By Jon Vanderford

We recently visited the unique Nebraska tourism attraction in Minden known as “The Harold Warp Pioneer Village”, and we discovered a number of improvements are happening.

One of the renovation projects involves the Valentine diner. “This diner is being fully restored,” Pioneer Village director William Ascarza said. “We have been working on this project since March of 2023, and there’s been so much happening with it. The diner dates back to 1947. It was manufactured in Wichita. It was brought to Nebraska and served several years of operation in Kearney before it was brought to the village in 1953 by Harold Warp. It probably served the village here at least until 2019 or 2020. Then it was closed. It needed to be repaired, and there was initiative among local volunteers to make this happen. What has occurred, is that it’s been totally gutted from the inside, all of the flooring has been replaced, with all new electrical and plumbing.”

The diner has been known to serve visitors inside the village because there is a west side access point. But, with the new renovations there is going to be an east side order window where people can come and get a burger and fries if they are not visiting the village.

“People will be able to come by here and get lunch, even if they are not visiting the village,” Ascarza said. “So, we will be able to provide food to the community as well.”

Another renovation project involves the Pioneer Village carousel. “This restoration has been going on for a couple of years now,” Ascarza said. “Essentially what happened was, the animals on the carousel were in bad need of repair. These animals date back to the turn of the century, the late 19th Century or early 20th Century. The carousel itself is a late 19th Century Armitage. It had a steam engine when it was created. Since that time, the steam engine has fallen into disrepair, and it’s going to take a little more work to get that going. In the meantime, we have an electric motor that is operating it. The carousel does work. We are hoping to have it running later this summer, and it’s going to be very important to the community.”

As you look around Pioneer Village, you see a number of improvements and upgrades. The director says there’s an effort underway to get more people invested in the village through memberships. “We have levels of memberships from annual memberships, all the way to lifetime memberships,” Ascarza said. “We’ve even added an adopt-a-vehicle membership. That adds a personal touch for people, which is so important.”

In a future episode of Pure Nebraska, we are going to meet some of the artisans who volunteer at Pioneer Village and show visitors everything from blacksmithing to broom-making.

See the interview here on the 10/11 News site.

Harold Warp Pioneer Village (Minden, NE) enlists the support of local Antique Tractor Enthusiast, the National IH Collectors Club, and social media to help restore the Museum’s Farmall F-20 Tractor

If you have not had the genuine good fortune of visiting Harold Warp Pioneer Village (Minden, NE), it is a must-see ‘Bucket List’ add to learn about the incredible history of “How America Grew.” Since the Museum’s start in 1953, Harold Warp Pioneer Village (located in the heart of the Nation’s farm country,) has stayed true to its Founder’s vision – to preserve our history for future generations – Values that align with those of Michael Hinton, Founder of Antique Tractor Preservation Day and TalkingTractors.com, whose vision it is to preserve America’s Heritage farm machinery and promote our proud agricultural history.

In 2022, the Pioneer Village Board of Directors took steps to ensure the Museum continues to share our Nation’s history with future generations, when it voted to auction off some of Harold Warp’s personal collection, to preserve and restore other pieces. Enter Nebraska antique tractor enthusiast Howard Raymond, who the Museum enlisted to restore its 1935 Farmall F-20 Tractor that is part of the Harold Warp Pioneer Village collection. The Farmall F-20 is a medium-sized, two-plow row crop tractor produced by International Harvester under the Farmall brand from 1932 to 1939, with approximately 148,000 produced.

Howard has taken to social media to enlist the support of National IH (International Harvester) Collectors Club members, along with any & all interested parties, to assist with restoring the Museum’s tractor later this Summer (May 31- June 2). Howard’s use of online networking is drawing vast interest globally – both in respect to the restoration project itself and the Museum – Technology that Harold Warp himself would have almost certainly loved to have utilized back in the day, in place of and/or in addition to the countless number of Harold Warp Pioneer Village (Minden, NE) Signs that dot the plains of Northern Kansas and Southern Nebraska.

“The Pioneer Village Board of Directors greatly appreciate the donation of time and expertise that Howard Raymond and others are providing in support of this restoration project,” stated Museum Director William Ascarza. Adding, “We are also thankful to Michael Hinton, for telling and sharing our story. ” Hinton vows to stay close to this project and provide frequent updates during the tractor’s restoration process, through its final completion.

Guest Speaker Series: Keanna Leonard
on Sandhill Cranes Migration

Harold Warp Pioneer Village announces an upcoming presentation
on Sandhill Cranes by Keanna Leonard, former Education Director
at Rowe Sanctuary.

When: Friday, March 15, from 1:30 to 3 pm.

Topics Covered:

• Biological & Migration of Sandhill Cranes
• Crane Behavior Insights
• Significance of the Platte River

Harold Warp Pioneer Village received a generous gift from First Bank and Trust Company just in time for Christmas. On December 22, First Bank and Trust Company President Kelley Ayres presented a $2,500 check to Pioneer Village Director William Ascarza for the carousel restoration project.

“Jim Runions had visited me a number of times about the various projects going on. I went with him to the Village this fall and he showed me the carousel along with introducing me to the volunteers working on restoring the animals for the carousel,” Ayres said. “The history and workmanship behind the carousel and the animals is fascinating, and I appreciate the need to preserve this once the restoration is complete.”

The Armitage-Herschell Carousel at Pioneer Village is one of the few remaining examples of the new model introduced in 1879. The design uses a slender, 154-foot cable powered by a small steam engine to rotate the carousel along a circular track laid on the ground.

The Pioneer Village carousel was shut down years ago because of safety considerations surrounding the aging steam engine. At the time it was in running condition, but after several years of neglect it had fallen into disrepair.

Restoration efforts for the carousel began in the fall of 2021. Leading the project are Jo Ann Weisman of Hol- drege and Brad Roberts of Heartwell. Both individuals are experienced and gifted at carousel restoration. Weisman and Roberts have combined their knowledge and passion to restore 33 figures for the carousel. The figures include classic carousel horses, derby horses, and a menagerie of other animals. Once the restoration is complete and the carousel is operational, Pioneer Village staff can switch figures out so visitors may see different characters on the carousel with each visit As important as the figures are, the carousel structure also requires attention. Volunteers from across the country have helped with these repairs. Members of A Year to Volunteer replaced the caved in roof over the carousel during a two-week stay in the summer of 2022. Several of the volunteers returned for a second visit to continue the structural repairs on the carousel.

With all of the care and attention, Pioneer Village staff hope the carousel will be up and running on a seasonal basis sometime later next summer. The donation from First Bank and Trust Company will be used to improve the carousel enclosure to better protect the carousel from the elements.

“I would like to extend a thank you to our carousel volunteers who have been working on refurbishing the carousel animals and the structure along with First Bank for their generous donation to the carousel fund,” Ascarza said.

Volunteers and monetary donations for this and other restoration projects at Pioneer Village are always welcome. Contact the Pioneer Village office at 308- 832-1181 to volunteer or donate. Follow the Harold Warp Pioneer Village Facebook page or website blog at www.pioneervillage.com for upcoming events.

Minden Courier

Please follow the links below for some of the news articles posted:

• American Confetti Cars Showcased at Harold Warp Pioneer Village in Filmography

• Pioneer Village receives Donation for Carousel

• Christmas on the Prairie

• MPS Staff Volunteer At Pioneer Village

• Pioneer Village Is Getting A Re-Launch

• Renovations Underway Thanks To Community Volunteer Efforts

• American Pickers visit Pioneer Village

Please follow the links below for some of the news articles posted:

• Christmas on the Prairie

Please follow the links below for some of the news articles posted:

• Christmas on the Prairie