Plymouth County Historical Museum To Celebrate “Cabin Days”
(Le Mars) — For the seventh year, the Plymouth County Historical Museum will host “Cabin Days” as a way to honor both log cabins located on the museum grounds, and to reflect upon the area’s history at around the 1800’s to early 1900’s. Cabin Days is scheduled for this Saturday, October 2nd, and according to Plymouth County Historical Museum Administrator, Judy Bowman, the festivities are scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
With regards to the book, Bowman says a brief program will be led by the book’s author, Greg Severson as he discusses his book entitled: “Druids of Le Mars.”
Bowman reminds people that all five floors of the Plymouth County Historical Museum will be open during the entire afternoon. The museum official speaks of the stories and of the history of the two cabins setting on the museum grounds.
Bowman says about the Joy Hollow cabin that it at one time served as a servants quarters, before becoming a cabin for Girl Scouts.
Bowman also shares the story behind the civil war era Weber Cabin.
Bowman says when the museum had acquired the old Central school as it’s new home, then shortly after, in 1983, the Weber Cabin was moved to its present day location. Bowman says there will be people dressed in period-era costumes that will be attending the cabin days festival on Saturday.
Dordt University Expands Ag Stewardship Center
(Sioux Center) — Dordt University is conducting some expansion with its agriculture program, especially with its Ag Stewardship Center located north of Sioux Center. Dordt University is constructing a monoslope cattle barn, as well as a green house. Dr. Gary DeVries serves as the department head for Dordt’s agriculture program and says the new facilities will help enhance the college’s agriculture education curriculum, and making more “hands-on” learning opportunities available to students. DeVries says the building will be separated in three parts.
De Vries says the middle part of the building will be used as a “laboratory” allowing students to view or even participate in working and handling the cattle.
DeVries says a greenhouse will also be constructed on the site, allowing students to study fruit trees that are not usually able to grow in Iowa and usually are not able to withstand our cold winters.
The cost of the project, according to DeVries, is expected to exceed $4 million dollars. DeVries says Dordt University attracts several students from across the country with an interest in the dairy industry. He says the new structure will certainly help those students broaden their agricultural education experience.
The new complex is anticipated to be completed and ready for the students by next autumn when the students return to campus.
