Carole Butcher

By federal law, anyone who misuses public land can be prosecuted. This includes grazing livestock on public land and erecting fences that prevent access for the general public. The first federal law to protect public land was passed in 1885.

The Wild West wasn’t as wild as portrayed in the movies, but there were plenty of desperados to go around. Although the more famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch did not spend much time in Dakota Territory, there was no shortage of lesser-known criminals. Train robberies and stagecoach stick ups were not unknown in the territory. The Washburn Leader described one such situation by saying: “The Missouri and Knife River districts are overrun by a clique of horse thieves and murderers who have infested these localities for years.”

These days, a house call by a doctor is unheard of. In the early part of the last century, however, it was common for doctors to see patients in their homes. In North Dakota, that often meant traveling long distances at all hours of the day and night and braving dangerous weather. On this date in 1928, North Dakotans learned the full story of a courageous doctor who did not let distance or inclement weather stop him from making a house call.

Grain silos have been a staple of American agriculture since the 17th century. They were introduced by Dutch farmers who built round structures covered with fabric and topped with a thatched roof. The structure was called a hay barrack, designed to store dry hay. As farmers moved to areas with more severe winters – like North Dakota – they needed a better way to store fodder.

North Dakota’s economy, relying heavily on the unpredictable weather, has always been volatile. Cycles of drought and harsh winters can make it hard to earn a living.

The Pure Foods Movement was a grass roots effort that called attention to the presence of unhealthy additives in processed food. Prior to 1906, there was no governmental oversight of processed foods and pharmaceutical drugs. Purity, quality, and sanitation were not regulated. Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel “The Jungle” exposed the unsanitary conditions of Chicago slaughterhouses. The book increased people’s awareness of the unhealthy condition of some foods.

On April 4, 1917 the United States Senate voted to declare war against Germany. Two days later the House of Representatives endorsed the declaration, and the United States entered World War I.

It might be surprising to learn how early the snowmobile was invented. It was on this date in 1927 that the United States Patent office granted a patent for a “motor toboggan” to Wisconsin native Carl Eliason. He was ahead of his time as he dreamed of a motorized vehicle that could travel on snow.

Dr. Frederick J. Walsh and his wife moved to North Dakota in 1952. He took a position as the head of the speech department at North Dakota Agricultural College, now North Dakota State University. Walsh came to North Dakota with a dream. He wanted to bring historical drama to his new state.

North Dakota has a long history with baseball. It was a cheap and easily-organized form of entertainment for people living on isolated farms and ranches, giving them the chance to gather for a social event. Those early games tended to be a matter of local pride, with neighboring towns competing. When the railroad arrived, teams began traveling. One of the biggest rivalries was between Grand Forks and Fargo.