My plans were to finish the blog, shower/eat and run out of town.
Rugby just turned out to be an interesting little place and I got side tracked as I do a lot. 
First off its the center of North America (dead center). I meet the director of the visitors center, Dondi Sobolik.
This is one heck of a guy and a natural for several things. He ran a restaurant, then became director of this visitors center. Eleven years and he made a big difference. I suspect this guy will run for mayor some day, and win!
This is one heck of a guy and a natural for several things. He ran a restaurant, then became director of this visitors center. Eleven years and he made a big difference. I suspect this guy will run for mayor some day, and win!His plan was to have information on all 50 states, Canada because Rugby is the center of North America.
He also got rid of all the gift type stuff because it competed with businesses in town.
He also got rid of all the gift type stuff because it competed with businesses in town. He said don't leave town without seeing the Prairie Village Museum. Run mostly by volunteers as I could gather..
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| in the rear is Gerald, front left is the curator Pamela Schmidt, center is Richard (95 young) and the right is Rose Klatt |
It was filled with the history from all around Rugby and surrounding townships.
Everything that you could imagine that was part of my grandfathers era and even the time my own dad grew up on the farm. It took a lot of time, love and effort for this kind of place to come together. 
Most of the acquisitions were of donations.
I met the original guy that developed and ran the place for a number of years. Richard is 95 years young, fit as a fiddle so to speak and still smokes cigarettes. I asked are you sure, you had better check it out while you are here.
Also about an hour north is the "International Peace Park" bordering North Dakota and Canada. It has special exemption from both countries in regards to passports. Its kind of a neutral kind of place without interference of borders just co operation. (I restrained my self from the Peace Gardens) Also stop by Devils Lake right along the way to Ken's place could work. This lake had grown in size so much that they have moved highways and houses out of the way. Since 1993 the lake has risen 28 feet and is at a 
peak (2000 year high from geology record)
I got the immediate feeling the influence of South Dakota have creept up over the border. Like all places in 2010 it has the developers growth drive on the city outskirts. This of course includes the strip malls, franchaises and box stores so common to most of the US.
The city trolley tour was over for the season but the tourist centre provided a walking tour map. 
The town displays 50 murals that depict the towns past.
It has not only inspired business to donate this building space but they also have used on their own wall space and added some more commercial but well done murals for commercial use. Everywhere the parking was metered an I was without change except two dimes. As it turns out they welcome travelers from outside their provance and the metered parking is free for visitors. I see this town restoring itself as a pleasant tourist stop. **
I pulled in and he said he was only going to be here for 20 minutes and it was lucky I caught him. The place was a donation from a local guy with his collection off animals that he hunted thru out Africa many years earlier. This guy invented a hay/straw bale stacker that was a big hit in its day. He was insistent that I visited the towns art gallery.
As far as one's eyes could see the land just rolled on and in some areas you could not see any trees in any direction. That must have been a big prairie at one time. McCormic-Deering came along and invented the steel plow and tractors and the prairie was converted to cropland.
After a deliberate walk around I asked if the Director of the gallery was available. The receptionist Sandra said the Director was the owner and he was in and would check and see if he had time for me. Bill Shurniak was distinguished, gracious with a very pleasant demeanor. I explained that it was by chance I was directed here and what a coincidence it was and I needed pictures for my blog, if he would permit me. We talked about the need for copyright issues for the artist and how copies of artist works were being copied. I understood and thanked him. He offered me to take pictures of the rooms without any close up or head on pictures and I said that was all I needed. And thanks.
After finishing the pictures I asked him to view them and offered to delete any he was uncomfortable with and, Bill was fine with them. I showed Bill and Sandra how to reach the blog and we viewed it a bit. They seemed generally interested and were happy that I would blog the town and his gallery but reserve or shy to have their own pictures taken. I understand peoples privacy and have respect for it. He was a international banker and lived in Hong Kong but this is where he grew up and his parents homestead was. They have since passed and Bill restored the family homestead and I learned he had visitors from around the world visit the open house when it was completed. Many of the art pieces were gifts as well as purchases for this collection. He also featured local as well as renowned artist in exhibits and showings. Nothing in the gallery is for sale, its a collection for the community with no admission charges. Only an obscure donation box without any signage. I was compelled to express my appreciation but only had large bills and they had no change for my fifty. I suggested we take thirty dollars from the Plexiglas donation box and I leave the fifty in there. He was generally shy about donations, saying that they were not necessary, I confirmed how I would feel privileged if he used it for more flowers some where in town if he did not need it for the gallery. Then he expressed how he convinced the town council to make a landscaped park in town on a vacant piece of property on Main street which I saw on the way to the gallery. 
Their is no end to this guy's generous influence. I could not help think of the contributions that Irwin Miller had made to Columbus Indiana with his influence and contributions. The similar nature of these men suggests to me that their paths had crossed over the years in banking some where. I of course did not think of it at the time I was there to ask Bill if their paths ever crossed. This is a good example how one person can make a big difference.
