DHA LXV
(5/27/2004)

The second May DHA meeting was held at the museum Wednesday evening, the 10th, at 6:30 p.m. with supper taken before or brought as individuals wished. Those present included: Melanie Parsons, Toots Peterson, Lester Lauritzen, Grant Peterson, Directors. Also members Palmer and Marjorie Peterson, and representing the Boy Scouts, Everet Fredricks, who also represented the model railroad club that is preparing a model of the Great Northern RR through Viborg for the museum. Fredricks displayed a Boy Scout Room door plaque.

Work continues in and on the building. Floor has now been sanded, and will be coated in a week or two. Plans are to reside the building on the south. On the east, the brown vertical boards over the original white siding may be removed and the siding redone. Items that have been stored north of the building are being removed.

Having some exhibits installed and viewable before Danish Days, July 16-18, appears on schedule. Also, possibly some Daneville souvenir postcards, along with Danish Days medallions, may be available for purchase at the museum, along with a treat of some Danish baking and coffee.

MINGA TAK: To Alan and Dan Ward for painting the ceiling; and to Gary Larsen, Harold Peterson and Marilyn Paulsen for painting.

To Elaine Andersen, memorial for Donald Olsen.

Palmer reported visitors: David Lockwood, who was impressed with how nice the interior has become, and wished his parents could have seen it. Also he has some items for us to use in the building.

Also visitors were Mylo and Dorothy Preheim, eminent historical preservationists from Parker, to admire the progress. They offered possible items for the DHA museum.

Visitors are always welcome. Until artifacts are moved in, the building will remain unlocked. Visitors should beware of any possible hazards.

The next meeting is June 2, 6:30 p.m. at the museum. All are responsible for their own supper, either before, or bring it along.

The Danish Days Committee had tentatively set the Danish Days schedule. So far as it affects DHA and the museum, the following is presently planned, subject to change: Saturday, July 17 - 3:00 p.m. Friends of Viborg reception for the Glood Family, the 2004 honorees; 3:30 p.m. Dedication of Museum building and dedication of the Boys Scouts room as the Walter O. Knutson Memorial Boy Scout Center; 4:30 p.m. Daneville Heritage Association annual meeting.

Likely the museum will be open and have an attendant throughout the Danish Days period.

Another Daneville Resident Went National

Previous reports in this DHA News and elsewhere in the Viborg Enterprise, noted the eminence of Viborg native, noted economist, Alan Hansen. Now another comes to light.

Library research (or "browsing") brought to view a volume entitled "South Dakota, Fifty Years of Progress, 1889-1939," edited by York Sampson. As the book was put aside, a bell of familiarity with that author's name, York Sampson, began to ring a faint memory. Attempts to recollect, suggested a past editor of the Viborg Enterprise.

Research in the Viborg Centennial history book, found (page 91) that York Sampson owned the Enterprise from 1928 to 1936, when he sold it to the Ostroot family. (Other people edited it in 1933 and 1935.) York then went to work for the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. He must have been editing the SD book by 1938.

Reportedly, York came from the Hurley or Parker area. Does anyone know anything more of Mr. York Sampson's work, or of his family genealogy and history?

It has been reported that an Argus Leader writer is interested in the developing DHA museum and wishes to take photos of the progress of development in and to the building.