VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series Season 25 Presents: Tom Overn: “Kathryn, North Dakota: Its 125th Anniversary.” 7PM Thursday, September 18th, at the Barnes County Museum.
The city of Kathryn was named for one of the daughters of Mr. C. S. Mellen, president of the NPRR. Kathryn was platted June 4, 1901 by Frank Juleth. On the Casselton-Marion Branch of the NPRR, the town was built in 1900 and the village of Kathryn was laid out about 2 miles south Hjelde’s store at Daily, soon becoming a thriving town. It was unusual to have Gustav George Overn, a jeweler and expert gold and silversmith. At twelve in Oslo, Norway, he made his own design for spoons, knives, and other articles which have become collector’s items. Kathryn Block 2 was platted on August 3, 1904, by Frank Lynch as an addition to the incorporated village of Kathryn. A second addition was platted August 25, 1906. In E ½ sec. 14, OAKHILL Township.
Tom Overn is a lifelong resident of Kathryn, ND. His grandfather, Christian Overn, and his family came to Oakhill Township in 1882, a family of silver and goldsmiths, and clockmakers. Christian sold his shop in Oslo, Norway, and used the profit to move his family of eight children to the state of Wisconsin. Hearing of land to homestead in North Dakota, they moved to Section 11, southwest ¼, where a sod house was constructed. By 1886, some buildings in Kathryn were being built. His shop building was constructed out of almost any materials that were available. Living quarters were on the main floor and a shop with a drive line and workstations were put together in the basement. All work needed daylight, so large windows were installed on the south and west sides of the building. The work comes with a motto “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
All Lectures are at the Barnes County Historical Society Museum and held in conjunction with Valley City State University. For more information contact Wes Anderson at 701-845-0966.
The lectures are free and open to the public.