Two projects I have been working on have had me going through the many resources we have here at the museum that tell the story of the Saxon Immigration. While not being from this area and, in fact, not being raised in the Lutheran Church, may at first seem like a detriment to my job as Director here, I have actually found that it gives me a unique perspective. Prior to working here, I didn’t know the story, so I have had to lean on people and resources around me to both learn it for myself as well as learn how to tell it to others.

That search for resources led me to finding booklets produced at significant anniversaries of the immigration:100, 125, and 150 years. Tucked away on the opening page of the booklet produced in 1964 for the 125th Anniversary, a special gem sat waiting for me to discover.

This gem is a poem written by Robert J. Koenig, author of Except the Corn Die, titled “The Saxons Speak.” I plan to display this at the entry to the hallway where we will be expanding on the story of the immigration and early settlements. It does a better job of setting the stage than anything I could ever write as well as summing up why we do what we do here at the Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum.

Until next week! Denise Hellwege, Director