Baukol-Noonan Lignite, Inc. Records, 1931-1971
Collection Overview
Title: Baukol-Noonan Lignite, Inc. Records, 1931-1971
ID: OGLMC584
Primary Creator: Baukol-Noonan Lignite, Inc.
Extent: 10.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 10/02/1980
Subjects: Business and Industry, Energy
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
In 1928, Harris Baukol and Hugo Domrese formed a holding company to purchase coal lands near Noonan, North Dakota. They secured an option on Hought Coal Company land and leased an additional 900 acres. Investigations proved the existence of large coal resources. In 1929, Baukol formed Baukol-Noonan Lignite, Inc. Bucyrus steam shovels, loading shovels, trucks, wagons, and other equipment were brought to the site. By 1933, Baukol-Noonan had become the third largest mining company in the state with a production of almost 200,000 tons. The 1930s also saw the beginning of an environmental program designed to return the land to its natural state.
As the years passed, the company increased production, modernized its equipment and buildings, and expanded into new areas of industry. The company incorporated in 1949, selling all of its capital stock to residents of North Dakota. In 1953, Baukol-Noonan established a plant for processing lightweight building materials out of unused clay deposits, thereby providing year-round employment for the miners. In 1962, the mining operation was moved from Noonan to Larson, North Dakota, where extensive reserves of coal had been discovered. The main office remained in Noonan.
Expansion continued as the company opened a new mine at Center, North Dakota, in 1970. Lignite mined as this site was shipped to the nearby Milton R. Young station, owned by Minnkota Power Cooperative. All mining at the original Noonan mine ceased in 1986. In 1988, Baukol-Noonan was purchased as a wholly owned subsidiary of Minnesota Power. The company's name was changed to BNI Coal, Ltd., and its headquarters moved to Bismarck. BNI reached a major milestone in 2000, when the 100 millionth ton of coal was taken from the Center mine.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Robert W. Rovelstad, President of Baukol-Noonan, Minot, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation (80-688)
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item) Baukol-Noonan Lignite Inc, Records. OGLMC 584, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in October 2013.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Ledger 1: Sales Record Ledger, May 1933-April 1941],
[Ledger 2: Sales Record Ledger, 1930-1947],
[Photographs :],
[All]
- Photographs :
- Photograph 1: Harris Baukol
- Photograph 2: Welders, 1969: S. Wells, D. Brorby, M. Evenson
- Photograph 3: Drag Line Crew, 1969
- Photograph 4: Employees at Shop, 1969: Ferol Brenno, Archie Bourdeau, Syvert Wells, George Caussyn, Alvin Dihle (Foreman), Herg Alg, Ralph Johnson, Duane Dihle, Oral Ronholdt, Marlyn Evenson
- Photograph 5: Workers, Larson mine, 1969: Elma Dausurk, Art Myers, Norval Gochanour, Clarence Baker, George Caussyn, Joel Tveter, Oral Brenno, Kam Brenno, Ferol Brenno, Gearl Fenster, Norris Anderson, Alvin Dihle, Oral Ronholdt, Ralph Johnson, Syvert Wells, Herb Alg, Wes Julson, Leonard Haarstad, Eugene Weber, Lyle Hueve, Marlyn Evenson, George Dahlke, Archie Bourdeau, Duane Dihle
- Photograph 6: Drag Line Men, 1969: Elmer Gausvick, Lloyd Sorlie, Norris Anderson, Earl Logelain, Perry Baker, Norval Gochanour, Gearl Fenster, Hurley Barden, Lyle Huwe
- Photograph 7: Truck Drivers: N. Anderson, E. Weber, A. Bourdeau, Cam Brenno
- Photograph 8: Loading Truck: A. Myers, L. Haarstad
- Photograph 9: Elmer Dausuuk, Art Myers, Norval Gochanour, Clarence Baker, George Caussyn, Joel Tveter, Oral Brenno, Kam Brenno, Ferol Brenno, Gearl Fenster, Norris Anderson, Alvin Dihle, Oral Ronholdt, Ralph Johnson, Syvert Wells, Herb Alg, Wells Julson, Leonard Haarstad, Eugene Weber, Lyle Hueve, Marlyn Evenson, George Dahkle, Archie Bourdeau, Duane Dihle
- Photograph 10: Morning Lining Up
- Photograph 11: Shop Workers, 1969: Dale Borby, Marlyn Evenson, Duane Dihle, Archie Bourdeau, Ralph Johnson, Oral Ronholdt, Fred Dissell, Syvert Wells
- Photograph 12: Loading Crew, 2 March 1936
- Photograph 13: Bucyrus Erie Crane 50-B and Crew
- Photograph 14: Unidentified site (probably Larson): 963
- Photograph 15: Start of Construction at Larson Mine, 1962
- Photograph 16: Unidentified site
- Photograph 17: Unidentified site
- Photograph 18: Noonan Tipple Site
- Photograph 19: Baukol-Noonan Mining District, circa 1950
- Photograph 20: Stripping Top Portion of Over Burden with Crawler Tractor. Dragline Will Follow
- Photograph 21: Early Results of Long Range Program of Tree Planting and Restoration of Soil Bank
- Photograph 22: Office, late 1960s
- Photograph 23: The Most Modern Tipple in North Dakota: circa 1955
- Photograph 24: Noonan Tipple Site
- Photograph 25: Baukol-Noonan Railroad Cars
- Photograph 26: Noonan Office Was a Bank: 1915
- Photograph 27: Baukol-Noonan Railroad Cars
- Photograph 28: Les Monson, Ed Sandberg: 1946
- Photograph 29: Six Stall Garage for Trucks
- Photograph 30: Drag Line Stripping, Rolie Pit: 1969
- Photograph 31: Tipple, Larson Site, Drying Plant: 1969
- Photograph 32: George Dahla, H. Focke (Truck Sales, Larson Site): 1969
- Photograph 33: Stripping: 1969
- Photograph 34: Unidentified site
- Photograph 35: Dragline
- Photograph 36: Unidentified site
- Photograph 37: Steam Shovel: May 1971
- Photograph 38: Unidentified site
- Photograph 39: Portable Handy Belt Loaders: 1931
- Photograph 40: Twenty Ton Euclid Truck
- Photograph 41: Unidentified site
- Photograph 42: C. Baker, Lyle Huwe with Drag Line Utility Tractor
- Photograph 43: Unidentified site
- Photograph 44: O. Weber with Drag Line Bucket
- Photograph 45: Unidentified site
- Photograph 46: Bucyrus Erie Crane 50-B
- Photograph 47: Steam Shovel
- Photograph 48: Loading Coal: 1937
- Photograph 49: Noonan Site
- Photograph 50: Steam Shovel
- Photograph 51: Steam Shovel
- Photograph 52: Bucyrus Erie Crane 50
- Photograph 53: Main Street, Noonan, North Dakota
- Photograph 54: Noonlite Aggregate Plant
- Photograph 55: Loading Shovel and Truck
- Photograph 56: Electric Drag Line
- Photograph 57: Bucyrus Erie Crane 50 Loading Railroad Cars
- Photograph 58: Tipple and Trucks Unloading
- Photograph 59: Unidentified group photograph
- Photograph 60: L.L. Munson, Superintendent of Operations
- Photograph 61: C. Cothrein, Assistant Superintendent of Operations
- Photograph 62: Unidentified group photograph outside of company offices
- Photograph 63: Unidentified group photograph outside of company offices
- Photograph 64: Unidentified group photograph
- Photograph 65: Unidentified group photograph
- Photograph 1: Harris Baukol
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Ledger 1: Sales Record Ledger, May 1933-April 1941],
[Ledger 2: Sales Record Ledger, 1930-1947],
[Photographs :],
[All]