Ghost Towns: Crystal Springs, North Dakota

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Ghost Towns is a relatively popular category for the Rural Resurrection website. Our last posting in this category was on Ardmore, South Dakota. There’s an old saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It is important to learn from these ghost towns to help us avoid our communities becoming one as well. However, some of the stories in this category are just interesting tales to read. This week we’ll take a look at Crystal Springs, North Dakota.

This latest installment in Ghost Towns profiles a community that highlights a couple of issues that can impact your community. The devastating impact of fires and how the lack of planning related to highway/interstate construction can ruin the future of your community.

Early Days of Crystal Springs

Crystal Springs got its start in 1873 when the Northern Pacific Railroad built a station in the area. Over time, roughly 100 Polish families moved to the area to make the area their home. A post office was constructed in 1884, and a school was constructed in 1896.

Eventually, a variety of businesses started up in the community. Two grain elevators, a bank, a grocery store, churches, a pool hall, and a barbershop all opened their doors in Crystal Springs in its early days. In 1916 a brick schoolhouse was constructed in anticipation of further growth of the community.

However, the lack of growth eventually forced the school to consolidate. By 1935 the high school classes were being bussed over to the nearby town of Tappen.

Crystal Springs Fountain

One of the draws to the area was the Crystal Springs Fountain. For many years, the refreshing spring water was a draw for residents and visitors alike. For many years the water was provided through an iron pipe. However, the New Deal allowed for the beautification of this popular rest stop. According to a 1936 edition of the Kidder County Press:

”Beautification of North Dakota’s highways was one of the projects put thru with federal money last year by the state highway department.” Construction of the fountain was funded by the state highway department under the Works Progress Administration.”

Utilizing federal funding, a new fountain was constructed of local field stone by stonemason Art Geisler. The fountain was fed by an artesian well that trickled water over the edges, down to a pool to drink from below.

The Demise

Unfortunately, Crystal Springs suffered from not one, but two significant fires that devastated the community. There is not much information available on these fires, but it appears that the town was never rebuilt after the impact of the second fire.

Making things worse for those who remained was the construction of Interstate 94. As the bulldozers came through in the late 1950s, they essentially bisected what remained of the community. The bulk of the community was split apart from the fountain and other structures on the other side.

Although an exit off the interstate was constructed by the time that section of I-94 was completed in 1959, the fate of the community was sealed. There was no plan for the future of the small town to plan around the changes either.

Lessons to Learn

Not much remains of Crystal Springs. The old school still sits on a hill, quite visible from the interstate. Though it looks good from a distance, the ceilings have started to fall in the building. Some other abandoned structures are scattered throughout the area as well. Ghosts of North Dakota has a number of good pictures of some of the other structures in Crystal Springs on their website as well.

Could better spending on fire fighting equipment have saved the town? Doubtful. Firefighting was a problem for a number of communities during those early years. Beyond the equipment, there was typically a lack of training and a lack of building and zoning codes that also contributed to the issue. But ensuring that your community has good equipment and well-trained firefighters has always been important.

Although the town was already on a downward slide when the interstate came through in the 1950s, planning could’ve helped them. Bypass studies were essentially non-existent back in the 1950s, but they are highly important now for any new bypass projects.

Yes, Crystal Springs was essentially bisected, rather than bypassed. But by working with state representatives to create such a study, adjustments to the route design can be beneficial to the state and the community. Bypass studies are an important tool to consider for any community that may be impacted by a future change in a major roadway through town. Rural Resurrection will have a few posts in the future on bypass planning.

You may know of a ghost town with an interesting history. One that may be a helpful example to other communities, don’t keep it to yourself! Let us know through our contact form.

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