On this date in 1906, the Hope Pioneer noted that two new North Dakota towns were on the rise. According to the newspaper, both McVille and Tolna promised to be booming in short order. Both were in Nelson County on a new extension of the Great Northern Railroad. Demand for land in and near the towns was high. The Northern Town and Land Company sold almost one hundred lots in one day. The newspaper was quite sure that the towns would take off so quickly that it would seem that they had sprung up “as if by magic.” The newspaper mentioned that both towns offered opportunities for businesses including hotels and restaurants.
McVille was located near the Sheyenne River. It was known as prime agricultural land. The town was named for local inhabitants, many of whom had surnames that started with “Mc.” Early businesses included an elevator, a bank, a blacksmith shop, and a general store.
The town never took off quite like the Pioneer envisioned. The largest population was 626 in 1950. According to the 2010 census the population had dropped to 349. Although small, McVille soldiers on. There’s a school for students in kindergarten through grade six, while older students attend school in nearby Petersburg. A campground in McVille is busy throughout the summer.
The other new town was Tolna, twelve miles northwest of McVille. In the 1880s, David Newton Tallman had organized the Dakota Development Company, which developed town sites along the Great Northern Railroad. He was especially interest in Tolna and owned the quarter section on which it was built. The town was a play on Tallman’s last name. He named streets for his daughters Helen, Esther, Gertrude, Margaret, and Marjorie. Tallman promised free land to the first baby born in town. That was Lillian Tolna Heald, born in Tolna on September 26th, 1906.
The population of Tolna never topped 300. According to the 2010 census, the population stood at 166. Although it was always small, Tolna proved to be tenacious, and it continues to have a thriving community. Businesses include a market, a construction company, a café, a fire department, and banks. Among the area’s attractions are hunting, fishing and camping.
Dakota Datebook by Carole Butcher
Sources:
Hope Pioneer. “Two New Towns.” 31 May 1906. Hope ND. Page 1.
McVille, North Dakota. https://www.mcville.com/ Accessed 25 April 2019.
Tolna, North Dakota. https://cityoftolna.com/index.htm Accessed 25 April 2019.
