Friday, January 14, 2011...Update from Ozzie Tollefson...........
     I received an e-mail from Melissa Christen today telling me there are about 20 copies of "Moving Moen School" left, out of the 100 the EPHC ordered.  That's good news and everyone connected with this project appreciates your support.  She also told me calls and letters are coming in from all over the country requesting the DVD.  She recently had calls from California, North Carolina and one from New York that was personally very exciting.  An old Navy buddy of mine from back in the 50's learned about my involvement in the Moen School project on the Internet and wanted to get in touch.  I had not talked to Ski in over 50 years, and it was so good to hear his voice on the phone this morning.
    
     The reviews of the video keep coming in.  Here is one from Jan Hanson of Fosston.....

     "I thoroughly enjoyed the DVD you made of moving the Moen School.   Our oldest granddaughter, Kora was the little girl in the children's choir with the red dress on.  She was just beaming last night as we viewed the video together.  I just wanted to thank you for completing the project- it is wonderful!!!!  Two of my aunts were country school teachers pictured in the movie and even though I did not attend a rural school, we often had the opportunity to visit their schools and partake in their fun programs."

     I also received a review from a former student of mine, John Nutt, who has edited close to 100 Hollywood movies. 

     "Ozzie - I just watched your DVD. It's fantastic! You did a really great job. The Heritage Center must have been blown away. The idea you had for a PBS show on the subject seems absolutely correct - it would have been great (and still could perhaps). I loved the kids singing, and I also loved the separate interviews and stills at the end. The narrator was very good, a very nice voice and well performed narration.  You've become the Cecil B. DeMille of the North Woods. Thanks for sending it to me.  -   John"
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Saturday, January 1, 2011...Update from Ozzie Tollefson...
     Happy New Year everyone!  This should be an exciting year for the East Polk Heritage Center, as the work of transforming Moen School into a living history museum will begin.  But the task at hand will need funds.  One way to help out is to purchase a DVD of "Moving Moen School." 

     The reviews of the video are all good.  I have received several calls, e-mails and letters from folks all across the country who have seen it and are amazed by its professional quality.  Think of this as a record of local history, a permanent treasure to be kept and passed down through the generations like a good book.  With your $15.00 purchase, $11.35 goes directly to the Heritage Center.  The camera work, the music, the writing, the narration, the cover graphics and the editing were all done free of charge.  Only $3.65 per DVD was paid for making the copies, packaging and delivery.  Think of someone who would appreciate this video as a gift.  You will make someone happy and help out on an important venture to boot. 

     You may have read in the last 13 Towns, a wonderful review of "Moving Moen School" by a friend of mine who lives in Gastonia, N.C.  Let me share with you what she wrote....

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Thursday, July 8, 2010, 7:00 a.m.......Update from Ozzie Tollefson....
       "Yesterday I was able to do 7 interviews with former teachers and students who taught or attended one-room country schools in the East Polk County area.  My final interview was with Dean Vikan, who gave me the background on Rosebud Township's generous donation of Moen School to the Heritage Center.  These interviews will be a part of the video documentary I am creating on the Moen School Project.  I'm hoping to have it all edited and ready to deliver to the Heritage Center by November. 
       This afternoon I have a meeting with Phil Ehlke, the general manager of Fosston's radio station, 96.7 FM.  He has agreed to emcee our ceremony of invited guests tomorrow, Friday morning, starting sharply at 9:00 a.m. out at Moen School.  Stay tuned to Phil all morning, as he will be doing remote progress reports of the school coming to town.   The weather reports look good for Friday, clear skies, high of 77 degrees.  It should be perfect.  People have been asking me what time will the school get to town.   We are guessing sometime between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.  It's hard to give you an exact time because of power line issues.  But when she rolls in, it's going to be a heck of a sight, led by a parade of classic vintage cars and a fire engine.  Listen to Phil and have an ear open for horns and sirens."  Then come join us for a catered picnic starting at 5:00 p.m. on the Heritage Center grounds.  Open to the public, $5.00 per person."
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010......Update from Ozzie Tollefson....
       "When Dean Vikan first asked me to get involved in the Moen School project, I told him I would shoot and edit a DVD documentary on bringing my old one-room school to the grounds of the Heritage Center.  The DVD will be sold by the Heritage Center to raise funds to repair the schoolhouse.  Yesterday I spoke to Lora Lee Saeter, who has offered to help me videotape moving the school to town on Friday.  I am still looking for more help.  If you have a digital Camcorder and have Friday free to cover the move with me, please contact Judy Newton at 563-2021 today or tomorrow.
       With two days left to prepare for Moving Day, Friday, July 9th, I am continuing to tape interviews with former teachers and students of rural schools.  On Tuesday I went over to Clearbrook to interview Arlene Bergman who taught at Sunnyvale School.  She was very good on camera.  On Wednesday I taped interviews with Judy Newton and Linda Bakken Jorgenson at Judy's home in McIntosh.  Later that afternoon I spent two hours with my fourth grade teacher, Carol Lee Wold.  She is one of two living persons who taught at Moen School and will play a key role in our ceremony at the present school site Friday morning at 9:00.  She will break a bottle of champagne against a corner of the school to "launch" it on its journey into town to become a living history museum. 
       The school is still set to roll out at 10:00 a.m. Friday.  Stay tuned to the Fosston Radio Station (96.7 FM) for live coverage of the day's events starting at 8:30 a.m.  We are guessing it will reach Highway #2 some time between 10:30 a.m. and noon.  Find a good spot somewhere between the Fosston Radio Station and the Heritage Center and enjoy the parade into town, but keep the roads open for the school to pass.  It's 32 feet wide and needs plenty of clearance.  Leading the parade will be a fire truck and a string of classic vintage cars. It should be one heck of a sight.  I'm excited!"
       At 5:00 p.m., come out to the Heritage Center grounds for a catered picnic.  It's open to the public, $5.00 per person.  Moen School will be on its new foundation.  Bring your cameras and enjoy this important first step in creating a museum."

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Wednesday, June 30, 2010....Update From Dean Vikan....
"The real, physical aspect of moving Moen School started bright and early this morning.  Wayne Zachariason removed the bricks from the chimney, assisted by several volunteers.  These valuable relics are now stored in safe keeping, where they will be cleaned and used in future projects and fund-raising activities.  Thanks, gang...job well done!  We also received good news from Lakeland Public TV in Bemidji.  Jamil Donith will definitely be here to cover Moving Day, which is still set for Friday, July 9th.  Ceremony at 9:00 a.m. out at Moen School, followed by rolling out at 10:00 a.m.  We are sorry that Jesse, the new owner of The Stadium, will not be open by July 9th.  We had planned a party there to wrap up the events of Moving Day.  We have gone to Plan 'B': a picnic on the Heritage Center grounds.  More about that later. 
Stay tuned!"

Wednesday, June 23, 2010.....Great news from Ozzie Tollefson...
"I had a phone call today from Phil Ehlke.  He told me he'd be happy to cover Moen School Moving Day, July 9th, with a remote broadcast over his radio station.  Make sure you stay tuned to KKCQ (FM) 96.7 starting at 8:30 a.m.  Following a short ceremony and photo op with former rural school teachers and students, the movers are scheduled to roll at 10:00 a.m.   Keep your radio dial set at 96.7, and you'll be able to follow the progress of the old schoolhouse from the time it leaves its present site, through the parade into town on Highway #2, and all the way to the Heritage Center grounds.  
Thanks a bunch, Phil, for helping us out."
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Saturday, June 12, 2010.....Update from Dean Vikan...
"Spread the word, folks!  It's now official.  Mohler Movers will bring Moen School to the Heritage Center grounds on Friday, July 9th.  Continue to check back on this page for further announcements on Moving Day events.  It's going to be exciting!"