It isn't easy to visualize the area in and around Greenfield Township in 1879. The years following when government surveyors came into the area and were followed by the first settlers, but we must try to picture in our mind's eye a view of the countryside then as compared to 1975. What was to become Wheatland and later Greenfield Township was surveyed in November 1879. The surveyors noted there were a few trees along the creek and a little brush. When we stop to notice the creek even today, there aren't many, if any, trees along its bank, but the countryside has taken on a whole new face due to the continuous efforts of the people through the years. How hot it must have been in the summer and how cold in the winter without tree protection. The dusty or muddy roads over which the early settlers traveled and which started out as trails are also hard to fully picture. Immigration into the area really began in 1881.
Greenfield Township was organized on February 9, 1888, according to the files of commissioners' proceedings at the Court House.
The township records go back only to February 26, 1895, as there seems to have been a fire and all previous records were lost. The minutes of the meeting on February 26, 1895, indicate that C. E. Skarie was the chairman of the board of supervisors and other members named were Nels Hemmingson and Ed Olson. A. M. Sinclair was the clerk. No treasurer was named in the minutes.
Mr. Carl A. Nelson was elected to the office of township clerk in March 1899. He served continuously until 1954, thereby holding the same office for 55 years, a record that has not been broken.
The township name was suggested by Nels Hemmingson after a place where the same people had lived in Minnesota. Since this township has Bald Hill Creek running across it full length, it probably qualified for the name on its own account. Two railroads also cross the township full length - the Northern Pacific north and south and the Great Northern Surrey Cut-off east and west.
The early schools of Greenfield Township including the Stromme School located just north of the Stromme farm (Southeast 1/4 of Section 11-144-59). The Haugen (or Goplen) School in Southwest 1/4 of Section 23-144-59, is now the township hall. Another early school was the Gunderson (or also called Happy Hollow) School. It was located a mile south of Walum on the east side of the road. The school was moved into town and set north of the church in the early 1900s. It was replaced later with a two-room building.
In looking at some of the teacher reports we found schools had pupils ranging in age from six to 16. Attendance was sometimes poor; if there was help needed on the farm the older ones stayed home. This would account for the older ones still in school.
Wages were $40 per month in 1897, and $45 in 1911. The length of school term varied from two to eight months.
On the final report each teacher had to tell the condition of the "outhouses."
The instructions given to the teachers in 1872 were:
1. After 10 hours in school, the teacher should spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
2. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents a pool or public hall, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reasons for suspecting his worth, inventions, integrity and honesty.
3. The teacher who performs his labors faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 a week in his pay providing the board of education approves.
4. Suitcase teachers need not apply.
5. One contract stated that the teachers must be in by 9:00 p.m., on school nights and by 10:00 p.m., .on Friday and Saturday nights.
6. Do not wear a red hat or suit as that indicated that you might be a "hussy."
7. Teachers each day will fill lamps and clean chimneys.
8. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and scuttle of coal for the day's session.
9. New teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings each if they go to church regularly.
10. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemingly conduct will be dismissed.
11. Every teacher should lay aside from each paycheck a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.
In the spring of 1979, all the snow melted in several days. The water backed up to the north of the crossing east of Walum on the Bald Hill Creek. It created so much pressure that on April 19, 11:00 p.m., it took culvert, road and all! A temporary crossing was put in that summer. Work on the bridge began late in 1979. It was completed in the middle of spring's work in 1980. This wash out caused several bridges to go out to the south. We are thankful that no lives were lost as this happened at night.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 267