Fort Ransom, North Dakota

According to the AAA camp book, Fort Ransom State Park in Fort Ransom North Dakota is open all year round for camping. The flooding all throughout North Dakota and including the state park, made that impossible though. The park was open, but not to camping. So, at Olson’s General Store, restaurant, gas station and general hang out, I was directed to another closed establishment. The local RV park that was only a few hundred yards away from the downtown, such as it is. The camping was free and again I am the only one in the otherwise deserted campground.
Ft. Ransom is a very interesting town, if its small size would even qualify it for the title of town.
The fort was built in 1867 to protect travel from Minnesota to Montana. Named for Major General Thomas E.G. Ransom, the site was dismantled five years later. The town is a reminder of the once vibrant fort.
The Fort Ransom County museum who is run by a World War II veteran and very interesting gentleman, Lyle Bjorn, was a treat, and a step back in time. Lyle was born only 5 miles from the town of Ransom and except for his tour in the paratroopers he has lived in North Dakota all his life.
The little school house is where he graduated from High School in 1936. (photo)
The rich Scandinavian history is evident in Ransom in the names of the townsfolk and the Viking statue at the end of town on a large hill that is supposed to have some kind of powers all its own.
I walked up to the hill but I don’t think any of those powers wore off on me. Have to fly now, but in the meantime, Enjoy some pictures. TC…

                                               Lyle, a realy nice man.

                                        Lyle's aunt and uncle.

                               One room school house where Lyle graduated.

                                                

                                                          

The main street in Ransom

                                    Flooding of the Sheyenne River.

I am starting to feel like the Maytag Repairman.