Dakota Attitude, by James Puppe. (North Dakota State University Bookstore/TNS)
A North Dakota man traveled 113,000 miles in 14 years to gather stories from elders in every town in the state
Pamela Huey, Star Tribune
The stories are different, but the themes come through clearly – deprivation, family, patriotism and faith.
Some 617 stories, many from the Great Depression and World War II, were gathered by one man who took 14 years to drive 113,000 miles over North Dakota’s gravel roads and paved highways to every town in the state – from Abercrombie to Zeeland, from the Red River Valley to the western Badlands.
“There was an untapped resource out there,” said Jim Puppe, who grew up on a Pembina County farm. “I was able to capture remarkable stories, tons of wisdom, and appreciate the resiliency. I could not stop.”