| COAL HARBOR TOWNSHIP | |
| T147N
X R84W |
Latitude = 47.5517 N Longitude = 101.3623 W |
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History Township history from the book "McLean County Heritage" by the McLean County Historical Society |
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Victoria School District covers three townships. Part of 146-84; 147-83 and 147-84. The voting precinct is listed as Hancock. There are a number of towns and post offices listed for this township; also some very early land marks. Each is listed below under Towns / Cities. Here is where the "Big Muddy" makes its largest turn. From a very definite eastward course, the river now makes a rather sharp bend and flows south. In the days of the Missouri River boatmen, this was a well known landmark on the river. Since the river has been dammed up, much of the lowland has been flooded but one high point has become an island, called Mallard Island. It is a refuge for wildlife but there is some farming done on the island also. There are several fish and game reserves in 147-84 and in 147-83. One can see antelope, deer pheasants and other birds and animals along Highway 83. |
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Towns / Cities All Information from the Book "North Dakota Place Names" by Douglas A Wick |
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Victoria This pioneer settlement was founded in 1883 in the center quarter of Sec. 35-147-84, Coal Harbor Twp., by settlers from Prince Edward Island, Canada, who named it for Queen Victoria (1819-1901). It was one mile east of the Missouri River port of Coal Harbor, which had been established the previous year. In 1885 the post office at Coal Harbor was relocated to Victoria, and this site began to be called by the post office name, with Victoria quickly disappearing for general usage. In 1905 the Coal Harbor post office moved seven miles ENE to the new Soo Line RR townsite called Coleharbor, although it continued to use the old spelling until 1923. |
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Coal Harbor / Coleharbor This Missouri River port was founded in the spring of 1882 in Sec. 34-147-84, Coal Harbor Twp., and named by site owner George S. Gilbert to note the exposed coal veins at this natural boat landing. The post office was established June 6, 1883 with Mr. Gilbert as pm. Later that year George Laidman Robinson (1842-1923), a longtime storekeeper here, became pm. In 1885 it moved one mile east to the center quarter of Sec 35-147-84, the site of the town of Victoria. This name fell into disuse when the post office retained the Coal Harbor name. On October 1, 1905 the post office moved seven miles ENE to the new Soo Line RR townsite of Coleharbor in NW 1/4 Sec. 23-147-83, Victoria Twp., continuing to use the old two-word name until January 1, 1923. The old site existed for a number of years, generally known as Old Coal Harbor. |
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Snake This was a rural post office established March 29, 1895 with William Lacy pm, who came here about 1887. It was located in NW 1/4 Sec. 24-147-84, Coal Harbor Twp., five miles west of Coleharbor, and was named for nearby Snake Creek, noted for its large population of garter snakes. The post office closed December 16, 1896 with mail to Roach, and the site is now inundated by Lake Sakakawea. |
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Roach This was a stopping point on the Velva-Coal Harbor stage route located in SW 1/4 Sec. 10-147-84, Coal Harbor Twp., about five miles north of Riverdale. A post office was established April 10, 1895 with Mary A. Staley pm, and closed August 15, 1902 with mail to Coal Harbor. The name honors William N. Roach of Larimore, who was that city's mayor 1883-1887, a territorial delegate to Congress, and the unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1889 and 1890. The site is now inundated by Lake Sakakawea. |
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Old Garrison Garrison originated here in 1903 and moved to Garrison Twp in 1905. |
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Historical, Genealogical and Ethnic Events |
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Photographs |
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Personal and Community Stories about this Area |
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