It was a bitterly cold and snowy winter in the 1930's with snowdrifts high as telephone lines. Roads and railroad tracks were blocked.
There had not been any mail or freight into Cooperstown for over a week and storekeepers were concerned.
Finally they had a meeting and decided to contact someone with good horses and sleigh who would be willing to brave the cold and snow to the railroad main line at Hannaford.
Oscar Erickson agreed to drive his team of horses and sleigh.
In early morning the sleigh was loaded with full cream cans, freight and mail for the thirteen-mile trip to Hannaford. Oscar walked most of the time to lighten the load for the team on the long slow trip.
After getting the load on the train, he gathered the incoming mail, empty cream cans and freight and started the trip back to Cooperstown. It was getting dusk, but he returned safely.
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial Page 245