Submitted Photo A 1697 money chest from Norway is one of the oldest items in Ward County’s Pioneer Village Museum.

As winter seems to be relenting now in Ward County, the Pioneer Village Museum by Burlington will start to ready itself for the summer visitation season. It opens, weather permitting, on May 7.

The artifact I’m presenting today was our oldest piece at Pioneer Village until the recent turtle fossil we discovered on our property last fall. It is a Norwegian Money Chest and was built back in the year 1697 in Norway.

From the noticeable wear and tear of this artifact it has seen many years of service as a keeper of valuables. It was brought to the United States in 1881 by Ole Hestekind from Norway, who homesteaded at Norwich, North Dakota, in 1901.

A number of years ago this 328 year old money chest was donated to us by Ole’s son, Evan Hestekind of Minot.

The money chest patiently awaits your viewing the next time you visit Pioneer Village.