In 1886, Erick and Marlene Watne and son Edwin moved to Dakota Territory from Wisconsin. They made their home in this abandoned dugout. Marlene died in 1891. Erick married Hannah Hystad in 1893, they continued to live there until toward the end of the century (1890s). Erick’s daughters Lizzie (1889) and Gerda (1895) were born here. 
In 1887, Tollef and Dorothea Tvedte (Erick Wayne’s sister) and 4 sons William, Louis, Alfred and Carl came from Minnesota.
They lived with the Watnes in this dugout while building their first home north east of here in the pasture.  In later years, William G. Tweed, Tollef’s son had a blacksmith shop in this dugout while the railroad was being built in 1899.

I love stories about the history of North Dakota and I thought this would be a great place for people to come and check out.

This is also part of the Fort Totten Trail.