35 minute read
Scheels Hometown Heroes
growth. With the discovery of gold (1874) in the Black Hills, Bismarck became a hub for prospectors. In 1883, the capital of Dakota Territory was moved from Yankton (now in South Dakota) to Bismarck. When the territory was divided and the two states admitted to the Union in 1889, Bismarck became the capital of North Dakota. The state capitol was built in 1935 as a 19-story skyscraper. The capitol building has tons and tons of history of its own. If you would like to learn more specifically on that, refer back to our last summer’s July issue.
So many memorable things have happened in the past 150 years. The most famous landmark after the capitol was built in 1910, The Patterson. Hear more about this from Jim Christianson on page 38. Years later University of Mary was founded 1955 by The Benedictines. Hear more about this from Sister Nicole Kunze, Prioress at Annunciation Monastery, on page 50. The Medora musical premiered at the amphitheater in Medora in 1965 and
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has gone on to entertain millions of people. Learn more on this from Bill Sorensen, who has been doing shows for the past 46 years and was also Hall of Fame American boxer Virgil Hill's manager along with a list of many other accomplishments that brought Bismarck culture, read more on page 28. All of our heroes hold so much history and knowledge, some of these heroes are witnessing and creating more history like wet plate photographer Shane Balkowitsch whom you can read more about on page 48. We can only hope they decide to pass this along from generation to generation so that it is not lost and we can continue to learn about our amazing cities and the people who have lived here. We hope you enjoy reading about these 15 heros of history and take time over the summer to take in some of the festivities of the 150th celebrations.
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HIDDEN HOMETOWN
“Did you know Satchel Paige played in Bismarck, ND?” read the subject line of an early email I received after announcing the Larks in 2016. The email came from the late, great Dennis Boyd. I’ll never forget Dennis’s email - It was long and filled with the most detailed account of our community’s baseball history you can imagine. I couldn’t help but think, is this from a book or in one man’s head? Of course, it was from Dennis. Here is someone that has never met me, but felt so strongly the newest baseball team should understand who had come before them. I appreciated Dennis’s knowledge so much I even asked him to write an abbreviated history that is still
HEROES By: John Bollinger, Owner/Chief Experience Officer, Bismarck Larks of History housed on the Larks' website today. As we celebrate Bismarck’s 150th anniversary on May 17, 2022, it got me thinking how lucky we all are to have these Hidden Hometown Heroes of History among
Photo by Glasser Images
Photo provided by the Larks
Photo provided by the Larks
Photo provided by the Larks
us dedicating their time to preserving our community’s artifacts and stories for future generations.
In honor of Dennis Boyd and countless others that have gone before us - Scheels, Bismarck Magazine, and the Larks asked our community to nominate current Hidden Hometown Heroes of History. In this issue, please enjoy discovering 15 incredible individuals and their stories.
We’re also asking for your help to turn some of these heroes into legends.
May 2nd through the 20th, readers can vote for their favorite Hidden Hometown Heroes at larksbaseball. com. The final six will be announced on the Larks website Thursday, May 26. These individuals will be honored in a big way at a dedicated Larks game this summer. Dates can be found on the Larks' website.
On behalf of Scheels, Bismarck Magazine, and the Larks, CHEERS to those who have helped Bismarck remember the past 150 years and to those helping us create and preserve the next 150!
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Aaron Barth
What: Executive Director of Northern Plains National Heritage Area and the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation
Why: "I’ve always had an obsession, and you can say it’s both professional and amateur, with history, whether it’s genealogy, whether it’s just hearing other people’s stories, trying to understand why we got here today,” says Aaron Barth. As executive director of the Northern Plains National Heritage Area and the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, Aaron has the opportunity to not only hear and learn from these stories, but also to share this history with others.
Prior to becoming Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation’s executive director, Aaron worked with the Foundation as an interpreter at Ft. Abraham State Park in the summers during college. After college, Aaron began working in the Bakken as a land surveyor. While he enjoyed this work, it was not his true passion, so when he saw that the Ft. Abraham Lincoln Foundation was looking for a project manager, he decided to apply for the job. The job was a perfect fit, and Aaron was hired. When he found out the current director of the Foundation was retiring, Aaron applied for the executive director position.The board hired him, and Aaron continues to work in this position to this day.
History to Aaron is an opportunity to better understand who we are. “It helps us figure out where we came from,” he explains. “It’s like a genesis story or an origin story… it’s scratching at that philosophical question of why we’re here.” It is too easy to normalize the beauty and gifts of a place one has lived in for the majority of their life. Working with the Northern Plains Heritage Area gives Aaron a chance to restore some wonder and gratitude to the places we take for granted, like the Missouri River. He describes the two organizations he works for as conduits for the wealth of local history. “It’s an amazing privilege and pleasure to have people share their stories with us, and so it’s just incredible gratitude towards it.
Want more?
www.northernplainsheritage.org www.fortlincoln.org
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Aaron Barth
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Becky Barnes, Clint Boyd, and Jeff Person
What: Paleontologist and Lab Manager, Senior Paleontologist and Curator, and Paleontologist and Collections Manager for the ND Geological Survey
Why: Imagine uncovering a species no human has ever laid eyes on before. For Becky, Clint, and Jeff, this is not simply a wish, but something they have all done multiple times. “That’s got to be the most exciting thing, when you find something no one has ever seen before, especially the realization that no human has ever seen or touched this type of animal before, and you get to be the first person to do it,” describes Clint.
Passion for what they study and the history they are preserving underlies all the work these three do, from working in the field uncovering new fossils, to restoring and preserving them in the lab, to giving tours and educating others on North Dakota’s pre-history. “I feel like I’m a very small part of history,” explains Becky. “I enjoy the aspect of being a care-taker of that history as well as sharing that knowledge and history and pre-history with other people. A lot of people have no idea what went on millions of years ago below our feet in ND, and it’s so fun being able to share some of that and seeing people’s eyes light up and understand all the things that they never knew and all the things that could be."
Clint and Jeff share Becky’s passion. “We enjoy the job that we do, it’s fun for us, but when you do think about the impact that you’re having, that’s what we’re trying to do, to make sure that these non-replaceable aspects of all of our shared history don’t get lost to time and that we can recover as many of them as possible,” explains Clint. Ensuring the history of ND can be shared with everyone is one of the most important aspects of their jobs. “I have my job because I believe these specimens, these fossils belong to all of us,” says Jeff. “It’s not a private collection. That’s why I work for the state. I do the things that I do for that exact reason. They belong to all of us, and I do the things I do to preserve these things for future generations."
Want More?
www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Clint, Jeff, & Becky
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Bill Engelter
What: Mandan Historical Society
Why: Born and raised in Mandan, Bill Engelter has taken his time and talents and worked tirelessly to preserve the history of Mandan for present and future generations. An attorney by trade, Bill has become involved in several historical organizations, helping them further their mission of historical preservation and transmission.
One of the organizations Bill is involved in is the Mandan Historical Society. Bill currently serves as the Society’s treasurer, although Bill has been working for the Society since its beginning. The museum, which currently houses the Society, was built two years ago and shares the space with the ND State Railroad Museum. Bill was instrumental in the construction of this space, acting much like the project’s contractor. The museum is a place where people can learn more about Mandan’s rich history.
Bill is also an instrumental part of the ND State Railroad Museum. He was on the initial committee formed to find a location for the museum. They were given a different office than the space they currently occupy, and for ten years, Bill worked at the museum until he was chosen as the museum’s next president, a position he held for ten years before trying to step down. After one year, Bill once again took back his position as president which he remains in now, six years later. His time as the president has seen the implementation of three different events at the museum, including a Father’s Day Event, Watermelon Days, and Railroad Days. These events are all fun family-friendly ways to get out and experience the history of Mandan.
Bill is passionate about his hometown and ensuring that future generations are able to learn about its history. “I’ve always been interested in seeing history evolve,” he explains. And Bill has no plans to stop now. “As long as I’m able and healthy, I will be involved,” says Bill. “It’s important to ensure it will continue.”
Want More?
www.mandanhistory.org www.facebook.com/northdakotarailroadmuseum
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Bill Engelter
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Bill Sorensen
What: Part of Bismarck’s history and legacy
Why: Born and raised in Bismarck, Bill Sorensen has been involved in the community in various ways, not only helping to preserve Bismarck’s history, but also as a large part of its history. Bill has devoted countless hours to making the community a better place for present and future generations. “Bismarck has left an imprint on me, and I’m very thankful for the education that I got here and the people, so if I’m able to do anything that pays back a little, it’s great,” he says.
While many know Bill from his various different roles and shows in Medora, he has been an active part of the community even before he started performing. After coming back from college, Bill decided to run for city commissioner which he was elected to in 1978. He served in this role for eight years, before deciding to run for the state legislature. He served two terms in that position, and then ran for mayor. He held the office for three terms over twelve years. While Bill was in office, the mayoral term was changed from April to June, meaning he served for an extra three months, making him the longest serving mayor of Bismarck.
Outside of politics, Bill brought about many important things for Bismarck. He was instrumental in the restoration of the Belle Mehus, bringing it from an almost unusable space back to its former grandeur and beauty. He founded the Dakota Wizards, a professional basketball team based in Bismarck that played for seven years before they were relocated to California. Bill also managed Virgil Hill, a Hall of Fame American boxer, Olympic silver medalist, and a North Dakota native, and in doing so, started a boxing commission in North Dakota. And, as he might be best known for, Bill has been doing shows in Medora for 46 years. “It’s my happy place,” he explains. “I love doing shows, and I love doing it to this day.”
Truly, Bill’s passion for the community of Bismarck comes through in his joy for his work. “There’s still not one show where I go do it and I don’t go, yay, I get to make people laugh, I get to go have fun, so I’m going to keep doing that as long as I’m able.”
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Bill Sorensen
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Chad Wachter
What: Wachter Family Legacy
Why: The city of Bismarck we live in and enjoy was shaped over the years as the result of past generations’ hard work. The Wachter family has been living in and shaping Bismarck since 1881 when they first immigrated from Germany. Since then, they have been involved in many of the important historical events of our community. When the first capitol building burnt down, the Wachter family’s business, Dray and Transfer, was contracted to haul away the debris. In the initial construction of the Event Center, the Wachters were instrumental in choosing its current location. A family of entrepreneurs from generation to generation, they were also involved in the construction of the Fort Peck Dam and the Garrison Dam, and the development of the Kirkwood Mall.
Chad Wachter works to continue in his family’s legacy of giving back to Bismarck. “Bismarck is my home,” he explains. “It’s where my family is from. My kids are born and raised here. I’ve lived here my entire life. My family for the most part has been here since 1881. We love this community, we love the people, we love the history. We think it’s the greatest community in the world and there’s a lot of great things that have happened in Bismarck. It’s important to preserve as many things as we can.” Chad has been instrumental in various large real estate development projects, most recently in the Silver Ranch Development in north Bismarck, which is a 30 year project spanning 2,000 acres that will hold 4,500 homes.
Chad is also involved in many other projects outside real estate development, such as preserving Big Boy and growing the Blarney Stone. Whatever project Chad takes on next, there is no doubt that it will continue his family’s legacy of building up Bismarck, giving back to the community, and preserving its rich history. “You think people will be around forever, and history is just going to survive, but it’s not,” Chad says. “We have to ask questions. We need people to tell stories, and we need to make sure that we document things because if not, it’s going to get lost. And our history in Bismarck is worth preserving.”
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Chad Wachter
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Evan Laib
What: Germans from Russia Facebook Group
Why: A music teacher at Lincoln Elementary by day, and an amateur historian by night, Evan Laib has become interested in what the first ten years of Bismarck looked like. “I’ve been really interested in how the map of Bismarck has changed since the very early days,” he explains, “and there’s not a whole lot of research out there for the very early days, so I’ve just been going through old newspapers and old books, just trying to figure out where everything is and how everything’s changed and it’s been piling up a lot and it’s finally dawned on me to do something with it.” With the extensive research he has compiled, Evan has started writing a book in the hopes of preserving some of the history he has uncovered.
Additionally, Evan helps others learn about their personal family history through his outreach with the various historical Facebook groups he manages. At the time Evan’s son was born, Evan became interested in learning more about his family tree. He found the Bismarck Germans from Russia chapter and attended one of their meetings. As the youngest person in attendance, Evan quickly became an important part of the group. He started a Germans from Russia Facebook group as a way to get more young people involved and interested. Now, the group has over 20,000 members who are able to ask questions and get answers about their own family heritage or historical events. Evan has also started a Germans from Russia Food and Fun page that has over 10,000 members. The other Facebook group Evan started is called History of Bismarck, ND and is run through the Bismarck Historical Society, serving as another place for people to share history and ask questions.
Evan loves helping people better understand the history of the people and places they come from. “I think its most important just seeing what people get out of it. The thing I enjoy most about it is helping people find their genealogy, helping them find family members, and helping them understand their story, whether it’s German from Russia or Bismarck or whatever that is.”
Want more?
www.facebook.com/groups/261773603899932 www.facebook.com/groups/691750321018757 www.facebook.com/groups/316549589618437
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Evan Laib
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Jason Tomanek
What: Mr. Bismarck
Why: If anyone deserves the moniker Mr. Bismarck, it’s Jason Tomanek. All on his own, Jason has started what he calls a micro museum in his office where he has collected a variety of objects with a unique tie to Bismarck’s history. “When I moved into the office, I didn’t have a lot of pictures on the walls, so I started with a handful of things,” explains Jason. “Really, it all started with a single postcard. I put it in a frame, and then 250 postcards later and lots of other things, here we are.” Jason’s office, where he works as an assistant city administrator, is home to historic black and white photos of Bismarck, watercolors of historic Bismarck buildings, and other antique trinkets that originated from Bismarck.
Born and raised in Bismarck, Jason has a true love for the community he grew up in. Paired with a passion for history, Jason has turned preservation of Bismarck history into a serious hobby. Jason loves searching for historic Bismarck collectibles at flea markets, antique shops, auctions, garage sales, even online. “I like the idea of bringing it home, knowing that it started here and that it’s in somebody’s junk drawer, it’s in an antique shop someplace else, I think having it here gives people the opportunity to enjoy it,” explains Jason. This obvious passion for his hometown has earned Jason the loving nickname “Mr. Bismarck” from his co-workers.
In addition to preservation, Jason is also actively interested in the continuation of Bismarck’s rich history, and this summer he is spearheading the celebration of Bismarck’s 150th anniversary. The celebration will kick off on May 13th, at the annual Band Night Parade, and continue throughout the summer months. “What does it mean for the community? I think it’s a chance for people to recognize the heritage, the culture, the history, the innovation that we have as a community,” says Jason, “but it’s also a chance for us to kind of put our thumbprint on this community’s fabric.”
Want more?
www.bismarcknd.gov/2055/Bismarck150
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Jason Tomanek
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Jim Christianson
What: Preservation of Bismarck’s Historical Landmarks
Why: Jim Christianson has devoted his life to the preservation of Bismarck’s history by gathering knowledge, preserving historic places, and collecting pieces from Bismarck’s history. Jim was born and raised in Bismarck. His parents, Marc and Betty, founded the Dakota Zoo which is a favorite place for families to visit. Like his parents, Jim has left an impact on the Bismarck community for the better. “I do like to give back, the community has been really good to me,” Jim explains.
One way Jim has given back to the Bismarck community is by his efforts to preserve the Patterson Place which was built in 1910. In 1980, the Patterson Place, the historic Capitol Theatre building (which is now home to the Dakota Stage), and the Soo Hotel were all condemned. Jim spearheaded the effort to save these sites. After a $5.6 million renovation, the Patterson re-opened in 1983. His development group, Northwest Development Group Inc, has also converted the historic Soo Hotel into 30 apartments for low-income residents. Jim also worked with a team to restore the historic Northern Pacific Railroad Depot and the historic Capitol Theatre building. “Those buildings have a big chunk of Bismarck history, the Patterson buildings and then the Northern Pacific Depot that I owned for 40 years,” Jim explains. “That was the center of everything. You arrived by train, you stayed in a hotel.” Another project Jim supervised was the renovation of the former First National Bank building at 4th and Main for the BNC National Bank. Thanks to Jim’s efforts, these historic places have been preserved and can still be visited today.
Apart from renovations, Jim is an active member of the community and has served on many various boards and committees, a practice he continues today. Currently, he is the Chair of the Capital Gallery Society, the Bismarck Parking Authority, and the Bismarck Renaissance Zone Authority. Behind it all, Jim’s love of history has turned him into one of the city’s most knowledgeable experts on Bismarck’s past. His wealth of knowledge is incredible, and Jim hopes to be able to write a book someday that will preserve what he has learned for future generations.
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Jim Christianson
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Johnathan Campbell
What: Former Governors’ Mansion and Camp Hancock
Why: Johnathan Campbell’s love of history started when he was only 11 or 12. He was inspired by his stepfather Dave Ward’s love of history, Dave's family was among some of the first homesteaders in the area. Johnathan’s first interest in history was actually in pre-history, and he initially decided to pursue a geology degree. However, after discovering math was not for him, he graduated instead with a bachelor’s degree in visual art. After graduating, Jonathan was hired as a fossil preparer for the North Dakota Geological Survey where he worked for 11 years.
After 11 years, Johnathan began looking for a new position. He took on a few odds and ends jobs before coming to work for Camp Hancock, which he fell in love with. “Camp Hancock has a special place in my heart,” says Johnathan. “That’s where Bismarck started. Bismarck is 150, so is Camp Hancock this year. There’s something about it. You go down to the grounds and of course it doesn’t look anything like it did in 1872 but if you stop and start looking around, you can start to see early Bismarck.” A year after he was given a permanent position as the site supervisor at Camp Hancock, he was also given the site supervisor position at the Former Governors’ Mansion, another historical site he loves. Johnathan has now been working at these two sites for 19 years.
As the only person on staff for the majority of the years, Johnathan is a one-manshow, doing almost everything himself for these two sites, including restoration, historical research, rentals, and dealing with school groups. The duties of his job vary but the one constant is the importance Johnathan places on preserving even the small moments of history. “We need all history. It’s not just famous people. It has to be everybody,” says Johnathan. “If you have a housekeeper at the former governor’s mansion, that somebody steps forward and says I have some information about that, that’s every bit as important as the information we have on the governor. We have to keep acquiring and remembering all history.”
Want More?
www.history.nd.gov/historicsites/fgm/index.html www.history.nd.gov/historicsites/hancock/index.html
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Johnathan Campbell
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Jon Anthony Eagle Sr.
What: Spirit of the Horse, LLC
Why: One of the histories in most danger of being forgotten is that of the native people of the area. Jon Anthony Eagle Sr. has devoted his life to not only preserving his culture’s oral history, but also keeping his culture’s rich traditions alive and thriving for present and future generations. Jon is a tribal historic preservation officer for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, and he works to protect their ancestral places throughout their ancestral lands. Not only this, but Jon also started Spirit of the Horse, LLC which stemmed from his passion for horse culture which he recognizes as being largely lost, but he believes can become a vibrant aspect of his culture again. “Someone taught us to look at ourselves in terms of everything that we lost, and when you do that, it creates a real dismal picture,” Jon explains. “We have changed the paradigm, and we look at ourselves in terms of everything we still have as a people, and we are rebuilding our nations from there.”
Jon’s love of horses comes from his childhood. “When I was a child, horses were everywhere,” Jon describes. “You either walked, ran, or rode a horse. I saw a decline in horse culture, even in rodeos.” After attending Sitting Bull College and taking entrepreneurial classes, Jon decided to start Spirit of the Horse, LLC and help bring back horse culture. “Back home, we’re kind of a part of that resurgence, preserving our horse culture, through not only the sacred knowledge, but the oral history and songs as well,” he says.
Jon’s work has taken him across the United States where he works with other tribes who are interested in revitalizing their own horse cultures. Spirit of the Horse also offers equine assisted learning and equine assisted wellness, and will be soon also offering therapeutic horsemanship. “Horses are deeply connected to everything around them,” Jon explains. “That’s what the name suggests, when you become one with the spirit of the horse, there is a healing that occurs with that because now you’re thinking from your center… if we’re thinking from the center, if we sit in that calmness, then everybody that loved us into being comes back in memories, and thoughts, and songs, and teachings, and when we make decisions from there, then they’re more profound.”
Want More?
www.becomingonewiththespiritofthehorse.com/index.html
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Jon Anthony Eagle Sr.
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Paulette Bullinger
What: Author and Tour Guide
Why: “I grew up in a little town of Huff about 25 miles south of here, and well, when you’re a kid in a town of about 25 people, you do a lot of reading, so I liked history,” explains Paulette Bullinger. These two major passions, reading and history, came together in an unexpected way for Paulette later in life. She is now the author of two books. Nothing Hidden is an historical fiction mystery novel based on a real event from her hometown, largely set in downtown Bismarck. “A lot of people tell me that once they read the story they look at downtown Bismarck differently,” says Paulette. Her other book, which she co-wrote with Kevin Kremer, is called North Dakota Polar Pilot, is geared towards children and telling the story of Carl Ben Eielson. The preservation and passing down of these historical moments is one of the reasons Paulette writes these books. “I think we learn from our past,” she explains, “ and I think it’s important to keep that history alive for future generations, if nothing else. Plus, it’s absolutely fascinating.”
Paulette also gives history tours in Bismarck. While she started out by giving tours for a friend’s tour company, she now has her own called Back in Time History Tours. She offers three different tours: Downtown History, Germans from Russia, and St. Mary’s Cemetery History. “There’s history from here in so many different spots along Mandan, Bismarck, and Fort Abraham Lincoln,” says Paulette. “We don’t realize what a wealth of history we live in the middle of. That’s one of my big things, to expose that, to show people that we have so much that we can learn from those things.” By sharing the history of Bismarck with others, Paulette hopes others grow in appreciation for their city. “A lot of people don’t realize how historic Bismarck is and why we’re here and how we got here,” she explains. “I think people would take a little more pride in their community if they realize how historic it really is.”
Want More?
www.prideofdakota.nd.gov/companies/profile/paulettebullingerauthor www.facebook.com/people/Back-in-Time-History-Tours
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Paulette Bullinger
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Sakariassen Family or the “Sak Pak”
What: Preserving and Sharing Bismarck’s history
Why: The Sakariassen Family is a force to be reckoned within the historical community. Each family member has dedicated his or her life to discovering, preserving, and sharing history, particularly of Bismarck.
Amy Sakariassen has done an incredible amount of work over the years. Currently, she serves on the City’s Forestry Advisory Board, is the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, the state advisor for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, works in the archives for the State, is the primary fossil preparator at the Heritage Center, works as a cultural resource specialist, and is on the design committee for Washington Street and Cathedral District. “I hope that my excitement in things makes people pay attention, then they take a little more pride in their own history. That’s what we want to pass on, is pride in history and not just pride in a bad way, but pride in the way of just understanding of history,” says Amy
Her husband Erik shares her love of history. “Growing up I was always fascinated by history. I spent a lot of time as a kid at the old museum which was before the Heritage Center was built,” says Erik. “When I went off to college at the University of Montana I studied archeology where I met Amy in a museums class.” For Erik, preservation of places is crucial to understanding history, and before retiring, he worked with the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation doing development work. “Historic places give texture to the stories about our past, who we are, where we came from,” he explains. “I like to think of places as being important to inspiring us to think about our past.”
Amy and Erik’s passion was passed on to both their children. Their daughter Emily works for the Northern Plains Heritage Foundation whose purpose is to recognize and help celebrate the nationally important stories rooted in the Missouri River here in North Dakota. “This opportunity came up to work for the Heritage Area and I just thought, well I want to do stuff that gets me back to Bismarck and back to cool and interesting places we have to celebrate, the cool stories that a lot of people already know, but maybe a lot of people don’t know,” explains Emily. One of her favorite parts of her work is being a part of the growing inclusivity of history. “The best thing is when something is really meaningful to somebody, like they have a really personal connection to a place or to a story… and if it’s endangered or hasn’t been explored and given credence in the historical record, to be able to work with people and find out why this place matters to them and then recognize that and share it with other people, that’s just awesome,” expresses Emily.
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Sakariassen Family
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Shane Balkowitsch
What: Nostalgic Glass Wet Plates Studio
Why: “I never owned a camera before. I never was formally trained. This is just something I fell in love with.” These words from Shane Balkowitsch might surprise some who have seen his work before. A wet plate photographer, Shane’s passion lies in capturing and preserving the people of the present through the 19th century medium of wet plate collodion photography. “History has always been important to me, but I think it’s really fascinating to document the people of this time and that’s what I’m doing,” Shane explains.
Wet plate photography is the process of making an image out of pure silver on black glass. These photographs can last around 1,000 years, much longer than any other form of photography, one of the reasons Shane was drawn to this medium. “I had the opportunity to capture Jon Batiste last week… That photograph I know is going to outlast all the other millions of photographs ever taken of that man and there’s something special about that,” expresses Shane.
Since starting his wet plate studio Nostalgic Glass Wet Plates Studio in 2012, Shane has had the opportunity to meet and photograph many notable figures including Greta Thunberg and the great-grandson of Sitting Bull, Ernie LaPointe. His picture of Ernie was the starting point for his life’s work, a series of photographs of Native Americans called “Northern Plains Native Americans: The Modern Wet Plate Perspective.” Shane explains, “Someone said I should do a series on Native Americans, and I said, well I don’t have any Native Americans as friends, so I said I’ll try to do ten… and then it started snowballing. At some point I just said, well screw it, I’m going to do 1,000.” That was nine years ago, and as of the time of the interview, Shane had taken 587 photos for his series. Along with the images, Shane is working on publishing a four volume book set, one book for every 250 images.
Shane’s love of history shows itself in his work that can uniquely preserve the present for future generations. His wet plates are located at 45 museums around the world including the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress. The State Historical Society of North Dakota has nearly 800 of Shane’s wet plates. Thanks to Shane’s passion, our modern experience will be preserved as a historical moment for people even 1,000 years in the future.
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nostalgicglasswetplatestudio.zenfolio.com www.facebook.com/nostalgicglasswetplate
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Shane Balkowitsch
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROESof History
Who: Sister Nicole Kunze
What: Prioress at Annunciation Monastery
Why: Before North Dakota was a state, Benedictine sisters came to Bismarck in 1878 to educate the German immigrant children. “They rode the train west, got off the train one day, and started teaching the next day,” tells Sister Nicole Kunze. Sr. Nicole is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the history of Bismarck. “In my current role as prioress, the leader of the community, I’m called on all the time to speak on behalf of our sisters to share that story of how Benedictines came to Bismarck, why they came to Bismarck, why we’ve stayed, and what we hope to do now and into the future,” she explains.
The Benedictines have been an instrumental part of Bismarck’s growth. In 1885, these women founded the first hospital between Seattle and St. Paul. “They had never been nurses before, but there was a need, and they answered the need,” says Sr. Nicole. In addition, these sisters staffed the Catholic schools, and when they saw a need for higher Catholic education in Bismarck, they established the University of Mary in 1959. “Now more recently, one of our sisters saw the need to minister to those who are homeless, those just coming out of our prison system, and that’s how Ministry on the Margins was founded,” says Sr. Nicole.
Sr. Nicole herself, who has been a part of Annunciation Monastery for 26 years, finds inspiration in the Benedictine sisters’ legacy, whose actions have forever changed our community for the better. “I think of the 140 sisters who volunteered to leave St. Benedict’s Monastery in Minnesota and become the founding sisters here of Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, and the sacrifices they made to establish our monastery, to continue these ministries, and to continue dreaming what can be,” says Sr. Nicole. “From my office at the monastery I look out at the cemetery, and I look to those women, as I call them the saints of Annunciation Monastery, for my inspiration and hope. I pray to them daily, asking them to intercede for our community and our ministries.” And the story does not end here. “Benedictines as an order were never founded for a particular ministry,” explains Sr. Nicole. “We are here to meet the needs of the people here and now… so what does the future hold? It depends on what the needs of the area are.”
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www.annunciationmonastery.org
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Sister Nicole Kunze
Photo by NewAge Creative
HIDDEN HOMETOWN HEROES
Who: Will Hutchings
What: Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission
Why: Will Hutchings’ love of buildings and architecture has led him to become an important part of the preservation of Bismarck’s history. Will serves as a city planner for Bismarck as well as a staff representative on the Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission. Started in 2019, the Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission is fairly new to the Bismarck community; however, the plans for such a commission have been in the works for about 20 years. The Commission assists with the process of nomination places to be on the National Register of Historic Places. They are also a resource for those who own a historically registered place or a potentially historic place, and are there to answer any questions about renovations and changes on such sites. The other aspect of the Commission’s mission is to promote and educate about the importance of history.
One of the more exciting projects the Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission is working on is a timeline of Bismarck’s history. The goal is for the timeline’s history to be detailed and exhaustive, and the public will be encouraged to collaborate on the project by submitting historical moments they believe are important to the story of our town.
Unlike some of the other Hidden Hometown Heroes, Will comes at the role of history from a different perspective. “I wouldn’t consider myself a lover of history,” describes Will. “In high school it wasn’t my passion. However, I like the term one of my teachers taught me. It was that she became an accidental historian from her love of architecture, and I feel the same way. I love buildings, I love the styles, I love looking back on what we used to do, what we’re doing now and through that you start to understand the history of a place more because why was this used at that time and what not.” The work Will does both through city planning and on the Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission both preserves the story of the past and promotes the continuation of Bismarck’s future.
Want More?
www.bismarcknd.gov/1870/Historic-Preservation-Commission
Vote for the Scheels Hidden Hometown Heroes at www.northwoodsleague.com/bismarck-larks from May 2-20.
Will Hutchings
Photo by NewAge Creative
