Berlin, ND
LaMoure County
Inhabited as of 3/11
Berlin is located in a sparsely populated region of south-central North Dakota, about 50 miles south southeast of Jamestown.
Sabrina Hornung contributed these photos of Berlin with the following comments: “I have included photos from Berlin ND. According to Wikipedia there were 35 people living in Berlin according to the 2000 Census. I stumbled upon an old blacksmith shop and everything was in tact except for the belt that connected the bellows. I also included a couple of photos from the old firehall. I thought that it was interesting that the remains of the fire wagon were still intact and in the building. One of the other buildings I came across was an old Legion building and I snapped a photo through the window. I have a cousin that lives in Berlin Germany that is always begging me to visit, so I sent her a photo of me in Berlin ND.. She definitely got a kick out of that!”
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE
The former blacksmith shop.
The Legion Hall of Berlin, Post 206
How cool… an old horsedrawn fire wagon!
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I used to play on those swings behind the old blacksmith shop (used to be operated by Jackie Webber if I remember correctly) back in the late 1970s and into the 1980s. My grandparents were Alvin and Florence Lacina who lived about 5 miles south of Berlin.
Nice to see Berlin again my friend Tracy is from there.
Spent many days in Berlin, wonder if the old gym is still around.
I have fond memories of growing up in Berlin, ND, playing on the swings in the school
yard and skating on a frozen pond behind Matt Rausch’s local store in the winter. (1950-54)
Also, living across the street from my grandparents, Anton and Hannah Swenson was wonderful, too. Gramma Swenson always brought out her fresh bread, jam and sausage when we
stopped by for a visit. Wonderful memories. Carol Van Ornum Current
Our family lived here from the spring of 1955 to about March of 1956. I was a 6th grader. I had a friend, Van Ornum, but not coming up with his first name. Also seems like there was a Claude Van Ornum. I believe my friend’s dad was one of the Elevator managers. My Dad, Chris, was the depot agent and we lived in the quarters above the Depot. I played baseball on the Legion team (as a 6th grader) and my Dad played on the Amateur team. We had previously lived in La Moure. Was his name Terry?? Others I remember were Harold and (I think) Marvin Just, Greg Jenson (his dad was the other elevator manager). I think it was John Rausch who pitched on the Legion team. I remember one time we beat someone 8-0, I played centerfield, and after the game we all went to Rausch’s store for free treats.
I can remember skating, and I believe playing hockey on the ice you mentioned. As I remember it was in the corner of the block, I think NE corner. I remember an Artesian Well. Probably where the ice came from.
I was crushed when we had to leave Berlin. I was back several years ago to look around. The old ball diamond was all overgrown, but I was able to locate the pitcher’s mound. The School House was gone. We moved to Jessie, ND, then Binford, and then in Nov of 1959 came to West Fargo. Where I found Greg Jenson, and a guy named Harold Sproul who I had gone to school (2nd/3rd grade) with at Buffalo. Since my dad worked as an agent-telegrapher for the NPRY, we moved alot, I went to 8 different schools in 12 years. Ugh!
I think my friend’s Dad’s name was Vern (Van Ornum), maybe the son was named Vern too, just can’t quite remember.
Of course the Depot and our old home are gone too.
Lora Lee Van Ornum/Senske–Wow-without Berlin I would not be here. Wonderful place to have lived and been rasied up in. Gardening in Berlin was a breezze to places I have tried to garden in
recently, Great Friends-fun-family. Lots of wonderful memories.
Thank you for posting the photos of the blacksmith shop, it used to belong to my father Miles Horsager. Seeing it again brought a tear to my eye.
I am proud to be a Van Ornum. I dont have all the beautiful memories of all of you. But when My parents Jim and Audrey Van Ornum would drive back from california my brother and I always have fun andloved going to Berlin. My parents were married there and I thin k went to school there.
You are correct, Verne Van Ornum worked at the elevator, and Verne Jr was his son. My dad was Claude Van Ornum who did plumbing and heating around the area. I was also wondering if anyone know the where abouts of any of the family of Benedicta Millner. They were Rose, Alex, Eugene, Alois, Benedicta and Lawrence. I believe she is still alive and is in a nursing home in Roseau. I spent many hours at Glenn Ellingson’s Standard Station and also watched them do welding and plow sharpening at the blacksmith shop which was first owned by Miles Horsager and then Jackie Weber.
Does anyone remember the George Wagner family that lived there in 1880′s and what happen to them?
Does anyone remember the George Wagner family that lived there in 1880′s and what happen to them? Families on the June 19, 1880 censes was: Fred Teiler (?),Maratin Korboska(?),Julius Westfall,Wm Sleede,August Baling, and David Leubenow.
The pictures are great and thanks for sharing them.
I cannot remember any of the names you have listed except Wagner. I do not know for sure
but one of my best friends in Berlin was Jerry Wagner. His dad was “Wimpy” Wagner, I do
not know his real name who worked for John Young who was one of the sons of Senator
Milton Young who was from Berlin. In regards to my last post I have since learned that
Benedicta Millner Kotta died in November at the age of 95. All of her children were listed
in the obituary so I now know that they are all still living and where they now live.
yes I remember