Man charged in Elbowoods Church fire
BY HUNTER L. ANDES
Rode Vocu, a 22-year-old, is facing a felony arson charge in federal court regarding the April 22 burning of the historic Elbowoods Memorial Church west of Raub. This is the chapel many tribal elders referred to as the Mother Church. Rev. Charles L. Hall and Rev. Harold Case are among the many buried where the church stood.
Vocu made his initial appearance Thursday. He is in the Burleigh-Morton County Detention Center awaiting his trial in U.S. District Court in Bismarck on Monday, Aug. 5.
It has been reported by different media sources that the chapel has not been used for decades. This is not true. At last month’s special meeting of the Congregational Church in Parshall, the elders spoke of how they would have church services outside the building, and inside as well, on special occasions.
