Valley City – The Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series Season 25 will feature Tom Overn presenting “Kathryn, North Dakota: Its 125th Anniversary” at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 18, at the Barnes County Museum.

Kathryn, North Dakota, named after a daughter of C.S. Mellen, president of the NPRR, was officially platted on June 4, 1901 by Frank Juleth along the Casselton-Marion Branch of the NPRR. Built in 1900, the village grew quickly, with additional sections platted in 1904 and 1906.

The community was known for its unique settlers, including Gustav George Overn, a jeweler and skilled gold and silversmith whose handcrafted designs of spoons, knives, and other items became collector’s treasures.

Tom Overn, a lifelong resident of Kathryn, will share stories of his grandfather, Christian Overn, who moved his family from Oslo, Norway, to Wisconsin before homesteading in Oakhill Township, North Dakota, in 1882. Christian built his shop with whatever materials were available, adding large windows for daylight as he crafted with precision under the motto: “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”

By 1886, Kathryn was rapidly growing, with new buildings shaping the thriving town.

The lecture is free and open to the public, presented in conjunction with Valley City State University.

For more information, contact Wes Anderson at 701-845-0966.