City of Hillsboro creates department of museums
ehWhen Stan R. Harder became the director of museums in Hillsboro a year ago, he anticipated some changes in the structure of the museum board. His anticipated changes now are becoming a reality.
In order to facilitate better funding and managing of Hillsboro Museums, Harder and city officials agreed the museum needed to be a city department and Harder a city employee. With the creation of the City of Hillsboro Museums Department, the city has taken a more active role in the museums. Harder heads the department and answers to city administrator Steve Garrett.
Harder is the only full-time city employee with Verden Harms a part-time employee. Doris Heidel also is employed at the visitors' center but not by the city. Harder hopes to add staff in the future.
Hillsboro Museums includes the Mennonite Settlement Museum, which includes the Peter Paul Loewen House, Jacob Friesen Flouring Windmill, the 1886 one-room Kreutziger School, and William F. Schaeffler House Museum, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
"The re-organization is a huge leap forward for our museums," Harder said. "The former board did a fantastic job, but this change is a definite improvement."
Harder envisioned the change when he was hired. However, the city ordinance governing museums needed to be revisited and revised. After Ordinance 1090 was passed, the changes were official.
According to city administrator Steve Garrett, the museums always have belonged to the city and it just makes sense to have them and their director under the auspices of the city.
"The city owns the museums," he said. "However, our care of them has been haphazard. Creating the new city department clarifies that the upkeep, maintenance, and care of the museums belongs to the city."
In the past, Hillsboro Historical Society, which is now dissolved, was in charge of fund raising in order to pay bills, now the city is responsible for preserving the museums.
"Stan is knowledgeable and has a lot of ideas," Garrett said. "We've been having meetings about where to go and what to do. It has increased the work load but we're seeing results."
Members of the former historical society also are awaiting changes.
"We're glad the city is taking a stronger, supportive stance concerning the museums in Hillsboro," said Peggy Goertzen, former vice president of the historical society. "We don't know how it will play out."
Former officers of the historical society board are Richard Wall, president; Goertzen; Anita Boese, secretary; Verden Harms, treasurer; Aileen Ratzlaff, public relations; and Pat Nuss.
Mayor Delores Dalke sees the creation of the new department as a way of making the system work better and easier.
"Stan is employed by the city and is paid through the general fund," she said. "It makes sense to have him report to the city administrator."
According to Dalke, the historical society has been one of the city's hardest working boards and the city hopes the people who have served will continue. The new nine-member advisory board will be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council by Jan. 1.
"Anyone interested in serving on Hillsboro Museums board should contact me," said Dalke. "The advisory board will be the idea people."
The advisory board will work with Harder, making suggestions, looking at the future of the museums, and establishing rules to govern the museums.
The Friends of Hillsboro Museums will be autonomous from the city and will share some board members. Its role will be managing volunteers, fund- raising, and finding opportunities for people in the community to participate as volunteers.
Another change Harder anticipates is the city's continuing role in maintaining and managing the physical buildings. In the past, Hillsboro Historical Society volunteers took care of much of the maintenance. Harder also anticipates updating the interior of the visitors' center.
Perhaps one of the biggest changes is yet to come — the moving of the Heinrich Bartel stone house from two miles north of Hillsboro to the Mennonite Settlement.
"The Peter Paul Loewen house is the last surviving Mennonite Russian clay-brick house in existence in North America," said Harder. "It is an important part of our historical collection. The Bartel house will be an important addition. It will tell the story of Polish immigrants to this area."
One of the reasons Harder came to Hillsboro was because he always has seen the museums in Hillsboro as having tremendous potential. Harder's career includes a stint as a high school social science teacher, 20 years as curator at Cowtown in Wichita, consulting with historical boards, and writing history books.
"I worked as a consultant to the Hillsboro Museums during the '80s and '90s," he said. "I'm hoping we can realize the full potential of the museums."
Harder also is hoping the community will embrace changes in the structure of the museum board and museums and be willing to work together in to make them better.
"My first year on the job has been trying to get first things done first," said Harder. "I've spent lots of time with basic organizational tasks. We're carefully forming the right foundation for our museums."
According to Harder, approximately 2,000 people toured Hillsboro Museums during 2004 and he wants the number to increase.
