JENS RINGNESS Christmas 09

Norwegian Christmas Tour - 2009

Jens Ringness House Celebrates Sesquicentennial Built in 1859 by Jens & Kari Ringness, the Ringness House committee is proud to have celebrated the Sesquicentennial of the building by an open house to the public during the Norwegian Country Christmas Tour. Although the second floor is still to be installed, plumbing for a small bathroom completed, and other details finished, the host of volunteers were able to showcase the house decked out for a pioneer Norwegian Christmas on December 5, 2009. An estimated 300 people enjoyed taking a trip back in time. Entering the Central hallway, guests were given an overview of the history of the house and its movement to the current site by Stephanie Goedecke and Mary Orbeck. Many visitors availed themselves of souvenirs selected and purchased by our able fund raising chair, Elaine Bakke Bell and sold by Jerry and Joyce David. Moving on to the East Parlor, Betty Jenson Tindall and Owen Ringness explained how the family used this room for cooking, crafts, dining, and most daily activities. Tindall identified the various Norwegian foods displayed on the table, and Amny Rose and her friend Elaine Davis demonstrated spinning yarn. Items of special interest in this room were a cradle used by Otto Reesing’s mother and a sampler done in Norwegian during the 18^th century which belonged to the grandmother of Jens Ringness. These and many other items were loaned to the committee especially for the occasion. In the kitchen, guests noted the wood stove, cooler used to keep milk and cream cool, and other items used during the time period. Moving to the West Parlor, where a fire blazed in the stone fireplace, somewhat allaying the chill of the day, visitors were greeted by ladies in traditional bunads (Norwegian ceremonial dress) who sat by the cedar Christmas tree in the corner. The tree was decorated in traditional fashion, with real candles, straw ornaments, and woven hearts, made by schoolchildren of Laura Rose’s class at Cranfills Gap School. Mary Stokely, Ann Wiland, Linda Herzog, and Virginia Richards explained how the pioneer family might have celebrated Christmas, and also told of the worship services held in this room in the years before a Lutheran church was built. In the afternoon, music was furnished by Pastor Laird Duran on the violin, accompanied by Linda Garms on the pump organ donated to the house by the Opal Weant family. Miss Emily Goedecke ushered guests into the downstairs bedroom, furnished with a bed and bedding which had been in the Ringness family for many years. An iron baby bed, wash stand, bowl and pitcher, and shaving equipment fleshed out the room. A special thanks to the McCaleb family, who donated all of the hand-made curtains in memory of Otto Knudson, Jr. and installed them in the house. Each window was decked out with a candle and greenery of native materials such as burr oak acorns, cedar, red berries, bois d’arc balls, and persimmons The Jens Ringness House committee hopes to complete the renovation of the upstairs in the coming year and begin using the house for a number of community activities. Donations are still needed to complete the work, and there is still room for a number of bricks to be added to the Memory Walk. All persons interested in making a donation to complete this addition to the history of our county, may do so by sending a check to Betty Tindall at 7010 CR 309, Cranfills Gap, TX 76637. Please make the check out to the Jens Ringness House, and designate if it is a memorial or gift, and its intended purpose. The Jens Ringness House is a 301 (c) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible. The committee wishes to thank the many persons who helped to decorate the house, donate or loan items to furnish it for this occasion, and also those who have contributed through the years by their encouragement and donations. It could not have happened without you!