DHA LXIV
(5/20/2004)

Minga Tak

TO CONTRIBUTORS: Stan and JoAnn Powell, Ethel O. Ward (voting member); and Sylvia K. Gors.

To Palmer and Marjorie Peterson, Alphie "Toots" Peterson, Grant Petersen, Sr., and Roberta Rasmussen, and possibly others, for uncounted hours of work in and on the museum building. And to Michael Lohan, part-time employee, for his knowledge, skills, and time spent in repairing and refurbishing the museum building.

And special thanks to the Parsons' offices: Jay's Tax Office and Melanie's Insurance Office, for serving as a general headquarters for DHA members and friends. A meeting place, a place for the DHA "bag-man" to pick up contributions, news, artifacts and archivals, to ask questions and discuss concerns. And to the Parsons employees, always friendly, courteous, and helpful.

Late, but for the record: 1) May 3 to 9 was "Preservation Week," including the type of work DHA is doing; 2) In observance thereof, a walking tour of Spirit Mount, on Highway 19 a few miles north of Vermillion, Sunday, May 16, 2 p.m.

Contributor's comments: "I wish that I still lived in Viborg so that I could help with this project. My roots are still there, and will be forever!

"I wish that the old DBS Hall could have been preserved as a Historical Preservation Site. Many great memories evolve from that old structure--the old time dances (Little Oscar, etc.), wedding dances, high school plays, band concerts, and Memorial Day ceremonies. It's too bad that we can't go back and live a few of those memories again.

"Take good care and let me know how you are progressing with this project."

(signed) Dennis J. Holm.

Minga Tak for the check, Dennis. (Comments, too.)

LRL comment: Many members of the DBS wish that it had been possible to save the old hall for its historical and sentimental value. So do some of us nonmembers who appreciate its historical value. But, way back then, there was less awareness of such historic importance. And, likely, there was no historic preservation grant funds such as may be available now. Again, "Ve get too late smart!"

April 13, 2004, Turner County Commissioners' minutes (April 29 Enterprise) shows that DHA was one of 8 properties voted tax exempt. DHA is now: Inc. in S.D. Not for Profit, Tax exempt in Turner County, and recognized by the IRS as qualified to receive contributions that are tax deductible.

Something import is coming to Viborg. Mark your calendar for June 20th. It is "Father's Day," thus should be easy to remember. Save the evening for something special. (To be continued!)

Mary Ann Paulsen in her letter to the Enterprise (May 6) asked when the flagpole was erected, after 1913 (May 27). The Viborg centennial history book, page 44, suggest 1919 or later.

LRL: While watching a TV detective story, I realized that history research is like a detective's search. A hunt for the facts, all the facts. Neither the crime detective nor the history detective should miss, ignore, or discard any information about the "case," no matter how insignificant, unimportant, disliked, unwelcome, embarrassing, or costly in time. In the case of personal danger, for family embarrassment, it is, in rare instances, appropriate to seal or withhold such information for a person's lifetime, or for a period like 50 or 100 years. But for the sake of history and learning from history, it must be preserved. I have been told of a couple of instances where a "family skeleton" was buried. I am also aware of people who have information to be revealed in the future, as mentioned above. I have read of a number of instances where legal or news media investigations into private affairs have caused destruction of historically significant information, to protect someone from continued harassment.