Heritage Renewal

Preservation North Dakota, the state's citizen organization for historic preservation, takes notice of good work on community heritage by the people of Plaza, North Dakota. Here's the news, as reported by PND.

"Preservation North Dakota is pleased to announce a grant award ceremony for the Plaza Community Museum. President of the museum, Doris Yri, will receive final payment of the grassroots grant at 3:00 Wednesday, October 25, at the Plaza Community Museum.

"The Plaza Community Museum was first erected in 1876 as the Indian Mission Chapel at Like-A-Fishhook Village (old Fort Berthold). In 1906 it was moved northwest about 40 miles to Plaza for use by the Congregational Church until 1960. A community museum has been located in the church since 1975.

"Preservation North Dakota named the structure to its annual list of Most Endangered Properties in 2003. The museum was also a PND Demonstration Project through which it received extra technical assistance and a larger grassroots grant. Its successful restoration is the result of many hours of committed effort by dedicated volunteers."

The Center for Heritage Renewal is supporting "The Transformation of New Zealand's Grasslands," a seminar by Professor Tom Brooking, of the University of Otago. This joint seminar of the departments of History and Animal & Range Sciences will take placed in Hultz Hall 104 at 3:00 Friday 17 November.

There was a fine turn-out for the program at Ladbury Church last night, and thanks to the efforts of Keith and Lois Muncy, who fired up a propane heater, the church was warmed up for the evening. Here's Jen Wilkie, my co-resenter, preparing for the evening's program. Watch this space for a sampling of the recollections that cropped up in response to Harvey Sletten's memoir and Jen's questions about it.

This Saturday, October 21st, is the third and final Ladbury Lecture of the 2006 series. If the first two lectures are any indication, we can expect outstanding attendance. But some of you may be wondering, just exactly who is Harvey Sletten?

Harvey Sletten was a scholar, receiving his bachelor's in education from University of North Dakota and his master's in education from Purdue University. He was an educator and public school administrator, teaching in McHenry, Glenfield, Carrington (where he was the principal), and Jamestown for a total of 20+ years. Sletten was also an active member of his community, whether that community was Hannaford, Valley City, or Jamestown.

When Sletten retired from teaching, he devoted his time to writing. He authored several well-received works regarding aspects of North Dakota, including his memoir Growing Up on Bald Hill Creek. In this memoir, Sletten paints a charming picture of life in Hannaford in the early 1900s. Sletten found a great deal of value in his childhood memories, and many readers have likely identified with elements of his story.

To be continued... Saturday evening at the Ladbury Church. Bundle up and join us.

It's coming up this Saturday night--the third Ladbury Lecture of 2006. Tom Isern and Jen Wilkie will lead discussion of the wonderful memoir, Growing Up on Bald Hill Creek, by Harvey Sletten. This is going to be fun, as people from Hannaford and the Bald Hill valley will be on hand to give their remembrances in relation to things written of in the book. The program starts at 6:00 PM. It looks like it will be chilly, and the old Ladbury Church is without electricity, but no worries: we've got generator power to run heaters, and we'll light the lanterns. Lantern light in the old church is a beautiful thing. See the link at www.ndsu.edu/heritage for more details about the Ladbury Lectures.

Ladbury Lecture #2, "The Fur Trade on the Northern Plains," was a splendid success, due to the combination of a masterly presentation by Richard Stenberg, from Williston State College, and a knowledgeable and attentive audience. Here's Richard looking stately and awaiting the start of the program on the front steps of Ladbury Church. And here he is presenting the program, buffalo robe in hand. Thanks to the North Dakota Humanities Council for supporting this program, and to Richard for a job well done.