“Inevitably, some of the kids would stand in line and dial that phone,” said president Keith Cederstrom of a rotary phone on display in a corner at the museum.

In just the past few months alone, three classes of fourth graders have all visited the museum at 3 North Main Street in Velva. Different organizations, including local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, have also held meetings there.

“We must have run 200 people through here over the Fourth (of July),” Cederstrom added.

Immortalizing the past, old photos have been donated that depict over a century of history, from the time a carnival came to town in the first years of the 20th century to scenes of Main Street from the early 1900s to later years.

Andrea Johnson/MDN Velva’s Main Street, circa 1910, is seen in this old photo on display at the Velva Area History Museum.

“Velva was quite a progressive town back in the day,” said Cederstrom, gazing at the photographs.

The museum shares space with the local paper, the Velva Area Voice, that is published by the Bolton Advertising Group. Cederstrom’s wife, Becky Cederstrom, is the office manager at The Voice.

Keith Cederstrom said he wants to ensure that the history of Velva and all of the towns that surround it — Bergen, Kief, Butte, Sawyer, Karlsruhe, Kongsberg, Granville, Verendrye, Simcoe, Voltaire — are represented.

“You don’t want the history to be lost,” said Becky Cederstrom.

The museum is now a 501 (c)(3) organization and appreciates donations, such as old school annuals, historical photos, news clippings, paintings by area natives, sports jerseys, and cheerleading costumes, and other treasures that families have preserved over the years.

The museum and its board, which also includes vice president Denise Krumwiede, secretary Anna Hansen, Cory Schmaltz and Heather Tudor and business administrator Tracy Ulland, keep interested parties updated on the progress of the museum. On its Facebook page, it might ask for help in identifying a young married couple in an old photo or thank donors to the museum.

Keith Cederstrom said the ultimate goal of the museum is to document the history and upload materials to the internet so people will be able to research family history or enjoy the contents of the museum virtually.

Tours can be arranged outside the regular business hours of the newspaper.

More information about the museum can be found on the group’s Facebook page. Donations can also be mailed to the museum at Velva Area History Museum, P.O. Box 265, Velva, N.D. 58790. Members of the museum board can also be reached via email at velvaareahistorymuseum@gmail.com