Let’s not forget the smallest city in the United States that is located in two counties.

So says Margaret Miller, Fargo, who writes about Lehr, N.D., which is located east of Wishek, N.D., and is separated by old state Highway 13, with the south side of town in McIntosh County and the north side in Logan County.

At one time, Margaret writes, Lehr had two schools. Students in first through eighth grade could attend school in the Logan County part of town, while kids all the way from first through 12th grade could attend school in McIntosh County. Logan County kids had to finish high school in McIntosh County

“At one time,” Margaret notes, “Lehr had two grocery stores, one hardware store, two implement dealers, one cream station, two gas stations, two cafes, two bars, four churches, a barbershop, a laundromat, a bank and a rooming house. Now it is down to two churches and a bar.

“But they also have hunting and fishing lodges in various places for the hunters in the fall and for fishing in the summer.

“Lehr was booming in the ‘40s and ‘50s,” she says, “but it began to slow down as young adults moved to larger cities, and eventually the schools closed down.”

Margaret sends along this picture of the sign located just north of Lehr.

Margaret lived in Lehr for 20 years. She attended school there and worked for several of its merchants.

“At one time,” she writes, “there were 350 to 400 people living there. The last count, which was in 2016, was in the 70s.”

Thanks to Margaret for reminding folks about another of the many area small towns which sadly are fading into history.

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The Maddocks

Speaking of small towns, let’s go back to this summer when Neighbors carried a story about Maddock, N.D. , in Benson County. That town was named for the Maddock family, who were pioneers in the area.

Now Dorothy Orts, Oriska, N.D., reports that “quite a contingent of Maddocks are still there.”

Dorothy lived in Maddock for two years when her husband taught there.

If you have an item of interest for this column, mail it to Neighbors, The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107, fax it to 701-241-5487 or email blind@forumcomm.com.