Did you know that Devils Lake used to have a Macaroni Festival?
According to the Thursday, June 10, 1954 issue of the Devils Lake Daily Journal it was quite a popular annual event with attendees from throughout North Dakota and our neighbors to the north from Manitoba, Canada.
North Dakota’s governor at the time, Norman Brunedale and U.S. Congressman Otto Krueger were part of the festivities officially welcoming honored guests from both sides of the border, including the mayors of numerous cities in North Dakota and civic leaders from Canada.
There was a “beauty contest” where 17 contestants competed for the title of “Mrs. Macaroni.”
In the reporter’s own words from the Journal, “Cool, hazy weather greeted visitors today to the annual Macaroni Festival and Canadian Good Will Day in Devils Lake as preparations were being made to feed more than 3,000 men, women and children almost a ton of spaghetti topped by 500 gallons of sauce.
“Launched at 11 a.m. with a parade through the downtown streets, the festival continued with the serving of free spaghetti for two hours as a gift from the people of Devils Lake to visitors at the festival.
“The kitchens of the Elks Club, American Legion and Fairmont Creamery were pressed into service since no one local restaurant or hotel afforded sufficient facilities.
“Because of the cool temperatures, serving was moved indoors to the Memorial Building. Original plans were to serve the spaghetti on the lawn in front of the building.
“Climax of the festival will come at 11 p.m. today as Mrs. Macaroni of 1954 is announced at a dance in the Memorial Building.
“A good attendance was reported at the dance Wednesday night, which opened the festival. Music was provided by Whoopee John’s orchestra.
“Mayors of the area and civic officials from Canada took part in a macaroni eating contest, to which they had been challenged by Mayor Kelly. County Judge Philip Hoghaug declared the winner.
“Children, with boys and girls in separate divisions, had their own macaroni eating contests for cash prizes. An international tug-o-war was scheduled later in the afternoon between strong men from North Dakota and Crystal City, Manitoba, for a bonus of $50.
“Forty-six entries were received for $255 in prizes in a cooking contest featuring products of durum. Dishes were prepared in three categories, salads, hot dishes and desserts, for cash prizes in each divisiob of $50, $25 and $10.
“Judging took place during the day by Sis Hadley of KCJB – TV in Minot and Joan Michalski, Benson County Home Agent at Minnewaukan. Winners were to be announced at 4:30 p.m. by Judge Hoghaug in the Legion Building.
“Candidates for Mrs. Macaroni paraded in bathing suits on the stage of the American Legion auditorium for final judging. They will be entertained at 6:30 p.m. today at a banquet at the Town and Country Club.
“Chef Gosy [from Chicago] and Drucilla Handy, representative from a Chicago public relations firm, were to leave Devils Lake at 4 p.m. for Grand Forks to catch a plane back to Chicago. Miss Handy was in Devils Lake to give national publicity to the festival.
“Captains of serving were Lloyd Nelson, Dr. Vernon Otis and Glenn Kerns and each had about 15 persons under them as assistants.
“Entertainment for the festival were presented by acts from a Minneapolis booking agency, including Bud Jacobson, comedian, Harry Habats, accordianist, Bob and Diane, roller skaters, and the Foour Gages, acrobats.
“A member of the show also will appear during the cooking school at 7 p.m. today at which winning recipes in the cooking contest will be featured under supervision of Mrs. Alma Oehler, home economist for the state mill and elevator at Grand Forks.
“To ascertain that the dinner was properly prepared, the local civic leaders arranged through the National Macaroni Institute to have one of the country’s best known chefs come to Devils Lake to supervise the cooking of the spaghetti and sauce. Not only did Gosy supervise, but he personally cooked most of the meal himself.
“One visitor to the festival asked Gosy why spaghetti was served when the event was called a Macaroni Festival. The chef explained that the general term “macaroni” or “macaroni products” includes macaroni, spaghetti and egg noodles in an astonishing number of shapes and sizes.
“Just to name a few of the shapes other than the familiar ones are corrugated elbows, coiled or bunches rods, alphabets, shells, stars, seeds, pretzels, snails, flowers, crowns, falf moons, and fish. And the list could go on and on. In fact there are almost as many names of macaroni, spaghetti and egg noodle dishes as there are shapes. Did you ever hear of fettucci or tagilarini or linguine? They are three Neapolitan forms of macaroni products,” Gosy said.
“Thirty Canadians had registered by noon today in the Memorial Building. They came from Crystal City, Killarney, Brandon, Morden, Cartwright, Pilot Mound and Belmont, Manitoba.
“Mayors who registered included Sophus Trom of Casselton; Lynn W. Schworbel of New Rockford; Dr. Ted Heiler of Rugby, E.A. Meiland of Edmore, J.A. David of Killarney; D.W. Kelly, Gus S. Miller of Knox; Joseph E. Hejlik of Lawton; H.G. Renfrew of Calvin; Fred Bergevin of Webster;; Donald F. Sloan of Lakota; James A. Creighton of Brandon; H.A. Cochlan of Morden; F. W. Davis of Crystal City; Norbert Rupp of Munich; Stanley Haug of Starkweather; W.A. Munro, Rolla and John Weber, Calio. Minnewaukan was represented by Palmer Sinness.
“In the next day’s Devils Lake Journal it was reported that Mrs. Macaroni of 1954 was announced; Mrs. Yuland Conoway, 26, wife of a Devils Lake commercial photographer.
“Nineteen mayors took part in the macaroni eating contest with HG Renfrow of Calvin winning.
“Americans were victors over Canadians in an international tug-of-war for $50. Members of the winning team were Robert and Helmer Hansen, Richard Regan, Donovan Kitsch, James Maetzold, Lester Schrader, Charles Stubbe, Paul Leiphon, Paul Ehnert and Lloyd Kenner.”
