Sport history on display at Prairie Jubilee; museum seeks submissions for exhibit

It has certainly been an exciting year when it comes to sports. We've had the NR-S basketball team competing at a state level, track and field records being broken and the SNR Black Sox taking their Babe Ruth team to state.

But what if we took at a look further back in history? Better yet, what if we took a moment to be part of that history? This year, the Eddy County Museum and Historical Society is riding the wave of sports excitement by hosting a Prairie Jubilee that celebrates our community's history of athletic talent.

The Prairie Jubilee will be held on Sunday, Aug. 18 at the Museum, located at 1115 1st Ave N in New Rockford, just south of the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd. The museum will be open for tours and fun photo opportunities. Games and activities such as covered wagon rides and kite flying will be available, as well as refreshments and beverages.

Guest speaker, author and fellow North Dakotan Terry Bohn will provide a purview of baseball in North Dakota. Bohn is the author of several books including "Sunday Afternoons on the Prairie: The Growth of Baseball in North Dakota," "Lots More Fun That Way: Amateur Baseball in North Dakota," and "Hired Batteries: The Time of Independent Semi-Pro Baseball in North Dakota."

In addition, the museum will have items on display from the archives which include photographs, equipment, uniforms and trophies. However, this small sample doesn't do justice to the athletic history of this community. That is why the Eddy County Museum wants the public to help bring history to life.

Do you have local sports memorabilia that dates back to the early days? If you are interested in lending any items for the exhibition, please bring them to the museum on Sunday, Aug. 11 between 1-4 p.m. Your items will be tagged and labeled for display and returned after the event.