Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-08-24
PEMBINA MOUNTAINS.
A Birds Eye View of North Dakota's
Grand Scenery.

s
Grand Scenery.
Much has been said time and again
OF the fine scenery and historic land
MARKS that have made famous foot hills
of the Pembina mountain around Wal
halla. With view Of satisfying a
craving for something more pictur-
eSque that our prolific rolling prairie
we took Il brief and hurried trip over
this finely timbered section of country.
Just at the hour when old Sol was dis
appearing in the west we turned our
back on the bustling thrOng that filled
the streets of Langdon and iourneyed
to Olga, which is located some eighteen
miles east Of the county seat. Olga is
situated on the second bench of the
Pembna mountains, about two miles
from the edge Of the bench and is
nicely sheltered on all sides by poplar
groves. 1t was first settled III 1881 by
Father St. Pierre who came from Mani
toba and first pitched his tent where
the Hotel de Log now stands. The
following year the erection of a log
church was undertaken by the priest
and mass held in the ediice the 18th
day OF September. Olga is a beauti-
fully located town and in the pioneer
days of this county was considered the
future county seat.
An early start the following morn
ing enabled us to obtain Il fine view Of
the valley 800 feet below as we reached
the edge of the first bench OF the noun
tain, n narrow winding trail down
the mountain. on one side of which is
deep ravine, while on the other is the
steep ascent Of the mountain side, leads
us to the nourishjng district Of Beau
lieu. one of the finest farming districts
in Pembina county, which up to 1882
was occupied by Indians and half
breeds, and have since sold their in
terests to white settlers. most Of whom
are Canadians. At about noon the
objective point Of the trip was reached.
The people of Walhalla pride them
selves on the historical Importance
that their little town has attained and
willingly relate tales of the hardships
endured by the pioneers. Walhall
formerly known as st. Joe, was found
ed in 1884 by Father Belcouer, a French
missionary, who with his little flock
laid the present site of the town and
built substantial church and a num-
Der of substantial log houses to resist
the frequent attacks of the hostile
band of Sioux Indians. Some ten years
later it became trading post Of the
Hudson Bay company, one Of the build
ings now standing in the center of the
town. In 1868 occurred what is known
as the St. Joe massacre which was the
killing of the Protestant missionary's
wife, Mrs. Barnett, and a number Of
half-breeds. \ tombstone in the ceme-
tary, upon the mountain side, marks
the spot where she was laid, and it has
been visited by hundreds of people
during late years. With the advance
of civilization the country in the Red
River Valley, below the mountain, be-
came settled with western emigrants
and the bands of Indians ceased their
hostilities. In 1872 J. F. Mayer came
up from St. Cloud, Mimi, and settled
in Walhalla. putting up flour and
saw mill, the first years grinding Of
which only amounted to 800 bushels.
To-day it is one of the best equipped
mills in the state. The town of Wal
halla received its present name from
L. S. Consul Taylor, of Winnipeg. 1t
is a Scandinavian word and means
Goods Home The town is situated
five miles south of the boundry line
Oh the north bank of the Pembina
river. The view from the top of the
mountain is one that must be seen to
be appreciated, it commands view OF
twenty-five miles in almost every direc-
ton, the town of Bathgate. the hand
some farms and farm building on the
north of the Pembina and the Men
monte village in Manitoba, forming a
pleasant contrast to the timber inter.
sected prairies, and the forest lined
Pembina on the reverse. Some sia
miles north of the town is mound
supposed to have been built by the
Mound Builders of long ago. This
theory, however, has been abandoned