A big transition for Heritage Village is taking shape. Prairie plants were the first part of history to move to the new site - a significant amount of plants and flowers have been transplanted. Footings and foundations for many of the buildings are in place at the Village’s new location. This is all part of Heritage Village’s cross-town move to Tower Fields in western Sioux Center this fall and winter.
Sioux Center will likely see the first building move across town in late November or later, depending on weather, according to Heritage Board member Monty Prins, who spoke to the City Council this week. About 30 trees will be moved to the new location, according to John Scholten, a member of the Heritage Board who is working with Greenworld on the process. For memorial trees that are unable to be moved, the board is looking at plans to wood from these trees and also replace them at the new site.
Volunteers have been joining in the preparation for the move. Dordt University’s baseball team spent hours loading bricks to go to the new site. Students from Bethel CRC helped pack items from the General Store. Dordt professor Dr. Jeremy Hummel and his students helped transplant the perennials. The Heritage Board is also collaborating with Leadership Sioux Center participants, who are preparing ideas for marketing, programs at the Village, museum development, and the Village’s future.
“We’ve had a tremendous amount of support,” said Heritage Board President Larry Te Grotenhuis.
During the council meeting, City Manager Scott Wynja read a letter from Dordt President Erik Hoekstra pledging $5,000 to move the historic Kuhl house, a home the university originally donated and moved to Heritage Village, and $20,000 to support the development of trees at the new site.
Heritage Village’s new location is being converted from two existing ball diamonds and the surrounding area at Tower Fields. After the move is underway, construction on the community’s new indoor turf facility will begin at the existing Village site in eastern Sioux Center. The new Village site is 4.7 acres with opportunities for additional growth. Heritage Village recently hosted the annual Harvest Festival – a final event before the move.
“We had 800+ kids come through the Friday of the event. It was a major success,” Te Grotenhuis told the City Council. “The question was asked, ‘What about next year?’ We fully intend to be up and operational – what the Harvest Festival will look like is yet to be determined. We hope to be far enough along in the fall, so looking forward to the festival and Christmas at the Village as well.”
Heritage Village in Sioux Center is focused on bringing history to life with preserved and recreated buildings and artifacts representing three centuries of life in this area. Learn more about Heritage Village.