BUCYRUS

Adams County, North Dakota

 

By

Gary B. Speck

 

This tiny agricultural community  of 26 (2000 Census) people sits on the south side of US 12 and the Burlington Northern Railroad. 

 

In 1907 the tracks for the Chicago, Milwaukee & Pacific Railroad (now the Burlington Northern) were laid.  According to Douglas A. Wick in his book, North Dakota Place Names when this location was established in 1907, it was first called Wolf Butte, then Dolan.  Once the post office was established, a new name was needed since there was already a Doland in South Dakota.  The postmaster volunteered his daughter's name, "May".  It is claimed since a Bucyrus steam shovel was sitting nearby, somebody suggested that name instead.  On February 11, 1908, the Bucyrus post office opened its doors.

 

Some of the early day businesses included a bank, barber, two blacksmiths, a Lutheran church, drug store/doctor office, feed store, two general stores (one with the post office inside), a couple grain elevators, hardware store, harness shop, hotel, several lumber yards, a newspaper (Bucyrus Tribune), the railroad depot, a real estate/law office, restaurant, school, and a shoe repair shop.

 

Bucyrus grew slowly, and in 1930 it reached its maximum population of 124.  During the Depression the town begin to decline.  Today Bucyrus is a cluster of abandoned buildings, with only the church and half of the homes appearing occupied.

 

This is one of the towns featured in my newest book, GHOST TOWNS: Yesterday & TodayTM.

 

This was our GHOST TOWN OF THE MONTH for March 2003.

 

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FIRST POSTED:  March 01, 2003

LAST UPDATED: November 08, 2005

 

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