Williamsport, Dakota Territory - Artifacts found on the newest Townsite of Williamsport, North Dakota (2018-2019)

Once the county seat of Emmons County, North Dakota, Williamsport was a hub of activity during the 1880s-1890s. Platted on August 17, 1883 in the central portion of Sec. 15-135-76, Williamsport was laid out in 84 blocks bisected in the center by Broad Street running north/south and Market Street, running east/west. By June 1884, there were multiple houses, two stores, a hotel and The Emmons Co. Record printing office. On November 1897, Williamsport made national news when newest three Native Americans were lynched on a beef windlass following the murder of the Spicer Family along the Missouri River. When the nearby towns of Hazelton and Braddock began to boom, Williamsport began a rapid decline. Williamsport was completely abandoned when the post office was discontinued on October 13, 1903. Today, only a field with broken glass, stones, and bits of metal are all that is left of the once vibrant prairie village. During the Summer of 2019, grids were established and an intensive metal detecting survey was conducted at the townsite. All non-ferrous artifacts were recorded and documented with a handheld GPS. The goal of this book is to walk in the footsteps of the past by documenting and sharing items found on the Williamsport Townsite.