HERITAGE PARK - AS IT GROWS...
 Construction on the replica of the Immigrant House was begun the spring of 2004.  We have begun to assemble displays and welcome your antiques that you have either to donate or loan.
   

The original Henderson Immigrant House was built by the Burlington Missouri River Railroad in 1874 for the Mennonites who migrated from Russia to Henderson, Nebraska. It was a long narrow building about 20 by 80 feet in size, constructed of rough boards, the walls being about eight or nine feet high. Upon the Mennonites arrival, the carpenters were putting the final rows of shingles on the roof. Inside, the floor was of wide boards and the walls were lined with tar-paper to make them more air-tight. The cracks between the outside boards were covered with batten. It had two rooms and many windows. A well had been dug nearby.
    Mennonites migrated from the Molotshna Colony in Russia to Nebraska to begin a new life in America.  Because of changes that took place in the Russian government, the Mennonites were fearful that they would lose their military exemption and other religious freedoms they enjoyed.
    In preparation for these inevitable changes, a delegation was sent to scout out America as a possible new home. The reports were favorable so serious plans were made to leave Russia. 
    Leaving Russia was difficult. Chests and cases had to be made to pack their clothing and necessary supplies for their trip across the continent and over the Atlantic Ocean.
    Selling many of their belongings, leaving friends and relatives behind--they ventured forth on their long and arduous journey to America.
    By rail, they traveled to Hamburg, Germany and finally in August of 1874 they set sail on the Tuetonia. Their voyage was plagued by fire, seasickness, and death before they finally arrived in New York.
    Another trip by rail brought them to Lincoln where they waited a month for the Burlington Missouri River Railroad to compete their new home--The Immigrant House.
    The 35 Mennonite families crowded into the long narrow building and anxiously awaited the completion of their own homes before winter set in. This roughly constructed building served as the Mennonites first home in America and symbolized their determination to seek out a place where their way of life could be preserved.  Life that first winter was not easy, but much better than it had been in Russia.  The pencil drawing below depicts life as it was in a similar house that was built in Kansas for the same purpose.
 

Farm House This old house was built in 1900 at 821 South Main Street in Henderson, Nebraska and moved in 2002 to the site. Memories of its inhabitants include the G. A Friesen family, later Klaus K and Helena (Kliewer) Friesen, then the Frank K. Dicks and Frank and Tena Dick for the last 31 years. Reminiscing revealed the hand painting on the upstairs floor was done by the daughter of K. K. Friesen’s, Lena (Friesen) Peters who is the mother of local residents Morris and Keith Peters. Renovation plans include restoring the porch to original and opening the upstairs for viewing. If you have any history on this house, please pass it on to the committee.  This house displays many antiques, including a pump organ, old cob cooking stove, a parlor stove, a "sleeping bench" and antique baby beds to name only a few.

Future Plans
We have a “wish list” compiled of buildings that need to be moved or we would like to construct new to replicate a building of years gone by. We are needing a granary, church, city house to only name a few, as we begin to dream of the possibilities. We also have created a "Landscaping Fund" as we need trees and shrubs to beautify the landscape.  We will continue to add photos as the project expands so you will want to check back often to view our progress.