Unlock History

Heritage Hall Museum & Archives (HHM&A) has announced a special weekend celebration on Oct. 15 and 16 to mark the public reopening of the historic Ludwig and Susanna Deckert house that's been part of the museum complex for more than four decades.

The 28 x 36 house, built in the early 1880s west of Marion by the Deckert family, was moved from the northwest Rosefield Township farm in Turner County to the museum grounds in 1979. The house was closed to the public in 2018 in anticipation of replacing the foundation. However, exceptionally wet weather in late 2018 and 2019 delayed the project. During that delay, the museum decided to change the location of the house from south of the museum – in line with two churches and a one-room country school – to the area east of the museum, which offers a more spacious setting.

Finally, in July 2020, the house was moved onto a new foundation in its new location. Since then, museum staff and volunteers have been working to prepare the house for reopening. That includes repairs, restorations, painting, landscaping, a new sidewalk and expanded exhibits. 

Donations from the Deckert family, museum members, the Freeman business community and a grant from the Freeman Community Development Corporation have helped make this project possible.

The refurbished house will be open and included with museum admission for extended hours that weekend; from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 and 1 p.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. 

Saturday/Sunday programs

In addition, three programs are planned to explore the history of the house, the Deckert family and the roots of the Low Germans who settled in this area starting in the 1870s. Those programs will be held on Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday afternoon at the neighboring Bethel Mennonite Church, which is also part of the museum's outdoor exhibit.

The Saturday afternoon program will start at 3 and offer a closer look at the Deckert family and their home through a visit with Ryan Mews, former intern at HHM&A and a masters student at USD in Vermillion, and Marnette D. (Ortman) Hofer, HHM&A Executive Director & Archivist.

The 7 p.m. Saturday evening program is titled "New Discoveries in Volhynian Low German Mennonite History." It is being presented by Rodney Ratzlaff, a Low German Mennonite historian who lives in Olathe, Kan. 

On Sunday afternoon, the 3 p.m. program, "The Dutch Golden Age – Mennonite to the Core," will feature Dr. Lauren Friesen of North Newton, Kan., who is a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Michigan.

Admission will be charged for the programs ($7 per program; $5 for HHM&A members). We will also offer a special Weekend Pass that would include museum/house admission and all three programs for $15 or $12 for HHM&A Members.

More about the house

Ludwig Deckert was born in Germany in 1843 and raised in Volhynia, Russia, where he married Susanna Jantz in 1864. They moved to Dakota Territory in 1875 as part of the Germans-from-Russia migration to the United States in the 1870s. They settled on the northwestern portion of Rosefield Township where the house became home to the Deckert family, which included eight children. It remained in use into the 1950s. In the 1970s, John H. Waltner – then the owner of the property – donated the abandoned house to the museum and it was moved to museum grounds on Nov. 8, 1979.

After visiting the house in 1979, Dr. Paul Putz – then director of the South Dakota Historical Preservation Center – called Ludwig and Susanna Deckert's home, "One of the most unique and historic buildings in South Dakota; a prime example of German-Russian architecture." It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The house is also unique in that wood-frame construction of a house of this size was uncommon in this community when it was built. With the lack of available lumber – few trees stood on the open prairie and the nearest lumber yard was in Yankton until the railroad arrived in 1879 – most homes were sod, rammed earth or very modest wood frame structures.

When the Deckert house was moved to the museum, nearly a century after it was built, Dr. Ralph C Kauffman, who was instrumental in the project, noted that the house was well-preserved due to several factors. He cited Ludwig Deckert's exacting workmanship, the quality of the materials and the maintenance of the structure throughout the years, including the efforts of John H. Waltner who chose to preserve it rather than raze it.

In addition to being in excellent condition, the house includes three unique features.

• A "black kitchen" sits at the center of the house. About 12 feet square and constructed of adobe bricks covered with plaster, the room got its name from its black, soot-covered walls. A sliding door kept the smoke out of the rest of the house. All of the cooking happened here. A large built-in cauldron was used to heat water for laundry, to render lard during butchering, make soap, etc. The cooking range had two separate fireboxes. The upper firebox would heat the range, while the lower firebox was used to turn the upper firebox into an oven during the summer months. 

• A Russian grass-burning oven extends from the kitchen into the adjoining rooms. The oven's flue follows a maze-like path to the chimneystack, with heat radiating from the twists and turns into the surrounding rooms. A bake oven in the side of the Russian oven extends into the parlor about two feet; the top of the oven was used to dry or warm foods. 

• A massive beehive chimney, which served as a smokehouse, is located on the second floor of the home, which also includes two bedrooms and a loft.

Museum moves to winter hours

Starting Oct. 1, the museum began its winter hours. It is open weekdays from noon to 4 p.m. and other times – including mornings and weekends – by appointment. In addition to being open for guests touring the museum, the winter hours include both the archives/library and the mercantile being open to the public. And, as the special weekend Deckert House event in October demonstrates, the museum will be holding occasional special events/activities throughout its winter season which runs from October through April.

The museum will resume summer hours May 1 when it is open daily (9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.).

This spring, U.S. Census Bureau additional 2020 census data that include smaller cities and towns. The total 2020 population of the three counties is 21,782, up 474 from the 2010 census, an increase of 2.2 percent. 

"We've been curious about what the results will show for the 23 small towns in our area," said Tim L. Waltner, communication/education coordinator at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives in Freeman. "While the state population grew by 72,487, most of that came in the Lincoln, Minnehaha and Pennington counties, home to Sioux Falls and Rapid City. We've taken a closer look at the towns that are part of the 'greater Freeman area' and compared the population from 2020 to 2010."

The details reveal that while half of the towns in the larger Freeman area reflect that growth, the other half lost population. Freeman, for example, grew by 23 – from 1,306 to 1,329. Menno grew by six – from 608 to 614. The accompanying chart shows population changes in the towns in the area.

"One of the takeaways is that the larger towns in the area grew and the smaller towns shrunk," he said. "Five of the six largest towns grew; the combined increase of 355 is a 6.5% gain. Conversely, five of the six smallest towns lost population; the combined loss of 62 is a 12.2% decline."

Based on 2020 census data, the towns of Bridgewater, Centerville, Chancellor, Dimock, Emery, Freeman, Irene, Marion, Menno, Parker, Parkston and Viborg all showed at least slight growth since 2010. The rest lost population; four recorded loss percentages in double digits. The accompanying chart details each of the towns in the tri-county area.

Two neighboring towns just outside the tri-county area are also included in the chart: Emery in Hanson County and Scotland in Bon Homme County.

The top largest five towns of the 22 in the region remain unchanged – Parkston, Freeman, Salem, Parker and Centerville. However, Freeman and Salem swapped positions in 2020; Freeman replaced Salem as number two behind Parkston.

The local town with the largest percentage increase was Parker, which grew by 172 from 1,022 to 1,194, an increase of 16.8 percent. That's also the largest numerical town growth in the tri-county region. The town with the smallest percentage decrease was Davis, which shrunk from 85 to 54, a drop of 36.5 percent. Tripp lost the most population numerically, 72.

"But perhaps the more revealing dynamic is that the growth in the towns in eastern Turner County on the western edge of the growing Sioux Falls metropolitan area," he said. "The towns of Centerville, Chancellor, Parker and Viborg increased by a combined 278 since the 2010 Census."

Six of Turner County's towns gained population with a net increase of 274, led by Parker (172) and Marion (65) – the biggest gains by towns in the tri-county area. Also growing were Centerville, Chancellor, Irene and Viborg. It's worth noting, Waltner said, that the town of Irene – population 422 – is located in three counties – Clay, Turner and Yankton. According to the 2020 census, the portion that includes Turner County has 227 residents, a loss of 4 from the 2010 census.

The Hutchinson County town population showed a net gain of 18. Dimock, Freeman, Menno and Parkston combined for 100 new residents. On the flip side, together, Olivet and Tripp lost 82.

While the majority of the towns in Hutchinson and Turner counties grew in the past ten years, only four of McCook County's five towns saw an increase in population; while Bridgewater gained 19 residents, Canistota, Montrose, Salem and Spencer lost a collective 69 compared to the 2010 census. Combined McCook County towns declined by 50 in the past decade.

Town residents are the majority population in all three counties. In Hutchinson County, the 4,286 residents comprise 57 percent of the population. In McCook County, the 3,071 town residents comprise 54 percent of the population. In Turner County, the 4,928 town residents comprise 56 percent of the population.

Township population trends

The U.S. Census Bureau 2020 report also shows the changes in township population since the 2010 census. The majority of the townships in the local tri-county area gained population. It's worth noting that the census separates the rural population from the towns. For example, while Freeman is located in Grandview Township, the township total does not include Freeman's population.

In Hutchinson County, 12 of the 23 townships gained population since the 2010 census. In McCook County, 10 of the 16 townships grew and in Turner County, 10 of the 18 townships saw an increase in population. 

As is the case with town growth patterns, proximity to population growth in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties appears to be a factor. Townships in southeastern McCook and northeastern Turner County gained population. Conversely, all four of the townships on the western edge of Turner County lost population.

The most dramatic gain in the tri-county area – percentage-wise – was Pearl Township in McCook County, up 64.1%, although the gain of 25 residents raises the total to just 64. Conversely, Ramsey Township, also in McCook County, recorded the largest decline – 54.2%. The drop of 124 – from 229 to 105 – has sparked speculation that the Orland Hutterite Colony may not have been counted.

In terms of raw numbers, Sweet Township in southern Hutchinson County is the most populous in the three counties, with 365 residents, even with a loss of 22 in the 2020 census. The smallest is Oak Hollow in the southwest portion of Hutchinson County, with 40 residents.

The big picture

Initial results from the United States 2020 Census Bureau were announced in April 2021. They show that the United States has a population of 331,449,281. An increase of 7.4% from the 2010 census, it's the second-smallest increase since 1790, when the first census was conducted.

South Dakota was among the 13 states that showed an increase in the rate of growth from 2010 to 2020 – 8.9% compared to 7.9% from 2000 to 2010. The state grew from 820,077 residents in 2010 to 886,667 in 2020. 

Lincoln County grew 45.4% to 65,161; Minnehaha grew 16.2% to 197,214, is up 16.2%; Pennington #2), at 109,222, is up 8.2%

Hutchinson, McCook and Turner counties were among others in the state that gained population, although at a significantly lower rate than the "big three."

Hutchinson County, at 7,427, is up 81 or 1.1% from 7,343. McCook County, at 5,682, is also up 1.1% from 5,618, an increase of 64. Turner County shows the largest of the local three; 8,673, up 259 or 3.9% from 2010. 

"The numbers in Turner County reflect its proximity to rapidly growing Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, with population gains in both the towns and rural area, particularly the eastern portion of the county," Waltner said.

"Here's another perspective," he said. "In the past century, all three local counties lost more than 40 percent of their population, when comparing the 1920 census to the 2020 census."

Hutchinson County dropped from 13,475 to 7,427 – a loss of 45%. 

McCook County declined from 9,990 to 5,682 – a loss of 43%.

Turner County went from 14,871 to 8,673 – a loss of 42%

"All three local counties recorded their largest populations in the 1930 census," he said. "Hutchinson – 13,904, McCook County – 10,319, Turner County – 14,891. The 1940 census marks the start of a steady decline that continued through the century in all three counties."

Turner and McCook counties both reversed the trend in the 2000 census with small gains. The drop continued in Hutchinson County until the 2020 census, when all three reported population growth.

"The steady decline in population is reflected in the economic and social changes in this rural area," Waltner said. "We see that in how our businesses, schools and churches have adapted, often closing or consolidating."

Heritage Hall Museum & Archives, an independent not-for-profit organization, has an extensive collection of artifacts and documents that chronicle the history of this region, primarily the immigration story of Germans-from-Russia who arrived in the 1870s. 

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 1 to 4 p.m. weekends through September. Winter hours (October-April) are noon to 4 weekdays and other times by appointment by calling 605-925-7545.

FREEMAN: Heritage Hall Museum & Archives is inviting all area teachers to visit as their guests this summer.

“We’re offering free admission to teachers in the larger community this summer to give them an inside look at what we have to offer,” said Marnette D. (Ortman) Hofer, executive director & archivist at the Freeman museum.

“We want to be a partner in education for our area youth,” she said. “A visit here can help ‘unlock history’ for students in the 2022-23 school year. We’ll be glad to provide a personalized tour to any teacher who wants to learn more this summer.”

The museum has 25,000 square feet of galleries containing a wide array of interesting artifacts and exhibits. The exhibits tell the immigration story of Germans-from-Russia settlers, and others, who arrived in southeastern Dakota Territory in the 1870s, persevered and helped build the Freeman community.

“With more than 20,000 artifacts, our exhibits are an excellent resource for studies on South Dakota and Native American history,” Hofer noted. Galleries include a Native American Winter Count, Steven R. Riggs collection and Standing Bear exhibit.

Other exhibits include a 1927 bi-plane, a horse-drawn hearse, general store, town jail, summer kitchen, print shop, service station, vintage cars and motorcycles and agricultural equipment. 

“Our updated natural world exhibit, featuring flora and fauna and geology and a mosasaur fossil, is slated to open by the start of the school year,” she said.

“We also have four historical buildings that bring history to life, including a one-room country school that can offer a unique ‘historical’ classroom experience for up to 25 students. We also have two churches and a recently restored 1887 pioneer home.

“Although the museum is designed as a self-touring experience, we can arrange for guided tours,” Hofer said. “We also have staff that is available to work with you on developing a specifically tailored experience for your class. We have created activities for our younger guests year-round that can be adapted for specific groups.”

The museum offers group rates and will work to accommodate your schedule,” Hofer said. “Although our public October-April hours are noon-4, we will gladly open our doors to accommodate school schedules.”

“The history of this part of South Dakota is rich and diverse. We believe that students and educators alike will be fascinated by what they can discover at our museum. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Call 605-925-7545 or email info@heritagehallmuseum.com. You can also learn more online at https://heritagehallmuseum.com. 

“We look forward to welcoming teachers for a complimentary tour,” Hofer said. The museum is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and by appointment.

FREEMAN: Heritage Hall Museum & Archives will resume its summer Family-Friendly Final Fridays May 27.  The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, and will continue those extended evening hours the last Friday of every month through September.

“We’re offering Family-Friendly Final Fridays to encourage families to visit the museum,” says Marnette (Ortman) Hofer, executive director and archivist at HHM&A.. “We’re admitting all children 12 and under free those evenings when accompanied by a paying adult.” “We’ve got lots of interesting things for people of all ages to see,” she said. “That includes the model train exhibit that we’ll have running those Friday evenings as well as our popular ‘20 Questions’ activity for kids and families.” 

She added that the mercantile will be offering specials those Fridays. 

The museum’s regular summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Those hours continue through September. For more information, feel free to call 605-925-7545.  

FREEMAN: Heritage Hall Museum & Archives started its summer hours on May 1. The museum is open daily through September – from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Winter hours are weekday afternoons only with other times by appointment.

Located south of the Freeman Academy campus and sitting on the northern edge of the 40-acre Prairie Arboretum, the Freeman museum tells the story of Germans-from-Russia immigrants and others who settled in southeastern Dakota Territory in the 1870s. The museum has 25,000 square feet of displays featuring everything from old cars and buggies to Native American artifacts to agricultural equipment to local business history to household items and musical instruments. The complex also includes four historic buildings: a one-room schoolhouse, two early rural churches and an 1879 pioneer home. 

"We're excited for what looks like a busy summer," says Marnette D. (Ortman) Hofer, executive director and archivist of HHM&A. "We have a number of groups planning to visit in the upcoming months and a number of major events that will bring other guests to our community. We'll be expanding our hours to accommodate them.

"Of course," she added, "we are always happy to welcome individuals and families who make spontaneous visits," 

In fact, the museum is once again offering a special incentive to families to visit.

"Starting April 30, we will be open until 7 p.m., the last Friday of every month," Hofer said. "We initiated our "Family-Friendly Final Fridays" last year to encourage families to visit the museum and we're continuing that this year. We're admitting all children 12 and under free those evenings when accompanied by a paying adult."

In addition, she said, "that includes a fun 'discover more about your museum' activity for kids – with a chance to win a prize." The "final Friday" promotions will continue through September.

"Visitors who have not been to the museum since last fall will discover some major renovations," Hofer said. "While the exterior 'facelift' was completed last summer, we've also made some significant changes inside over the past six months." 

That includes a significant expansion of the mercantile that features the work of local artisans. 

"We've added the creations of more than a dozen new artisans to our inventory," Hofer said. "We are very pleased with the way our gift shop continues to grow and we've been able to open up the space to display these unique creations.

The renovations at the museum also include several exhibit areas. 

"We've reallocated the exhibit space nearest to the lobby that was home to our Fine Arts Gallery to our Faith Traditions Gallery, Hofer said. "We've moved a number of large faith-related artifacts that were scattered elsewhere in the museum to this space. The exhibit is now open and we are adding additional elements to help tell the story of the various denominations reflected in the immigrants who settled here in the 1870s." 

The fine arts exhibit will be incorporated in restructured exhibits in the Kauffman Wing, she said.

Another area that is undergoing major renovation is the Natural World Gallery. New walls have been constructed and a major redesign of that area of the museum includes introducing the mosasaur exhibit that is currently being developed.

"We're looking forward to opening some of the elements in this gallery this summer," Hofer said. "We have some exciting developments that we're hoping to share in the upcoming weeks."

Another new element, Hofer said, is the addition of two summer interns to the museum staff.

Madeline Hofer, a local first-year student at Dordt University, will be helping with developing our digital media program. Ryan Mews, whose family lives in the Clayton area, is in the masters program at the University of South Dakota. His focus will be to research and help complete the Deckert House renovation project, slated to open by end of the summer.

Heritage Hall Museum & Archives traces its roots back to the winter term of Freeman College in 1911, but today operates as an independent, non-profit organization. 

Although there is an admission fee to tour the museum, both the archives and the mercantile are open to the public at no charge. People are welcome to call 605-925-7545 or email info@heritagehallmuseum.com for more information or go online to heritagehallmuseum.com and to the Heritage Hall Museum and Archives Facebook page.

FREEMAN: Last week Heritage Hall Museum & Archives (HHM&A) received notice that the organization has been granted official status as a 501(c)(3) public charity. 

Marnette D. (Ortman) Hofer, executive director of HHM&A, said "this means we are now exempt from federal income tax, and donors can deduct contributions made to us under IRC Section 170. 

"It also means there are grant and funding opportunities open to us now that we did not have access to before," Hofer said.

She noted the status is retroactive to July 20, 2021, so all contributions made after that date are tax-deductible.

This is the final step in the museum's efforts to become an independent organization, Hofer said. 

"Prior to our divestment from the Freeman Junior College/Freeman Academy Corporation, which was finalized this past summer, gifts to the museum were tax-deductible through Freeman Academy as our umbrella organization. While we appreciate and deeply value our shared history with FJC/FA, we are excited about our new beginning and the possibilities before us."

The divestment process began with discussions in 2017 with both the museum and Freeman Academy leadership agreeing to explore the future relationship of the two organizations. 

The museum board and staff supported a move to independence. Discussions between the two boards led to a vote by the Freeman Junior College/Freeman Academy Corporation in the fall of 2019 that gave strong approval for divestment. That initiated a lengthy transition process including drawing up articles of incorporation for the museum as an independent organization. It included the transfer of ownership of all the artifacts, materials in the archives and historic buildings to the new organization. It also includes a lease agreement in which Freeman Academy retains ownership of the property and the building that is home to the museum. Although the museum has been officially registered as a not-for-profit organization in South Dakota for some time, the official federal designation completes the process.

"We have been humbled by the overwhelming support people have shown us and we look forward to continuing our mission to preserve and celebrate the history of the greater Freeman area," Hofer said. "We value all contributions to our efforts, whether they are monetary gifts or gifts of your time as volunteers or through the research and stories you share."

The museum, archives and mercantile are open from noon to 4 p.m., weekdays through April. Summer hours begin in May; the museum is open daily from May through September.

The museum is closed holidays during the winter months. That includes being closed Dec. 24-27 and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Regular winter hours resume Jan. 3.

More information is available at https://heritagehallmuseum.com or by calling 605-925-7545.

FREEMAN: Dr. Nathan Bates, a University of South Dakota professor, told a group of about two-dozen people at the Bethel Church Saturday evening, Oct. 30, that he’s thrilled with what he’s discovered at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives (HHM&A). 

Bates, who spent time poring through the archives this summer, told the crowd he’s planning to incorporate the resources here into his German language curriculum at USD in Vermillion. The program was sponsored by HHM&A, which operates as an independent not-for-profit organization. Bates received a grant from the South Dakota Humanities Council for this project.

The archives are providing Bates with stories, personal histories and journals, documents, books and audio recordings that will help expand students’ perspectives on the impact use of German has had in shaping community life and development.

Bates singled out three examples that have caught his attention thus far.

• Daniel Unruh’s Arithmetic Book, dated 1833 and which he used in Russia, which includes bright graphic designs and notes about family history.

• A pamphlet written in 1926 by J. John Friesen, a professor at Freeman College, advocating for the use of German in the Freeman community because, in part, it represents “the higher moral ground of German culture.

• Correspondence between F.C. Ortman of Freeman and John R. Thierstein of Bluffton, Ohio in which they discuss their views about German in the World War I era.

Each, in its own way, offers insights into the attitudes and practices that were an important part of community life in the decades following the arrival of the Germans from Russia in the 1870s, Bates said.

Bates says he plans to return to continue and expand his research and have his students use the archives as a resource for their studies. That, he said, will allow them to make connections between South Dakota and the global community.

“It’s not just language,” he said. “It’s a passport to the larger world.”

The wealth of what is available in the archives and their proximity to Vermillion makes Freeman an ideal partner for his program and he’s eager to see what that will provide.

“I’m enthusiastically diving into the deep end of the pool,” he said.