July 8, 2015

Welk Farmstead Community Conversation To Be Held in Ashley

BISMARCK— The State Historical Society of North Dakota invites the public to a community conversation on Tuesday, July 14 at 6 p.m. at the Shed Café & Bar in Ashley, ND. The State Historical Society is requesting public comments about the management and interpretation of the Lawrence Welk Farmstead near Strasburg. This 30-minute meeting will be at the beginning of the Tri-County Tourism Alliance meeting. The menu will feature a buffet with chicken, mashed potatoes, a salad bar and more.

On July 1, the six-acre Welk Farmstead outside of Strasburg became a state historic site managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. “We’d like local people to become informed and involved in this great project. We will share information about planning for the site, and we also want to hear public suggestions about how to best manage and promote this site,” said Diane Rogness, historic site manager with the State Historical Society.

The Tri-County Tourism Alliance includes individuals and businesses in Emmons, Logan, and McIntosh counties and surrounding areas with an interest in preserving and promoting the Germans from Russia heritage and culture to enhance tourism.

The Welk Farmstead is the boyhood home of national entertainer Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992), who hosted “The Lawrence Welk Show” from 1951 to 1982. His style of music became known as “champagne music.” On Jan. 10, 2014, the State Historical Board voted to purchase the site for $100,000.

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CONTACT
For more information, contact Historic Site Manager Diane Rogness at 701.328.3508.

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