

Sue Sitter/PCT
The new exterior of the primary building at the Prairie Village Museum attributes cedar planks put in by Wayne’s Building of Rugby. A sign created by Fritel’s Tailor made Structure will hold earlier mentioned the entrance.

The exterior of the Prairie Village Museum in Rugby will appear a lot more like a city from North Dakota’s early days many thanks to a remodel task by Wayne’s Design and region donors.
Museum Government Director Jennifer Willis reported the undertaking started with a style by artist Terry Jelsing in 2017 but ran into delays brought about by alterations in museum directors, a international pandemic and shortages of development products.
“We’re applying cedar for the facade,” Willis explained. “Originally, it was planned for cedar all the way down but I sort of needed to have it a little different sense for each and every making,” she additional, describing how the properties in entrance of the museum sophisticated seem to run jointly with the recent structure.
The front of the elaborate is a row of white structures, with the title of the museum painted in purple letters higher than a making housing the equipment lose. Willis claimed visitors turn out to be bewildered in some cases and consider to enter the museum by way of the machinery shed.
The identify of the museum will go on a new metal sign made by Fritel’s Custom made Structure. The sign will be placed in excess of the entrance to the most important making, eliminating confusion.
“There are nonetheless some issues that have to be tweaked (on the most important building’s exterior),” Willis reported. “The entrance nevertheless needs painting where the steel is and there’s some metal trim to be concluded.”
Willis stated the new design and style “will continue to keep heading what we have in the back again.” Each building building up aspect of the museum’s front will get an exterior reminiscent of pioneer days on the prairie.
“This is a mockup of what we hope to have sometime,” Willis reported, pointing to an architectural drawing of the exterior. “Terry Jelsing drew this.”
Willis claimed Wayne Schmaltz of Wayne’s Construction would start off a 2nd segment of building the 7 days of July 26. “That’s my target,” she extra.
Willis stated of the project’s funding, “We been given some cash from a personal donor and we’ve gotten some grants alongside the way. Some of them served with a new roof for this setting up.”
Earlier donations have paid out for a new roof, new ceiling and lighting in the primary setting up, Willis stated.
“We did get a new roof put on the depot,” Willis included. “We had some added roofing materials still left more than and a different donor picked up the tab and we’ve obtained enough shingles to function on our land business office, and that is halfway accomplished.”
A different task paid for by a generous donation from Merchants Lender in Rugby was the restoration of the Brown Street Clock, which will go on show at the museum following the venture is finished.
Willis mentioned the flurry of new development will come just in advance of a occupied time at the museum.
“One factor we have coming up on August 15 Is Dennis Miller and Richard Budd, who will occur out and do a ham radio demonstration,” Willis explained. “It would be wonderful if people would arrive out for that. It will materialize 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.”
“August 22 is the Village Good,” Willis included. “We’re going to have blacksmithing demonstrations and a fur trapper. Then of training course, we’re going to have pickles on a stick, penny sweet, root beef floats and ice product. Individuals like pickles on a stick. We’re going to have foodstuff vehicles: Henry’s 90 Fat will be right here and the Sweet Prairie foodstuff truck will be here.” Willis explained the Sweet Prairie foods truck sells sweets and candy alongside with snacks these kinds of as avenue tacos.
“We’re hoping to demonstrate silent movies from the early 1900s,” Willis included.“I’m hoping they’ll be repeatedly managing. They’re only 10 to 15 moment flicks, so you will have a chance to capture one thing when you are cooling down. I have even discovered the authentic ‘Alice in Wonderland.’” Willis reported of the silent movie collection. “It’s variety of amusing when you compare it to now.”
“Then, of class Village Arts will support us by owning actors stroll all around in costume,” Willis included.
“Next thirty day period, I’ll be receiving a new show in the gallery,” Willis additional. “There’s a gentleman from Minot, Rayson Renfrow. His show is “Dumpling Soup in Fridge.” There are 16 prints he’ll be exhibiting,” Willis claimed. “Then, he has one more exhibit referred to as “Window Browsing,” Willis stated.
Willis claimed lectures at the museum may well arrive back again in the long run as the COVID crisis wanes in Pierce County, noting men and women nonetheless seemed unwilling to collect in crowds. “Our quantities are even now a very little bit down from earlier several years,” Willis explained of museum site visitors. “We’re acquiring superior, but we’re nonetheless not up to in which we were in 2019.”
“It also would seem like a lot of persons are obtaining out of town on weekends,” Willis included, noting people today appeared to want to enjoy traveling soon after quarantining in 2020.