(soft music) - Welcome to this year's Christmas Radio Play presented by Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society and South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

I'm Jim Thompson.

It's my pleasure to be here to be your host and narrator for this evening's performance.

Those of us who are natives of South Dakota are aware of the Laura Ingalls Wilder legacy that makes us and the town of De Smet the childhood home of our most famous children's writer.

For the past 51 years, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society in conjunction with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society and the Ingalls Homestead have created a summer pageant.

That each year brings to life one of Laura's childhood books.

These summer festivities bring people together from all over the world.

The people who come are often fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Some of them come because they admire the traditions and history of the prairie and it's people.

We South Dakotans do our part to show these visitors the independence and generosity that is so much of our great history.

Included in that great generosity are the sponsors of this radio show.

If you'd give me just a moment to talk about some of them that are important to our broadcast.

In February of 1879, Charles Ingalls had been searching for a claim.

He came home and said to Caroline, "It's just right, only a mile from De Smet.

I found our homestead.

It was on the edge of the big slew where Paul could gather extra hay and hunt the waterfowl that landed there."

The Sullivan family worked to develop today's Ingalls homestead, known as the Ingalls Living History Farm.

It's a pleasant place with tall grass fields and wide horizons filled with a melody of bird song.

The Ingalls Homestead is a sponsor for today's program.

When Laura was a little girl, the weather was bad one year and she thought Santa could not come for Christmas.

Surprise, on Christmas morning, Santa had come and brought her a tin cup with candy.

And at the bottom of the cup a shiny penny.

Laura was a careful saver.

Banks were a part of the earliest De Smet business community.

Over a century has passed, and just as Laura knew it was important to save, American Bank and Trust offers full service banking to customers and proudly supports the Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas Radio Play.

The Homestead wife stood in the yard watching her husband working with the plow pulled by his trustee team.

He turned 25 furrows and their house, barn and chicken coop were left on a safe green island.

He said, "This fire break is insurance against the risk of a huge prairie fire."

Small groups of farmers talked about forming a mutual protection group to help with a loss from fire and wind.

Today we can ensure our home through De Smet Farm Mutual Insurance.

They proudly marked their 105th birthday this year.

Hemo Loreks was a Swedish farm boy from Oldham, South Dakota.

After graduating from Dakota State College he was drafted into the US Army Air Corps and was a pilot when arm as to stay November 11th ended the war.

Hemo married and lived on the family farm.

Farming was his love, but he became a mover and shaker of the cooperative movement.

And in particular the South Dakota Farmer's Union.

The Farmer's Union is all about keeping the family farm a successful operation.

Farmer's Union examines the past, works in the present and prepares for the future.

And we are proud to have them as a sponsor of our Christmas Radio Play.

The newest tradition that the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Association has begun is this Christmas Radio Play.

They started to produce the show as a holiday special for the community and for the fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the prairie traditions that our history represents.

Before we talk about the play, I feel appropriate to talk about what a radio play is all about.

In a traditional stage play done in a theater there's lights, there's costumes, set pieces and a script that is memorized by the actors.

In a radio play, there's no sets or lights or memorized scripts as the script is meant to only be heard on a radio or a podcast.

Actors usually wear no costumes and stand in front of a microphone, scripts in hand to do the show.

The actors are accompanied by a foley person.

To explain a little further, foley is the word we use for the person whose job is the sound effects of the show.

Whether they need to create the sound of doors closing.

(door closing) Or a bird chirping.

(flute playing) This person provides the sound effects required by the story at hand.

And our foley man tonight is Matthew Rusche.

In addition, in a radio play, the actors are accompanied by music and musicians.

On stage tonight we have the pleasure and for me personally, I've enjoyed this group since I first met them and I know you will too.

The band Plum Crazy.

(instruments playing) (Jim laughs) Throughout the show, both the foley person and the music will help bring our show to life.

Now that I've explained the traditional way to do a radio play, let me talk of what we'll do here tonight.

Because we do this evening's performance in front of a live audience.

We're gonna stage a hybrid show.

In essence, we'll do a little bit of staging.

We'll have some lighting cues and a few costume pieces to enhance this live audience's view.

But that in no way limits the radio audience's pleasure.

We feel we'll have the best of both worlds with our performance.

Our performance which can only be brought to life by our sponsors and we appreciate them.

And those of you that do any kind of business will understand how important they are.

So would you please listen as I give a little more credit to the set of sponsors who are helping this tradition continue.

(instruments playing) And the music helps.

Railroad surveyors walk through horse belly deep grass with measuring instruments planning the track for the railroad.

The railroad built a house for the surveyors on Silver Lake.

In the winner of 1879, Charles Ingalls and his family moved into the surveyor's house for the winter.

The original house can be visited at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society in De Smet.

It's the oldest structure existing in De Smet.

The Memorial Society is pleased to sponsor this performance of our Christmas Radio Play.

Homesteaders who lived and farmed on the prairie did so with grit and determination.

At the end of a long growing season, the farmers would take their grain, corn, wheat and oats to market hoping for the best price for their hard work.

For the past 83 years, farmers from all our areas have taken their crops to Prairie Ag Partners a cooperative that's dedicated to recognizing, meeting and exceeding customer needs.

Prairie Ag Partners a staunch supporter of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society.

An unusual career for a woman in 1947 was to become a clerical worker for an insurance company.

Mrs. Adam Grace Meyer Poppen marched successfully from her farm kitchen into the corporate world of De Smet Farm Mutual Insurance.

That company has always been about caring for its members' needs.

The B Poppen agency is a product of that need.

B Poppen is the fourth generation granddaughter of Grace Poppen.

Wide quiet tree shaded welcome streets welcomed visitors to De Smet.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's little town.

Home to 1100 residents.

So it's a good place for walking, taking in some history, visiting with friends and making new ones, eating and shopping.

When you're ready to rest your head after taking it all in, check at the Super Deluxe Inn to complete your stay.

And thank you Plum Crazy for your accompaniment.

This Christmas holiday is the one time of the year that we take the time to celebrate family, life in the pursuit of presents.

At least that's what our children like to think about the holidays.

How many of you out there can remember our children when they were young, determined to stay up all night waiting for Santa Claus?

Did you do that when you were young?

I'm sure we all have Christmas stories that are personal to us and to our families.

Fond memories of presents received both loved items and those whose history would include re gifting at a later time.

The Christmas stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder books her cherished icons of the literary world what each present meant to Laura and her family.

How much fun they had making things out of a little bit of nothing since money was scarce most of Laura's childhood.

Yet each gift was unique in its intent and wonderful for the connection that it made to the recipient.

Our story tonight is a story of presents received and presents re-gifted, but with a theme of charity and giving that straddles decades.

It's a story about people who may not be as famous as our Laura Ingalls Wilder, but who lived their lives in a way consistent with the best of us.

Lives that may be unsung in history but lives that made a connection to the communities they choose to share their lives with.

Sharing our lives with our community is a theme that is present with all of our sponsors.

And now, ladies and gentlemen let's get on with our Christmas play 2022.

It's called "A Barrel Full of Christmas Memories".

It's written by Snookie Stoddard from a story by Marian Cramer.

And it's directed by Haley Salem.

(guitar playing) (door closes) (footsteps approaching) (door closes) (footsteps approaching) - Hilda, so nice to see you.

- Yes, it warms my heart just being back in this room.

I've missed it so much.

And how have you been since you've taken over the library?

- I love it, just as much as you did when you were librarian I'm sure.

Oh, here, let me take your coat.

That's a lovely scarf.

I don't think I've ever seen one like it before.

- Oh, it's a cherished gift from an old friend.

I've had it for many years.

- So unusual.

It looks like I could tell a story.

- Oh, yes it has a heartbreaking and a life-affirming tale all at the same time.

- Tell me.

I love those kinds of stories.

They always give me hope.

- Hope, that's so funny.

You should use the word hope because that's all we had in those days.

Do you remember the 30s, the Depression?

No, of course not.

You are too young.

- And you're a wonderful age to be.

It shows me your eyes.

- Oh, you are so polite.

Yes, my eyes have seen a lot of years.

But back in those days I was young and in love.

I met my first husband, Mr. McKnight at General Beadle College.

Oh, that's Dakota State today.

We just finished our degrees but it was the Great Depression.

There were no jobs for anyone.

We looked and looked.

If we weren't so in love, we might have gotten depressed.

- Well, I know from history it was a terrible time.

- Oh, it was.

But finally we found work in Charles Mix County.

The county was creating a county poor farm.

Did you know that up until the 1970s and '80s, there were still poor farms across the State of South Dakota?

- No, poor farms?

I only think of Dickens when I hear things like that.

And I'm not sure that I even knew they existed around here.

- Oh, yes, they had been around since the 1880s and were codified into Dakota laws.

We were lucky enough and educated enough to be hired as the matron and superintendent of a brand new poor farm.

As a matter of fact, we started it up right then and there.

The county had taken possession of an old boarding school that the Depression had forced to close.

The superintendents were able to convince the county to rent it to the farm for $1 a year for 99 years.

(instruments playing) The only thing left in the buildings was a freezer and an old Delco Light Plant.

Oh, we to call that Delco Light Plant a generator system today.

Did you know that the Delco-Light Company would give you the entire generator plant if you memorize chapter five, six and seven of the book of Matthew and presented it to one of the company directors.

- "Blessed be the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn for they'll be comforted.

- Blessed be the meek for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

- Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.

- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

- Enough people memorized those chapters that the Light Plant was ours to use.

- During the 1930s?

I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for you and the county to care for all those that needed your help.

- Oh yes, it was hard, but we had lots of wonderful people.

Men who were too old to farm, but who could milk a cow.

(water pouring) Widows with children who would do the wash?

(squeaking) Men from World War I who were afraid of loud noises and guns going off.

(banging) But who could dig a garden.

We made do.

And it was during this time that one of the residents gave me this scarf.

- But it must have been a treasure to her.

- Yes it was.

And she told me the story of how she got it.

- [Jim] And Hilda closed her eyes.

And remembered the Christmas of the past.

The Christmas deep in the throes of the Great Depression.

Christmas that had a little hope for everyone, let alone the residents of the poor farm that she ran.

- Carol, you can't give me this scarf.

This is too much.

- No, this is not, it's for you.

I've had it a long time.

And it's time to go to another who will enjoy it like I have.

- Oh, it's so lovely.

Where did you get it?

And the colors.

Oh, it looks as though all of the colors in the world are trying to escape it.

- Yes, that's just the way I felt on the day I got it.

- Oh, Mrs. Mack, that was a day.

I remember it so well.

I was very young and my parents and I were going to town.

Our congregation had just built a new church in the summer.

But it was Christmas.

And Christmas barrel had come in from the church headquarters for all of us.

- A Christmas barrel?

Oh wait, I remember my parents talking about barrels for the poor.

- Sometimes they were for the poor but oftentimes they'd be sent from the eastern part of the America to those who live out here as luxuries for things they couldn't get in the new part of the country.

A lot of them, like ours would come come from the headquarters of the little churches that were in the towns.

But others came from people's families who lived back in the more populated areas of America.

I was so excited.

(bells jingling) - Welcome all to our humble Christmas festivities.

The Lutheran church of the Lord hasn't seen such a great place in such a long time.

My wife has tea and hot cocoa waiting for us.

Good morning.

- Good morning, pastor.

- Well, Mr. Jensen, how nice to see you and the girls.

Did you find hay for the horses?

- Oh, yes I did.

Thanks for taking care of the horses while we enjoyed the festivities.

- After all it's Christmas and our equine friends need some cheer too.

Please everyone take your seats.

The little ones are likely to burst if we don't get to the present giving.

(flute playing) - [Jim] As Carol, the girl with the scarf starts to tell Hilda about that Christmas of so long ago.

She thinks of the life she has traveled to get to this point in her life.

All the wonder and all of the pain that has brought her to this farm in Charles Mix County.

- First, let us sing a song of prayer and joy.

Lift up your hearts to the Lord.

♪ Lift up your hearts to the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise God's precious mercy ♪ ♪ Sing out you joy to the Lord ♪ ♪ Whose love is enduring ♪ ♪ Listen now all you servants of God ♪ ♪ As I tell of His great works ♪ ♪ Blessed be the Lord of my life ♪ ♪ Whose love is enduring ♪ That was wondrous folks.

I'd say the Lord hurt us all the way to His heavenly home.

Now, shall we see what our brethren have sent us from our mother church?

We worked very hard this past year to build this new church.

And the eastern authority is greatly pleased.

Let's see what they've sent us.

Shall we start with the gift giving?

- [Congregation] Yeah.

- Carol, why don't you help me with this barrel?

We'll hand things out together.

- Oh, reverend, oh, my.

- But reverend who'd want to wear an old pair of them long Johns.

It looks a bit needy, don't you think?

- Well, yes indeed, Joshua.

It does look like this set of underwear has had some prior use.

But I'll tell you what.

I know who might think these are just the right thing.

- [Congregation] Who reverend?

- Why think of our friends, the scarecrows.

They help us with defending our fields so that we have crops to sell.

Wouldn't they think this is a fine thing for a winter day?

- [Congregation] Oh, yeah.

- And my, my look at this, Mr. Teddy.

What fine fur you have and button eyes.

Now, who could we trust to cherish such a thing?

- I would take good care of it.

- And I can't think of a better person to keep this toy love for many years to come.

Ladies, ladies, does this very fashionable hat remind you of something, the color of the bright ribbon?

- It reminds me of something, but I just can't quite think of it.

- Well, why don't we turn and look at the beautiful coat Mrs. Hojer is wearing.

Wouldn't this hat look all the fashion with her new coat?

- Thank you reverend.

- And a wonderful holiday season to you.

Carol I think this beautiful piece of silk is just for you.

(instruments playing) - And Carol knew that this scarf had the story of her life written on it.

Each color and swirl would be a different story she would share with those who loved her and who she loved back.

A life that would have as many ups as it had downs.

A life unique as she was.

Yet even in that way that is similar to all the journeys we walk as part of this amazing universe we share.

As we share these stories tonight we'd like to pause for the final list of our sponsors for the evening.

An 1800s gold leaf sign pointed to a second story office that said, "Dr. Hickman upstairs."

The sign survived and sparkled for 70 years.

Lyle Signs of De Smet a longstanding major manufacturer and Laura's little town on the prairie knows the importance of good signage and takes great pride in their products.

Long ago, De Smet residents shopped at the Loftus Store which was loaded with barrels, baskets, Crocs and shelves stretching from floor to ceiling.

Today we enjoy getting together at De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse to enjoy coffee.

They have South Dakota State University ice cream, books and many other De Smet related gifts.

De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse.

Homesteaders carrying packed dishes to pass gathered in crowded church halls.

They were hungry for good food and good conversation.

The De Smet Event & Wellness Center is a place for family and friends to come for the same good food and conversation that our early descendants enjoyed so much.

A widowed Norwegian homesteader known as a healer shared making homemade onion poultices with her patients.

One of her patients said, "Survive the smell and be healed."

Ultimate is proud to be celebrating 21 years of manufacturing medical products for diabetes patients and pets in De Smet and is looking forward to many more great years in our town.

Charles Ingalls came to De Smet to keep books for the railroad and be their paymaster.

His sister Docia's husband, Hiram who was the railroad hiring agent said he needed Charles help.

Rhonda Siefker also came to De Smet to help by keeping books but not for the railroad.

Rhonda's specialty is ag tax issues.

In our Dakota homestead country.

An immigrant Abbey bought a wheelbarrow and filled it with needed groceries and household supplies.

He had no horse to pull it, but said, "I have shoes."

And he began walking to pedal his goods here in Dakota.

Maynard's Food Center in De Smet serves those needs now.

Maynard's is family owned.

And a one-stop shop where you will find everything you need.

And you'll be welcomed by friendly people just like Abbey.

A homestead wife declared, "Matthew I'll go to Dakota and we'll get a claim to get free land, a homestead.

But they tell me people are living in shacks and houses and even dugouts.

I just don't want to live in a sad house without a window like a gopher."

DeSCo windows, a De Smet based company since 1970 takes pride in their product manufacturing for both new construction and remodels.

With DeSCo, there's no gopher holes here.

Thank you for listening to our sponsors.

Without them, the 51 years of tradition that the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society has had would not have been possible.

The Pageant Society operating budget comes with a support of local people who give their time and energy all for the thanks of a job well done.

And with generosity of their sponsors.

If you would like to support this great tradition and local attraction please go online to DeSmetpageant.org.

And now ladies and gentlemen, let's return to our story.

(footsteps approaching) - It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

Colors all swirling in a way that made me think of lands far, far away.

- But that's why I can't take it.

It means so much to you.

- Oh, don't you see?

You must.

I've had it so long.

And I've had dreams of wonder just looking at it.

It's time someone else got to have those same dreams.

- Oh, Carol, that is lovely of you.

Oh, I thank you ever so much.

Oh, so you got it from the church barrel.

It makes you wonder what other treasures came out of all those barrels that made it to the prairie.

- I know.

Can you imagine how many other families or groups had the same fun as I did?

Although we all know one story that comes to mind.

One that's so famous here in South Dakota.

- [Jim] And of course she was referring to our own Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Who of us haven't read the story of the Christmas barrel?

(flute playing) (barrel banging) - Where'd you get this?

- Well, the trains are back to running.

The snow has finally melted enough so the trains can run on the track.

First train in brought it to us.

We can finally have our Christmas barrel.

- [Girls] Yes.

- All right, girls.

Let's see what Pa has brought us.

- Caroline, I think this just might fit you.

- Oh, Charles, how lovely.

A new coat.

- Oh, my, you look like royalty.

You gonna lace to the colors and cups.

Mary, it's beautiful blue with piping all around.

- Oh, Caroline, it is just the right color for you.

You look like the girl I saw the day I married you.

- Charles Ingalls, don't you go on like that.

You'll embarrass me.

- Let's see what else we got.

Oh, look at here.

Laura, why don't you try these on, about your size.

- Pa, these are just what I need.

It'll make walking to school much easier in the snow.

- Sure will.

Let me look again.

I don't know Carrie, what do you think?

Do I need a new doll.

I do like the color of this one's hair.

- No Pa, that doll has my color of hair.

I think she needs to be mine.

- Oh, Mary, what a lovely shawl.

It's the color of fall red apples with yellow and red and brown.

- Pa, it feels so soft with the baby lambs first.

- You can take this with you when you go away to school.

- Well, do you have any crickets?

It is in our Christmas turkey, still frozen.

(banging) (girls laughing) (violin playing) - Oh, yes.

I've forgotten that story.

- I always remember it when I look at my scarf and her shawl.

- Carol, your story tells me about all the great hearts there are in the world.

I just hope I can live up to the generosity you've shown me with this scarf.

- Oh, Mrs. Mack, you already have, don't you See?

You already have.

- And so the scarf has been with me ever since.

I'm planning on giving it to my daughter.

- Well, that's a wonderful story.

And let's hope you have many years to go before you pass that scarf along.

Hilda Larson married twice, once to Mr. McKnight and finally to Mr. Bjordahl.

Born 1906 and died 1995.

She was one of those quiet women of South Dakota.

She and her first husband built a poor farm from the ground up.

And created a living space for the needs of the people from the county with little more than hard work and good intentions.

Throughout her life she served the public good wherever she could find it.

She spent her last years as librarian of the De Smet Public Library, bringing the joy of reading to generations of students and townspeople.

We the people of De Smet, South Dakota and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Association honor her and her family for the service she provided.

(audience applauding) - [Jim] Thank.