A Child’s Christmas Prayer By James W. Foley Inside... Dear Lord, be good to Santa Claus, Please have him button up his coat He’s been so good to me; So it will keep him warm; I never told him so because And wear a scarf about his throat He is so hard to see. If it should start to storm. 2 He must love little children so And when the night is dark, please lend letter from To come through snow and storm; Him light if stars are dim, the president Please care for him when cold winds blow Or maybe sometimes you could send And keep him nice and warm. An angel down with him. 3 Dear Lord, be good to him and good Please keep his heart so good and kind medora’s To Mary Christmas too. That he will always smile; winter I’d like to tell them if I could, And tell him maybe we will find ambassador The things I’m telling you, And thank him after while. They’ve both been very good to me, Please keep him safe from harm and keep And everywhere they go Quite near and guard him when They make us glad;--no wonder we He’s tired and lays down to sleep 4 All learn to love them so. Dear Lord, please do! Amen. under harold’s hat For more on Medora native and North Dakota Poet Laureate James W. Foley, see pages 6-7 5 donor spotlight: greg butler 9 maynard sandberg: helping medora grow For nearly 30 years, Cowboy Lyle Audition to join the cast of Glass amazed Medora Musical the 50th edition of the attendees with his spectacular Medora Musical. “Ghost Ride” down the Badlands bluff. Where is he now? —See Page 3! —See Page 10! Photo by Bill Kingsbury Medora’s a Busy Place This Winter s promised in the last manner that maintains the historic and western Anewsletter, I will use this character of the building. Kinley Slauter is TRMF’s space to give you an update resident historian and is leading the project. In on capital improvements being addition to the reconstructed Pizza Parlor and made in Medora this winter. Saloon, the building will house the “Medora Musical First though, a personal note. Information and Tickets” store, giving visitors a In September, I marked my convenient downtown location to learn more about 25th anniversary of working the show that has been bringing people to Medora for the Theodore Roosevelt for 50 seasons. Over $1.2 million is being invested Randy Hatzenbuhler Medora Foundation. Harold in this downtown preservation and reconstruction TRMF President Schafer had a large sign in his project. office that said, “The best way to stay young is to We are thankful in Medora. We are in a position do work that you love doing.” I feel very lucky to be to make improvements and save important history. doing just that. The mission to Preserve… Present… and Serve The road to the Medora Musical has never will be better delivered because of the projects looked so good! The concrete work is finished for being completed this winter. the new $2.5 million, two-lane road and parking lot. From all of us at TRMF, “Thank You” for visiting Thank you to all who have supported this much- Medora and the many ways you support our work needed project, especially Greg Butler, Great through your financial gifts and volunteering. We River Energy, the estate of Billie Rase, Rough wish you a joyous Christmas season. Riders Electric Cooperative, State Bank & Trust of Kenmare, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bell State Bank and Trust, John and Cindy Vallely, MDU Resources, Del and Joyce Gab, Russell and Inez Coenen, Stan and Laurie Koppinger, and Cedric and Mary Theel. We’ve “gutted” 60 guest rooms at the Badlands Motel. TRMF Assistant Maintenance Manager Doug Koester is overseeing the project that includes new flooring, walls, lighting, televisions, heating & air-conditioning units, and completely new bathrooms. Doug and COO Mike Beaudoin report that work is ahead of schedule and that they are optimistic that the $1 million upgrade will be completed by opening night next spring. The Rough Riders Hotel will remain open this Thanks to a generous gift from Bob and Jane winter, so you’re welcome to get away for a Angerer, three of the oldest original buildings day or two in the Badlands. And yes, there‘ll in downtown Medora are being saved. New be plenty to eat in Medora. Theodore’s will be foundations have been poured to stabilize the doing catering and banquets, and will serve a historic Livery and Coal Office buildings. Both over hot breakfast every morning. For other meals, one hundred years old, they currently house the check out Boots, The Little Missouri and the “Made in the USA Mercantile” and “Cowboy Lyle’s Elkhorn restaurants. And Hidden Springs Java Candy.” The Bike Shop building is also being will be open weekdays for a hot cup of coffee saved by relocating it next to the Medora Fudge and snack. What’s more, a number of gift shops Depot. This building has been a blacksmith shop, around town now stay open as well, so you can potato warehouse and the Red Trail Garage during do your Christmas shopping between now and its lifetime. Christmas, and shop for gifts for friends and The project includes reconstruction of the Pizza relatives all winter long. You can also purchase Parlor and Saloon. The TRMF Board of Directors Medora Gift Cards, the perfect gift for Christmas, Historic Restoration and Preservation Committee birthdays and other special occasions, by calling are taking great care to rebuild this structure in a 1-800-MEDORA1.. 2 Wiegand Serves as Winter Medora Ambassador isitors to Medora know that there is so much more to cartoonist Clifford Berryman famously depicted the incident, New Vexplore in Medora, and one of the greatest discoveries has York toy makers began manufacturing “Teddy’s Bear.” been the Teddy Roosevelt Salute, a daily, 3:30 P.M. matinee As Theodore Roosevelt, Wiegand also answers questions at the Old Town Hall Theatre featuring actor and historian Joe in character from his audience members. As his TR says, “No Wiegand. question about me or my family is too personal; no question about Next summer will be Wiegand’s third consecutive season my policies or about our history is too obscure.” in Medora, and the show will feature a celebration of the 2014 Do you have a question for TR that you would like to see centennial of the accomplishment TR thought his most important: answered in a future newsletter? Send your questions to teddy@ the Panama Canal. teddyrooseveltshow.com and watch for your answer in future During the winter, Wiegand travels and performs editions of the Rough Riders Review. throughout the country and keeps a pace that can only be called Rooseveltian. In addition to his performances for schools, libraries, historical societies, and businesses and associations of all sorts, Wiegand has also been doing television and film and is currently featured in the NFL Films documentary, The Centennial of the Forward Pass, and the 217Films documentary, The Great Confusion: The 1913 Armory Show. You can still see Wiegand as Theodore Roosevelt on the History Channel in the series, The Men Who Built America. While travelling, Wiegand serves as an Ambassador of Goodwill for the community of Medora and for the Theodore Left: Medora’s TR, Joe Wiegand, presents Mrs. Miller, 8th grade U.S. Roosevelt Medora Foundation, telling audiences about TR’s History teacher at Woodlawn Middle School in Long Grove, Illinois, with adventures as a cattle rancher in the Badlands and inviting his an official TRMF Medora Badlands Teddy Bear. Mrs. Miller was thrilled audiences to join him in North Dakota in the summer. to have the Teddy Bear, as she was just days away from her second During most performances, Wiegand tells the story of how the son joining the family huddle. Teddy Bear received its name. The story originates from a hunting Right: Medora’s TR, Joe Wiegand and friend take a “selfie.” As an adventure TR had in Mississippi in 1902, during which TR refused Ambassador of Goodwill for Medora, Wiegand performs for thousands to shoot a wounded bear that had been tied to a tree. After the of school children across the country every year. North Dakota Talent Wanted for 50th Edition of Medora Musical Medora Musical producer Curt Wollan has scheduled If you know a talented young North Dakotan who two audition sessions for the 2014 Medora Musical, should be a Burning Hills Singer, pass the phone number which will be the 50th edition of North Dakota’s favorite and website address along to them. See you in Medora! summer outdoor theater production. “The Medora Musical first appeared on the stage of the old Burning Hills Amphitheatre in June of 1965, Where Are You? making this our 50th season,” said Randy Hatzenbuhler, We want to be sure you don’t miss an issue of President of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. the Rough Riders Review. If you’re moving, please “It featured a cast with a number of young North include us on your change of address list. Better yet, Dakotans, and we’d like North Dakota talent to have a send us a note or an e-mail with our new address and big role once again in our 50th season. So we’re really phone number. You can send address changes to our encouraging North Dakotans to attend the tryouts and hopefully join our cast next summer.” circulation manager, Ellen Letang, at ellenl@medora.