The Anderson Family Grave Marker

Definitely one of the most engaging grave markers I've seen in my travels.

Photographed at Bethel Cemetery near Wildrose, North Dakota on June 20, 2023.

Ellvanger

A farm sign near White Earth, North Dakota.  

Pretty sweet.

Photographed on June 21, 2023.

Return Visit to Garness Township School

I found this schoolhouse by chance on a road trip through North Dakota in late November of 2018.  

Since I was travelling through the area again quite recently I decided to revisit "the little school on a hill."

It seems to be hanging on quite nicely.

Photographed near Powers Lake, North Dakota on June 21, 2023.

Hamlet School

An abandoned school in Hamlet, North Dakota.

From the sheer size it must have been a consolidated school...and awfully impressive in its heyday.

Photographed on June 20, 2023.

Mickey

A mobile array of bluebirds whirling at Mickey's gravesite...

...delightful and comforting.

Photographed at Zion Cemetery near McGregor, North Dakota on June 20, 2023.

Abandoned Air Force Station near Fortuna

This tower is the last remnant of the former air force station near Fortuna, North Dakota.  

The signs tell the history.

Photographed on June 18, 2023.

Ray Opera House

In the early 1900's the main floor operated as a grocery store and the upper level was the opera house.  

Imagine going to the opera on a Saturday night in 1908...in northwestern North Dakota. 

The Ray Opera House is now a museum.

Photographed in Ray, North Dakota on June 21, 2023.

Canola

Some of the canola here is already blooming.  

Spotted this field a few miles east of Crosby, North Dakota.

Photographed on June 23, 2023.

A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Everything is so green and lush down here this year.

Lucy Township School near Powers Lake, North Dakota was photographed on June 21, 2023.

PV Grain Elevator

Stopped in Columbus, North Dakota for a few photos of the PV grain elevator.

Many of the old elevators I've seen North Dakota over the past few days are clad with metal siding.

Photographed on June 20, 2023.

Twin Butte Cemetery

End of the day near Colgan, North Dakota.

Photographed on June 19, 2023.

Be Legendary™

Welcome to North Dakota

Be Legendary™

Photographed just a little bit east of Westby, Montana on June 18, 2023.

Skabo

As the crow flies...

About thirty-five miles southwest of Lac Qui Parle Church in southeastern Saskatchewan stands Skabo Lutheran Church on the flat plains of North Dakota.

The church was initially built by Norwegian settlers as a prairie school house in 1918.  In 1948 it was converted to a church where services were held until the 1980s at which time regular services ceased.  The interior of the church has been regularly maintained since its closure.

And in 2002 the church underwent an exterior restoration with much of the work being completed and funded by former parishioners and relatives of area settlers along with some hired help.  My visit here some fifteen years later revealed the church to still be in fine condition and the cemetery well tended.  

The name Skabo (pronounced ska-bow, emphasis on the "bow") comes from the homesteader's native city of Skabu, Norway.  Somehow the "u" was replaced with an "o" and the new name stuck.  The signs display both spellings of the name.

Thanks to the Williston Herald for helpful information regarding this pioneer church and cemetery.  And thanks again to those area residents who provided vital information about this and other churches, cemeteries, school houses and points of interest in Divide County, North Dakota.

Photographed near Grenora, North Dakota on October 27, 2017.

Lesje Church

A cold winter's day in North Dakota.  It was a few hours on the road before I reached my first planned destination of the day: Lesje Church.  I wasn't sure what to expect but was astounded by the size and overall beauty of this country church and cemetery in the proverbial "middle of nowhere."

Lesje Church could easily seat a few hundred parishioners...large and handsome with a welcome that is embracing.  

It reminded me somewhat of the church I went to as a child though on a much grander scale.  As a youngster I went to the Swedish Baptist Church in Midale, Saskatchewan where, by my early teens, had decided the motto of the church was: "you can do anything you want...as long as it's not any fun."  And so, being a teenager, I had my own ideas about things.  But you know, through all that teenage angst I never lost respect for those who felt close to the church and always wished them well and maintained a number of good friendships with both young and old parishioners.   

Several stained glass windows decorate the walls, entryway and transoms...all of which are well conceived and designed for the church.  The old-fashioned altar is beautiful and the spaciousness is grand to say the least.  

Lesje Church was built over a century ago and I can't imagine how these Norwegian settlers managed to build and decorate such a splendid country church.  But they did, and the church and grounds are still well kept and inviting to strangers like me who pass by on a cold winter's day. 

Photographed near Roth, North Dakota on December 15, 2018.