Fall Adventures in Medora and the Badlands
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Fall Adventures in Medora Inside... and the Badlands 2 letter from the president Dakota Nights 4 Astronomy Festival under harold’s hat September 27-28-29 5 —Read About It On donor spotlight: Page 10! troy & kree nelson 6 book review: the travels Theodore Roosevelt & tribulations Symposium of theodore roosevelt’s November 14-15-16 cabin 7 —See Page 10! where are they now: the tjaden girls Photo by Bill Kingsbury Plans vs. Vision t is the last week of the updates for these projects, and a proposal to rebuild I Medora Musical season as some downtown properties that are in disrepair. I write this. We are grateful We introduced our new advertising campaign for what has been another Medora, Explore It, Adore It this year. We look wonderful summer season. to expand the campaign to celebrate two major Thank you to over 92,000 milestones in 2014: people who came to see the • 50th year of the Medora Musical 49th edition of the Medora • 125th year of statehood for North Dakota Musical; that is a 9% increase The beginning of September is a confusing Randy Hatzenbuhler over last year. Bully! time. In a given day, my attention is divided between TRMF President Each night this summer, co- excitement for the shift to the fall and winter offerings host Bill Sorensen asked the audience “How many in Medora and plans for next summer, and reflection of you are first time visitors to the Medora Musical?”. on the summer season coming to a close. Some top- It appeared that half of the hands raised. The next of-mind thoughts on why we were so fortunate this question was “How many of you have seen the year: Medora Musical more than 5 times?”, and it appeared • In 25 years of working in Medora, I don’t recall a the other half of the audience raised their hands. It is more pleasant summer. a gratifying combination: new guests…who go on to • Bully Pulpit will have a record year thanks to make Medora a part of their family traditions. perfect weather! Often, I am asked, “What is your vision for the • We benefited from many new families now Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation?” I enjoy making North Dakota their home. the question because it is distinctly different from • We learned guests really liked the 7:30 pm start the inquiries that ask “What plans do you have?” or time for the show and the Medora – Explore It, “What’s new for Medora?” The vision doesn’t change; Adore It campaign. the plans, however, do. • We are sharing “TR” in the person of Joe Our plans are focused on properly celebrating the Wiegand all around North Dakota, and it seems milestone 50th year of the Medora Musical in 2014. many are following him back to Medora! Our first priority is to rebuild the road up the hill and • Word of mouth—the show built momentum the parking lot at the amphitheatre; the contractor has as the season went along; those who came already begun prep work. The $2.4 million project became our best promoters. has received more than 50% in gifts and pledges from Our plans are to build for continued visitation people and organizations who recognize that it is more growth in next year’s milestone 50th season and the than a road, it is a destination! This offseason, we will years to follow. Our vision will always be to connect also completely remodel the interior of 60-80 Badlands people to Historic Medora for positive life changing Motel rooms. I look forward to providing you progress experiences! MEDORA 2013 CALEndar OF EVENTS Sept. 27-29 Dakota Nights Astronomy Festival, Medora and TRNP Oct.1 Volunteer Appreciation Day in Medora Oct.8 Volunteer Appreciation Day in Fargo Oct. 20 Bully Pulpit Closes Nov. 14-16 Theodore Roosevelt Symposium, Medora and Dickinson Dec. 6-8 Medora’s Old Fashioned Cowboy Christmas 2 Medora’s “Theodore Roosevelt” Entertains and Inspires at Boys State & Girls State very summer, high school juniors from around the state among those young men and women. It was truly an honor.” Eof North Dakota gather for a week of “civics” known as Wiegand says citizens can contact their local American Legion North Dakota Boys State and North Dakota Flickertail Girls Post for ways to support the programs. State. Indeed, students gather in every state, half the students While Joe Wiegand continues to tour the state and the nation assigned to one political party and half to a second party, performing as Theodore Roosevelt and as a Goodwill Ambassador usually Nationalists and Federalists. Students set up and for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, during summer elect city, county and state governments via conventions and months you can still find him in Medora, every Monday through elections. Two United States Senators are chosen from each Saturday, in a one man show, “A TR Salute to Medora,” at 3:30 Boys State and each Girls State to attend Boys Nation and Girls P.M. MDT in the Old Town Hall Theatre in downtown Medora. Nation in Washington, D.C. It is terrific fun, and America owes a great debt to the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, which have been running these Americanism and Youth programs since the 1930’s. Former North Dakota Boys Staters include Coach Phil Jackson and North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer, now Chairman of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. Many a leader had his or her start as a Boys Stater or Girls Stater. This summer, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation was delighted to send our own Theodore Roosevelt to Boys Medora’s Theodore Roosevelt with the officers of North Dakota Boys State, held State in Wahpeton and Girls State in Grand Forks to entertain at North Dakota State College of Science at Wahpeton. Left to Right – Neil Litton, Director (Fargo); Christian Anheluk, Disaster Emergency Manager (Belfield); Jordan and inspire the nearly 300 delegates, counselors and volunteers Beattie, the Senate Pro Tem (Pembina); Deane Bjornson, State Auditor (Cavalier); involved in the two programs. In his own youth, our Theodore Andrew Brummond, Superintendent of Public Instruction (Park River); Benjamin Roosevelt reprisor, Joe Wiegand, was elected Governor of Illinois Trenne, Attorney General (Grand Forks); Ray Salata, Governor (Grand Forks); Col. Premiere Boys State and President of the American Legion Boys Theodore Roosevelt; Erik Hanson, Lieutenant Governor (Grand Forks); Brandt Vernon, Nation program. “The American Legion gave me scholarships for Secretary of State (Hazen); Trenton McCloud, State Treasurer (Rolla); Ryan Nelson, college,” says Wiegand, “and I have always wanted to give back Public Service Commissioner (Casselton); Trevor Boehm, Agriculture Commissioner (McClusky). Mr. Salata and Mr. Anheluk were elected to represent North Dakota as its and help the Boys State and Girls State programs grow. Besides, two United States Senators at the American Legion Boys Nation program held July there may have been a real future Governor, Senator or President 19-26 in Washington, D.C. Join Medora Friends on a Rhine River Cruise and TR Heritage Tour - “TR” Will Join Us, Too! ulips in the Netherlands at the height The Theodore Roosevelt Heritage Tour, April 26-30, will include Tof their season and tracing the roots Amsterdam and The Hague and trace the roots of the Roosevelt of the Roosevelt family, along with an Family, including a stay and dining at the famous Hotel Des Indes, 8-day cruise on the historic and romantic where President Roosevelt lodged and dined while visiting The Rhine River, are highlights of a tour for Netherlands. While in The Hague, participants will spend a day friends of Medora being sponsored by the at the Roosevelt Study Center, a research institute, conference Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation center and library featuring Presidents Theodore and Franklin Joe Wiegand next April. Delano Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and U.S.-European The tour is divided into two parts and relations. Also included are visits to the Roosevelt Manor and the departs for Zurich, Switzerland, on April 17, church Theodore Roosevelt’s ancestors attended. Sept. 27-29 Dakota Nights Astronomy Festival, Medora and TRNP 2014. In Switzerland, participants will board the 158-passenger Theodore Roosevelt (portrayed by Medora’s own Joe Oct.1 Volunteer Appreciation Day in Medora MS Amadeus Princess for “Tulip Time on the Romantic Rhine and Wiegand) will make a presentation towards the end of the cruise, Oct.8 Volunteer Appreciation Day in Fargo Mosel River Cruise,” with stops throughout France and Germany and will join us on our Heritage Tour. TRMF President Randy Oct. 20 Bully Pulpit Closes before arriving in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. There, tour Hatzenbuhler and his wife Laurie will be joining the group on the Nov. 14-16 Theodore Roosevelt Symposium, Medora and Dickinson members will visit the beautiful Keukenhof Gardens at the height Rhine River Cruise and TR Heritage Tour. Dec. 6-8 Medora’s Old Fashioned Cowboy Christmas of tulip season. To see the complete tour itinerary and get more information, call TRMF is offering a four-day tour extension of the Netherlands 701-258-5000, 1-800-833-8787, or the Foundation office at 701- beginning on April 26, which coincides with the country’s King’s 223-4800, or click on the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Day celebration. Citizens dress in orange because they are tour at www.satromtravel.com. honoring the Royal House of Orange. 3 Under Harold’s Hat A Story About Harold We Never Knew any stories—hundreds, maybe thousands—have been written or a ride across the bridge. Doughnuts won. He didn’t mind the walk that Mabout the founder of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, day, especially after the chemical firm agreed to manufacturer his products Troy and Kree Nelson the late Harold Schafer.