Schafer in McKenzie County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Schafer Jail
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 27, 2020
1. The Schafer Jail Marker
The Schafer Jail is of native granite stone and concrete construction. It was completed in 1910, and served McKenzie County for 31 years. It was from this jail that Charles Bannon, the confessed murderer of the six members of the Albert E. Haven Family, was taken by an angry mob and lynched off a bridge ½ mile east of the jail on Jan. 29, 1931.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is January 29, 1931.
Location. 47° 47.973′ N, 103° 11.184′ W. Marker is in Schafer, North Dakota, in McKenzie County. It can be reached from 121st Avenue North West near State Highway 23, on the left when traveling north. The jail is about 1/4 mile south of North Dakota Highway 23 on 121st Avenue North West. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Watford City ND 58854, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Bakken Oil Patch. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World,
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The Schafer Jail (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Western Trail (approx. 4½ miles away); Walter H. Chaloner (approx. 14.2 miles away); Theodore Roosevelt National Park (approx. 14.2 miles away); Bentonitic Clay (approx. 15.1 miles away); North Dakota Badlands (approx. 15.2 miles away); The Long X Trail: A Dusty Trail to Greener Pastures (approx. 15.3 miles away); Cannonball Mystery (approx. 15.6 miles away).
Other markers no longer nearby. Long X Cattle Trail (was approx. 15.4 miles away but has been permanently removed); Cannon Ball Concretions (was approx. 15.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 27, 2020
2. The Schafer Jail and Marker
via Ghosts of North Dakota, July 26, 2017
3. Schafer Jail, a Mass Murderer, and a Vigilante Lynch Mob
Ghosts of North Dakota website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,104 times since then and 129 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on May 20, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
