They Decided to Stay –

 John Wallin and Peter E Peterson, stone blasters for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Montana, stood on top of a hill, looking into the valley below and decided that this is where they wanted to live. One of the two supposedly remarked “here I want to Live and here I want to die”. They swam across the mouse river and looked for a good source of water. In the north hills they found a spring and there established a claim and built a dugout in which to live. This is the area of the Burdick Job Corps. The two bachelors took in guests and travelers throughout the winter. It is said that between them and their guest over one winter they consumed 22 deer, a considerable quantity of bacon and 1500 pounds of flour… early on provisions were brought to the area from Bismarck by ox and wagon, a two week trip.

Early Homestead house in Minot