Medora in Billings County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Medora Town Hall
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 20, 2015
1. Medora Town Hall Marker
The Town Hall was built in 1924 to serve as an activity center for Medora. The building featured electric lights, a hot water heating system, partial basement, a furnished balcony and a projection booth.
Opera chairs were provided for ordinary events. On occasions that drew large crowds, attendees brought their own chairs rather than sit on the planks and boxes provided.
In the early days a Dickinson moving picture company showed silent movies every other week. The movie company provided a five-piece orchestra to furnish the music and a dance would follow the film. People of all ages attended these events.
A unique characteristic of the hall is the collection of murals done in 1936 by itinerant artist Joe Breckenridge, known as Cowboy Joe. Breckenridge returned in 1960 and touched up his work from years earlier, and even added a few smaller murals.
The hall hosted school plays, graduation ceremonies, basketball games and other public events. Improvements were made to the building for the American Bicentennial activities in 1976. The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation now operates the Town Hall as a theater.
(Marker Number 21.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
Location. 46° 54.834′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Roberts Hall (here, next to this marker); The President Returns (here, next to this marker); Margaret Roberts (within shouting distance of this marker); Medora Education (within shouting distance of this marker); Medora Depot & Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Custer Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); De Mores (within shouting distance of this marker); Hunting and Trapping (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Medora.
More about this marker. A photograph of the Medora Town Hall appears on the left side of the marker. The right side features a photo of a boxing match with the caption of “Boxing was a popular event in the early years of the Medora Town Hall,” and a picture of one of the murals done by Joe Breckenridge.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 20, 2015
2. Medora Town Hall Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 20, 2015
3. Markers in Medora
Several markers are found at this location. The Medora Town Hall marker is the leftmost of those seen here.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 22, 2015
4. Medora Town Hall
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 22, 2015
5. Inside the Medora Town Hall
A Teddy Roosevelt Salute to Medora is performed regularly at the Medora Town Hall.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 415 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 1, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
