Marmarth ND

Gypsy Heart

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Nov 29, 2005
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Ozarks
Nestled in a Cottonwood grove beside the Little Missouri River sits the historic town of Marmarth North Dakota. This small town of 140 people invites you to come and enjoy its beautiful scenery ,wildlife, history, dinosaur and fossil digs, and relaxing lifestyle. Stop and see us; you'll be a stranger only once.
http://www.marmarth.org/

With the arrival of the railroad in the fall of 1907, the town of Marmarth was established. The town site was originally laid out on the East side of the Little Missouri River where the Neva Post office already existed. This town site was named for the first postmistress, Neva Woods, daughter of a pioneer homesteader.

The first few structures were built on this site only to run in to problems with the rancher who owned the land and had no interest in selling at a fair price.
Marmarth, 1916 -- taken from the bluff overlooking the Little Missouri River

The town site was then moved to the west side of the river where a tent town sprang up on a flat west of the existing town. By 1908, structures were being built in what is now the City of Marmarth. Marmarth was named for Margaret Martha Fitch, granddaughter of Albert J. Earling, president of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.



The Milwaukee Railroad played an important part in Marmarth's history – the early days saw three east-bound and three west-bound passenger trains daily, along with many freight trains. The Marmarth roundhouse was used to both service and turn the frequent trains.


The town grew rapidly because of the railroad, and in 1909 a village form of government was established. 1908 saw the forming of a school district ,and by 1909 an elementary and high school building was finished and schooling was being provided for the town and rural children. The first high school graduation class was in 1912. This class of two included Colin Clements, who went on to become a well-known author and Hollywood playwright.

By 1915 the population of the town had increased to 1000 people and at that time a commission form of government was adopted. That same year the first electric light plant was built for the city and was in full operation by the fall of 1915.



Things progressed rapidly for Marmarth, and by February of 1911 it was the largest town in North Dakota on the Milwaukee Railroad and the fifth largest town west of the Missouri River. By 1917 it was the only town in North Dakota to have natural gas piped in for both commercial and domestic use. 1918 saw the completion of a water and sewer system. By then the town hosted many businesses including two banks, two hotels, a hardware store, a jewelry store, a laundry, a post office, a newspaper (The Marmarth Mail), a theatre, a gas station, a Ford Agency, a meat market, and a hospital.

One of the early-day problems for the local businesses was that many people had to cross the Little Missouri River in order to get to town. A ferry was used for a while to solve this problem, but it broke loose and floated away. In 1915 work was started on the building of a first-class steel bridge, and on June 20, 1916, a celebration was held to declare the bridge open. The bridge made it easier for the farmers and ranchers on the east side of the river to do business in Marmarth.

Things progressed rapidly for Marmarth, and by February of 1911 it was the largest town in North Dakota on the Milwaukee Railroad and the fifth largest town west of the Missouri River. By 1917 it was the only town in North Dakota to have natural gas piped in for both commercial and domestic use. 1918 saw the completion of a water and sewer system. By then the town hosted many businesses including two banks, two hotels, a hardware store, a jewelry store, a laundry, a post office, a newspaper, a theatre, a gas station, a Ford Agency, a meat market, and a hospital.


The Mystic Theatre was built in 1914, and is now owned by the Marmarth Historical Society. In 1999 the Society obtained a grant to restore the building; the theatre is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Society still operates the theatre and hosts a cowboy poetry gathering in September of every year, along with vaudeville plays starring local talent.

One of the most impressive projects constructed in Marmarth was the Barber Building, which was built in 1909. The ground floor of this building was occupied by businesses, while the upper story was a fully equipped Opera House. It was at that time the finest playhouse west of Minneapolis. The Barber building burned in 1918 but was quickly rebuilt the same year. The Barber building was purchased by the Marmarth Historical Society to keep it from being torn down so it still stands in Marmarth, but it is in a sad state of disrepair.

Originally called the Marmarth Tourist Camp, today's City Park still offers overnight camping and picnic facilities.

Marmarth still exists in its beautiful and unique setting on the Little Missouri River, surrounded by the badlands and shaded by majestic cottonwood trees. With a population of 140 people, the present day town of Marmarth is an interesting mixture of old and new.

The old Milwaukee Railroad Bunkhouse is still operating year- around as a rooming house with dormitory style rooms. During the spring it houses bird watchers coming to watch the sage hens dance, and summer sees a large influx of paleontologists and amateur dinosaur enthusiasts, as Marmarth is set in the middle of one of the best dinosaur fields in the country. Every summer Pioneer Trails Regional Museum of Bowman, North Dakota, hosts a dinosaur field school whose students are housed in the old bunkhouse.
 

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jonnyrebel00

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Nov 9, 2006
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MonDak said:
It's hard to imagine seeing this place today, knowing at one time it was the
largest town in ND. I've always been on a mission when I've went thru
here, but have always had it in the back of my mind that I would return
and spend some time here.


MonDak, have you been here??
 

pronghorn

Hero Member
Jan 7, 2008
570
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Gypsyheart said:
Things progressed rapidly for Marmarth, and by February of 1911 it was the largest town in North Dakota on the Milwaukee Railroad and the fifth largest town west of the Missouri River. By 1917 it was the only town in North Dakota to have natural gas piped in for both commercial and domestic use. 1918 saw the completion of a water and sewer system. By then the town hosted many businesses including two banks, two hotels, a hardware store, a jewelry store, a laundry, a post office, a newspaper (The Marmarth Mail), a theatre, a gas station, a Ford Agency, a meat market, and a hospital.

It was the largest town in North Dakota "on the Milwaukee Railroad"
The Milwaukee Railroad cut through southwest North Dakota for only about 70 miles.
Marmarth was the largest town in North Dakota on that stretch of railroad, it was
never the largest town in North Dakota.
Marmarth is in Slope county, the fourteenth least populated county in the country.
My paternal grandparents homesteaded in Slope county early in the 1900's, not sure
of the exact year at the moment.
 

digginer

Jr. Member
Dec 25, 2009
69
0
i worked out of nearby baker,montana,18 miles,for about 4.5 years.very interesting little town,very friendly people,and one heck of a little bar and resturant.good food!!they have a rodeo and street dance,3night deal,they have a motorcycle rally,2 night deal,and just about every night,dianne,wanda,lois,i think,and one otherwill serve you your favorite adult beverage.tell them derrell says hi.
 

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