in Christine was built by J.S. Johnson, who at first operated a boarding house. Soon other early businesses were a lumberyard owned by Charles Pierpont and an elevator. Johnson later bought out Pierpont's establishment and expanded it to include hardware and implement. The upstairs was used for meetings of the Modern Woodmen and Americ and Royal Neighbors. Julius Skjonsby bought Johnson's rooming house and also operated a hotel for traveling salesmen traveling between Fargo and Wahpeton. It burned in 1921. Many other buildings were victims of fires. When an early cafe operated by Robert Swenson burned he returned to his native Norway. Another cafe on the same site went through several owners before burning in 1850, right after a remodeling project.
A building that had been a harness shop and the First State Bank building burned the same year. The bank was operated by Ole Leer and later by a corporation, before closing during the depression.
The present site of the Christine Wildlife Hall was occupied by a confectionery furniture business that burned about 1935. It had originally been started by Oscar and Gust Ruud. Lodge meetings were also held in the upstairs of this store.
A general store known as the Farmer's Mercantile was later sold to Art Moe and closed in 1958.
Another store was oerated in the early days by Olaus Benson and Austin Johnsgard is still operated by Hilbert Nelson.
Other early businesses were a millinery operated by Freda Monson, a dray service run by Mr. Tuttle, a hardware owned by Henry Ruud, and a dress shop of the Ruud sisters, a confectionery owned by John Sunde and a garage run by Juliius Skjonsby.
A Mr. Wallan started the first blacksmith, but moved to Colfax when Louis Amundson started a shop. There were two carpenters, Hans Jacobson and a Mr. Olson. Olson built the Christine Lutheran church. A newspaper, the Eagle Times, and a print shop were run by Tom Larkin. C.C. Clemens also printed the paper.
Andrew and Nils Nellermoe operated a meat market. Nils Nellermoe drove a meat wagon to the farm area and sold many varieties of meat. He often treated the children to some cold cuts, so they really looked forward to his coming.
At one time, there were two grain warehouses and two elevators. Past grain companies have been: Monarch, Farmers Elevator, National Atlas, Peavy, Kent-Doran, Red River Grain and now GTA.
A veterinarian, Dr. O.D. Foss served the town in earlier years.
The depot closed in the 1950's and was moved to main street for a tavern.
A physician, Dr. Louis Iverson, built a large structure on main street about 1898 and established his offices in the upper rooms. The structure was often referred to as a hospital because there was room for patients to stay overnight if necessary. About 1919, Dr. Iverson's brother Martin Iverson, moved from Abercrombie to take over the practice. In the lower part of the building, M.M. Borman ran a drugstore. The building has been vacant since 1950 when the doctor and his wife died. It has now been torn down.
The town of Christine is now in the process of incorporation. By Mrs. Alvin Haug