Case Quarterly
VOLUME I ISSUE I
DAKOTADISCOVERY.COM
Manager’s Report
The reopening of Dakota Discovery Museum this past May has been exciting, challenging, inspiring, frustrating, occasionally the source of trepidation and all the while, enormously gratifying. To date, we have hosted guests from 45 states and 5 countries, and met past members and future friends. In June, the American Arachnological Society held their conference-opening mixer in the museum. We also completed our tenweek children’s program, received wonderful artifact donations from some of the outstanding people who call the Middle Border their home, and we are well into our operational planning for the next twelve months. Our Memorial Day exhibit titled “Fall In!”, is about to close and the staff is hard at work with two concurrent projects, preparations for our First Responders exhibit, with a planned opening in late August, and an upgrade to our Dimock Railroad Depot exhibit. Many thanks to the staff, volunteers, and donors that are making these and other projects happen.
SUMMER|FALL 2015
MUSEUM’S MADONNAS RETURN
Polly Kent Rides West by Hargens
Dakota Woman By Harvey Dunn
This past June the museum welcomed home two of it’s most famous paintings – “Polly Kent Rides West” by Charles Hargens and “Dakota Woman” by Harvey Dunn. While being displayed at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, the paintings were hailed as Madonnas of the Prairie. These two beautiful paintings help tell the story of many women in the Middle Border Region who brought courage and resilience to the untamed elements of the West to blaze the trail for future generations of settlers and pioneers. In April of 1942, Harvey Dunn gave “Dakota Woman” to the museum saying: “It seems to me that you good people are according my Dakota Woman the warmest of welcomes. As it seems to indicate she has found a good home with the Friends of the Middle Border, this will be your authority for considering the canvas a gift to that body” From 1997 to 2009 the museum received 78 artworks of Charles Hargens. Among the 78 was Hargens “Polly Kent Rides West.” The painting, used as an illustration for the 1941 book “Polly Kent Rides West,” depicts the character sitting on a rock next to her palomino pony and a wagon train in the background. The Museum is glad to have these magnificent works of art back and invites all to come and see them now on display.
Staff Intro:
Isaac Novak has spent two summers with the Dakota Discovery Museum and has enjoyed his time here. While at the museum Isaac has taken on different projects starting during the summer of 2014 where Isaac researched the origins of a rug found inside the Beckwith House and traced it’s creator back to one of the most famous rug dealers in America during the early 1900s. This year Isaac created the Memorial Day Exhibit that displayed the Middle Border’s involvement in U.S. wars and began a goal to set up a new exhibit inside the Dimock Depot’s Freight Room. Isaac looks forward to his first year at college starting this fall at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. There he will be studying Physics and Engineering.
DEPOT RENOVATION Starting in June, Isaac Novak, along with the help of Jim Blades, Barb Kippes, and Katy Lazenby, began to clean out the freight room of the Depot. With a goal in mind to set up a new exhibit that shows the freight room and the Milwaukee Railroad’s importance to Mitchell, SD, Isaac began clearing out the freight room, which at the time was stuffed with so much stuff (wood, paints, windows, ladders, etc.) that it was near to impossible to even step inside the Depot. Today the Freight Area has been cleaned and painted and includes a nice display of photographs memorabilia that help explain in more the depth the importance and effect the Milwaukee Railroad had on the Middle Border Region.
UPCOMING EXHIBITS & EVENTS September 11---October 2 -------October 31------December-------December-------January 2016-----
First Responders Exhibit Opens Family Night at the Museum - First Responders Night at the Museum - Halloween Holiday Exhibit A Beckwith House Christmas Fundraiser Opening of “Faces and Fashions of the Middle Border”
Prehistoric Donation Les Johnson served aboard the task force flagship that entered Nagasaki Harbor on 23 September 1945, six weeks after the dropping of the nuclear bomb on that city. After separating from the Navy in 1946, Les established himself in Mitchell and began a habit of hiking around the lake at the north end of town. Because of an interest developed as child in the Bijou Hills area of South Dakota, Les began a hobby as an amateur archeologist. Marrying Esther Faye in 1947 and soon with a growing family, Les walked the shores of the lake with his children until 1963. Whenever they found an artifact, it was carefully retrieved; brought home, cleaned, studied, and then added it to the growing collection of the family. Earlier in 2015, medical circumstances made it necessary for Les to enter the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls. He and his family made the decision to donate their entire artifact collection to the Dakota Discovery Museum. Estimated at more than 1,500 pieces, the collection includes bone and bone tools, arrowheads, flint, potsherds, an intact item of pottery, plus two partially reconstructed clay vessels. It is an amazing collection, beautifully cared for and we are deeply grateful to the Johnson family for their consideration of Dakota Discovery Museum. Museum staff is currently cataloging the collection and pieces will soon be placed on exhibit.
Problem into Profit! (A story by Jim Blades)
Rapidly expanding railroad travel demanded the creation of railroad schedules – which required the train engineers and other workers to have accurate time pieces (pocket watches), since wall clocks would not be accurate due to the motion of trains. One station master in Minnesota, Richard had received a shipment of watches that were not ordered or wanted by a jeweler. “Here is a chance to make a few dollars,” he thought. So he purchased the watches and proceeded to sell them to anyone he could using the telegraph, mail, or any other means. To his surprise he sold all of the watches and had to order more to serve his customers. Business grew and he convinced a watch repairman, Alvah to partner with him. More sales – and the pair began sending out flyers with which they advertised many other things like clothing, farm tools, flour, etc. Operations moved to Minneapolis in 1886, and then to Chicago in 1887 where the business exploded. Thus one small opportunity grew to be a nationally known business – Sears and Roebuck, with Richard Sears and Alvah Roebuck. Today you can come visit our newly renovated Dimock Depot. Originally placed along the lines of the Milwaukee Railroad it assisted in the commerce spurred by the Sears Roebuck Catalog!
Rod Brown
Rod Brown, the new manager of Dakota Discovery Museum, has spent 21 years at Dakota Wesleyan University, as a student and later as a staff member. Part of McGovern Library staff for nearly nineteen years, he worked with classroom technology and online learning. With time, however, needs change and it appeared this past spring that his time at DWU was ending. As often is the case though, when one door closes, another opens. In this case, the door to Dakota Discovery Museum opened. Rod considers it an amazing transition. When Rod enrolled as a nontraditional student at DWU in 1994, history was already a source of reading pleasure. That enjoyment became a love for the subject and following completion of a bachelor’s degree, he completed a master’s degree at the University of South Dakota. In Rod’s view, History is not places and dates, its people who thought, imagined, and dreamed – then went out and did what they dreamed. Dakota Discovery Museum tells the story of those people.
Children's Program Starting in October, the museum will begin a new “nightly” children’s program – Night at the Museum. One Friday each month will feature the Night at the Museum program. The program will consist of a new theme each month with topics ranging from 1st Responders to Cooking in the Middle Border. In addition, each night will consist of different hands-on activities relating to the topic. Learn how to make butter, build a steam engine, paint like Harvey Dunn, practice early Native American hunting techniques and much more! All are welcome, and there will be a $2 admission at the door. If you have any questions or would like to help, please call or email museum manager, Rod Brown, at (605) 996-2122 or history@dakotadiscovery.com
Organizing the Photos New staff member, Katy Lazenby, started off her year at the museum by beginning the organization of the basement. If you’ve ever been to the basement of the museum it’s a treasure hunter’s dream but an OCD organizer’s nightmare. Lazenby went through nearly 3,000 photographs sorting and reentering them into the museum’s computer system. Her favorite quote found on the back of a postcard of a Corn Palace says “No Bob, I am not dead and that’s that. Here’s one from way, way back. Grandma died the past week & I found it.”
New Membership Levels
This summer the museum announced their new membership levels with high hopes of attracting more members to join the Friends of the Middle Border. Now, with membership levels ranging from $25 - $1000 the museum has also included benefits ranging from: unlimited free admission, discounts on events and program fees, subscription to the Case Quarterly newsletter, quarterly new members “Big Thank You” reception, a 10 - 25% discount on purchases from The Garrett museum store, guest passes, donor wall recognition in the lobby of the museum, personal invitations to museum events, lunch with the museum director, a private tour by the director for up to 5 people, and a special gift. The names have also changed! You can be a Storyteller (senior), Trailblazer (Individual), Homesteaders (Family), Outfitter, Station Master, Cattleman, or Railroad Magnate! Your membership will not only help you enjoy the numerous benefits the museum has to offer, but you will also help support the education of over a thousand elementary school children that come to tour the museum each year. If you are interested in signing up please fill out the attached brochure or call (605) 996-2122.
On Exhibit: “Fall In!” The “Fall In!” exhibit is comprised of military items donated and on loan that span across more than a century of military history, including the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and Iraq. The museum has acquired memorabilia such as a 19th-century medical kit in pristine condition used during the Spanish-American War, a Red Cross uniform, multiple military uniforms, a Nazi flag and military cap, firearms, buttons, gas masks, government posters and photographs.
Volunteer Story
The Latin root of the word ‘volunteer’ is voluntarius, meaning ‘of one’s free will.’ Volunteers are vital to the success of many organizations like Dakota Discovery Museum and DDM enjoys past and future success because of the participation of volunteers. One of those is Mr. Jim Blades. Jim has a deep knowledge of the museum, its collection and its history. With a background in education, Jim has served for many years in a variety of capacities, including a stint as interim director. Today, Jim serves as a guide for museum guests and an ‘unofficial’ (and deeply appreciated) advisor to the museum’s leadership. His experience with the museum and its collection, and his gentle manner of presentation, serve him as he serves others. Jim has blessed Dakota Discovery Museum by giving himself. You will find Jim in future editions of our newsletter. He is the contributor for the “Storytellers’ Stump.”
Volunteers Jim Blades Barb Kippes Laurie Yeo Ada Carol Sebert Andrew Weller Pat Doris Carol Dakota Discovery Museum Staff Rod Brown Museum Manager Isaac Novak & Katy Lazenby (Student Workers) New Website! www.dakotadiscovery.com (605) 996-2122 history@dakotadiscovery.com
Bring Back the Automobiles! For those who were a part of or visited the museum when it was located in the brown building, now Dakota Wesleyan University’s Visual Art Center, you may remember a large collection of automobiles held by the museum. From a 1908 Ford Model S to a 1939 Rolls Royce to a Vintage Popcorn Truck, the museum had a large collection of different automobiles that helped shape the history of this nation. Unfortunately all of the museum’s cars have now been sold or given back to their owners. With the construction of a $25,000 shed the museum would like to create a small exhibit to display a few of the many automobiles that shaped the USA. We are looking for cars between the years of 1900 – 1930. If you are interested in donating or putting your car on loan or have any questions contact us at (605) 996-2122 or history@dakotadiscovery.com.
Friends of the Middle Border, Inc. Dakota Discovery Museum P.O. Box 1071 Mitchell, South Dakota 57301
Friends of the Middle Border