Submitted Photo At a donation presentation from Verendry Electric Cooperative to the Ward County Historical Society are, from left, WCHS Board members Sheldon Albertson and Suzy Bergan, WCHS President Dan Caswell, Verendrye Electric’s Tom Rafferty, WCHS Board members Bob Bruhaug, Steve Perry and Jim Norlin.

A project by the Ward County Historical Society to restore an antique, 24-horse carousel got a boost from a recent $1,500 Verendrye Electric Cooperative grant, according to the historical society.

The grant came from Verendrye’s Operation Round Up program, which is funded by Verendrye members who voluntarily round their bills to the nearest dollar each month. A board of Verendrye members decides on the grants three times a year.

Dan Caswell, president of the WCHS, said he and all the volunteers appreciate the grant.

“Volunteers spend hundreds of hours working at the Pioneer Village and donations like this help us preserve the history of Ward County and create a place for community events and gatherings,” Caswell said in a news release..

The WCHS operates the Pioneer Village Museum in Burlington, which has several historical buildings and artifacts. Volunteers are restoring the carousel once located at a Minot park. Work includes painting the horses and restoring the wood. Plans are to restore the carousel to a usable condition and house it inside a building.

“There’s some really neat things to see at the Pioneer Village, and Verendrye is proud to support all of the dedicated volunteers that have a passion for Ward County and its history,” said Tom Rafferty, Verendrye Member Services manager.

The museum has several projects underway that are in need of funding, and it also needs funding for general operations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and donations are tax deductible.

The WCHS recently received a generous collection of antique firearms, and the goal is to build a gun museum. They are also in need of a building to house museum-owned vehicles as well as loaned vehicles. The erection of this building will enable the historical society to empty out its maintenance building so members can get the machine, upholstery, wood working and other shops set up inside for restoration and maintenance work on artifacts. This building, even though it is built and being used, needs funds for insulating and completing the interior.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from early spring until late fall and is available at other times with a phone call. The museum also is available for family reunions, weddings in their church and other events.

The museum has three large events scheduled this year:

– June 20-21, Pioneer Days Weekend

– July 11-12: Celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the museum’s 75 anniversary and Northern Bottling Pepsi’s 75th anniversary..

– Aug. 1-2: Car, truck, tractor, motorcycle, snowmobile and more show.

These events all start with a free-will pancake and sausage breakfast each day from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. There will be live and DJ music all day, food trucks, flea markets, rummage sales and hayrides. At the July 11-12 event, there also will be a petting zoo from Rocky Top Farms.

The museum does not charge admission; it is entirely supported by volunteers and donations.

The museum is located on the south side of U.S. Highways 2 and 52, just east of the east Burlington entrance, at 8181 Highway 2/52 West, Burlington.