Southwest District Court Judge Rhonda Ehlis ruled earlier this month in favor of the North Dakota State Fair in its long-running dispute with the historical society over the museum. The State Fair wants the museum removed from the fairgrounds. In the past, they have discussed using the land where the museum is now located for a parking lot or an access road to a convention center that would be added on to the State Fair Center. The State Fair Associaiton’s master plan called for building the convention center where the exposition and dairy barns, Jaycees Building and 4H Building are currently situated. The historical society had resisted moving the museum, claiming it had no funds to do so and had a right to remain under the terms of a 1966 agreement.

David Leite, president of the historical society, said Thursday that historical society members will not appeal the decision to the North Dakota Supreme Court.

“We don’t have the money or the energy left to do an appeal is what the consensus of the organization is,” said Leite. “We want to move ahead in a positive fashion.”

The historical society hopes to raise the $2 million to pay to move 12 historically significant buildings and its contents off the grounds. Leite said it will be both difficult and expensive.

Andrea Johnson/MDN The Harmon House at the Ward County Historical Society’s Pioneer Village Museum is pictured. The historical society will hold its monthly meeting at the Harmon House at 6:45 p.m. on Sept. 6. People are invited to attend. The president of the historical society says the museum will need to be moved.

“We have had a couple offers of some land,” Leite said Friday.”We are still looking for a place that would be ideal for our uses … we’re hoping for a free offer of land.”

Any future site will need to be accessible to visitors and allow for future expansion. It should also have water, electricity, and sewer installed or already on site.

Leite said the historical society has received antiques and family heirlooms, from buildings to military uniforms, from residents of the area and takes seriously its duty to preserve and interpret its history. Historical society members feel this is the best way to continue their mission into the future.

The time line of moving the buildings is also undecided. Leite said the historical society will need to speak with the North Dakota State Fair Association.

“It’s going to take awhile to get the money, assuming we can get the money,” Leite said.

The historical society will hold its next monthly meeting on Sept. 6 at 6:45 p.m. at the Harmon House, located at the museum on the fairgrounds. Lemonade and ice cream will be served. Members of the public are invited to offer input.

Donations can also be made through an online fundraiser, which is linked on the historical society’s website at www.wardcountyhistoricalsociety.com and its Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/donate/258366264774128/

Donations can also be sent through the Pioneer Village Relocation Campaign at Town and Country Credit Union, 615 South Broadway, Minot, N.D. 58701 or directly to the Ward County Historical Society at P.O. Box 994, Minot, N.D. 58702.

The museum will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m., through Labor Day, and special tours may be arranged by appointment through the end of September.

The historical society has about 150 members, said Leite.