The Stockwood Fill

The Stockwood Fill:
Lake Agassiz and the Northern Pacific Railway
Mark Peihl
March 16, 2021

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On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, HCSCC senior archivist Mark Peihl delivered a lecture exploring railroad construction through the unique landscape and geology of the Red River Valley. As the ancient, glacial Lake Agassiz drained away thousands of years ago, a rich prairie with a complex soils took its place. The Northern Pacific Railway learned this geology the hard way between 1906 and 1909 while building a railroad grade between Glyndon and Hawley, Minnesota. The steep beach ridges of an ancient lake presented a formidable challenge.

A recording has been made available on our YouTube channel.