Living your entire life in a town so small that it was practically a ghost town might bother some, but not Melvin Wisdahl. Born and raised in Corinth in northwestern North Dakota, Melvin still called the tiny town of 15 people home as of this date 1990.
It’s not often a major motion picture set in North Dakota or filmed here, let alone stare Hollywood royalty. On this date in 2000, the Bismarck Tribune reported on the excitement that descended on Medora as the town hosted 150 cast and crew members for the filming of Wooly Boys. It starred Peter Fonda, Kris Kristofferson, and Joseph Mazzello and followed the story of a Badlands sheep rancher and his grandson.
On this date in 1995, The Bismarck Tribune reported about the decay of the Fortuna Air Force Station. From 1951 to 1979 the station was an active radar station in the Air Defense Command that protected the United States from attack. The station was six miles from Canada and eight miles from Montana. The nearest town was Fortuna.
David Marquart, Teacher Astronaut prairiepublic.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from prairiepublic.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Published July 9, 2021 at 12:04 AM CDT Listen • 2:26
Bismarck Tribune reported on
a most unusual postmaster. Gordon Vaagen, postmaster of Taylor since 1967, was a musical virtuoso. When not running the post office he was repairing and making instruments.
Mr. Vaagen was born in 1938 and grew up on a farm 12 miles north of Taylor. After graduating from Taylor schools, he served two years in the army, then worked on the family farm until 1978. His presidential appointment to postmaster was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson.
Despite having no musical training, Mr. Vaagen could play almost any instrument. In his basement he repaired instruments ranging from guitars and violins to harps and pianos. The instruments were brought to him by people all over western North Dakota, some being old family heirlooms.