The Ward County independent., 1922-07-20
TROOP ;, BOY SCOUTS, SECURE
USE OF TIE SP0KLIE CABIN

ners in this part of North Dakota, and
his son, ALI 0. Spoklie, of South Pra-
irie, the troop has been given the use
of the log cabin on the old Spoklie
homestead on the Mouse river about
mile and a quarter west of Minot
on the Roosevelt Highway leading to
Burlington. The first week end out
ing of the troop was held Saturday
and Sunday of this last week and 10
boys with the Scoutmaster participant
ed. The available time was spent in
improvement work on the property,
which is to be made as comfortable
as possible and generally restored.
The cabin has been unoccupied for
many years and had fallen into some
decay. 1t is a two-story structure
/ and the inside measurement is about
12x15 feet with a small basement un-
der the building. The old addition
! is to be removed from the east end
and a large porch erected in its place
: later in the season. Later, it is hop
plan is to utilize the place for all
sorts of Scout activities including
overnight and week end hikes or long
er camping outings, tests, athletic
games, picnics, etc. There is ample
level ground for baseball diamond,
a horseshoe court, a camp ground and
outdoor cooking. Along the river
bank extend fine woods with open
sandy ground suitable for picnics, etc.
The sandy bank affords a good ''swim-
min hole' and it is already in use.
Altogether the place is ideally situat-
ed for the purposes Of the Scouts.
The boys of the troop are anxious
to obtain some donations Of furnish
ings for the cabin which has been
named Spoklie Hall in honor of the
we'll known pioneer and his family
to whose generosity the boys owe the
fine outing place. A small cook
stove, pipe, table preferably, of the
old folding leaf variety, a few STAN
aard chairs, bed springs, mattresses,
bedding, cooking utensils, dishes and
kitchen furnishings including cup
board, etc. Any citizens having US
able articles Of the kind, even such
as can be repaired, will greatly aid
the Scouts work by donating them.
They may write to Box 1898, Minot,
T:.' nhone 313, and the articles will be
called for. --s--,,.--~,,--s~.-s'-', '-----
Oser Webb donated a partly wreck
ed building which the boys have torn
down and which has furnished abun-
dant lumber for the repairs and re-
modelling.
The cabin is expected to furnish an
excellent place for the expansion of
scoutcraft especially in carpentry and
similar lines.
The SpolSlie cabin is one of the in
teresting and historic landmarks in
this region and the boys are much
interested in the history Of it. Ole
F. Spoklie came to the Mouse river
country in 1882 with his wife and
three children, coming from Moor
head, Mimi, over the prairies with a
yoke of oxen and taking up home
stead where the cabin now stands. A
temporary shack was erected the first
year but in 1883 the present log build
ing was built. It is therefore, one
Of the oldest buildings standing in
northwestern North Dakota. Mr..
Spoklie built the cabin himself and
the careful and laborious mortising
Of the corners attracts the notice of
all visitors.
Mr.. Spoklie is now 70 years of age
and is still active, residing on his
ranch II miles south of Minot to
which he removed after 10 years on
the old homestead. H..