Heritage Hall Museum and Archives

09/05/2026

We've extended the deadline for the four willow-weaving classes planned on Friday, Sept. 18. There are slots for three additional students in each class; register by Sept. 12. Viki Graber and Susan Harder, artisans who regularly demonstrate willow weaving at Schmeckfest, are offering a variety of projects. Call the museum at 605-925-7545 or stop in. We're open 10 to 4 Mondays through Fridays (including Labor Day).

09/03/2026

We're looking forward to having Viki Graber and Susan Harder lead willow weaving classes at the museum in two weeks. There's still room and time to sign up ... but the clock is ticking. If you have questions, give us a call today. 605-925-7545.

09/02/2026

In March 1960, Freeman citizens learned that regional post office officials had authorized construction of a new post office in Freeman. But the location was controversial; It moved the post office from Main Street, where it had been for 80 years, to the corner of Fifth and Poplar (the present location).

Like many residents, Courier editor and publisher J.J. Mendel felt the new location was a mistake and shared his views in the Sept. 1, 1960, issue of The Courier:

“The people of Freeman have a big question to decide and that is the location of the new Post Office building.

“But how can the public decide if they are not consulted. If a place of business is located, the owner picks the place that will be most handy for the customer to visit. If that was done with our Post Office location question, we would not have the least doubt our post office would be located on the corner north of the City Café (the southeast corner of Third and Main and today home of the EtCetera Shoppe). The lot is 50 x 140 feet and all know that is a big enough for the town of Freeman for many years. We live in a democracy and the P. O. Department should settle this question by (a public) vote or it would look like the tail is wagging the dog. The vote would locate our P.O. (on this) corner… the public would like it on account of the handy location.”

Addendum: Despite Mendel’s objections and public opinion favoring Main Street, the Oct. 13 issue of the Courier reported that groundbreaking and construction of the new post office would begin immediately at Fifth and Poplar, providing 1,713 square feet plus an outside loading platform with ample surface space for parking and truck maneuvering.

The Freeman Post Office was established March 15, 1880. Early post offices were always found in the business place of whoever was postmaster at the time; that was the case for the first three decades in Freeman. In 1916, the Post Office was moved into the building that today is home to Strawser Law Office, where it remained for more than four decades.

09/01/2026

Nice piece about Hutterites from South Dakota News Watch this week, including a related Q&A. Here's a link:

Making up 10% of the farming population, the state's colonies play a large role in the state's agricultural and manufacturing industries.

09/01/2026

Two artisan classes planned at HHM&A. Deadline for willow-weaving classes is coming soon; sign up by Wednesday. Full details here: https://heritagehallmuseum.com.

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 b**r.

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.