Cooperstown in Griggs County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Opheim Cabin

First Permanent Home in Griggs County

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 3, 2023

1. Opheim Cabin Marker

Inscription. Built by Omund Opheim in 1879
Restored and maintained by the
Town and Country Garden Club

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 47° 26.516′ N, 98° 7.448′ W. Marker is in Cooperstown, North Dakota, in Griggs County. Marker is on 9th Street Southeast (State Highway 45) just north of Odegard Avenue Southwest, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located directly beside the subject cabin, on the east side of the Griggs County Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 808 Rollin Avenue Southwest, Cooperstown ND 58425, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Griggs County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Minuteman: America's "Ace in the Hole" (approx. 2.7 miles away); November-33: "Ace in the Hole" (approx. 2.7 miles away); Missile Transport (approx. 2.7 miles away); Launcher Closure Door (approx. 2.7

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miles away); Launch Facility Security (approx. 2.7 miles away); Missile Maintenance (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cooperstown.

Regarding Opheim Cabin. National Register of Historic Places #77001025.

From the National Register Nomination:
An 1879 log house was moved to the east courthouse lawn in 1932 from its original location about ten miles northeast of Cooperstown in Washburn Township, at the Fort Totten crossing of the Sheyenne River. Constructed of notched and fitted logs, it was the first house in Griggs County known to have been built by a permanent white settler (Omund Nelson Opheim, who came from Iowa to Dakota Territory with his family).

Also see . . .
1. Opheim Family. Excerpt:

Mr. Opheim had been farming in Iowa for several years, but in the spring of 1879, he, together with his neighbors and his wife's brother, came to Dakota Territory to look for land for homesteads. Near the Fort Totten crossing of the Sheyenne River, he decided to locate. The party stopped and built Mr. Opheim's log house. They burned limestone
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 3, 2023

2. Opheim Cabin (northeast elevation)
(marker is near right [northeast] corner of cabin • Griggs County Courthouse in background)
rocks they found there, to use for the plaster between the logs. Logs were notched and fitted and no nails were used. In 1932, it was placed beside the court house in Cooperstown. It was raised and moved without being taken down.

(Submitted on September 6, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Omund Nelson Opheim (Find A Grave). Excerpt:

(Opheim Cemetery, Cooperstown, Griggs County, North Dakota.) Omund Nelson Opheim was born September 29, 1829 in Norway. He and his wife, Kari, came from Decorah, Iowa to Dakota Territory in 1879 and settled on Section 12, Washburn Township. They were the first settlers in Griggs County. The log cabin built by the Opheims and now located on the court house lawn in Cooperstown, was the first home in Griggs County. Their first crops were sown by hand, cragged by a homemade drag, and cut with a flail. This farm remained in the Opheim ownership for ninety five years.

(Submitted on September 6, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Opheim Cabin (<i>southeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 3, 2023

3. Opheim Cabin (southeast elevation)

(historic Griggs County Courthouse in background)

Opheim Cabin (<i>south elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 3, 2023

4. Opheim Cabin (south elevation)

Opheim Cabin (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 3, 2023

5. Opheim Cabin (southwest elevation)

Opheim Cabin (<i>north/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 3, 2023

6. Opheim Cabin (north/front elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 6, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.