Heritage Hall Museum and Archives

08/31/2026

Jeremy Waltner’s Aug. 1 presentation on the top ten stories in Freeman’s history, part of Heritage Days, included details about Freedom Corner.

Today home to Casey’s, a century ago J.J. Mendel, publisher of The Courier, described Freedom Corner as “a little suburb out east.”

The arrival of the railroad in northwest Section 35 of Grandview Township in 1879 determined where Freeman was centered.

Four decades later, automobiles had changed the dynamic. That included the establishment of the Meridian Highway on the east side of Section 35; it became Highway 81 in 1926.

A two-part series in the Courier in 2013 about Freedom Corner includes recollections from the late Bert J. Tiesen, a chiropractor in Freeman in the 1950-80s.

His father, Emil F. Tiesen, and Andrew Schafer built Freedom Garage in 1927-28. It sat at an angle facing the southeast, similar to Casey’s today, providing gas, repairs and as a dealership for DeSotos and Plymouths.

It also included a small eatery named Freedom Lunch. And, as Waltner described in his presentation, that’s what many remember most about Freedom Corner. It gained a colorful reputation as a dingy, smoky hangout known for its chislic and beer.

The small, non-incorporated community east of town called Freedom — as opposed to Freeman — was where younger folks could gather out of view from the watchful eye of the grownups and the stricter Freeman community, Waltner said.

The late Duke Kleinsasser also shared recollections with the Courier in 1913.

“When you were there, you were out of town,” he said. “It was a rough place,” he says, noting that in the 1930s and 1940s fistfights were not uncommon, especially after excessive drinking. “They’d fight at the drop of a hat,” Kleinsasser says.

While there were efforts to clean up the place, Freedom Lunch remained a popular gathering place in the 50s and early 60s.

By 1966, Huber Motor, the downtown Ford dealership, purchased most of the property and began using it for its used car business. Freedom Garage came down in 2000.

The Huber family sold the property to Casey’s 12 years later and Casey’s built a new structure and moved from Cherry between Sixth and Fifth to Sixth and 81.

We're grateful for the Courier's reporting about this fascinating part of our history.

08/28/2026

Here’s your chance to weave a willow basket of your very own.

Instructors Viki Graber and Susan Harder are leading willow-weaving classes Sept. 17, 18 and 19 at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives and the rib basket is the all-day project (9 a.m.-5 p.m, with a lunch break) on Saturday, the 19th.

This is what Viki says about this project. “Though not as common in the Freeman area, the rib basket style of weaving was done by both Native Americans and European settlers. They were used most often for egg gathering.”

Students should be at least 16 years old and hand strength and patience are useful, she says. Register by Sept. 3; the $150 fee for the basket includes instructions, materials and use of tools.

Four other projects are being offered on Thursday and Friday, the 17th and 18th. We've shared them in previous posts. You can find a complete schedule at https://heritagehallmuseum.com/news-%26-events

08/27/2026

The decorative corn dolly weave is one of the projects offered as part of willow weaving classes led by Viki Graber and Susan Harder at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives Sept. 17, 18 and 19.

The corn dolly weave traces its origins to wheat weaving. Ancient farmers wove the last of the harvest to keep the spirit of the grain alive until the next spring’s planting. Each student will be able to do two items.

The $30 fee includes instruction, materials and use of tools. You can attend one of three classes for this project – 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. and 4-5:45 p.m. on Thursday, the 17th and 1:30-3:15 p.m. on Friday, the 18th.

Please sign up by Sept. 3. Call the museum at 605-925-7545, email [email protected], or stop in; we’re open 10 to 4 Mondays through Saturdays.

You can find a complete schedule at https://heritagehallmuseum.com/news-%26-events

08/26/2026

Here’s another willow weaving project we’re offering at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives next month. A bird station, it can serve as a holder for suet or nesting materials. It also gives students an introduction to the weave used in common baskets.

It’s one of five classes that instructors Viki Graber and Susan Harder are teaching at the museum on Sept. 17, 18 and 19. The bird station class is offered twice – from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, the 17th, and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, the 18th.

The $25 fee includes instruction, materials and tools. Register by Sept. 3 to ensure we have the materials. Call the museum at 605-925-7545, email [email protected], or stop in; we’re open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

You can learn more about all the classes at https://heritagehallmuseum.com/news-%26-events.

08/26/2026

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1950, Freeman hosted the opening session of the triennial gathering of the General Conference Mennonite Church, an association of congregations in Canada, the U.S., and South America. Construction of Pioneer Hall had been completed just in time for the gathering, which ran through Aug. 30.

The previous week, the The Courier announced, “It was decided to have the 1950 session … in the Mennonite Athens of South Dakota, and that is Freeman, and the meeting will be held in the new Pioneer Hall.

“People will come from almost every state in the union and (Freeman) is small for a gathering like that, but the rural communities will help take care with accommodations and homes of other denominations in the city are also opening their doors to the anticipated visitors. This reflects the friendly churches of this city. “

In the Aug. 31 Courier, editor J.J. Mendel offered a mix of reporting and opinion. Here are excerpts:

“Many important problems were discussed during the seven days in session here and they were busy days for the delegates from all parts of the United States and Canada.”

“A changeless Christ and a changing world makes church work very complicated, no matter how much is said and spent for education.”

“The people of this community, regardless of church denomination, tried their best to accommodate … and we are sure the visitors felt warm hospitality of the public.”
“Big gatherings of a different nature are apt to cause disturbances. But with a church group like this, or any other church group, the police force can take a long nap at noon and go home early in the evening.”

“The total registration was 1,367 without local visitors; 1,174 registered from out of state.”

Addendum. This was not the first time Freeman hosted a triennial gathering of the Mennonite General Conference on the campus. In 1923, a temporary wood tabernacle was erected south of the campus; Memorial Hall had not yet been built. And, as in 1950, a new building was erected just in time. The gym (which later became the Tieszen Industrial Arts Building) served as the dining hall for conference guests in 1923.

08/25/2026

Willow weaving classes are planned Sept. 17, 18 and 19 at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives. Instructors Viki Graber and Susan Harder have planned five projects.

One of them is a Barn Swallow, taught at the museum on Friday, the 18th from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Viki notes, “the barn swallow is a common sight in South Dakota. We’ll be creating a woven likeness of this graceful and beautiful bird.”

This intermediate level class is for those age 16 & older. The $25 fee includes instruction, materials and tools (and of course, you get to keep your handiwork). To ensure we have materials, please sign up by Sept. 3. Call the museum at 605-925-7545, email [email protected], or stop in; we’re open 10 to 4 Mondays through Saturdays.

You can find a complete schedule at https://heritagehallmuseum.com/news-%26-events

08/24/2026

Viki Graber (right) and Susan Harder, both Freeman community natives who regularly demonstrate this craft at Schmeckfest, are offering classes at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives over the course of three days, Sept. 17, 18 and 19. Participants can choose from five projects. Instructions, materials and tools are provided.

Here’s a look at one of them. The Swedish Star is a decoration originating from Nordic folk craft. It makes a beautiful holiday adornment!

This 1 -hour class is Thursday, the 17th at 2:30 and again at 6:30 and Friday, the 18th at 4. $20 per participant – Age 12 & older – beginner level.

We need signups by Sept. 3 to ensure we have the materials. Call the museum at 605-925-7545, email [email protected], or stop in; we’re open 10 to 4 Mondays through Saturdays.

You can find a complete schedule at https://heritagehallmuseum.com/news-%26-events

08/24/2026

If you've been recently humming "It's the most wonderful time of the year 🎵," you're not alone--school is back in session!! Take a moment and savor the silence while you remember FHS paraphernalia from the more recent past, just as groovy now as they were then!

08/20/2026

We were thrilled to see Paula Parrish, Sioux Falls, and Stephanie Wagner, Olivet, among the winners in the Turner County Fair Barn Quilt Contest. They were among six participants in a workshop that Karen Larsen, Viborg, led at our museum on Saturday, July 25. They were joined Moncia Clem, Rebecca Hofer, Betsy Knodel and Shirley Knodel (who also teamed up on a panel).

More good news is that Karen is returning to the museum to do another workshop on Saturday, Oct. 10. That workshop will use 2-foot squares rather than 4-foot squares in the fairgrounds project, include more colors, and participants will keep their completed panels. It’s open to anyone age 16 or older. Watch for more details in early September or contact HHM&A at 605-925-7545.

America's 250th Barn Quilt Contest

We asked for volunteers to help us celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's independence. We would provide the materials if the entrants would paint a barn quilt which would then be used to decorate the fairgrounds. We had a total of 50 quilts that were made to adorn our fairgrounds.

All the paint was generously donated by Dakota Ace Hardware in Viborg. We had donations of $1400.00 to help with the costs and prize money. One of those donors being 3-D Builders.

The 3 winners of the contest are:
1st Place: Rebecca Fiorito - Angry Sea Theme
2nd Place: Michelle Kraemer - Lakota Star Eagle
3rd Place: Stephanie Wagner & Paula Parrish - Double Windmill

Congratulations!

08/19/2026

J.J. Mendel, editor of The Courier from 1902 to 1960, was a community booster. Here’s an example from Aug. 16, 1917.

"If there is a man in our burg who has confidence in this town, it's the Sugar Bowl man. Recently he invested in a $700 popcorn machine that made some almost faint. Others thought it was a joke, but they all agree now that that's where you can get the real popcorn, the best you ever tasted. Nothing but the big, fluffy flakes of the best corn grown; crisp, crackling, clean, popped in a wonderful machine that automatically removes all burnt grains or "bachelors," and that butters every kernel just right. All without a touch of the hand."

The Sugar Bowl, a fruit and ice cream parlor, specialized in confections and other tasty treats. It was located on the site where the Freeman Courier and the north/entrance portion of the Freeman Public Library stand today.

Although the Sugar Bowl had a relatively short life in Freeman – it was open from 1914 to 1922 – it has a rich history. We found some historical perspective, thanks to Mendel, in earlier issues.

May 7, 1914
"The Sugar Bowl will open for business on May 15. A. A. Waldner, the proprietor, deserves credit for putting up a neat place as that. He is just putting in a thousand-dollar iceless soda fountain and all the fixtures will be of the best kind."

May 13, 1920
"The Sugar Bowl likes to have the best in everything. The latest investment is an electric machine for extracting the juice from fresh oranges and lemons. It takes but a few seconds to do it."

Mendel also shared this sad news in the Jan. 26, 1922 issue:

"Four business buildings were destroyed by fire in Freeman Saturday morning. The fire was discovered a little before six in the room at the rear end of the Sugar Bowl in the north building. The room was used for a kitchen. The fire had barely started when the fire alarm was given and the firemen were on the ground in but a few minutes … But they were unable to get water because the five hydrants closest to the fire were frozen and had to be thawed first and after that was done, the conflagration couldn't be controlled anymore and all four buildings burned down to the foundation."