Lincoln Valley, North Dakota is in its last days. The structures that remain standing are largely in tenuous shape, might stand another few decades at best, and they’re far outnumbered by places long gone. Browsing through our Lincoln Valley archive, we realized we had a lot of photos we’d never posted before, particularly photos of the ruins of Lincoln Valley, North Dakota, population zero.
These photos were taken during our last visit to Lincoln Valley in June of 2010.
Sometimes we’ll be walking through the woods and come upon something a little out of the ordinary and think to ourselves, “What the heck is that?”
And when you circle around the back, the answer becomes clear. The building that once stood here is long gone, with only the entry shed remaining.
The spine of the former bar and ice cream parlor is cracked and the whole structure is sinking in the center.
Photos by Troy Larson and Terry Hinnenkamp, copyright Sonic Tremor Media LLC
Ghosts of North Dakota 
This was nice to see. My mother’s family lived just a few miles from Lincoln Valley and most are buried in the cemetery. My mom and dad helped my mom’s uncle (I think) run the bar and ice cream parlor back in the 50’s. I still have the ice cream scoop that was used. My mom was a Helm. The first time I remember visiting the town and going through some of the buildings that were still standing (some most dangerous!) was probably 40 years or so ago. The barstools and the bar in the bar were still there and the upstairs still had personal stuff strewn all over. One gas pump was still there as well. I believe the population then was 3. The last time I was there was probably 20 years ago – not much there then. Thanks for taking pictures.
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Are there any Wagner families still in the area? My farther was born there in the 1905 to 1917 time frame.
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My father was born there, he is a wagner, lives in Carrington now
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Probably my parents, Adam and Freda Goetz owned the store.
Rose Marie Goetz Aus
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The Bar and back Bar were moved and used in the Drake Knights of Columbus Hall until two years ago when they remodeled and built a new Bar and back Bar. The Bar from Lincoln Valley is now in Goodrich,ND in the Sheridan County Heritage Center. It still looks the same as when it was used back in the day. Duane Frey donated it to the KC”s and then to the Heritage Center.
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My grandfather bolt a store in Lincoln valley in the early 1900,s he was a successful busines and built a new house. After living above the store his name was Edward Wagner my father was born there in 1914 my grandfather died around 1918 from the Spanish flu which killed thousands nation wide dad’s sister died 4 months later my grandfather is buried in the Adventist cemetery the last I knew the store was called Helms bar my my grandfather,s name was Adam Wagner he moved to Oaklahoma and started a new family my father knew them
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I recently came across a copy of the 1985 Lincoln Valley history book and was wondering if anyone who grew up in the area can clarify some apparently conflicting information about electricity in Lincoln Valley.
Page 2 says that most everyone in town had individual ‘Delco’ plants, batteries, and windchargers before REA (Verendrye Electric) came to town in 1950.
Page 4 mentions a garage owned by Reimche, Wahl, and Wagner and which also housed a light plant (it didn’t go into much detail about the service, only the different engines used with it), implying there was a single plant for the town.
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My Dad, Lenard Wahl was born either in Lincoln Valley, or at the farm, not far from there.His parents John and Christina homesteaded in Sheridan Co. Ten years ago we visited the farm, which is abandoned except the and one out building. Grandpa was a “Diviner” and people from all over the county hired him to find water for them.
I took a picture in Lincoln Valley that has a ghostly apparition. It makes for interesting conversation.
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My dad Ed JC Dockter grew up in Lincoln Valley. My dad bought the lots that have buildings on them. He put that sign up, it is on one of the photos above.
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My dad was Norman Wagner I went to the Luthern chruch the bar was owned by the Bonnets my great grandfather Adam Wagner they lived in Goodrich Rudy Wagner was my grandfather. I really loved Lincoln valley I remember the grocery store my friend Lynne bonnet and I played in the store after. It was fun
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My Uncle used to be the post office agent there. Ray Roberts, his wife’s name was Lydia I believe they left there in the early 60s.
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