Editing Sheyenne, North Dakota (section)

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2010}}
The name "Sheyenne" is derived from the nearby [[Sheyenne River]] which was named after the [[Cheyenne]] Indians. The first explorers in the area misspelled the name, thus changing the "C" to an "S".
Herds of [[bison]] once roamed the prairies near the town of Sheyenne. The [[Sioux]] tribe were the final [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe to move towards the area. The first white settlers came via the [[Northern Pacific Railway|Northern Pacific]] Railroad Company. The earliest mention of the settlement came through the [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]]-based paper, ''Normadden''. The [[Norwegian language]] paper mentioned the building of the section house in 1885 and the setting up of six tents in order to establish a townsite and a depot. The main track was laid on November 28, 1884. The railroad began operation to Sheyenne on August 6, 1885.

The main townsite of Sheyenne was obtained by Clarence E. Bennett in 1885, but later came under the jurisdiction of J. W. Richter, who dedicated the townsite in 1892. The first crops grown in the area were common [[vegetables]] and as much [[wheat]] that the land could take. The main source of meat was hunting on the abundant plains, and the other source was in the [[Sheyenne River]]. People streamed into the community from all parts of the United States and [[Europe]]. Most European settlers came from [[Scandinavia]] and [[Germany]]. Businesses flourished off railroad workers and farmers.

===Fire of 1894===
On December 7, 1894 at approximately 4:30 A.M., a fire began in the George Williams Livery Barn and spread to other businesses on Main Street. Williams' [[Pool (cue sports)|billiard]] room and soft drink shop were the next to be consumed. The blaze then spread to the Westerlund Hotel and the Hugh Peoples [[General Store]]. The post office also caught fire, but N.U. Hanson saved all the mail that was on-hand.
The fire was determined to be incendiary in origin. George Williams closed his stables at 2:00 A.M. and locked the door. When firemen arrived at the scene, they realized that the door was open, and later it was determined that the fire began in the unused box stall.
In the wake of the disaster, the merchants rebuilt and continued serving the Sheyenne area.

Sheyenne was home to C.G. Hayes, a farmer by trade who lived South of the townsite. Hayes became a soldier and was stationed at [[Fort Totten State Historic Site|Fort Totten]]. He became a scout during the [[Indian Wars]] in the Northwest. After that, he served under the [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|Seventh Cavalry]] banner, and was one of the messengers who sent for reinforcements after The [[Battle of the Little Bighorn]].
In 1897, Sheyenne began publishing its first newspaper, ''The Sheyenne Star''.

===The 1900s===
Settlers and immigrants continued to swarm to the area as they came via [[boxcar]] and [[train]]. They also arrived by [[cars]] and [[wagons]]. Businesses in Sheyenne included numerous department stores, meat markets, livery stables, a depot, a blacksmith shop operated by Hans Stenberg, Odegaard's Shop, a feed mill, and land companies. Sheyenne had several elevators that stored different local goods. There was a [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] dealership, numerous service stations, numerous pharmacies, cafes, a hotel, a public bath, and a lumberyard. A cream station, an opera house, and a variety store also existed in Sheyenne at one time. Many banks have come and gone over the brief period of Sheyenne's existence, including the Farmers' State Bank.

[[Image:Sheyenne 007.jpg|thumb|right|Looking north on [[U.S. Route 281|Highway 281]] in Sheyenne]]

===Creamery Day Celebration 1913===
The opening of the creamery in Sheyenne was the largest event in Sheyenne history in terms of turnout. The event was created to celebrate the opening of Sheyenne's creamery on June 28, 1913. Over 2000 people were present at the event. The festivities began with a parade that covered 22 blocks that included the Fort Totten Indian Band, the [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scouts]], and numerous merchants' floats. The parade ended at the creamery, where everyone was served free [[ice cream]] and [[buttermilk]]. Over 1900 ice cream cones were served. The climax of the day was when Professor G.F. Martin of North Dakota Agricultural College, now [[North Dakota State University]], spoke about the importance of [[dairy]]. A baseball game was then played between Sheyenne and [[New Rockford, North Dakota|New Rockford]], and at 9:00 a grand ball was held at the opera house.

===1914–present===
The Sheyenne area progressed through [[World War I]] and the [[1918 flu pandemic|1918 influenza epidemic]]. A shock to the area came in the 1930s with the [[Great Depression]], when the main industry of the area, [[agriculture]], was threatened severely. Poor crop prices influenced Sheyenne's economy and the [[Works Progress Administration|WPA]] was crucial to the life of Sheyenne. It created a park on the south side of Sheyenne that is now owned by the [[VFW]], it restored the town jail, and its workers built Warsing Dam on the outskirts of the city.
In the 1940s numerous residents fought in [[World War II]], and the ''Sheyenne Star'' ceased publication.
In 1955, the second irrigation experimental farm in North Dakota was planned on the land of Bruce Larson, while a major concern of the late 1950s was the high [[nitrate]] condition in the wells of Sheyenne. The problem was solved by the [[Northern Pacific Railway Company]] donating their well to the City of Sheyenne.
A major event in the 1960s was the opening of the Tastee-Freez, a fast food and ice cream restaurant, in the building previously occupied by the city's fire department.
Community betterment was the highlight of the 1970s in Sheyenne, when projects such as street paving, [[tennis]] courts, townhouses, a museum, and main street revitalization were finished. In 1977 Sheyenne won the North Dakota Community Betterment Award for its work on its projects.

Sheyenne celebrated its 125th with a demo-derby, BBQ dinner, parade, school reunion, fireworks, and a children's theater production, put on by the S.T.A.R.S.