DHA LXXX
(9/9/2004)

Calendar

Board meetings are the first and third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.; next meeting is September 15.

Museum is open Sundays from 10 to 5.

Museum is open Fridays 1:30 to 3 p.m. primarily to receive and record donations or loans of items. Also for owners of items already in the museum to come in and get the items recorded. Viewers are also welcome.

The museum will be open 10 to 5 during Homecoming activities Friday, September 24th.

Viewing on request: contact person named at top of DHA news, phone 605-563-2732.

Meeting

The DHA Board of Directors met at the museum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004, with directors Melanie Parsons, Toots Peterson, Lester Lauritzen and Grant Petersen, Sr. present, plus Donna Petersen, Palmer and Marjorie Peterson and Dale Straney.

The first item discussed was the DHA's early goal of making the museum accessible for wheelchair use. A ramp at the south entrance mid-length of the building has been assumed since DHA obtained the building. Discussion brought out information that a simple lift (like an elevator) at that entrance would be simpler, would be as good or better for wheelchair use, and better for those who are walking handicapped. Research is continuing on this.

Again, fund raising and museum awareness activities were discussed at length. Possibly a raffle, with a Petersen metal-art disk cutout as prize, or other prizes, to be held before Thanksgiving and Christmas, was discussed. Also, possibly having an earlier raffle at Homecoming, September 24.

Owners and collectors of historical items are reminded that DHA has show cases available for "sale" (rent) in the museum at the following rates:

Cases are to remain in the museum, to be used for the display of individual, family or group display of historical items.

Melanie reported that, with the improvements made to the building, museum insurance rate had risen a little. (Insurance is on the building only, not on items on display.)

Mange Tak

To the people that visited the museum when open. Come again. And, other people come too. It is so interesting to talk to you about the Viborg/Daneville area.

To Elaine Andersen, for Mena Kennedy Memorial.

To John and Marie Ebbesen for items donated to museum, and the pleasant visit while viewing the museum.

Rare Country School Available

One of DHA's earliest, and continuing, wishes has been to bring a country school into the museum area. A couple of old schools have proven worthless.

This year, a school in solid and repairable condition, was located. This is the school of District #46, one mile west and one and one half miles south of Viborg. This building has been given to DHA by the Warren Nelson family, with the stipulation that DHA move and restore this school building. Otherwise the building will quickly rot away as have all the others. This is reported to be the only building restorable in the county.

Palmer Peterson and DHA chairman Melanie Parsons sent a letter to former students and residents of Dist. 46 asking them to finance the moving and repair of this school building.

Funds received for this purpose will be deposited in a special account by DHA. If sufficient funds are not received, these donations will be returned, unless the donors wish to donate them to the regular DHA account.

That this special-purpose fund raising is directed at students and residents of Dist. 46 does not suggest that other people that are interested in preserving a country school should refrain from contributing to this project, or general DHA work. All contributions for this school, or the general fund, or both, are always needed and welcome.

Lost and Found

Left in the museum, one light blue Viborg Centennial jacket. Contact Melanie Parsons, Toots Peterson, Palmer and Marjorie Peterson, or stop at the museum during scheduled open hours.

In the Museum

Mostly early Viborg High School early team photos. Lower left is a plaque, formerly owned by the late L. E. Andersen of Viborg, "Rules for Teachers, 1872." Read it and learn how "liberated" people are now. Show case: toy collection of Grant Petersen, Sr. To lower right, a collection of VHS yearbooks. Mange Tak for all.