When The Railroad Passes By

In 1883, a post office was established in Auburn, an unincorporated community in Walsh County, North Dakota. Founded on the windswept prairie in the northeast corner of North Dakota, Auburn is about 40 miles south of the Canadian border. At one time Auburn had two hotels, a hardware store, a general store, seven saloons, a school, a church, a saddle maker, and many other businesses. In the winter of 1888/89, much of the business area was destroyed by fire. With the construction of the railroad, business activity shifted to nearby Grafton, and the town’s population dwindled. The post office remained in operation until 1943.  As of the 2010 census, the population was 48. Ancestors of one of my sisters-in-law helped settle Auburn and farmed in the area. Her family still has a house in Auburn and farm land in the surrounding countryside.

Join Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge  64 : Countryside or Small Town