Sarah Walker

9/20/2016: For many years, humankind has quested for a machine of perpetual motion, something mechanized that would not stop moving. The first documented attempt comes from the Indian author Bhaskara around 1159. The machine was a wheel with containers of mercury around its rim, which was supposed to always maintain weight on one side as it spun, and thus keep moving.

9/12/2016: On this date in 1922, the Ward County Fair opened its gates, and over the next four days, the populace poured in.

8/9/2016: Clementsville, North Dakota, located in Stutsman County, got its start as a railroad station established by the Midland Continental Railroad.

7/22/2016: A lack of rain and moisture for much of the month of July was a complaint for Jamestown on this date in 1901. Rain of any significance hadn’t fallen since the Fourth of July.

7/4/2016: The National Historic Preservation Act was created to help preserve the diverse archaeological and architectural treasures of America. One of these treasures in North Dakota was Fort Union, a well-built trading post instrumental in the fur trade. Fort Union was east of Buford in Williams County. Initially established as Fort Floyd in 1828, the fort was renamed Fort Union by the American Fur Company, which operated it for most of the time it was active.

6/7/2016: On this date in 1893, the growing development of Fargo was struck by a terrible fire. It started on what was then Front Street – now called Main Avenue. Strong winds spread the fire, burning away most of the downtown area. Forty-two city blocks were destroyed, an estimated $3,000,000 in damage. However, the people of Fargo did not let this disaster bring them down, and within the next year, they had already constructed 246 new buildings, revitalizing the area.

5/26/2016: In 1909, the Northern Pacific Railway built a new "high line" about a mile north of Valley City. This new line made it possible to overcome the steep grades of the valley, allowing trains to keep better time. However, the high line was also about a mile north of the city, bypassing the convenient, downtown depot. This affected the town in many ways, including mail service and hotel businesses.

4/6/2016: Fifty years ago, the National Historic Preservation Act was created to help preserve the diverse archaeological and architectural treasures of America. These sites span a variety of structures and locations that chronicle life in North Dakota – including how the deceased are cared for and buried.

1/1/2016: The end of the year, and the succession of the next, heralds in a time for reflection and navel-gazing. Many see this time of year as a chance for changing that which is lacking, and acknowledging and even praising that which is full.

12/30/2015: On this fateful date in 1903, a terrible fire swept through the Iroquois Chicago Theatre during a packed, bargain-priced afternoon matinee of the play Bluebeard. The fire, which may have stemmed from an open arc spotlight, killed more than 600 people, and injured 250 more. Most of the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation and burns, but some individuals also were trampled to death as the panicked crowd attempted to escape the danger.