DANEBOD VILLAGE HISTORY

By Roni Williams, Danebod Village Manager

In 1904 the convention of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church addressed the idea of having a Children’s Home in a rural community. Two years later the committee reported that Hejn Rasmussen of Tyler, MN was willing to donate five acres of land. The congregation of Tyler promised to support the proposed Home. The decision was made to begin the Home in a rented house and that fall five children moved into the house. The next spring five more children were received, and it became obvious that more room was needed.

The cornerstone for the new home was laid in 1909, and by January 10, 1910 the new facility was dedicated. Designed to house 25 children of Danish descent, the building cost $8,000. The structure was about two blocks east of the Danebod church and Folk School.. With no mother to teach them, the children in the Home were able to learn Danish arts at the Folk School.

The children also learned to do all the chores of a typical rural family. There was a barn to house the four milk cows, a chicken coop to supply eggs to eat and to sell as income. There was a hog house, a large garden and fruit trees. The children worked in the garden, milked the cows, cared for the livestock, and separated the cream. In the evenings as the matron read them stories they sat in the living room darning their long black stockings.

Most of the children seemed to have a father living somewhere else. He came to visit on special occasions. Caring for children was more labor intensive in those days, and if a mother died in childbirth, the father couldn’t handle the child-rearing job.

The Children’s Home was to be supported by the Danish Synod, but during the depression, the income dropped from $800 to $125 from the churches in those very difficult times. The depression also brought innovations like "mother’s pension" and other social programs that soon diminished the need for children’s homes. As a result, during the 1930’s the building started to fill with elderly people in the community who needed more help. The last family of children came to live at the Children’s Home on Christmas Eve 1936 when their mother died. The youngest daughter was less than two years old. She graduated from high school in the ‘50s. She says the elderly people who stayed in the Home were like family to her. She writes "Thanks to the home for keeping my family together. This was a wonderful blessing."

Today the buildings that housed animals have been removed. The grounds include seven buildings that provide 37 apartment units. The original building has been modified and expanded. Each resident of our congregate living facility has his/her own spacious room. Home style meals are served, and the family atmosphere prevails.

Anyone looking at that proud, 100 year-old building is temped to say, "If these walls could talk…" On August 23, 2009 a Founders Day Celebration will be held on the grounds of what has become known as Danebod Village. The goal is to get so many people together to share their stories about the earlier days that those walls will talk. For more information about the history, or the present; the celebration or the daily life; the founders or the current board and residents please call Roni at 507-247-3200. If you can possibly come to share Founder’s Day with us, bring your whole family. If you can’t come, send your story. Remember you are always welcome for coffee at 9:30 am or 2:30 pm. Write us at Danebod Village, 404 Danebod Village Drive, Tyler, MN 56178 or email us at danebodvillage@frontiernet.net