Bishop Paul Zipfel of Bismarck will preside over the dedication
of the Millennium Cross at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in
Strasburg on Saturday.
The program will begin at 3 p.m. at the site, which is located
just west of the church, and Bishop Zipfel will bless the 18-foot
black and gold iron cross.
Following the blessing, the crowd will move into the church for
a lecture by Dr. Timothy J. Kloberdanz on the tradition of German-Russian
iron crosses.
Bishop Zipfel will celebrate Mass following the program, and the
Strasburg Chapter of the Germans from Russia will serve an ethnic
German supper after Mass. Cost of the supper is $5 per person.
The free presentation by Dr. Timothy J. Kloberdanz, a folklorist
and scholar from NDSU's Department of Sociology/Anthropology, is
made possible by a grant from the North Dakota Humanities Council
and sponsored by the Strasburg Chapter of Germans from Russia Heritage
Society.
Dr. Kloberdanz will discuss "The Iron Cross as a Symbol of Faith
and Heritage" and provide historical and cultural perspectives on
the tradition of iron-cross making among the Germans from Russia.
Iron grave crosses have been fashioned by blacksmiths and metalworkers
for more than a century in North Dakota.
According to Kloberdanz, "No state has as many examples of wrought
iron crosses as North Dakota. And the largest number can be found
in the so-called 'German-Russian Triangle,' which comprises the
north-central, central and south-central portions of our state."
Many observers tend to view the iron crosses as peculiar to only
the Germans from Russia. "Actually," says Kloberdanz, "iron crosses
can be found among ethnic groups of many diverse backgrounds, ranging
from the Bohemians and the Irish to the Turtle Mountain Chippewa.
But due to the prevalence of so many iron crosses in the German-Russian
Triangle, the crosses have been linked most often to the Germans
from Russia."
Kloberdanz, who holds his PH.D. in Folklore and Anthropology from
Indiana University, has published numerous articles and co-authored
two books, Plains Folk: North Dakota's Ethnic History and
Thunder on the Steppe. He also hosts an annual institute
for Teachers K-12 which explores the folk art of the state, work
which has received national recognition from the Library of Congress
and the National Endowment for the Arts.
In the award-winning Prairie Public Television documentary, The
Germans from Russia: Children of the Steppe, Children of the Prairie,
Professor Kloberdanz frequently appears, and he talks about the
importance of iron crosses within the context of German-Russian
culture. He also tells the story of a German-Russian pioneering
family who erected seven identical iron crosses for their children,
all of whom died in a diphtheria epidemic near Zeeland in the spring
of 1898.
Kloberdanz began studying iron crosses more than 25 years ago.
His iron cross research has taken him all over the United States
and Canada, as well as to Germany, Austria, Russia and other foreign
countries.
"It seems that I come across at least a few iron crosses nearly
everywhere I go," says Kloberdanz. "And no matter what the history
or cultural heritage of the people, the iron crosses serve as an
eloquent and evocative symbol. In southern Mexico, for example,
iron crosses are decorated by family members in late October. The
people bring food and even portable televisions to the grave sites
and they visit with relatives and friends throughout the night.
They believe the bonds of family are stronger than death itself.
It is an amazing mixture of ancient customs, religious traditions
and mdern technology."
For many German-Russians in North Dakota, iron crosses also reaffirm
and celebrate family ties. But iron crosses have been viewed differently
over the years.
"One man told me there was nothing so disturbing or so stark as
the sight of rusted iron crosses during the Dirty Thirties," Kloberdanz
explains."But during the last two or three decades, a renewed appreciation
for the iron crosses has developed both within and beyond the German-Russian
community. And we are seeing a new generation of cross makers in
the Dakotas. Herman Kraft of Timber Lake, S.D., who has roots in
Strasburg, is one craftsman who is helping to keep the tradition
alive. One even hears people occasionally say they would prefer
an iron cross instead of a commercial tombstone. The interest is
steadily growing so perhaps there will be new crosses and new cross
makers in the new century to come."
The topic of iron grave crosses can seem rather somber and even
depressing. "But believe it or not, there is humor even about the
iron crosses," admits Kloberdanz. "Many of the old blacksmiths who
made the iron crosses were colorful and eccentric characters. Several
of them served as part-time dentists. After all, they were physically
strong and usually had more than one pair of pliers on hand. But
most people preferred to suffer in silence than to sit on the blacksmith
anvil and have a tooth extracted. The prairie town that had a blacksmith
who also served as the local dentist often won the reputation of
being 'The town without a toothache.'"
Professor Kloberdanz is available to communities throughout the
state as a member of the Council's Speakers Bureau. More information
about the Council is available by calling toll-free 1-800-338-6543.
The council also may be reached on the Internet at council@ndhumanities.org.
Reprinted with permission of Emmons County Record.
