Landmark Center

Dan Broten

Happy New Year and best wishes to us all for an exciting and healthy 2022. 

Here is a brief look back at the year we have just completed. Although 2021 started slowly due to COVID-19 restrictions, we were able to safely host a quilter’s group every other Monday, including two week-long quilting retreats. We also had additional usage of our overnight retreat bedrooms. 

After filling in for the library book location in Henning, we welcomed the return of the new Viking Library Bookmobile for visits to the Landmark Center every other Tuesday. We began gathering Henning history stories through our writer’s group and continue to host a monthly readers group, Beverage and a Book.

The Landmark Center was the site for the annual CHAT Bike Rodeo in May where 12 new bikes were given away, along with new helmets and safety training. We hosted a fishing exhibit to honor the Governors Fishing Opener in Otter Tail County and also hosted a Historic Henning Walking Tour with Chris Schuelke of the Otter Tail County Historical Society. 

Our facility is always available for group gatherings, and this year was used by many including Sons of Norway, Henning CHAT, Henning Lions, H545, along with many private parties and gatherings. We added to our capabilities by offering ZOOM connections, new Wi-Fi service that provides free indoor and outdoor public access to internet, and for safety we obtained a new portable AED Defibrillator unit. CPR classes are now scheduled at the Landmark Center for late January.

Arts activities were abundant as the Landmark Center provided a multi-day virtual video oil pastel painting workshop to students at Henning School. We offered several stamp card making workshops, basket weaving, kids camp pour painting, watercolor gouache painting, glassblowing demonstrations, a seven day ceramics workshop, a one day RAKU pottery workshop, grandma and me painting workshop and a multi-day community mural painting project at the Henning City Park.

Our year ended with a wonderful Santa Day collaboration with many groups and individuals coming together to celebrate the Christmas season in Henning with photos, food, parade, fellowship by the fire and songs by the tree. In late November the Landmark Center was approved for nomination to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, more details to come the next few weeks.

While the Landmark Center may at times seem to be quiet, we are always available and always working on providing a safe and inviting space for activities like these. Please join us as we begin to schedule 2022 activities, we hope to offer new opportunities for our community to enjoy. Until then have a safe and happy New Year. 

Beverage and a Book will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 2-4 p.m. to discuss “A Walk across the Sun.” Copies of this book are available at the Landmark Center for anyone wishing to join the discussion. 

The bookmobile continues to visit Henning every other Tuesday with next visits scheduled for Jan. 4 and Jan. 18, 3:30-4:45 p.m. near the Landmark Station building. Please call Dan Broten at 548-5760 with any questions about the Landmark Center.