Bethesda Lutheran near Milestone

A guest book along with a cache of postcards that give a brief history of the church is housed in a weatherproof enclosure beside the church.

"Norwegian Lutheran services were held as early as 1904, and in 1910 the Bethesda Norwegian Lutheran congregation was organized.  In 1912, Martin Johnson, a carpenter from South Dakota, was retained to construct Bethesda Lutheran Church with the assistance of the congregation.  Situated on an open parcel, the graceful steeple of this church can be seen for miles across the flat prairie landscape.  Modernized in 1928 with a concrete basement and furnace, the church served the surrounding rural community for church services, weddings, funerals, meetings and bazaars.  Many of the area's first settlers rest in the cemetery, which is located at the rear of the church.  Because of a steadily diminishing congregation, Bethesda Lutheran Church closed in 1973."

Visitors are welcome to take a postcard as a souvenir.

The church was restored in 2020. 

Photographed near Milestone, Saskatchewan on June 23, 2023.

"Mo"

This is "Mo" the sea reptile.  

He greets everyone as they enter the town of Ponteix, Saskatchewan.

I don't think I'd like to be on the receiving end of those teeth.  

Photographed on June 17, 2023.

Ellvanger

A farm sign near White Earth, North Dakota.  

Pretty sweet.

Photographed on June 21, 2023.

Dry Prairie Rural Water Tower

I saw several water repositories in northeastern Montana but this tower was easily the most impressive of all.  

"Dry Prairie Rural Water is committed to delivering clean, affordable, and dependable drinking water that will improve the quality of life and create economic opportunities throughout Northeast Montana."

I talked to a few of the locals and according to them the tower is relatively new...only about five years old.

Information courtesy of the Dry Prairie Rural Water organization.

Photographed near Madoc, Montana on June 18, 2023.

Fawn

A pleasant surprise early this morning...my first sighting of a fawn in town.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 3, 2023.

Need Some Help?

In Daisy's yard to finish up a few gardening duties...and as soon as I walked around the far side of the lilacs I was greeted by this young doe.

She ended up helping me prune the new growth off the lilacs.  Good for her (and for me).  

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on June 13, 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.

Saint Bernard in Fortuna

Last time I stopped here was late October 2017.  Now maybe a little worse for wear but Saint Bernard Catholic Church is still standing.  

Photographed in Fortuna, Montana on June 18, 2023. 

Jailhouse

The old jail in Flaxville, Montana.

Remember that song, "He's in the jailhouse now, he's in the jailhouse now..."

Photographed on June 18, 2023.