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New Salem American Legion Post Bears Name of World War I ‘Native Son’
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11/10/2006
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The United States, as a nation, will observe the Veteran’s Day holiday this Saturday, Nov. 11. This notable holiday is a perfect time to take a look back at the history of New Salem’s own John Repsdorf American Legion Post #91.
The Legion post is responsible for putting on a fine community Memorial Day service each year, provides scholarship funds for local and area students, sponsors coloring contests for the youngsters, they sponsor students at ND Boys’ State, and also provide some very appreciated community service including flag burning ceremonies, and can also be counted on to assist in military rites for local veterans.
The New Salem legion post is named after John August Repsdorf, the oldest son of seven children of Mr. and Mrs. John Repsdorf, who made their home on a farm three miles west of New Salem.
He was the first of New Salem’s native sons to give his life “fighting for democracy.”
John was killed in action July 22, 1918 and was laid to rest in Oise Aisne, American Cemetery, Seringes-et Nesles Aisne, France. John, who was born in New Salem January 22, 1898, enlisted in Company A, 1st Infantry, North Dakota National Guard at Bismarck, July 23, 1917. He sailed for France December 15th and after arriving there was transferred to Co. K, 1st Division, 18th U.S. Infantry, and was almost immediately placed on the front. He saw hard fighting throughout his stint. He was promoted to corporal on July 4, 1918. Engagements he fought in included Ansauville (Lorraine) and Cantigny (Picardy).
Memorial services were held for John Repsdorf on August 22, 1918 at the Evangelical Church with Rev. Fontanta delivering the service in English, with a few consoling remarks to the family in German.
News of the end of the first World War, on Nov. 11, 1918, spread far and wide and was cause for much celebrating. New Salem folks shared in the happy news that the boys were coming home, but a Spanish Influenza epidemic that fall kept celebrating at a minimum, so plans were set in motion for a special Home-Coming Celebration the following year.
And New Salem hosted a party to remember when a Homecoming Celebration was held Saturday, Sept. 20, 1919, in honor of the servicemen of the first World War.
According to an account of the celebration in the September 26th, 1919 issue of The New Salem Journal, the celebration was a huge success with four to five thousand people in attendance despite it being a raw and windy day.
And, “three Navy lads and about fifty boys in khaki marched through the streets at the head of the procession. The business firms in New Salem also expended their best efforts and came up with floats of a patriotic, industrial or comedic nature.”
The day also included a dinner, horse races, foot races, an aviator performed tricks with his airplane despite high winds, Major J. M. Hanley spoke to a good audience, four or five movie shows were given to crowded houses, fireworks lit up the evening sky, and dancers prolonged the celebrating until the wee hours.
Organization of New Salem’s own American Legion Post followed about a month after the celebration, beginning with a special and began on October 28, 1919 with a special meeting by New Salem and area veterans of “The Great War” on October 28, 1919.
Present at that first meeting were Philip Blank, Andy Kaip, Edwin Stein, Chas. Wolf, Herman Leonhard, William Just, Art Just, Marion Miller, Edwin Krueger, Elmer Streib, Olin Roth, John Wecker, William Schucht, Christ Blank, Jacob Rohs and Paul Schreiber.
Philip Blank was appointed acting chairman and John Wecker secretary until a regular meeting could be held for the election of officers.
The first regular meeting was held Nov. 11, 1919, with 27 veterans in attendance. Election of officers was held and the first officers of the post were: Philip Blank, commander; Fred Mann, vice commander; John Wecker, adjutant; William Schucht, historian; Ed Stein, finance officer; and Andrew Kaip, chaplain.
In 1958 the post had a membership of 65. The post has a current membership of about 75 veterans.
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Former New Salem Man Climbing High:
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11/10/2006
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After graduating from college in 1997, James Just moved with his wife, Rebecca (Keuther), to northern Idaho and was introduced to the mountains and hiking. Initially, James spent most of his time on established trails hiking to alpine lakes and low mountain summits. As his experience and knowledge grew, so did his desire to begin scrambling and climbing more difficult and higher peaks. In 2001 the Just family relocated to southern Idaho and James had the opportunity to do just that.
Idaho has nine peaks over 12,000 feet, commonly referred to in the climbing community as “12ers” or “twelvers.” These mountains all require Class 3 scrambling and at least 4,500 feet of vertical elevation gain. Along with many other Idaho mountains, James managed to summit the Idaho 12er over a three-year period. At this point, he had certainly come a long way from his first short nature trail hike.
In 2003 James and Rebecca and their two daughters, Taylor and Kennedy, moved to the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Denver, Colorado. Colorado is home to 55 peaks over 14,000 feet, or course called the “14ers” or “fourteeners.”
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Girls Earn Shot At State Volleyball Berth
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11/10/2006
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For the second-straight year the New Salem Lady Holsteins advanced to the Region 5 Volleyball Championship game where they were to have played the Flasher Bulldogs Tuesday night, Nov. 7, for the right to advance to the State Class B Volleyball Tournament Nov. 16-18 in Minot.
The Nov. 7th championship game was a repeat of last year’s final that saw the Bulldogs just edge out the Lady Holsteins in a deciding fifth game.
This time around the Lady Holsteins advanced to the title game by defeating Sheridan County 3-0 on Saturday, Nov. 4, and Turtle Lake-Mercer 3-0 on Monday, Nov. 6. Flasher got by Wilton-Wing 3-0 Saturday and Center-Stanton 3-1 Monday evening.
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For full versions of the above stories and to see a complete version of our newspaper and to get all New Salem's news, please subscribe to the New Salem Journal by calling 701-843-7567, or by writing to our subscription department and sending in a check in the amount of $25.00 for a one year subscription for North Dakota residents and $30.00 for out of state residents.
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