DHA LXXVIII
(8/26/2004)

The DHA directors met Wednesday evening, August 18, at the museum at 6:30 p.m. Present were directors Melanie Parsons, Toots Peterson, and Lester Lauritzen. Also present Palmer and Marjorie Peterson.

Calendar: DHA Board will continue meeting the first and third Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the museum. (More calendar below.)

Several fund-raising ideas were discussed, from seeking grants to further donations to various entertainments, which would also bring people into the museum to become more aware of its presence and importance.

Work will now start on the two back (west) rooms of the museum building; emptying, repairing, and decorating, to make them equal to the east part. The double incubator left from the Gross Hatchery will have work parts returned to one side, with the other side used to display additional check items: feeders, waterers, etc. and possibly, egg cases, etc. Help is sought, including carpentering, painting, and general labor.

DHA is also seeking volunteers to host the museum days, in addition to the present Sunday. Also additional "on call" volunteers, both Viborg residents to be called before the present name (Lester Lauritzen), due to their having a shorter response time or for when he is not available, and as backup on-call host.

DHA is also starting a program of identifying present on-display items, plus new donated or on-loan items on arrival at the museum. DHA will start with Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m., with Lester Lauritzen present to start this vital documentation work. Forms are now available to either accept donated items or contract loaned items. At this time, people who have given or loaned items may come in and complete forms. They are also requested to provide as much information as posible about the items: their previous and/or present owners/donors, costs, ages, histories as they may have. Even a little helps.

DHA requests that items brought to the museum be "displayable" if possible: i.e. clean and usable condition. In the future, DHA may be able to accept items, such as farm machinery, old cars, furniture, etc., that may need restoration. To that end, DHA also wishes the names and skills of volunteers to do such work.

DHA has for sale for use in the museum, glass display cases ideal for individuals or families, businesses or organizations that may have historical collections to display. Prices:

Cases may not be removed from the museum without the express permission of the Daneville Heritage Association.

Of course, items or collections may be given to, or loaned to, the museum for display without the purchase of a case.

Items given to the museum are the responsibility of DHA. If items to be loaned to DHA are to be insured, insurance is the responsibility and expense of the owner (not DHA). DHA is not responsible should a donated or loaned item be damaged or destroyed.

(LRL note: The following letter was "hand delivered" for use in DHA News):

Toot's' Want and Need List

"Hi Guys- Gals-

"As I work down at the museum every week, I can see things that we need now and we need them bad.

"We need a retired, semi-retired, or young carpenter to build a book case on sheels, that can store the large ledgers that are coming in. These could house our books that are oversized and we can get them catalogued, (in) nice new homes, instead of boxes standing around.

"And also we need a large hanging-picture storage built (to go) in one of the back rooms that would store (the) oversized pictures and frames, so they would be off the floor, and taken care of.

"We are so grateful for these treasures that have been brought to us. For instance: the DBS has donated these these large pictures at this time. We can have a couple of pictures hung, and the rest we will store. Every six months or one year, we can change pictures and hang a different one. After we get the whole museum done, we should have plenty of wall space for all of the pictures to be hung.

"Now this is an 85 year old lady that needs someone to help make her dreams come true. The pay is rotten. The satisfaction of working on this project is great. The coffee pot will be on as you work. Maybe someone has lumber lying around that will help get us started on these projects that we need so badly.

"Come, talk to me and lets see what we can do. I know there are many talented ladies and men that are willing to help DHA as these needs come up.

"Thanks, and I'll be back, as our progress on the museum progresses and our problems increase."

(Signed) "Toots."

(LRL note: "Toots" lives at 301 N Elmwood Street and her phone number is 326-5573. She also is often working in the museum at 101 N. State Street; 1 block west and 1/4 block N. of the 4-way stop in Vibor.g)

Mange Tak

To the visitors to the museum Sunday, Aug. 15, who made this host's day enjoyable. Irvin Anderson, originally from west of Swan Lake, recently of Yankton, now returned to Viborg, offered the museum some items, and provided interesting historical conversation. Irma Hattervig identified some of the people in Viborg School team photos displayed, and may return to try to identify more. She was accompanied by her daughter Charlene, and son-in-law, Donald Long of Elk Point.

For memorials for John Stanage by Gladys Paulsen; to Betty Louise Hansen, Huron, by Elaine L. Andersen and Arnie and Helen Sorensen.

To John Huff and Everet Fredricks, for the model railroad layout representing the Great Northern Railroad in Viborg and the Aggergaard-spur southwest of Viborg. Mr. Fredricks is a Viborg immigrant. Mr. Huff, of Yankton, works at McLeod Telephone in Viborg. He spent many of his noon hour building the display.