The Velva Area History Museum relocated into a historic Main Street building last fall. After spending the past several months settling in and setting up displays, the museum board held a grand opening in mid-June. Board President Denise Krumwiede said there’s still items to process but there’s much already on display.

“We’ve been working really hard on it,” she said. “We have so much more space here.”

The previous building across the street largely featured hanging photos as creating other display space was challenging.

The current building was anonymously donated to the museum.

Jill Schramm/MDN Some of the veterans’ uniforms in the possession of the Velva Area History Museum are part of a military display in the museum.

Believed to have been built in about 1902, the building originally operated as McKnight Drug Store. Pharmacist Harold Anderson purchased the store in 1946, changing the name to Anderson Drug. Hillis and Jean Hugelen purchased the building in 1972 from Harold and Mary Anderson and changed the name to Velva Drug, according to a history on display in the museum. A jewelry store also had operated on the upper level of Anderson Drug at one time. The building’s uses in later years included a photography studio for a time. The building most recently was the home of The Quilted Bean.

Much of the building’s interior is original. Some of the original drug store shelving still exists along an interior wall and has served as a showcase for displaying many of the artifacts.

The museum typically is open Wednesday evenings from 5-7 p.m., which is the regular work day for volunteers. It also is available for viewing at other times that a board member is working in the building and puts up the “open” sign. However, anyone can call 626-1820 and make an appointment, often even on short notice.

There is no admission charge but donations are accepted.

Krumwiede said she enjoys hearing the stories of museum visitors whose memories are triggered by the displays.

“We have learned so much from people,” she said.

The museum also posts its archived photos on its website. A donation has allowed the museum board to acquire a scanner that will enable other large items to be scanned and posted online to share with the public.

Among items on display are women’s hats from yesteryear, promotional items given away in years past by local businesses and lots of school-related memorabilia.

Anna Hansen, vice president on the museum board, said a group of fourth graders who visited in May loved checking out the old-style telephones, phonograph and school desks, and the military uniforms were a hit as well. The museum displays uniforms worn by local veterans from World War I and II and Vietnam, Seabees and National Guard, along with items of local veteran organizations.

Krumwiede said the museum has many other historical clothing items that it would like to eventually display. During June, the museum is featuring wedding dresses in its show window. In May, the window theme was graduation and in July will switch to patriotic.

Krumwiede and Hansen said the board welcomes additional museum donations from Velva and the small communities around the area. Anamoose, Balfour, Bergen, Butte, Drake, Granville, Karlsruhe, Kief, Ruso, Simcoe, Verendrye and Voltaire are among towns the board wants to see represented in the museum.

Many of the small towns already are building a presence in the museum. For instance, the museum has an envelope with a 5-cent stamp, cancelled at the Verendrye post office on the day it closed on Nov. 5, 1965.

There’s also artifacts from coaling mining, a former power plant and local churches. The museum has a library section that enables visitors a place to sit at a table and look over local history books, school annuals and scrapbooks.

In addition, the museum seeks to showcase the works of local artists.

Hansen said the board hopes this winter to open the museum a few times for evening special events, such as arts and crafts activities. While still assessing the potential for regular museum hours, the board has set special hours for the Fourth of July holiday.

Hours will be 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, and 9 a.m. until the conclusion of the mid-morning parade on Friday, July 4.