Under Water

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National Bank Notes > North Dakota

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Van Hook, First NB, 10966
Fr. 632 $10 1902PB
Grade: PMG AU 55 EPQ    

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The town of Van Hook is no longer as it was buried under water to form a new reservoir some years ago. This was a one-bank town in Mountrail County. The bank was organized on March 15, 1917 and issued 2,985 sheets of large size as well as 397 sheets of smalls before being placed into receivership on August 8, 1931. A.C. Olson, the cashier, was convicted of embezzling $25,000 during this period. The note looks UNC and when I saw it for the first time some 40 years ago it looked UNC, so we know it's nice. There are 15 large notes reported on this bank. Pen signed by E. Ransom, Vice President as well. Purchased from John Hickman. Van Hook is a ghost town originally located in Mountrail County. Van Hook, like it's sister town Sanish, was engulfed in the 1950s by the Garrison Diversion Project and the resulting Lake Sakakawea. The purpose of the dam was to provide flood control, irrigation, hydroelectric power, and to provide facilities for recreation and for fish and wildlife preservation. The dam was planned to be the world's largest rolled-earth filled dam and create the second largest reservoir in the world. The Van Hook Arm of Lake Sakakawea covers the area where the town used to be. The town's residents relocated to New Town, which the government had built to house those displaced by the dam. Residents from Sanish also moved here. Van Hook's last reported population in 1950 was 380. Van Hook was founded in 1914 as a station on the Soo Line Railroad. It is named after Fred Van Hook, who was one of the first to survey the area in 1911. The post office was established January 19, 1915 with John W. George as Postmaster and the village was incorporated later the same year. After the Garrison Dam was built, the village charter was dissolved April 30, 1953, and the post office closed August 15, 1953 with mail moving to New Town.

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