Ashley Thronson

Mary Elizabeth Sabin, of LaMoure, North Dakota, was honored as North Dakota's Oldest Mother on this date in 1932, as part of a national program to find the oldest women living in each state. The program, led by the North Dakota Federation of Women's Clubs, was a project of the George Washington Bicentennial Commission, celebrating the 200th birthday of the first president. The winner from North Dakota would go on to represent the state at the national program in Washington, D.C., competing to be named the oldest mother in the country.

Winter is a time for many to slow down and relax by visiting family and friends during the holidays. However, one group of people is not slowing down—they're just getting started. With the arrival of snow, ice, and wind, the dedicated workers who plan, coordinate, and remove the snow are hard at work, ensuring North Dakotans can continue their holidays and stay safe while traveling.

The start of a new school year brings excitement and a fresh beginning for both students and teachers. At Mandan High School, the announcement of a new school librarian was just one part of the excitement surrounding the return to school.

As each year goes by since Merriweather Lewis and William Clark led an expedition to the west coast from 1804-1806, Americans find new and different ways to honor their legacy and acknowledge the impact of their journey.

On this date in 1969, as many North Dakotans were sound asleep, a severe storm ripped through Ramsey county. Approximately six miles wide and nine miles long, the storm’s path of damage started in the Webster area and moved southeast. Hailstones the size of hens eggs ripped through farms, with damage to buildings, equipment, and crops.

The history of the printing industry in the United States was forever changed with the installation of a Linotype typesetting machine in June 1886 in the offices of the New York Tribune newspaper. Linotype produces lines of words as a single strip of metal, rather than hand setting type by individual letter. It streamlined the typesetting process making it faster to produce a page of type.

Winter in North Dakota can be a challenge, but it can also offer great experiences and traditions. Dakota Datebook joins the celebration of winter in conjunction with the Northern Plains National Heritage Area and Sons of Norway Sverdrup Lodge for the inaugural “Vinterfest,” a celebration of all things winter, throughout the month of January.

Winter in North Dakota can be a challenge, but it can also offer great experiences and traditions. Throughout the month of January, Dakota Datebook joins the celebration of winter in conjunction with the Northern Plains National Heritage Area and Sons of Norway Sverdrup Lodge for the inaugural “Vinterfest,” a celebration of all things winter.

Can you imagine being the only person living in town? No traffic on your way to work or loud neighbors late at night? On this date in 1970, the readers of the Minot Daily News read a story of one such man in Lincoln Valley in Sheridan County.

In 1932, North Dakotans were on the alert at the prospect of something big: gold in North Dakota! Earlier in the year, free flake gold was reportedly washing up in the Missouri River near Denbigh. On this date, mining engineer Deane Purves declared to Williston residents his belief that it is “possible there is gold enough on the Missouri bottoms in the vicinity of Williston to create profitable employment to many men out of work.”