DHA LXXVI
(8/12/2004)

CALENDAR

The DHA Board will meet the first and third Wednesday each month (Aug. 18, Sept. 1) at the museum at 6:30 p.m.

The museum building will be open for visitors SUndays, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lester Lauritzen will host. He has also agreed to be "on call" for people, such as tourists or visitors from out of town who wish to enjoy the museum at other times. His phone number is 563-2732 in the Viborg/Centerville area, and 605-563-2732 elsewhere. He will be available under the following conditions: 1) That he is in his house and answers his phone (or is seen person); 2) He does not have an important appointment (rare); 3) It will take him about a half hour to get from home to the museum.

The Legion-VFW will meet in the museum building. See Palmer Peterson (326-5318) for schedule information.

MEETING

The DHA Board met at the museum at 6:30 p.m. August 4th. Present: directors Melanie Parsons, Toots Peterson, and Lester Lauritzen; plus Palmer and Marjorie Peterson and Michael Ward.

Melanie announced that DHA had received its Sales Tax certificate. DHA must collect 7% tax: 3% state, 2% City, and 1% Tourism.

Several items were discussed. Work in he Boy Scout area of the basement needs to be continued. When there is a hard rain, there is a small leak in the roof on the south side. This will need to be patched better, pending funds accumulation to the extent that a new roof can be put on the building.

DHA is considering having an open house and some entertainment in the museum, prior to the start of festivities at the community building during the Taste of Denmark event that Danish Festival Committee is planning for Sunday, January 2, 2005.

DHA is also seeking pledges or contributions designated for the renovating and moving of the rural school house into Viborg. In the meantime, some additional weather protection may be applied to the school house at its present location.

A need was noted for free-standing shelving for the collections of important historical record books that DHA is gratefully receiving.

People contributing (or loaning) artifacts and archivals such as photos, records, certificates, etc., please provide as much information about the items as possible. Who the people were and/or owned the items. When/where made and/or purchased and used, and by whom. Also, DHA needs to know who donated (or loaned0 them, and when, along with former owners, , and any other possible history details of the items. Knowing about an item is better than just looking at it.

DHA has a few glass showcases that may be purchased by families or individuals that wish to have a collection of material displayed together, with identification of contributors. Prices are:

Cases remain the property of DHA; may not be removed from the museum building without the express permission of DHA. DHA will not be responsible for damage to artifacts on display.

By now, the DHA web site on the computer network should include the following notice, that the museum has for sale two railroad-views in Viborg postcards. The price is 75¢ per card. They may be obtained when the museum is open for viewing. May also be obtained by mail: 75¢ per card, including tax, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE): up to 8 cards are permitted for an envelope with a 37¢ postage; up to 20 cards in a 60¢ SASE.

Hint: looking to the maybe not so distant future, DHA officers and members foresee a need for another building or buildings, preferably in good usable condition. Near the present building and/or in or near Viborg. All offers of gifts (or even for sale) will be considered as circumstances require or permit.

MANGE TAK

To Lazz and Judah Wainscoat, Viborg, first for their honesty, responsibility and, notable these days, their "juvenile" decency. As reported in the upper right front-page story in August 5's Enterprise, they found $120. After advertising, filing a police report, and being unable to locate the owner, they donated the money to DHA. "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree."

DHA has deposited the money, but should anyone be able to establish ownership, DHA will be pleased to issue a check for that amount.

Also the owner remains missing for the photos that were left in the museum, undeveloped, during Danish Days. They have been developed. Photos include Swan Lake (?), a couple of houses, most apparently of a wedding (or other formal occasion), and a couple of the DD parade. Again, identification will being the photos to the proper owner.

To Melvin and Dorothy Osborn, Centerville.

To all the people that visited the museum August 1.

To the late Elaine (Platte) Nelson, for preserving the historically important record books of the Turner County Mutual Fire Insurance Co.; to her sons, Dan and Dave for asking Lee Ebbesen to preserve them after Elaine's death; and to Lee for sorting them until a museum opened in Viborg. Lee present them to DHA in the museum, Sunday, August first.

To the DBS Lodge for presenting DHA's Museum with historical record books and other artifacts, including the "DBS Goat." (Few besides DHA members will recognize this.)

DHA also received, with the building, a large number of volumes of the Viborg Veterinary Clinic. All these records will be a gold mine of information for future historical researches. DHA is pleased to be able to provide them a home.

To the descendants of Clarence and Idaleen Ashworth, from whom the museum received a very nice old pump organ. (Idaleen was a descendant in the Glood family honored during 2004 Danish Days.) When cleaned and checked, the organ is to be placed in the museum chapel area.

To the Lewis Family Drug, Viborg, and to other donors not known to DHA news, for artifacts, photos, and other items of historic Daneville going back to about 1900.

To Elaine Andersen and family: Erma Reisner memorial.

CORRECTION

In the July 29, 2004, Enterprise, a letter from Everet Rasmussen, St. Cloud, MN, was quoted. It stated that Lloyd Jorgensen died at a young age in 1918. Mr. Rasmussen called to state that this should have been 1938.