The Wolf Butte Lutheran Church is in a remote part of Adams County, North Dakota, about 45 miles south of Dickinson. It was once part of a Lutheran Parish that also included another abandoned church we’ve photographed, the North Grand Lutheran Church, south of Bucyrus. Regular services ended at the Wolf Butte location in 1988.
This Adams County country school is one of hundreds simply withering away in the elements across the plains of North Dakota, having served its purpose in educating the children of the earliest settlers.
Most township schools like these, a single room structure constructed to conform with standard plans, were 18 x 32 and were staffed by a single teacher with students from first through eighth grade. Continue reading “Abandoned Country School in Adams County”
The majestic and abandoned North Grand Church is in Adams County, ten miles southwest of Hettinger and just a mile north of the South Dakota border. It served this barely-populated part of the county for sixty years, from 1909 to 1969.
I would describe this church as brick, although I’m not sure that’s the correct term. The blocks are Continue reading “The Majestic and Abandoned North Grand Church”
Bucyrus, North Dakota was decimated by a wind-driven wildfire on October 17th, 2012. Nearly all of Bucyrus was lost in the fire. Thankfully, two dozen residents of Bucyrus were evacuated before the fire and there were no injuries. However, Bucyrus’ residents have lost their homes and possessions.
We spoke with Adams county emergency management and they provided us with the following relief information. Please do what you can to help these families in their recovery effort.
Monetary donations can be sent to:
Bucyrus North Dakota Disaster Relief Fund
c/o Dakota Plains Federal Credit Union
PO Box 1020
Hettinger, ND 58639
To offer other kinds of assistance, please check with:
Bismarck Red Cross
4007 State Street
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 223-6700
Adams County Emergency Management:
701-567-4598
Bucyrus, ND is along Highway 12 in southwestern North Dakota, east of Bowman. It was founded in 1907 as Wolf Butte, and was also known as Dolan for a time. Bucyrus is just down the road from some other places we’ve visited, like Gascoyne, Haley and Griffin.
US Census Data for Bucyrus
Total Population by Place
1920 – 113
1930 – 124
1940 – 117
1950 – 111
1960 – 60
1970 – 42
1980 – 32
1990 – 22
2000 – 26
2010 — 27
Bucyrus fell victim to a wildfire on October 17th, 2012. The town’s residents were evacuated, but numerous homes were lost to fire.
Photos by Troy Larson and Terry Hinnenkamp, copyright Sonic Tremor Media
Ghosts of North Dakota 