The elevators
in Merricourt are very imposing structures. They
are much taller in person than they look in photos,
yet their deteriorating state is a constant reminder
of their fragility. One of them is a brick elevator,
seemingly rare since it's the only one we've seen
still standing thus far.
The tracks which
run beside the elevators are still in use.
Concerning the
building pictured bottom-right, Host/Author/Producer
Keith Norman writes, "This
building is my Aunt and Uncle's old house. They
operated the post office from the building."
He continues,
"The old WPA constructed
gymnasium is currently owned by a British construction/energy
company. The area just to the west of Merricourt
is considered the best place in the entire United
States for wind energy. The British company (and
I forget the company name) has talked about a
Billion dollar wind energy project in the area.
No word on when or if they’ll ever get going.
I believe
that there are a person or two living in Merricourt."
Mr. Norman was kind enough to
share a story about a Merricourt robbery, from
his book - 'Great
Stories of the Great Plains, Vol. 1’
Self
Defense on the Back Roads
Roy Michaelson
listed his occupation as a professional Boxer
from Minneapolis Minnesota. His record in sanctioned
bouts was 1 win, 1 loss, and 1 draw. In all
likelihood he fought in many unsanctioned fights
across the Midwest in his brief stint in the
ring.
In late
1930 his career had brought him to Merricourt,
North Dakota, there he became friends with the
local moon shiners, the Brossart Brothers, spending
the holidays and the first weeks of 1931 at
their farm North West of town. On January 12,
1931 three Brossart Brothers, John Ellingson,
and the Boxer Roy Michaelson robbed Jenner Merchandise
in downtown Merricourt, while no one witnessed
the crime a local Gas Station attendant noticed
the Brossart car at the store late on a Saturday
night. When the robbery was discovered on Sunday
morning Dickey County Sheriff B. W. Crandall
was called and after a brief chase arrested
the Brossarts, Ellingson, and Michaelson and
recovered $500 in stolen merchandise. The Sheriff
also discovered 15 gallons of illegal booze
at the farm.
On the
trip to the jail at Ellendale the Brossarts
and Ellingson were put in the deputy’s
car. The Pro Boxer, Roy Michaelson was the only
prisoner transported in the Sheriff’s
car. While the two cars left together they became
separated and were not traveling together as
they approached Ellendale. According to Sheriff
Crandall two miles out of Ellendale the prisoner
tried to overpower him, forcing the car into
the ditch. In a brief struggle the sheriff was
forced to shoot and kill Roy Michaelson. While
local speculation questioned whether the shooting
was actually self defense a local coroner’s
inquest convened two days after the incident
ruled it a justifiable homicide.
Great
Stories of the Great Plains Vol. 1
Keith Norman
Host/Author/Producer
|
