CCC Lodge at the International Peace Garden - North Dakota and Manitoba

The International Peace Garden was dedicated on July 14, 1932, with more than 50,000 people gathering around a cairn built of native stone and aboriginal hammerheads located directly on the US/Canadian border, flanked by each county's flagpole on the designated side.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed several structures within the garden in the 1930s. The most majestic of these structures is the Historic Lodge built in 1939.  This rustic lodge is 105 feet long with a 60-foot wing built from North Dakota granite and Duck Mountain Timber; the building features two impressive fireplaces.

Also constructed by the CCC were 7 cabins built in 1937 currently used by the Legion Athletic Camp Counselors during camp sessions, the South Caretaker's Residence constructed in 1939 and currently used for housing during camp sessions; and six International Music Camp dormitories constructed in 1939, which are a focal point for a variety of youth camps.  Several sites were also constructed by the CCC during this time.  These sites include Lake Udall, constructed in 1934, which is an artificial crescent-shaped lake; the Lake Udall Historical Dam/Waterfall, constructed in 1939, that features a 20-foot stone masonry spillway; the Good Neighbor Picnic Shelter constructed in 1936; the Oak Leaf Picnic Shelter and Washroon constructed in 1936; and the Overlook Picnic Shelter constructed in 1937.  These sites are located on the American side of the Garden.

Kathryn Boomtown Storefronts – Barnes County

Kathryn was founded when the Casselton branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad was built to Marion.  The town was named for the daughter of C. S. Mellon, president of the railroad; the site was platted in September 15, 1900, by John Runck.  On October 20th, Mr. Runck came with a carload of lumber loaded on a Northern Pacific construction train.  The next day he unloaded the lumber and a crew began the construction of the Runck Brothers Mercantile and the Northern Pacific Depot.  The town has retained its turn of the century charm and many of the buildings remain unaltered although many are vacant now.  Kathryn’s Main Street buildings include:

1.  Kathryn Farmers Mutual Elevator Company built in 1916.
2.  Mrs. Johnson's Millinery Shop that is now an apartment building.
3.  Jacobson's General Merchandise Store moved into town from Preston.
4.  Johan Johanson's Hotel built around 1903 and today operated as the Dew Drop Inn.
5.  E. G. Strom's Meat Market currently housing a Laundromat. 
6.  The Kathryn Recorder Newspaper building now used for storage.
7.  Harness Shop that later became the historic Art’s Bar.
8.  Kathryn Post Office built in 1916 to serve as a bank while the bank building was being built.
9.  Sheyenne Valley

Vang Lutheran Church – Dunn County

Vang Lutheran Church began with a basement.  Each member of the congregation was delegated to donate one day’s work at scraping and hauling rock.  The size of the church was decided and the work was started on June 4, 1915.  The carpenters building the church were Nels Synnes and Iver Wisted.  On July 24, 1916, the congregation held their first meeting at the church although the building was not yet completed.  The first services were all done in Norwegian until 1920 when it was decided that every third service should be done in English.

This church is one of the few remaining rural prairie churches in Dunn County.  Its architecture is distinctive and indicates German-Hungarian detailing above the doorway; this is found on only a few other structures in the state.  The church is celebrating its centennial year, and then will be closed.  The local historical society would like to see it remain in its original location, but will need to do repairs to the structure including steeple water damage on interior plaster.  Several shingles were dislodged during a wind storm last summer, and a preservation strategy is needed to assist with building maintenance.

2007 HONORABLE MENTION LISTINGS

Statewide Listing for Historic City Halls

Leeds City Hall

Although we have not been able to find an exact building date, the historians we consulted believe it must have been built close to the date the lots were transferred in 1901.  The architectural style is of the Roman-Greco model.  Only the finest materials and building techniques were used during construction, including marble pillars and pediment over the entry as well as other distinctive features.  

The building was operated as the First National Bank until 1926 when it was closed.  According to records, it went into receivership in 1931, and was sold to the City of Leeds at a sheriff’s sale in 1934 for $1,000.00 plus back taxes of $309.  Upon its purchase, the Leeds City Hall and Library moved into the building where they remained until approximately 1997.  In 1941, the Leeds Fire department moved in the rear of the building and remained there until 1977.  Over the years, this building also housed the police station and even a jail cell.  The building was also used by Men’s Civic Club and the Mason’s as a meeting site.

The current city council has taken bids for demolition of the property.  The local Resource Conservation and Development council and Preservation North Dakota held a community forum to discuss the benefits of historic preservation and to help answer questions about the process of restoring the building and finding a new use.  The community was very interested in these options, but council members stated that, “The decision has already been made, and the building is coming down.” 

The State Historical Society has determined that the building is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, and Preservation North Dakota has provided a preliminary architectural assessment on the building, which has concluded that there are no structural concerns with the building, and most of the necessary repairs are the result of deferred maintenance and can easily be reversed.

Wishek City Hall

The Old Wishek City Hall, a one-story, mission revival style building in the heart of downtown Wishek, is located in the original plot of the Village of Wishek on land originally owned by the Missouri River Division of the Soo Line Railroad.  Built in 1916-1917 by L.H. Jennings, the building was designed by F.W. Keith of Bismarck.  The building measures 30 feet by 75 feet and has "poured-in-place" reinforced concrete finished with stucco.  The most notable feature of the building’s exterior is the southeast corner bell tower that is finished with rounded arches on all four sides and capped with a pyramidal roof.  This style lends itself to the simplicity of "poured in-place" concrete design, which was a newer material being studied at the time by architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Irving Gill.