Braddock Threshing Grounds & Letterpress Museum
The Braddock Threshing Grounds is home to the Annual South Central Threshing Association, Inc. Threshing Bee and Antique Equipment Show. The show is held during the first weekend after Labor Day. Visitors to the show can witness first-hand how the early settlers of Emmons County tended their crops. Over 2,000 visitors attend each year to take part in the festivities. The Threshing Grounds is also home to a small collection of pioneer buildings and The Braddock News Letterpress Museum. A parade, food, entertainment and equipment demonstrations are featured at this event.The Braddock Letterpress Museum is a collaborative effort between Braddock officials and local newspaper the Emmons County Record. The museum features a collection of printing equipment from the early days. The artifacts in the museum come from across the country and many still work. Visitors can see the presses at work during the Threshing Bee each year. The most notable equipment on the grounds includes an 1891 Walter Scott Pony Press, an 1895 Babcock Standard, an Alden’s Model Press and a 12x18 Chandler & Price. The shop is setup to look and operate like a weekly newspaper would have in 1885-1920. The museum is open during the Annual South Central Threshing Bee and for special tours. To schedule a tour contact Alan at (701) 332-6632.For upcoming events and more information, visit the South Central Threshing Association on Facebook.Sources:I. Linton Chamber of Commerce. Emmons County Guide. Linton, ND: Linton Chamber of Commerce, 2010.II. Nevin, Eric C. "The Braddock News South Central Threshing Association, Inc." Briar press. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.briarpress.org/31678.
Elise Perras Museum
Elise Perras was born in Canada in 1853 to a Canadian mother and a French father. She came to North Dakota in 1880 and had her first child, Nell, in 1883. Another child, Olga, was born in 1890. The 1910 Federal Census lists her as widowed. Perras was living in Hazleton, North Dakota with her family when she was appointed its postmaster in 1903. While serving as postmistress, Perras was also the proprietress and owner of a millinery shop, which was also the location of the first post office and where Perras lived with her family. Elise Perras passed away in 1918. Her daughter Nell passed away the following year.The Elise Perras Museum includes post office memorabilia, antique furnishings, and historical clothing, including several hats. Admission is free and by appointment only. Sources:I. 1910 United States Federal Census. Williamsport, Emmons, North Dakota. 27 April 1910. Retrieved from: ancestry.comII. "Elise Perras Museum." North Dakota Tourism. 2017. http://www.ndtourism.com/hazelton/attractions/elise-perras-museum III. "Elise L Perras." Find A Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Perras&GSfn=Elise&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1918&GSdyrel=in&GSst=30&GScnty=1765&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=108071779&df=all& IV. Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. Retrieved from: ancestry.com
St Anthony Catholic Church
St. Anthony Parish was founded in 1909, yet no permanent place of worship was established until 1911. Under the direction of Father Max Speckmeier, the first church of St. Anthony was constructed in Linton at the same site of the current church. The church was a small wood-frame structure measuring 40 feet by 60 feet. Records show that the first mass to be served in the newly built church was in January 1912.In 1915, every family that was a member of St. Anthony’s Parish donated $100 and three days’ labor to build a rectory. Father Andrew Kolbeck, O.S.B became St. Anthony’s first resident priest as soon as the construction was finished. In 1915-1916 the parish acquired a tract of land north of town for a cemetery.By the early 1920s the Catholic community of Linton consisted of over 120 families and the need for a larger church grew. Plans for the new church were drawn up at the beginning of 1925 and work on the new church began on August 12 of that year. The old church was moved to the rear of the block as plans for the new church were in the making. When the new church was finished in October 1926, it was sold and moved across the street and turned into a private residence.The new church measured 122.5 feet by 46 feet. It cost approximately $45,000 to build. In 2001, an architect estimated that to build the church today, it would cost $2.4 million dollars. A building of this size required continual beautifying and updating. Throughout the years, the church has undergone many improvements such as hanging fans, roof maintenance, new carpeting, refinishing the pews and kneelers, plastering walls, sandblasting, and landscaping projects.Today St. Anthony’s Parish serves the Catholic community of Linton as well as in St. Kathrine Catholic Church in Braddock and St. Pail Catholic Church in Hazelton. Sources:I. "St. Anthony Catholic Church celebrates its centennial; Bishop Zipfel gives homily." Germans from Russia Heritage Collection. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/articles/newspapers/news/catholiccentennial.html.II. "St. Anthony Catholic Church." St. Anthony Catholic Church. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://stanthonylinton.com/.III. Woods, Ellen, and Euvagh Wenzel. Emmons County history : compiled for the bicentennial, 1976. Linton, ND: Emmons County Historical Society, 1976.
Emmons County Museum
In 1973 the Emmons County Historical Society was established to gather, preserve, and exhibit items related to the county history. The Emmons County Museum in Linton houses the collection. The museum is comprised of 4 buildings, with the main musuem housed in the old St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and in the former rectory. The musuem includes exhibits on early peoples and early immigrants, life, religion, music, and medicine in Emmons County, and an extensive military memorabilia display. The infamous safe from the early days of Emmons County also has a home in the musuem.The museum is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Fridays and Sundays from 2-4 and by appointment. Contact 701-254-4399 or 701-254-5462 to schedule a tour.Sources:I. "Emmons County Musuem." North Dakota Tourism. 2017. http://www.ndtourism.com/linton/museums/emmons-county-museum
Seeman Park
Seeman Park in Linton was created in June 1919. The land was donated to the City by S.L. Seeman for whom the park is named. The City first had intentions of purchasing the land from Mr. Seeman, but he made a proposition to donate the land upon the condition that it be fenced in and improved upon to the extent of spending at least $1,500 on it. Among the improvements that Seeman Park saw were a dance pavilion, a bandstand, a children’s playground, a bath-house, and a baseball diamond.In the 1930s, efforts were put forth by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) to beautify the park. A group of men working under Supervisor Jonathan Hoff worked on the project. The men built steps up for the rustic footbridge that crosses the Creek and picnic tables were added to the grounds. The stone structure that can still be seen on the banks of Beaver Creek was one of the many improvements made. The original wood-frame bath house was torn down and the current stone structure was erected.This large park required a lot of tending and care. A caretaker was hired and was paid a small salary, a rent-free house and concession rights to the dance pavilion. On multiple occasions caretakers often served as lifeguards, saving those who fell into the creek and could not swim.Seeman Park was the hub of entertainment for the citizens of Linton and surrounding communities. Traveling bands were hired to play at the bandstand. Roller skating became a popular pastime at the dance pavilion. Baseball teams from surrounding towns would travel to Seeman Park to play on the baseball diamond. The Clyde Beatty Circus set up its big top in the park in the 1950s.This scenic park is no longer the popular location that it once was. There is no longer a dance pavilion, bandstand, and the baseball diamond is no longer in use. The Seeman Park of today is beautiful, and well cared for. A great place for picnics, camping, and play.Sources:I. Woods, Ellen, and Euvagh Wenzel. Emmons County history : compiled for the bicentennial, 1976. Linton, ND: Emmons County Historical Society, 1976.
Emmons County Courthouse
The Emmons County seat was not always located in Linton, North Dakota. Starting in 1883, Williamsport, in the northern part of the county, held that distinction. Its designation as the seat was contested nearly from the beginning, with citizens of the south protesting the unfair advantage of the larger populations in the north. Nearly every election, starting in 1884, had a referendum on the ballot to move the seat. The bid was finally successful in November of 1898. Arrangements were made for a courthouse building in Patterson's Hotel in Linton's Old Town. The process of moving the seat was slow. Finally, in February 1899, armed with shotguns and fence posts picked up along the way, disgruntled Linton citizens rode to Williamsport to secure the county records and bring them to Linton. Two of the Linton group rode their horses back and forth in front of the guards of the courthouse, kicking up snow and dirt, appearing to witnesses as a larger group. The ruse was successful and they met no resistance as they opened up a wall in the courthouse vault and brought out the county records and a safe. The items were brought back to Linton. However, a judge ruled the recods stolen and they were returned to Williamsport, until two days later when they were officially allowed to move them permanently to Linton. The infamous safe is now on display at the Emmons County Museum in Linton.Construction on the current courthouse began in 1933. Architects Bugenhagen, Hess, and Deeter out of Minot designed the structure. Local labor was used as much as possible and under the National Industrial Recovery Act, thirty percent of the building cost was given by the Federal government. The dedication ceremony was held on October 6th, 1934, the 50th anniversary of Emmons County. Sources:I. Wenzel, Euvagh and Ellen Woods. Emmons County History: Compiled for the Bicentennial, 1976. Emmons County Historical Society, 1976.
Ludwig & Christina Welk Homestead
The Ludwig and Christina Welk Homestead, located in rural Strasburg, is more than just an ode to the career of Polka bandleader, Lawrence Welk, who grew up on the farm. The Homestead, run by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, interprets agriculture in the early 20th century, and German-Russian culture, music, and architecture.Ludwig and Christina Welk immigrated from Odessa, Russia in 1893. They built their home on the site in 1899 of a material called batsa. Batsa is a dried mud brick and was a construction material commonly used in the Russian motherland. The Welk family grew wheat and other grain crops, raised poultry and tended dairy cows. Ludwig and Christina Welk retired to Strasburg in 1928 and left their youngest son Michael, and his family to run the farm. The Michael Welk family tended the homestead until 1965. Shortly after, the farm fell into disrepair. In 2014, the Welk family sold the site to the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The SHSND worked with local volunteers to restore the site to what you see today.Lawrence Welk, sixth child to Ludwig and Christina, was born on March 11, 1903. His father taught him to play the accordion. Welk decided on a career in music and convinced his father to loan him money to purchase a mail-order accordion for $400. Welk continued to work on the family farm until he was 21, in repayment for the accordion. The money he made performing during this time went to his family. Lawrence eventually left the farm in 1924 to pursue his musical career. He made his debut on national television in 1955. The Lawrence Welk Show was produced for twenty-six years and reruns on public television stations still play.Hours:Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pmThursday 10:00 am - 5:00 pmFriday 10:00 am - 5:00 pmSaturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pmSources:I. "Ludwig and Christina (Schwahn) Welk Farmstead near Strasburg, North Dakota." Germans from Russia Heritage Collection. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/history_culture/lawrence_welk/pioneer.html.II. "Welk Farmstead State Historic Site." Welk Farmstead State Historic Site | Official North Dakota Travel & Tourism Guide. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.ndtourism.com/strasburg/local-legends/welk-farmstead-state-historic-site.III. "Welk Homestead State Historic Site." Welk Homestead State Historic Site - State Historical Society of North Dakota. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://history.nd.gov/historicsites/welk/.IV. Woods, Ellen, and Euvagh Wenzel. Emmons County history : compiled for the bicentennial, 1976. Linton, ND: Emmons County Historical Society, 1976.
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church
In 1906, the catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul of Tiraspol, North Dakota moved into the newer community of Strasburg, two and half miles down the road. Work on the new church began in March of 1910, when the Diocese of Bismarck blessed and laid the cornerstorn. By November they were able to hold mass in the still unfinished interior and in December the parish had their first Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The church was dedicated on June 29th, 1911, the feast day of Saint Peter. The church is one of the largest and most ornate in North Dakota. It stands at 85 feet tall and has a seating capacity of 900. The final cost of the cathedral was $45,000. Because the church could not be consecrated until it was debt free, the parishioners gave generously, not only paying off the debt, but raising enought to add fine details such as statues, stained glass, and the pipe organ. Saints Peter and Paul also served as a school. In 1910, three sisters from the Ursuline Order in Germany arrived in Strasburg with the intention of education the youth of the parish. Though classes were taught in English, the nuns also gave lessons in German, in addition to religious instruction and, for the young girls, homemaking. Sources:I. Saints Peter and Paul's Parish: Centennial Book, 1889-1989, Strasburg, ND. Centennial Committee, Strasburg, ND. 1989.
Ghost Towns of Westfield & Hull
The now ghost towns of Hull and Westfield have always been small. These villages that lie near the South Dakota boarder, are connected by a four-mile gravel road that mostly serves the farming communities that live near. Because the communities were never connected to the railway, they inevitably dwindled. Only the most basic establishments in these communities have survived: churches and small grocery stores.Hull was settled by Dutch immigrants in 1887. The village’s beginnings were marked by the building of institutions that all towns need: a church, a post office, a general store, and a school house. Since its founding, the village’s population has not grown much over 40 residents. The store is Hull’s only business and provides basic necessities to rural families who would otherwise travel to Hague or Strasburg to shop. The Hull Christian Reformed Church still has a strong presence at the center of the community.Westfield, originally named “Hope” was founded in 1884. It too was founded by the establishment of a post office. It was named for Westfield, Iowa, the former home of many of its Dutch immigrant residents. At one time, Westfield was a bustling city. It has a church, telephone office, a blacksmith shop, and a service station. Like Hull, the village was never incorporated and the population has hovered around 40 for most of the century. Today, Westfield remains more active than the village of Hull. This “Wooden Shoe Community” is home to Hope Reformed Church, Bakker Elementary School and a coffee joint called Grandma’s Kuchen. Kuchen is a traditional German dessert that has a pastry pie crust and is filled with custard and fruit. Locals have declared Grandma’s Kuchen the best in the world. You can find where Grandma's Kuchen is sold on Facebook. Sources:I. Linton Chamber of Commerce. Emmons County Guide. Linton, ND: Linton Chamber of Commerce, 2010.II. Woods, Ellen, and Euvagh Wenzel. Emmons County history : compiled for the bicentennial, 1976. Linton, ND: Emmons County Historical Society, 1976.
Saint Marys Cemetery
Old St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery was founded in 1884 and is located on the grounds of the original wood St. Mary’s Catholic Church site. As is done in traditional Catholic cemeteries, the first graves at St. Mary’s were positioned eastward, toward the rising of the sun and the holy city of Jerusalem. In later years, the graves were positioned northward, toward the new church. Burials continued at this site until 1914, when a new cemetery was founded on the north side of Hague.Visitors will notice that the cemetery contains four different types of grave markers: concrete, marble, cast iron, and hand crafted iron. Old St. Mary’s Cemetery has twenty-two wrought iron cross sites named on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the iron crosses were made by local blacksmiths using hand tools, galvanized metal, iron, nuts, bolts and other found metal materials. Rarely will you find two iron crosses the same, and each blacksmith had his own signature technique and aesthetic.These iron crosses make St. Mary’s one of North Dakota’s most iconic German-Russian cultural sites. For the German-Russians the iron cross or “eiserne kreuze” is a symbol of strength of community. The remaining iron crosses at St. Mary’s stand open to the effects of time and nature, serving as a testament to the strength of the community. These hand-made crosses are also a symbol of thrift, hard work, practicality, religious, and creative qualities of the Germans from Russia. A recent revival of the interest in the iron crosses has been crucial to the survival of all remaining “eiserne kreuze” across the prairieland. Once neglected, Old St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery is once again carefully tended, and the crosses protected with a coat of silver paint. A new gate was installed in 1988.Sources:I. Linton Chamber of Commerce. Emmons County Guide. Linton, ND: Linton Chamber of Commerce, 2010.II. Miller, Michael. "The Old St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery (Friedhof) and Church - Hague, North Dakota." Germans from Russia Heritage Collection. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/history_culture/town_county/oldstmary.html.III. Woods, Ellen, and Euvagh Wenzel. Emmons County history : compiled for the bicentennial, 1976. Linton, ND: Emmons County Historical Society, 1976.
St. Mary's Catholic Church
St. Mary’s Catholic Church is one of the most impressive churches in German-Russian country and is the jewel of the Hague community. It is one of the oldest German-Russian Catholic parishes in North Dakota.From 1890, a small wooden church in the nearby settlement of Selz, served as the home of St. Mary’s Parish. By 1906, the Hague Catholic community and St. Mary’s Parish grew large enough to warrant the construction of a larger, brick church. Unfortunately, the people of Hague we not able to enjoy their first brick church for long. On Ash Wednesday of 1929, a fire destroyed the church. Many efforts were made to contain the blaze and save some of the holy items from the blaze. All efforts proved to be futile. Hague did not have a fire truck or adequate water to save the church. Only the rectory was saved by the tireless efforts of those carrying water buckets to the douse the flames. What was left of the 1906 church, was salvaged and reconstructed as the St. Mary grotto, and stands on the site of the original entrance to the church.The church that stands today is due to the great fundraising efforts of the parishioners. The construction of this church was even more incredible because it took place during the Great Depression. The citizens of Hague gave their money and their labor to build this church at a time when money and resources were scarce. They wanted to build a church with the same splendor as the old one and the cornerstone for that new church was laid in August 1929. The church was completed in June 1930 for $80,000. It is presently valued at $1.2 million. The parishioners helped to build the new church with their own hands. The basement of the church was dug by hand with the assistance of horses. The now well-known Hebron brick company of North Dakota constructed the main body of the church.The outside of the church is quite impressive, but the inside is the churches most outstanding feature. Thirteen Roman-arched stained glass windows portray the saints. Oil painting about the life of the Virgin Mary are spread across the ceiling. In all there are over 100 statues and paintings. The intricate altar is adorned with angels and the Virgin Mary.The great fundraising efforts to the parishioners of St. Mary’s were put to the test once more, in recent history. In 2008, after 80 years, the roof needed a replacement. The cost for the roofing project was estimated at $212,000, a large sum for a small parish. As of the summer of 2017, the parish had raise over $100,000 and the roof replacement project was underway to preserve this gem of German-Russian country. Sources: I. "Fixing Mary's Roof." Emmonscatholics.org. Accessed July 31, 2017. https://emmonscatholics.org/fixing-marys-roof.II. Linton Chamber of Commerce. Emmons County Guide. Linton, ND: Linton Chamber of Commerce, 2010.III. Wald, Katie Glatt. "A History of St. Mary's Catholic Parish from 1890 to 1990 Hague, Emmons County, North Dakota." Germans from Russia Heritage Collection. Accessed July 31, 2017. https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/history_culture/history/st_mary.html.
Mc Intosh County Bank
The first McIntosh County Bank was established in 1911 in Danzig, North Dakota as Farmers State Bank. During the Great Depression deposits into the bank fell. In the bank's early years, they could take in $125,000 in deposits, but during the Depression that fell to $25,000 as the community of Danzig fell into decline. The shareholders made the decision to move the bank's location to Zeeland, North Dakota in 1934. In 1940 the name of the bank was changed to McIntosh County Bank and its main branch was moved to Ashley, North Dakota, with the Zeeland location remaining a branch. It is still located and operational in its original 1930's building. Sources:I. "History." McIntosh County Bank. 2017. https://www.makeitmcb.com/index.php/about-us/history
Zeeland Hall
Zeeland Hall is an example of the New Deal Construction Relief program, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) effort of the 1930's. It was built in 1936 for $19,000 and is done in a Colonial Revival style. One of the outstanding features of the structure is a bell tower. The bell tower and style were chosen to reflect patriotism, democracy, and moral superiority. The local sponser for the building was M.M. Braun, who would be elected as the village's first mayor once it was incorporated into a city. The building was used for community events, such as movie showings, stage productions, and carnivals. Very little has been done to the structure since it was built and the interior boasts many of its original features.Sources:I. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Zeeland Hall." United States Department of Interior: National Park Service. 2016. https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/16000368.htm
Zeeland Park
The Zeeland Park Arch is one of the last remaining artifacts of the Zeeland Park. Zeeland Park was created in the 1930s by local businessmen who raised money by charging admission to town basketball games. Once sufficient funds had been raised, a tract of land at the south end of main street was purchased for the city park. The city of Zeeland was then granted federal funding from the WPA (Works Progress Administration) to build a baseball park with grandstand and the distinctive arch that still stands today. Sources:I. "Zeeland Park Arch." German Russian Country. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://germanrussiancountry.org/?portfolio=zeeland-park-arch.
St. Andrew's Church
St. Andrews Evangelical German Lutheran Church was built in 1893 and is the onlly remaining church of the original five church parish. The church site includes the original 1893 building, the new church built in 1906, the parsonage built in 1926, and the cemetery. Early settlers would hold church services in their homes. St. Andrews was one of the first churches in McIntosh County to be built. Fifteen German Lutheran families from the region of Odessa in Russia donated $395 in order to build the church in the budding Zeeland region and each family donated 15 days of labor in order to build the church. Because there was such a great distance between the founding church, four satellite churches would be bulit. One pastor serviced all five churches in the parish, necessitating a rotating schedule of services in the morning and afternoons. St. Andrews is an example of the architecture style unique to the Germans from Russia ethnic group that settled much of North Dakota in the latter half of the 19th Century. It is constructed out of sod bricks, made with mud, straw, and water. These bricks make the walls of the 1893 church 24 inches thick. Another indicator of the Germans from Russia heritage is the layout of the cemetery, which does not include family plots. Instead, adults and individuals who were not confirmed are buried on the south side of the cemetery. Infants and children that had not been confirmed were buried on the north side. People were buried side by side in the order that they died, meaning spouses and children could be separated. The first person buried in the cemetery was Katharina Rudolph.Sources:I. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Saint Andrews Evangelical German Lutheran Church." United States Department of Interior: National Park Service. 1990.
Hoskins Old Settlers Monument
The Hoskins Old Settlers Monument was constructed in 1938 on the site of the Hoskins Settlement. Early pioneer Herbert M. Larimer planned, built, and contributed funds to the monument. All Hoskins pioneers or their decedents were asked to contribute a stone to the monument, with the name of the pioneer inscribed on it. By 1933, a pile of stones had begun to pile up. Mr. Larimer was not able to fully finance the project so donations were solicited from the Women’s Club, American Legion Auxiliary, American Legion, and individuals.Hoskins was the first settlement in McIntosh County, founded in 1884. It was named for the lake by which it is located. The Hoskins post office was established in August of 1884 and was in the general store of George W. Abbott, who became the first postmaster. Hoskins was the McIntosh County seat from 1884 until 1888. When the Soo Line Railroad came though McIntosh County, everything except the Hoskins school moved three miles east to the new town of Ashley. When the post office closed in May 1888, the town slowly dissolved. All that is left of the town of Hoskins is the crudely constructed concrete and field stone monument that bears the names of the pioneer families that lived nearby. Sources:I. Dahl, Ron. "Hoskins (McIntosh County)." Hoskins (Mcintosh County). Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.webfamilytree.com/North_Dakota_Place_Names/H/hoskins_(mcintosh_county).htm.II. German-Russian Country. "Hoskins Old Settler Monument." Flickr. July 30, 2017. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://www.flickr.com/photos/german-russian/albums/72157632670671953/with/8439413792/.III. Stowell, Tom. "Welcome to McIntosh County, North Dakota." McIntosh County, North Dakota Genealogy. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.usgenweb.info/ndmcintosh/index.htm.IV. Wick, Douglas A. North Dakota Place Names. Prairie House, 1989.
Ashley Creamery
The historic Ashley Creamery was built in 1919 by a farmers co-op milling company as a flour mill, but was never used for that. It became a creamery in 1939. Today, it serves the community as a unique hotel and event space and provides an example of the town's past life. Sources:I. "The Ashley Lodge." The Ashley Lodge. 2017. https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x52d144735809c7a3:0x607494529971269!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4shttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname%3D111821130050792711468%26id%3D6421912785812523842%26target%3DPHOTO!5sashley+creamery+nd+-+Google+Search&imagekey=!1e3!2s-KiUP77EBiP8/WR83p2jlC0I/AAAAAAAAAC0/-TpXhmjyDMUXOSnOWbwP72z8Kbti4h0TACLIB&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5mqeH-rLVAhVl2IMKHbNUBhEQoioIbzAK
Prairie Fathers & Mothers Monument
The Pioneer Fathers & Mothers Memorial was erected in the southwest corner of the McIntosh County courthouse square in 1938. The Ashley Woman's Club arranged the construction on the monument. It was dedicated during Ashley's Golden Jubilee (1888-1938).Source:I. German-Russian Country. "McIntosh County Courthouse." Flickr. July 30, 2017. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://www.flickr.com/photos/german-russian/albums/72157628747887511.
McIntosh County Courthouse
McIntosh County was formed in 1883 and is named after a member of the North Dakota Territory legislature, Edward H. McIntosh. Hoskins was the original county seat, but the entire town of Hoskins, except for the school, was moved to the new stop on the Soo Line Railway, Ashley, located three miles east in 1888.The McIntosh County Courthouse is the last of the 13 North Dakota courthouses designed by Minneapolis design firm Buechner and Orth. It was built in 1919 of light brown and dark brown brick. It was designed in the Beaux Arts Neoclassical style. Except for some cosmetic paint updates, the building is in its original form. Original features include desks, coffered ceilings, oak woodwork, murals in the rotunda, and a mural behind the judge's bench.Sources:I. "County History." North Dakota. 2017. http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=83&id=County%20HistoryII. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form." United States Department of Interior: National Park Service. Pg 11-12. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/2b476350-f3c8-4229-9ab8-f8b2b8eced1f?branding=NRHP
McIntosh County Heritage Center
The McIntosh County Heritage contains artifacts relevant to German Russian immigration and life in McIntosh County. The Heritage center also includes a church, school house, antique machinery and a land patent office. Sources:I. "McIntosh County Heritage Center." McIntosh County Heritage Center | Official North Dakota Travel & Tourism Guide. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.ndtourism.com/ashley/local-legends/mcintosh-county-heritage-center.
Beth Itzchock Cemetery
The Ashley Jewish Cemetery, aslo known as the Beth Itzchock Cemetery, is the last physical presence of the small McIntosh County Jewish farming community, once the largest Jewish settlement in North Dakota. There were around 400 Jewish settlers living on between 70 and 100 homesteads surrounding Ashley. The cemetery contains the final resting places of 21 Jewish settlers. The last burial in the cemetery occured in 1932. Today it is maintained by decendents of the original Jewish pioneers and the Ashley Jewish Cemetery Association. The name Beth Itzchock refers to a congregation and not a specific person. Beth in Hebrew means house or habitation, mostly in reference to temples as the house of God. Itzchock is an alternative spelling of Yitzhak, the Hebrew name for Isaac. Sources: I. "Beth." Bible Study Tools. 2017. http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/beth/II. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Ashley Jewish Homesteaders Cemetery." United States Department of Interior: National Park Service. 2015. https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/15000807.htm III. Tilson, Jon-Jay. "Ashley Jewish Homesteaders Cemetery." Ashley Jewish Cemetery. 2017. http://www.ashleyjewishcemetery.org/
Berlin Baptist Church
Established in 1888, Berlin Baptist Church of Fredonia began with under 10 families. In the 1920's membership swelled to 150 families, but by the 1970's that number had declined to 70 families. Sources:I. Konrad, Allen. Fredonia, North Dakota 1904 to 1979. Fredonia Centennial Committee. 2002. http://www.grhs.org/research/america/ndakota/Fredonia_History_1979.pdf
Lehr Tabernacle
The Lehr Tabernacle was built by members of the German Evangelical Church community in Lehr. The idea of holding German Evangelical camp meetings in the area started sometime after 1915. The first camp meeting was held in Lehr in 1921. After the first camp meeting, the German Evangelical churches of Lehr, Streeter, Wishek, Linton, Napoleon, Kulm, and Ashley formed a German Camp Meeting association. The newly formed association built the Lehr Tabernacle in 1922. The land for the facility was donated by Jacob Nagel. The labor for the construction of the Tabernacle was donated by local German-Russian farmers who were members of the Camp Association. The octagonal Tabernacle was designed by Wishek reverend A.H. Ermel. The plans are thought to have originated from a building in Germany. Though it was considered “modern” at the start, it originally had bare floors covered in straw. Some of the modern amenities of the Tabernacle and the grounds included: electric power generated by a gas motor; a real kitchen; and dormitories. In the late 1960s the dormitories were upgraded when the camp was connected to Lehr’s water system.The camp meetings were huge events and drew German Evangelicals in from all over North Dakota. While supported by the German Camp Meeting Association, the Lehr Tabernacle was largely supported by five churches near Lehr: Zion Church, Emmanuel Church, Friedens Church, Ebenezer Church, and Tabor Church. Members of these churches would prepare days ahead of time for the arrival of almost 1,500 people to the camp. The meetings often lasted more than 10 days. Daily activities included a combination of bible studies, evangelistic services, and fellowship.The Lehr Tabernacle camp reached its peak popularity sometime in the 1940s. From then on, attendance started to dwindle. Camp meetings were held at the Tabernacle until the mid-1990s when the North and South Dakota United Methodist conferences merged. The conference rights to the grounds was bought by the Lehr Campmeeting Association which formed the inter-denominational Prairie Bible Camp. Lehr Prairie Bible Camp still holds a week-long camp meeting in June of each year. Sources:I. "Lehr Tabernacle." German Russian Country. Accessed July 31, 2017. http://germanrussiancountry.org/?portfolio=lehr-tabernacle.II. Scott, Carolyn. "The Lehr Tabernacle." Heritage Review37, no. 1 (2007). Accessed July 30, 2017. http://carolynschott.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/lehr.pdf.
Nazareth Congregational Church
Martin Luther Lutheran Church
German Lutheran settlers in the Fredonia area felt they needed a church. In 1901 they built a church three miles north of Fredonia to serve their needs. This church eventually became to small for the growing community and so a new, larger church was built in town in 1924. Sources:I. Konrad, Allen. Fredonia, North Dakota 1904 to 1979. Fredonia Centennial Committee. 2002. http://www.grhs.org/research/america/ndakota/Fredonia_History_1979.pdf
Wishek Steek & Manufacturing
Wishek Steel & Manufacturing is home to an innovative model of disc harrow, called the Wishek Disc. The Wishek disc was invented by Harley Bradner and collaborator, Jim Bettenhausen in 1977. The Wishek Disc, according to its patent papers, is different from other discs because it is a “disc implement in which the rotating disc blades are able to pass over obstructions, such as rocks, without damage to the disc blades.” To ensure that the discs don’t break when it hits a rock, the rotating discs are connected to the implement with springs which flex. The Wishek Disc is an example of how German-Russian farmers of the region adapted to the rocky soils of the region. In 2006, Wishek Steel & Manufacturing came under the ownership of two other North Dakota manufacturing firms, diversifying its product base. Sources:I. "Destinations." German Russian Country. Accessed July 31, 2017. http://germanrussiancountry.org/?page_id=48.
Wishek Civic Center
The Works Progress Administration benefitted the community of Wishek in the form of a city park, a swimming pool, and a civic center. The civic center began construction in 1938 and was completed in 1942. It was constructed for $140,000 and had a labor force of 60 men working eight to ten hour days. Gilbert Horton was the architect behind the design and prairie boulders were gathered as the primary construction material. The rocks were hand-chiseled down to the size needed and then put in place and held with concrete. The civic center allowed Wishek residents to enjoy theater, ball games, festivals, and dances. The center also served as the city's administrative offices for several years. Sources:I. "History of the Wishek Civic Center." Wishek-North Dakota. 2017. http://www.wishek-nd.com/history-of-wishek-civic-center/
Ghost Town of Burnstad
The ghost town of Burnstad has no active businesses and only a few remaining residents. It was established in 1905 with the arrival the Soo Line Railroad. The village was named for local cattleman C.P. Burnstad. Burnstad grew for thirty years to a bustling 142 in 1934. The community of Burnstad was made up of a diverse population, a mixture of nationalities. The German-Russians were the predominate ethnic group but there were also Bulgarians, Scandinavians and Americans transplanted from other parts of the country. People of all nationalities, class, and religion lived together peacefully in this railroad town. The citizens of Burnstad were fans of good entertainment. Baseball, rodeo, annual field days, political debates, circuses, and live music. Lawrence Welk played for dances in Burnstad.Two false-faced, corrugated metal-covered buildings remain in Burnstad. One was an old hardware store and one was some type of retail business. The town pump stands in the middle of the town site. The proximity of the ghost town to Beaver Creek and Beaver Lake make it a popular drive-by destination for locals. Sources:I. "Destinations." German Russian Country. Accessed July 31, 2017. http://germanrussiancountry.org/?page_id=48.II. Sprunk, Larry. "Burnstad - Portrait of a Pioneer Town." Prairies 3, no. 3: August 1977, 30-34 36-39
Prairie Bells Grotto
Prairie Bells Grotto serves as a shrine to the Holy Family. The site inclueds the bells of St. Andrew, St. Anthony, and Holy trinity churches, which no longer exist. Their bells, however, still peel across the prairies and are situated next to the Grotto of the Holy Family. The grotto was constructed out of fieldstone from the surrounding fields and was established by the Vetter family as a testament to their German-Russian heritage. Sources:I. "Destinations." German Russian Country. 2017. http://germanrussiancountry.org/?page_id=48.II. "Prairie Bells: Grotto of the Holy Family." Germans from Russia Heritage Collection. 2017. https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/history_culture/photo/prairiebells.html
Logan County Museum
The Logan County Historical Society site features historic buildings that include a school house, the first house in Logan County, a church, a blacksmith and harness shop, and print shop. The site also includes a machine shed with dioramas and antique machinery. Within these buildings you will find interpretations and examples of the county's pioneer history.The Logan County Historical Society is open on Sundays, throughout the summer, 1:00pm to 4:00pm.Sources:I. "Logan County Historical Society." Logan County Historical Society | Official North Dakota Travel & Tourism Guide. Accessed July 31, 2017. http://www.ndtourism.com/napoleon/attractions/logan-county-historical-society.
Logan County Courthouse
Logan County was formed in 1884 when the Dakota territorial legislature created it and McIntosh County. It was named after territory legislator John A. Logan, a Civil War general and senator. Napoleon has been its county seat since 1884, with the exception of the year 1899, when the city of King became the seat. By the next year, however, Napoleon was once again the county seat.The Logan County Courthouse in Napoleon, North Dakota is one of only two courthouses in North Dakota to be erected in the Federalist Revival style of the 1920's. Built in 1921 to serve the community as a courtbuildng, the courthouse gained additional square footage in 1924 when the disctrict court of Logan County moved from Ellendale to Napoleon. It went through more changes in the 1937, when funds from the Works Progress Administration became available. Although the courthouse went through renovations in the 1980's, the original integrity of the building is slowly being worked back into its facade. Sources:I. "County History-Logan." North Dakota. 2017. http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=83&id=County%20HistoryII. "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologie." Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm III. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form-Logan County Courthouse." United States Department of Interior. 1985. https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/85002986.pdf
Dinosaurs on the Prairie
A different kind of dinosaur is lined up in a prairie outside of Napoleon, North Dakota. A collection of antique threshing machines belonging to the late John. G. "Custer" Grenz stand as a testament to the lifeblood of the prairies. Threshing machines such as these were used for separating the seed from stalks of wheat or other crops. Sources:I. "Destinations." German Russian Country. 2017. http://germanrussiancountry.org/?page_id=48.II. Leah. "There’s No Attraction In The World Like This One In North Dakota." Only in Your State. August 04, 2016. http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-dakota/dinosaurs-on-the-prairie-nd/
