New National Register of Historic Places Listings
By Lorna Meidinger, Lead Historic Preservation Specialist
Coordination of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) program in North Dakota is one of many important tasks carried out by the North Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (NDSHPO) housed within the State Historical Society of North Dakota in Bismarck. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the NRHP, according to the National Park Service (NPS), the federal agency that oversees it, “is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.” Once they are vetted by the NDSHPO, nominations are reviewed by the North Dakota Historic Preservation Review Board. The majority of the board’s members specialize in a related field: prehistoric archaeology, historical architecture, history, architectural history, or historic archaeology. Two citizen members round out the seven-member board. If the preservation review board recommends approval, the nomination is then sent to the NPS for final consideration, and if approved, listing in the NRHP.
Andrew Erickson Barn
The Andrew Erickson Barn near Hettinger is a common dairy barn designed for a maximum of 16 dairy cows. The Gothic-arched roof is the least common roof type for barns in the state (less than 3.5%), according to the North Dakota Cultural Resources Survey. Built in 1952, the Erickson barn has a low concrete sidewall and metal connections for the rafters. Although there are hay mow doors on the ends of the barn, there was never a hay mow. That feature was included in the design by Haynes Equity in case Erickson changed his mind later. Not having a hay mow resulted in an open floor plan that Erickson could customize for his operation. The silo and elevator shaft were added a few years later as was a concrete floor in the milking area once milking machines replaced the chore of milking by hand. The Ericksons never kept more than 12 dairy cows at a time and shipped their milk in 8-gallon cream cans by rail to the Mandan Creamery.
Vern Erickson, Andrew’s son, remembers the commercial aspect of the dairy stopped after he joined the military in 1960, but the farm kept one or two dairy cows just for the family until the 1980s. The Ericksons also raised beef cattle, horses, wheat, and alfalfa hay for feed. Three stalls in the southwest corner of the barn sometimes housed horses or bucket calves as the need arose. In addition to farm use, the Erickson barn also hosted family celebrations and social events. The barn is an excellent example of its type and attests to trends in the development of agriculture in North Dakota.
The Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places officially listed the Andrew Erickson Barn in recognition of its statewide significance under Criterion A for its role in agriculture and Criterion C for architecture on Dec. 26, 2023. It was listed under “Common Farm and Ranch Barns in North Dakota,” a historic context and multiple property document that helps establish criteria for including barns in the National Register.
West side of the Andrew Erickson Barn. Photo by Kari Mayer
Chester Fritz Auditorium
The Chester Fritz Auditorium on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks is named for its major financial donor. Chester Fritz came from meager beginnings and found his escape in books and learning after moving in with his aunt, Katherine Belanger MacDonald, and her husband when he was 13. MacDonald served as the principal at Lidgerwood High School, and her husband served as the superintendent of schools. The MacDonalds strongly encouraged further education, and Fritz went on to earn a degree in economics. Fritz became successful in the metal trade and international finance and began giving financially to the university in 1950. A few gifts were very large, including $1 million to build the Chester Fritz Library, dedicated Oct. 13, 1961.
Just a year after the library was dedicated, Fritz’s aunt, now Katherine Tiffany, started expressing her hopes for a “Chester Fritz Auditorium” on the university campus. It was Tiffany’s belief that a large space to listen to and appreciate cultural events and lectures would greatly enhance the learning process. Fritz honored his aunt’s wishes by offering $1 million to build the auditorium in 1965 (equivalent to almost $9.7 million in 2023). The university selected prominent local architect Myron Denbrook for the project. Denbrook consulted with acoustical engineer Robert C. Coffeen and then designed the rest of the building to facilitate the production of performances and educational events as the university expanded its curriculum and created the College of Fine Arts. The building uses precast concrete panel technology and is in the late modernist style. It opened in 1972 and continues to be used for a variety of events and performances.
The Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places officially listed the Chester Fritz Auditorium in recognition of its local significance under Criterion A for its role in education, entertainment, and the performing arts and under Criterion C for architecture Oct. 20, 2023.
Interior of auditorium main house and stage. Photo by Agatha Frisby
Baukol Historic District
The Baukol Historic District includes the 41 properties in the Baukol Addition in Grand Forks. Most of the residences in the district were built between 1946 and 1962, with 22 of the residences built in 1946 or 1947 by the Baukol Construction Company to address housing needs immediately following World War II. The district makes up the first postwar multiple property development in Grand Forks, with most of the modest homes owned by military veterans in 1950. The styles of the residences predominantly reflect the modern movement and are all single-family homes less than 1,200 square feet in size.
The homes built in the 1940s were sized between 780 and 800 square feet to meet the call of the national housing administrator for homes under the price of $6,000. The Federal Housing Administration backed loans by developers for building housing of this size as well as subsidized loans for military veterans that aligned with the focus on housing of around 800 square feet. After 1950, the homes became slightly larger and cost slightly more, but incentives still focused on increasing the affordable housing stock.
According to the 1950 U.S. census, 30 of the 33 residences in the Baukol Addition occupied at that time housed veterans. All housed married couples with young children, and some also housed other relatives. The heads of household were employed as tradesmen, salesmen, engineers, bankers, law enforcement officers, and teachers. Although this neighborhood was directly impacted by the 1997 flood, the majority of residences and the overall design still illustrate a unique period of transition, innovation, and modernization.
The Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places officially listed the Baukol Historic District in recognition of its local significance under Criterion A for its role in community planning and development and under Criterion C for architecture Oct. 11, 2023.
Contrary to some misconceptions about the National Register program, listing in it does not prevent owners from altering their property, restrict the use or sale of the property, or require establishing times that the property must be open to the public. Entry into the National Register of Historic Places gives a property prestige, provides protection from adverse effects in federally assisted projects, and provides eligibility for certain preservation financial incentives.
1809 N. Fourth St. is one of 20 residences built in the Baukol Addition during its first year. Photo by Susan Caraher
Spotlight on North Dakota State Historic Sites: The Elevator at the Stutsman County Courthouse
By Erica Scherr, Historic Preservation Specialist
Completed in 1883, the Stutsman County Courthouse in Jamestown is North Dakota’s oldest surviving courthouse. After having fallen into disuse and no longer receiving regular maintenance, the courthouse required extensive repairs and updates over the last three decades.
Rehabilitation plans at the courthouse have been ongoing since the early 1980s, when a push to save the courthouse from demolition began through citizen efforts. Original restoration goals included repairing the brick and gutters on the exterior of the building, restoring electricity and water, updating bathrooms, renovating the building to meet modern fire codes, and improving accessibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. After a long legal battle, the state acquired the building, and it was saved from demolition. In the coming years, we began to tackle the work required to reopen the courthouse to the public as a usable space for the community once again.
Over $1 million was invested into rehabbing the exterior of the building in the 1990s. This work included a new roof and window replacements.
In the last 10 years, rehabilitation work has moved to the interior with the installation of a new heating system, addition of new restrooms, and completion of electrical and plumbing work. Painting, refinishing floors, and the restoration of pressed tin on the interior walls and ceiling were also completed. The pressed tin in the courthouse represents the largest collection in the state. Asbestos abatement and mold mitigation also had to take place before the courthouse could open to the public.
The courthouse transitioned into a seasonally staffed state historic site managed by the agency in 2017 and equipped with restored courtrooms, offices, and exhibits. Because of social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, the courtroom once again saw use during trials as the open courtroom provided the necessary extra space.
While much progress had been completed, a goal from the original 1980s restoration plan was still incomplete—an elevator to enhance accessibility. In April 2022, work began on the construction of an elevator. The location at the northwest corner of the building was chosen to help preserve the historical character of the building. Work was completed in November 2023. In addition to the elevator, a street-level entrance and sidewalk was added to enhance accessibility. The dust has finally settled after a year and a half of construction, and the elevator is now riding from the basement to the second floor.
Archaeology Beyond the Shovel
By Erica Scherr, Historic Preservation Specialist
Pop culture representations of archaeology often suggest adventure and are filled with images of Indiana Jones. Even more accurate portrayals of archaeology work often display grand-scale excavations of large historic sites. While excavation and other intrusive investigations executed by professionals are important techniques used in the field of archaeology, other non-invasive techniques can be beneficial to understanding a site, too.
Use of non-intrusive technology helps staff at the State Historical Society of North Dakota’s Archaeology & Historic Preservation (AHP) Department learn about and preserve sites of all varieties across the state. Geophysical equipment such as a ground-penetrating radar (GPR), magnetometer, and resistivity meter are also used to learn about what is below the surface of the ground without having to disturb the earth itself. All three methods work by detecting differences between subsurface materials and the surrounding soils, allowing us to identify anomalies that may or may not be archaeological.
GPR is a non-intrusive archaeological survey technique that can be used to detect subsurface anomalies, like differences in soil composition, which may indicate a potential artifact or site. The GPR used by the State Historical Society looks somewhat like a stroller or lawn mower with an antenna and data logger on a pushcart. The operator pushes the cart in a grid system while electromagnetic waves are sent into the ground. If the wave hits something below the surface, the energy “bounces” off it, and the logger records the portions of the wave reflected back to the surface. The data can be viewed live in the field and also analyzed and processed through software programs to help map the subsurface area investigated. While GPR does not create an exact image of the subsurface anomaly, it does indicate there is a difference in the subsurface to be investigated.
The Archaeology & Historic Preservation Department acquired ground-penetrating radar equipment in summer 2022 through a generous donation from the State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation. This was purchased in preparation for future work with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake Nation at the location of the former boarding school at Fort Totten State Historic Site. After Fort Totten was decommissioned as a military post in 1890, a boarding school was located at the site from 1891 to 1935. The fort was used as a tuberculosis preventorium from 1935 until it returned to a day and boarding school in 1940. The school closed in 1959 and was transferred to the State Historical Society in 1960.
Archaeology and Historic Preservation staff have used the GPR in various locations to test the equipment and prepare for the future work at Fort Totten. These practice runs took place at a rural cemetery in Grand Forks County, at an archaeological site south of Mandan, and even on the state Capitol grounds in Bismarck.
A magnetometer can help locate and analyze subsurface sites by measuring the magnetic fields of various materials below ground. The magnetometer records differences in the magnetic fields of subsurface soils and archaeological features. The layer of soils closest to the surface of the earth usually has higher magnetic properties, so if someone digs into the earth and the space is refilled, the topsoils and subsoils mix and will measure differently magnetically than the surrounding undisturbed soil.
The magnetometer used by State Historical Society staff looks like a collection of PVC pipes with an antenna and handle attached to wheels. The magnetometer is also pushed in a grid pattern, and the data is also analyzed through maps. Using a magnetometer is often a quick way to cover a large area and collect data on subsurface areas magnetically different than their surroundings.
A resistivity meter uses the flow of electricity to map a subsurface area. Anomalies below the ground interact with the flow of electricity differently. For example, an underground stone or air pocket would react differently to the flow of electricity than soil. These differences can be mapped to identify areas for further investigation.
The resistivity meter used by staff looks a bit like a handrail with several probes attached to the bottom. As with GPR and magnetometry, data is recorded by walking a grid pattern. The resistivity meter is a slower-form survey and is minimally invasive as the probes break the surface of the soil.
AHP staff have also been using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also known as a drone, since 2014 to document, map, interpret, and manage sites in North Dakota. Research Archaeologist and UAV pilot Timothy Reed flew missions across the state in 2023. The images and videos from these flights help us plan how to preserve and strategize for future work at state historic sites managed by the agency.
Historic Buildings of Traill County
By Amy Munson, Grants and Contracts Officer
Located in eastern North Dakota on the Red River, Traill County was named for Walter Traill, an employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company active in the county’s early development. A wealth of historic architecture can be found throughout the county. Hillsboro, the county seat and the largest city, is situated on the I-29 corridor, equidistant between Fargo and Grand Forks, exactly 39 miles from either point. Portland and Mayville are 12 miles northwest of Hillsboro and home to Mayville State University. Hatton is located in the northeastern part of the county, and Buxton is situated in the central part of the county.
Traill County Courthouse, Hillsboro
Designed by Buechner & Orth and built in 1905, this was the first of 13 county courthouses the St. Paul, Minnesota, firm built in North Dakota. Like most of the others, it has a central metal dome to allow light into the highly decorated atrium. This courthouse was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as part of a thematic nomination. The courthouse received a 2023 Cultural Heritage Grant and a 2023 Historic Preservation Fund Grant for the restoration of its sandstone entry steps.
Mayville Public Library, Mayville
The Mayville Public Library was built in 1900. It was designed by Fargo architect William C. Albrant and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The library received a 2021 Cultural Heritage Grant from the State Historical Society for the preservation of the exterior brick work and cornice. It received a 2023 Historic Preservation Fund Grant for a new roof and updates to the HVAC system.
Photo by Bobbi Hepper Olson
Grue Evangelical Lutheran Church, Buxton
Built in 1891, the Grue Evangelical Lutheran Church received a 2021 Cultural Heritage Grant for a new wood shingle roof. The church received a 2023 Cultural Heritage Grant for repairs to its foundation and for an electrical panel upgrade.
Photo by Sharon Watson
Bruflat Lutheran Church, Portland
Built in 1917 of pressed brick, the Bruflat Lutheran Church is located in Portland. The church was named for the Bruflat Kirke in Valdres, Norway, where many of the founding church members emigrated from. The church received a 2023 Cultural Heritage Grant for the preservation of the bell tower.
Courtesy Steve Gunderson
Plummer House, Hillsboro
Built in 1897, the Amos and Lillie Plummer House in Hillsboro is home to the Traill County Historical Society Museum. Amos L. Plummer (1836-1903) operated a general store and farmed land in Traill County. Listed in the National Register in 1996, the Queen Anne-style house was designed by John W. Ross. The Traill County Historical Society received a 2021 Cultural Heritage Grant for the restoration of a historical metal roof. They also received a 2023 Cultural Heritage Grant for exterior repairs to the woodwork, trim, and painting of the house.
Photo by Sharon Watson
Buxton Bank, Buxton
The First State Bank of Buxton was constructed in 1884, featuring formidable 2-feet-thick granite walls with arched windows and doorway. Listed in the National Register in 1978, the building was vacant for decades. The bank received Cultural Heritage Grants in 2005, 2007, and 2009 to aid in restoration. The building is home to Hepper Olson Architects.
Photo by Bobbi Hepper Olson
Enhancing History
By Erica Scherr, Historic Preservation Specialist
The State Historical Society of North Dakota manages 60 state historic sites and museums. These range from sites staffed year-round to seasonally to unstaffed with only a marker noting their existence. Recently, both a Humanities North Dakota SHARP grant and a generous donation to the State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation allowed for new interpretive panels to be fabricated and installed at several sites across the state to enhance interpretation. All sites receiving new panels are those without yearly staff on site.
One site that received new interpretive panels was the Lake Jessie State Historic site in Griggs County. Previously, the site had only a stone marker with a brass panel and limited space to describe the history of the site. Three new interpretive panels were added in 2023. Additional panels were placed across the site to expand interpretation about the landscape, the multiple expeditions and surveys that went through the area, and the namesake of the site itself, Jessie Benton Frémont.
Other State Historical Society managed sites recently received new or updated interpretive signs:
- Whitestone Hill State Historic Site
- Fort Clark State Historic Site
- Fort Dilts State Historic Site
- St. Claude State Historic Site
- Walhalla State Historic Site
Updating and enhancing sign interpretation at State Historical Society-managed sites across the state is a continuous effort for the agency.