Forbes, ND
Dickey County
Inhabited as of 5/11
Forbes is east of Venturia, and right on the South Dakota border. On nearly every trip, we go out looking forward to seeing a certain town, but on the way home, we realize another town was better or more fun. Forbes was that town on this trip. The pleasant surprise.
The Schulstad Stone House Museum in Forbes is open May to September by appointment only.
The view above is Forbes as seen from State Line Road, right on the border with South Dakota. The only road I’ve ever been on where you could pass somebody on the highway and when you’re side by side, you’d be in different states.
There were so many good shots to be taken of this school, we couldn’t put them all here. Watch for a special gallery on this school coming soon.
This was probably the nicest, best kept little Post Office we’ve seen. Somebody takes pride in this place.
A little classic firepower out in front of Legion Post 277.
Two lives burned out — first as Forbes State Bank, then as the Long Branch Saloon.
Photos by Troy and Rat, copyright Sonic Tremor Media LLC
Forbes is my home town. It is great to see pictures of my past! I do not get back there very often, but was just there over Memorial Day weekend. I’ve followed you guys for while now and sure wish I could have met up with you. I went to school in that building from 2nd grad through high school, graduating in 1973. Thank you for coming to Forbes!
There are many fond memories in this gallery. My dad was President of the School Board when the ‘new’ school was built. I think it was ready in time for the 60-61 school year. The year before, I remember having class at the Legion Hall downtown, due to full rooms in the old school. That baseball field was the scene of hundreds of happy hours watching our high school and adult men’s teams play.
to bad you didn’t get any pictures of the basketball court. both my aunt lois schneider , above person, and my dad as well.
I taught in Forbes from the years of 1966-1968. I had the 3rd and 4th grades. I was Mrs. Rehn at the time. Our daughter was born in Ellendale in February of 1968. I am very sad to see how the school looks. It was a wonderful building.
Forbes was the home place of my grandparents, John and Elizabeth Maier,, They lived right across the street, from the school house. My grandmother would be a house mother to many kids coming in from the rural areas, to attend High school, before there was any rural bus service.. Also we played ball on the ball field many times while visiting our grandparents, and used the swing, slide, and teeter toter on the school ground, since it was easy to walk across the street. What fun times we had in this little town, Later my cousins lived here as well, so again we would visit and run the streets on Sat nights, when folks would come into town to do the weekly shopping, I so remember the Ice cream cones from the cafe on main street.. what pleasant memories. thanks for the photos, but so sad to see the windows broken in at the school house.. thanks again..
Wow, the Bank and the Schulstad house are fantastic buildings! I hope someone is able to take care of them. That house could be a great community project.
I remember the 4th of July Rodeo in Forbes in 1981, we rode my motorcycle from Oakes when we lived there. The small Rodeo was great with some big names along with the locals competing. Forbes was very nice town at that time. That was home town Miss Rodeo North Dakota for that year I got to met her a family named Brokol.
Loren… sounds like great memories. I was raised on a farm and went to Forbes school and still get home to my family farm for visits. They had a great 100 year celebration in 2005. Could the family name of the 1981 ND Miss Rodeo have been Brokaw… with a “w” by chance?
The Brokaw’s of Forbes are related to Tom Brokaw of NBC News.
Hi all:
It’s sad to see the school in such rough shape. I lived in Forbes for the 1980-1981 school year where I attended 3rd grade. My father was the Principal of the school that year (Maurice Haugen). It was a great small town to live in as a kid!
Forbes is my most favorite place on this Earth. My Mom was raised there along with her three siblings. The family farm is in your collection of photos. I miss spending the summers there as I did when I was a child. Spending time with my Grandparents and Uncle were the most fun of my life.
Cathy: What is your family name? I was raised in Forbes as well, but I do not remember the Morris name.
My Grandparents are Lester and Molly Holmes and my Uncle John Holmes
Cathy, John Holmes would be 60 or 61 years old now? I remember him well, and would love to get re-connected with him. Would he or you email me terrybob (at) gmail (dot) com. I went to Forbes schools through the 8th grade. Will look forward to catching up with John (as kids, he was always ‘Johnnie’).
Terry,
My Uncle John passed way January 2001 in Forbes. I’m sure he would have enjoyed talking with you again.
Cathy… Roy Holmes was my classmate, graduating in 1973.
Hi Cathy!
I think I remember your Grandfather Lester Holmes. Did he work at the school? If so, he was a very nice man and was very nice to my father and our family. My dad was the principal at the school from 1980-1981.
Yeah, my Grandfather was great! I miss all of them dearly. I use to come and stay with them for a month in the summer and help out at the school. Always had something fun and exciting to do there.
i’m tim kolasch, graduated in forbes in 85. molly and john holms worked for the school. they were the best people. was an honor to know them.
i should lester not john worked at the school and drove bus.
I remember Lester and Molly. My parents and grandparents were friends of theirs and it was always fun to visit with them.
Thanks for the information, Cathy. Sorry to hear about John’s passing. Lois, I remember Roy, too. The Holmes home on the east side of town was one that my Mother (Rosella Hoffman Bobzien) lived in for a time in her younger years.
Lester (Mr. Holmes
) picked me up and took me home everyday on the school bus. He kept his kids in order!
I came across this website while preparing for an upcoming trip to North Dakota and recognized the school and several names in the comments. My dad, Bernard Pratschner taught at Forbes in the the late fifties and early sixties. Our family moved to California in 1963 and have many memories of the area. Mom I intend to visit Forbes in September and check out the old stomping ground.
My Sister and I attended school in Forbes from k thru 12. I graduated in 1970 and my sister in 1967. I enjoyed school and participating in music, sports and plays. My sisters name is Gloria Larson and lives in Independence, MO. My wife and I live in Siverdale, WA. I plan on visiting Forbes summer of 2012. Our parents Robert and Erma Kauk owned Bobs Bar accross from the Long Branch Saloon. The Long Branch Saloon used to be a grocery store. I’m sure that I will see people I know when I visit.
My dad, Ted Gulke, was a county commissioner for twenty-six years in Dickey County. My folks use to play lots of whist together with Molly and Lester. In fact, Molly and Lester were the two people who helped to surprise mom and day on their 40tjh wedding anniversary, Molly called up mom to come in for supper and while eating, Molly & Lesters daugh ter slipped out and made a phone call saying that there was a whist party in the basement o/ f the gym and it was a fundraiser
Arnold, I hope you had a good visit last summer. We were in Ellendale and Aberdeen for a few days at the end of June. Woud have liked to catch up to you. We were neighbors on the farm from what–a mile and a half down the road? Where’s Vernon? He was in my class.
Arnold, I graduated in 1964. I remember you an Gloria well, we are related. Our mothers where cousins. I live in Coon Rapids, MN.e-mail yvonnegibbs45@gmail.com would love to hear from you, or anyone else from Forbes, sure do miss the dances an basketball games.
I went to school from 5th-12th. I graduated in 1974. I drove bus from 1981-1986 till the school closed. I have been driving for Leola,SD ever since. I have 31 yrs in already. I lived in Forbes a good share of my life in different houses. I believe the house east of the school was the home Pratchener’s also lived in. It is no longer there. I remember so many good times there. I still have lots of family there. Come and see us all!
What a treasure I stumbled upon when I saw this collection of photos from Forbes. The comments are much enjoyed as well. Thanks to all of you!
I grew up on a farm three miles NW of Forbes and graduated from high school there in 1946. In ’49 I taught grades 4, 5 & 6 and in ’50 grades 3, 4, & 5. Mr Newman was my high school teacher and my boss when I returned to teach.
Terry, your mother was one of my classmates in eighth grade and high school. I always thought she was the most beautiful girl ever.
Roy Holmes was the school custodian. I was shocked when I heard that he had died in the gym.
Great to hear from you, Lee Vern. I have many fond memories of your whole family. I didn’t remember you teaching in Forbes. You had already moved on when I started school in ’53. Where are you living now? We’re in southern Michigan, since ’78.
So many memories visiting my grandparents west of Forbes. I remember Easter egg hunts at the school and not understanding how on Earth they ever survived in that town …. looking back now, and living in a big city, i get the allure of a quieter, simpler life …
Wow… So nice to see all the wonderful coments and memories about such a wonderful little town. I did not know Forbes in it’s Hay-Day, as I have only been a part of the Casey family for 10 years. My husband is Joshua “Shane” Casey the son of Murray Casey and Grandson of John and Eilene Casey. We spend every Christmas Eve in the Legion Building with the rest of the Casey’s and have enjoyed many of the 4th of July Parties that Forbes has put on. My children stil play in the old school playground that is across the street from Grandma Casey’s house and love to play on the tank at the Legion. Happy Holidays to you all!!!
My dad, Ralph Van Kempen, was the depot agent at Forbes from 1958 to 1966, when the depot was closed. My sisters and brothers (Sharon, Greg, Ruth, Suzie, Dan) and I still feel like Forbes is our home town. We lived directly across from the school (the picture of the house with the red trim) and across the street from John and Elizabeth Maier. They were like our third set of grandparents. Forbes was THE best place in the world in which a kid could grow up. We had such fun living there. When the weekends would come, we kids would be out the door and scattered to all four corners of the town. Mom and dad never worried about where we were. We’d come home eventually. It’s so sad to see the state of the school. It was so new when we were attending! One of our favorite memories was when we had that huge snow storm in ’65-’66 that created a drift from the top of the school all the way to our back door. We had a ball sledding up and down that hill until the plow forced its way through. Mom and dad are hoping to make a trip there one more time. Maybe this year!!!