Heritage Renewal

The Center for Heritage Renewal has played a significant role in the designation of the Welk Homestead, in Emmons County, as a state historic site. The State Historical Society of North Dakota purchased the property and took over management of it effective 1 July 2015.

As was reported frequently in the press, the center recruited and coordinated work crews of NDSU students to stabilize and rehabilitate the barn on the property, which was a condition for state purchase. The center not only provided the labor but also raised private funds to purchase the necessary materials. Clarence Herz, PhD student in History and special projects coordinator for the center, took the leadership role in the work on the Welk barn.

NDSU manpower puts a reinforcing beam in place in the Welk barn

The successful rehabilitation of the Welk barn, and the establishment of the homestead as a state historic site, are points of pride and satisfaction to us in the Center for Heritage Renewal. We did our part, alongside many others, to make these things happen.

Looking ahead, under state management there will be new lines of historical interpretation at the Welk site, emphasizing agricultural history (homesteading and farm life) and ethnic history (the Germans from Russia). With that in mind, the center has issued a new circular: The Welk Homestead: A Source Book. This is Circular No. 2 published by the center on a publish-on-demand basis via Amazon Createspace. Here is the link with information on the publication:

     https://www.createspace.com/5634557

The Welk Homestead is compiled by Thomas D. Isern and Michael M. Miller. Look for additional publications to appear, as the center continues to support redevelopment of the Welk Homestead and heritage tourism in German-Russian Country.

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