Throwback Thursday — Elbowoods landmark church moves to the prairie 1953

Elbowoods landmark church escapes flood waters

A 30-year old Englishman, schooled in the U.S. moved to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in 1876. Before Harold Case finished his work this building was set up alongside the mission. It became an important part of life in Elbowoods, North Dakota. Elbowoods is now underwater. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flooded the valley when it built Garrison Dam and formed Lake Sakakawea. The Corps moved some of the towns of Elbowoods, Sanish and Van Hook to high ground.

Volunteers move the building

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not move this building. Local ranchers, farmers, and residents of Elbowoods picked up this building and moved it to high ground.

Ranchers, farmers, and residents of far western McLean County who are over 70 years old probably remember this scene from Elbowoods. The photo was taken in 1926. It was moved up the hill in 1953.

The building was there, the people are not

Today, the abandoned building is gone. A crazy person, sick and deranged set fire to it just for kicks. It’s gone.

It used to sit on the prairie south of Parshall, North Dakota. A cemetery next door is the final resting place for many of the members of the Three Affiliated Tribes and others.

The stucco wore off, the wood weathered, the doors were open, but the Memorial Congregational Church stood south of Parshall until a vandal burned it down.

From time to time, we stopped by the church building and cemetery to pay our respects. This is one of two important landmarks on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation we frequently visit to show honor and respect to those who have gone before. The other is the Old Scouts Society— but that’s another story.

Recommendation: 100 Years at Ft. Berthold, “the History of Fort Berthold Indian Mission 1876-1976” is compiled by Harold Case and is an excellent first-hand narrative of life on the reservation.

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Mike Kopp

Love to tell stories -- romantic, nostalgic stories of our explorations in the Northern Plains. 15 years a television reporter/anchor, 12 years radio news director, 3 years newspaper editor, 6 years documentary producer -- a lifetime of communication.