Our Americana

I have the great dialogues with myself as I'm driving down the road only to have my mind go blank when I sit down in front of my computer. Yeah, I know; must of you are saying right now, "So, what's different, his mind is blank most of the time, isn't it?" Funny!!

Anyway, driving on the back roads of America really opens your eyes to what is out here. "The more things change, the more they stay the same" is so very true. I remember back in Nevada driving through some of the old "ghost towns". Well, I've already driven through many of the future ghost towns of America. Most have some people hanging on refusing to leave but the towns themselves are pretty run down.

One example is the quaint little town of Belfield, ND. A small town still well occupied but not being kept up. I'm sure not so long ago there were a contingent of people that took pride in what the town looked like; not so anymore.

As I was driving through I noticed a sign for the Belfield Dam. Well, where there is a dam there is generally a lake. So off I go. I figured it would be a nice place to eat lunch. To my delight it was a beautiful 'pond' albeit a large pond but I'd never call it a lake. What disappointed me and delighted me were two scenes at the lake. The first was the name of the park - "The Dam Park". Now some one or group of people had to have a great sense of humor. Love it.

But just behind the sign was a well designed playground for the young kids. The playground was left untouched, for how long is anyone's guess.

I just think it's kind of a sad statement about human nature. One group of people strive so hard to build something up while the next or the next generation choose to go their own path (nothing really diabolical) leaving the past's charm to ruin. Like everything else, life is one big circle. What comes around, goes around.

Belfield Pond


The Sign


The park playground


Belfield Quarry



Ducks feeding in Belfield Lake




One really nice side benefit of driving through these little towns is every now and again you find a gem. In Marmarth, ND you find such a place. Now the town itself leaves much to be desired but on the outskirts of the town is an Automobile Museum. Yep! The older gentleman moved there about 7 years ago and brought all of his automobiles with him. And I mean all - over 50 and they all run according to him. He keeps them all up by himself. Everything from late 1800s to maybe a 1940 or 1950 but very few 'newer' models. In fact he has the original roadster owned by General Dougles MacArthur. One just like it won a Grand Prix race.

And that's not the best part, amongst the cars are collections of pictures that contain just about every famous person from the region - Geronimo, Custer, TR, Annie Oakley, Bat Masterson, Will Bill, Billy the Kid, etal. You name it, this guy had a picture.

Definitely make it a stop if you're ever in North Dakota.