Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-05-17
State Historical Park
In Sight for LangdOn
Continued From Firft Page


1--WE have in North Dakota but one
Federal Park, located on the shore of
Devils Lake. We have, however, a
number of state or historical parks,
coming under the jurisdiction of the
State Historical Society. Only two
of these have been improved up to the
present time: The parks at Aber-
crombie and Walhalla. Others are to
be located at Mandan, Valley City and
other points in the west.
The Federal park is known as
Sully's Hill Park. Embraced in the
$50 acres which were set aside by ex-
ecutive proclamation on April 27.
1904, is the hill named after General
Sully, several small lakes including
Sweet Water, and a number of rugged
hills. The land is heavily timbered.
The north boundary is a two mile
shore line on Devils Lake. A mile
west of the park is the Fort Totten
Indian School, and but a short dis
lance south is the famous old Indian
mission where Father jerome Hunt
has administered to the reservation
inhabitants for more than thirty years.
The first step by the Government to
improve Sully's Park was made in the
spring of 1901. An ample a%pproprj-
alton has been made by congress and
the superintendent has begun to stock
it with big game. A number of
buffalo, antelope, deer and moose have
already been contracted for. Imme.
diately across the lake from the park
are the beautiful grounds of the North
Dakota Chautaugua Association, and
Rock Island Military Reservation, the
camping ground of the North Dakota
National Guard.
At a meeting of the Old Settlers
Association held at Wahpeton on June
26, 1902 a petition was drafted and
sent to the governor and legislature
of the state to provide for the purch.
ase of ground on the old site of Fort
Abercrombie as a public park to be
in charge of the Richland County Old
Settlers Association and the State His
torical Commission. Thru the efforts
Of Hon. Judson La Moure a bill was
passed providing for the purchase and
custody of historical sites and relics
in the state of North Dakota. Old
Fort Abercrombie was established in
1858 on the bank of the Red River in
the northern part of Richland county.
In the early days it served as a gate
way to our state for immigration, and
to the pioneers it was the best known
place west Of St Paul.
Abercrombie park is a six acre
tract located on the bank of the Red
River. A pavilion has been erected
from which a beautiful view may be
had of the surrounding country. A
large number of trees have been plant.
ed, and a museum has been erected
which contains many relics of pioneer
days.
In the same year, 1902, that Aber-
crombie Park was started, an appro-
priation was made for the purpose of
a site on the side of Pembina Mountain
overlooking the city of Walhalla.
The park contains the site of our early
Christian Mission, which appear tc
be the only historical claim the park
has. 1t is proposed to lay the park
out into walks and drives with sum
warehouses; and other rustic places.
A lookout ia to be built on the top of
the hill from which a beautiful view
of the surrounding country may be
obtained. A log house, built by Nor.
man w. Kittson in 1852, has been
moved to the park and will be usec
for the storing of relics and curios.
A monument to the memory of Fathe,
) John Scott has been here erected. Ii
the Dakotas there are hundreds Of
mounds, effigy mounds, entertainments,
an efigy of a man, one of a serpent,
and n of a turtle outlined will
l boulders, some other figures similarly
outlined. trails of boulder, tepee cir,
3 cles of stone, pictures and rocks.
, The best known of these mounds ant
t Notifications of the Mandans are 10
. Gated near Valley City and Bismarck
: 1t is the intention of the State His
torical Commission that these site
} shall be preserved