Group Sets Out To Preserve Border Markers Between Dakotas
WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) — Rick Snyder of rural Fairmount, North Dakota, is a man who refused to be stalled by the word “no.”
He heard “no” for almost three years as he sought to restore historical quartzite boundary markers that line the North Dakota-South Dakota border. The markers have stood for more than 100 years and used to be spread at half-mile increments along the 360.57-mile boundary that links both states.
In recent years, however, the markers have gone missing, and been tipped or altered, which prompted him to begin the long and tedious restoration process, the Wahpeton Daily News ( ) reported.
Snyder wanted to protect what is still there and spent about three years talking to state historical societies and attorney generals in both states to gain approval for his restoration plans. While some state authorities were sympathetic, he still didn’t gain much cooperation since many of the state entities considered the project not part of their territory, even though Snyder was told by federal officials the two state historical societies and attorney generals had to sign off on the project, or at least not object to it.
The markers are federal monuments, so without permission, legally Snyder could not touch them.
This winter, the hold outs in North Dakota finally said they do not object to his plans and that of a committee to put the markers back in place.
A small group of volunteers spent a recent Wednesday erecting five monuments. The easy ones were somewhat tipped over, including one about a half-mile west of Interstate 29, and another the same distance to the east. They found others that were more acceptable, but put them on a watch list as they have the potential to start leaning.
Five area men righted these border markers by using shovels to stand monuments upright on the border.
They bantered good-naturedly with one another as they dug out the markers, set them straight, applied gravel and then dirt to tamp the ground. It’s estimated each marker weighs about 750 pounds. It took about 30 minutes to set the easy markers in place, which were the ones that were leaning.
“Take half North Dakota dirt and half South Dakota dirt,” laughed Al Braun as he shoveled dirt to stabilize the marker.
“Why are they all leaning?” asked Dennis Foley.
“Because the North Dakota governor wanted more land,” Braun said with a grin.
Snyder said there are more markers that need to be restored along the western edge of Richland and Roberts counties. He doesn’t know the landowners in the area, but does have someone researching that area so those monuments can also be put back in place.
The men’s reasons for helping restore the monuments were varied, but an overwhelming consensus was to ensure their place in history remains on the border.
“Speaking as a person who grew up on the state line,” Foley said as he pointed east to where he grew up, “I saw them as a kid. I admit it does feel good to get them restored.”
Similar reasons drew Snyder to the project, as he also grew up along the state line. The markers that used to be part of the framework of Roberts and Richland counties are in danger of being lost.
“I grew up on the state line and had seen these quartzite markers as a child. I was fascinated by them, not even knowing their significance. As an adult, I’m even more interested. There are still a few standing. A few are in danger of tipping over and once they tip, they have a habit of disappearing,” he said.
Steve Ackerman of Ackerman Land Surveying, Wahpeton, has a vested interest in getting the monuments back in place, as he wants to make sure the markers are surveyed correctly so the points can be used by surveyors in the future.
Thinking the process to preserve the markers would be relatively easy, Snyder’s initial investigation into the status of the markers led him smack-dab into federal bureaucracy. During his first phone call with the Bureau of Land Management he was told, “Do not touch them, because they are federal monuments.”
However, much later, he was told there was nothing stating how the markers should be handled and the problem was up to South Dakota and North Dakota officials to determine how to restore and/or maintain them.
Finally, three years later, help from the South Dakota State Historical Society provided a determination from the Attorney General’s office, saying there are no state laws governing the handling of the border markers and it had no objection to a project to restore them.
“I don’t understand the word ‘no.’ I just didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer and kept asking my questions,” Snyder said.
The most difficult aspect of preservation was getting the North Dakota Attorney General’s office to sign off on the project. Initially Snyder was told the Attorney General didn’t need to become involved.
The North Dakota Historical Society forwarded the South Dakota Attorney General’s letter to his North Dakota counterpart and within a month, similar permission had been granted by the state of North Dakota.
With permission to proceed, Snyder and other volunteers began restoration with the nearby markers that need merely to be returned to their completely upright position. He hopes through stories running in area newspapers that people will call him if they know where some of the other markers are.
“This projects needs to be promoted to take up the cause to the west,” he said.
His vision is to have the markers back in place along the Richland and Roberts county border every half mile, although it would be wonderful to have markers spread along the entire North Dakota and South Dakota border. But beyond these two counties, it will be up to someone else to push for the monument restoration beyond the county line.
Returning markers any distance back to their rightful place will require more investment of time and resources. One marker north of Rosholt, South Dakota, was rescued by a farmer, but needs to be replaced. Since the markers are seven feet long, 10 inches square and weigh about 750 pounds, it won’t be easy to return to its spot. Another marker, sitting in a slough, will need additional attention.
For markers that have been moved or have fallen, a new survey will need to be performed. Snyder is looking for donated surveying time, donated gravel, concrete and maybe enough cash to purchase a highway historical marker, explaining the significance of the quartzite stone.
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Information from: Wahpeton Daily News,
