Devils Lake - Two-Family Residence
Typical house for employees on the Devils Lake reservation in 1884. It is a duplex that houses two families. Mr. and Mrs. Grant (right) lived on one side. Mr. Grant was an interpreter for the agency. Mrs. Grant was a Dakota woman. The other family (left) is the Beesaws. Mr. Beesaw was also an employee of the federal agency at Devils Lake Reservation.
St. John - Martineau Residence - Submitted by Becky Leonard
Attached is ca. 1902 photograph of the Martineau Residence and Rental House located on Foussard Avenue (Main Street), St. John. St. John is one of the oldest communities in ND with its commerce established in the 1850s. Arriving in the St. John area (St. Claude Mission) in 1882, Fortunat and Cedulie Martineau, built a store on the site of an early trading post on Foussard Avenue (Main Street), St. John, ND and their residence in photo across the street. As successful merchants, beginning in 1889, the original residence was heavily remodeled into the photographed structure. At the same time, the rental house in photograph was constructed on a lot acquired next door to their residence as a spec house. Their residence burned in 1913 and a new one built on site. The rental home remains and has been restored and is owned by the Rolette County Historical Society. It is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It now serves as the award winning Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway Visitors Center. As well as being successful merchants in St. John, the Martineau family also established stores surrounding Turtle Mountain including Manitoba, Canada. They employed freighters to move and receive goods using ox carts on early established trails which were later followed by the Great Northern Churches Ferry to St. John Branch Line. This line continued across the International Border to Brandon, MB, making St. John an important Immigration Station as well. Part of the original railroad property in St. John was donated to the Rolette County Historical Society by BNSF along with a box car and caboose which sit on the only remaining railroad tracks in what is now the main museum site. The original St John Immigration Building was also moved to this site. Also, in order to communicate with his stores, Fortunat and his sons are famous North Dakotans for establishing the first telephone company west of the Red River Valley. The telephone company also employed many telephone operators in the store. Fortunat Martineau, at the time of his death was one of the oldest merchants in ND. Cedulie Martineau was also an early ND Mother of the Year. Also of note, the Martineau’s were friends of an early resident of St. John, ND who was to become Governor John Burke and who met and married his wife there. She was an early St. John school teacher.
Holmes Township, Rolette County - Submitted by Becky Leonard
Attached is a 1934 photograph with a note by my grandmother, Laura (Sager) Strietzel. The log cabin constructed ca. 1890 of Turtle Mountain logs sourced on site, was located along a large ravine in Holmes Township, Rolette County, ND. This cabin was located near my Great Grandparents, Paul and Della (James) Strietzel’s homestead in NE1/4-1-163-72, who owned and operated a sawmill on Strietzel Lake. When my Grandparents, Otto and Laura (Sager) Strietzel married in 1934, they rented this cabin in the neighborhood.
Rolla - 28 Main Avenue E - Submitted by Becky Leonard
Attached is a photo of our ca. 1891 historic storefront located at 28 Main Ave. E, Rolla, ND, which was also the home of the store owner, William Clarke, on the second story. This early merchant was also one of our first ND legislators. This building’s use was typical of many ND town developments having living quarters in commercial buildings. The living quarters in our building and several other Main Ave., Rolla buildings were home to many owners and renters until banned by the Rolla City Council. Also attached is a recent photograph of our exterior restoration done in 2014.
Rural Rolla - Coghlan Castle - Submitted by Becky Leonard
Coghlan Castle is North Dakota’s only castle, located at rural Rolla, Rolette County, ND. It was built as a private residence during the homestead era in ND. It sits on private property and is leased to the 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, Save Coghlan Castle, Inc., who is tasked with its preservation. The continuous exterior restoration and interior stabilization was begun in 2009. An interpretive panel is located along a pull off from ND Hwy. 30. It is also a feature of the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway.
Rolette County Historical Society - History and Memories of Rolette County