The North Beltrami Heritage Center in Kelliher will focus on ways to celebrate the sesquicentennial this summer. Plans are being made to exhibit as much early history of this area as can be found.
Maps of the area from the time of the fur traders, early surveyors and those used by the first homesteaders and settlers would help to tell the story of settlement. Pictures, letters, newspaper ads, posters, stories and books, family histories, tools and machines would also give information to be used in displays.
More recent history can be found in recordings of conversations, programs, celebrations, birthdays, class and family reunions, graduation DVDs and, of course, programs from plays, concerts and other special occasions and high school annuals. A good example is a video about the Polka Mass, picnic and flyover that were annually held at Shooks and also includes several interviews with residents at the time. The video can be returned to donors after it has been converted to DVD to be viewed on a screen.
An attempt is being made to get a picture of all the teachers who have taught in the area from the early 1900s to the present. Pictures of other school employees would also be welcome. Smaller photos of the big pictures of each graduating class at Kelliher High School will be put into a book for viewing.
Also on exhibit will be displays of taxidermy featuring area animals. There is a display of homemade quilting in the KHS commons cultural display case and some early doctor and medical equipment in the Old School display case.
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At the Kelliher Health Fair garden party April 15, garden gear and old garden tools will be shown and seeds will be available along with prizes for a bean bag game. A request will be made for heritage plants which have been passed down for generations and could be planted in the upcoming heritage garden by the center. For the Big Bog Festival parade, fashions from 1850-2000 are being gathered to be shown on the float and in the Heritage Center.
The restroom is now complete with an oak washstand. Needed next are new and used cupboards and shelves that could be used to get the little pantry-kitchen organized.
Anyone who owns or has access to any available items mentioned in this article, please let the Heritage Center know about them. They could be donated, or the center could copy or photograph them for use in this sesquicentennial year or in the future. Call Dorothy Locken at 218-647-8742 or Eva Stengel at 218-647-8531 or after May, try the Center's number at 218-647-8845.
