Museum Center needs volunteers

• Museum displays

Press Photo by Linda Sailer EDee Steckler, president of the Stark County Historical Society, stands beside a Rumley Oil-Pull tractor on display at the Pioneer Machinery Building on Sunday.

Talk about it

The Stark County Historical Society is looking for volunteers to greet visitors at the Pioneer Machinery Building, which is part of Dickinson’s Museum Center.

The mornings are covered, but the afternoons are wide open, SCHS President EDee Steckler said.

While the city owns the buildings at the center’s Pioneer Village, the contents belong to the Historical Society. Exceptions include the ethnic buildings such as Germans from Russia stonehouse, Czech townhouse and Scandinavian stabbur, she said.

The Pioneer Machinery Building showcases farm equipment such as tractors, a threshing machine, hay wagon, drills and headers.

Emil and Margaret Wieglenda of Gladstone are among the volunteers.

“It’s really interesting because of all the people you meet and it’s nice if you can field questions on some of the antique equipment,” Emil said. “We’ve met people from Africa, some from New York and California.”

There is a buggy, a little replica of a farm, some corrals and saddles, Steckler added. “We even have a homestead shack.”

As volunteers become available, the machinery building will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteers greet people as they come in.

“Lots of volunteers have farming backgrounds. They can talk about the equipment there,” she said.

Any age is welcome and a farming background isn’t necessary, because each display comes with a description, she added.

“It’s suited for men who have actually used the equipment. It’s a way for husbands to get out of the house for a few hours,” she said.

Steckler said the equipment is on loan or has been donated. It dates back to the early 1900s and on up.

Having worked as a volunteer, Steckler said, “We get so many comments — ‘This is wonderful.’ ‘I’m so glad to be able to see this again.’ ‘I used one of these on the farm.’ It’s a good nostalgic thing. It brings back memories for people of long ago.”

Steckler said the Historical Society also needs for volunteers to paint the pioneer house, also located at the center.

The Wieglenda family lent a Rumley Oil-Pull tractor to the museum.

“I put many miles on that one,” Emil said.

For more information, call Steckler at 701-483-0178.

Tags: lifestyle, community