Heritage Renewal

Quite a bit of center work is going on this week, some of it continuing old enterprises, some of it launching new initiatives. Here we'll mention just a couple of things coming to fruition this week.

First, we're ramping up for another Hutmacher service learning expedition. The Center for Heritage Renewal will sponsor an expedition of HIST 431 students (The North American Plains) to do restoration work this coming weekend. Departing Fargo on Friday, we'll take up weekend residence in Schnell Hall at Assumption Abbey, Richardton. From there we'll venture out to work Saturday and Sunday at historic Hutmacher Farm, in Dunn County. The program of work is fluid, but as it forms up by weekend, it will involve large amounts of timber, clay, concrete, and sweat.

Second, we have a new publication in preparation, should be out by end of week. Entitled The Welk Homestead: A Source Book, it is a collection of reference documents for use in the evolving reinterpretation of the Ludwig & Christina Welk Homestead as the State Historical Society of North Dakota assumes management of the site. This will be Circular No. 1 of the Center for Heritage Renewal. Its centerpiece is the land patent file of Ludwig Welk from the National Archives.

Lots of other projects and proposals in the works, but these are front-burner matters of the moment.