William-Code's-Half-Way-House

From: The Code Family by Lewis Gaubert

The following is extracted from an article appearing in the Walsh County Press, Park River, North Dakota, Wednesday, November 7, 1977. The article from which it was extracted was one that had been printed in the Grafton News and Times, a weekly newspaper, on October 26, 1932. It refers to the year 1884.

CODE'S HALF-WAY HOUSE

Park River was a kind of dark horse among the pioneer towns. It was expected that It would bear the name of Kensington, a post-office which had been in existence for many years. In this vicinity stood the famous "Half-Way-House", where Bill Code dispensed hospitality. Here, the farmers from the west-end lodged when they hauled wheat to Grafton or transacted business at the county seat. The hotel was not pretentious. It measured 14 feet by 16 feet. A heating stove stood in the middle of the room and mattresses were strewn all over the floor. The guests would sit with their feet toward the blazing fire and all found quarters highly satisfactory.

William Code was a member of the first board of county commissioners of Walsh County, being one of the original appointees of Governor Ordway of Dakota Territory.