Pioneer Village gets restoration help from volunteer group
MINDEN, NEB. — How would you like to jump in an RV and travel across the country with strangers?
Restoring American History is a challenge these volunteers are willing to take on.
From Buffalo Bill’s saddle to an original 1906 Ford car, taking care of many priceless items requires a hand or two, which is where volunteers come in.
“There’s so much work that needs to be done," said Shar Roos, owner of A Year 2 Volunteer (Y2V).
Arizona natives Phil and Shar Roos started the non-profit traveling by RV improving parks and historic sites like Pioneer Village.
“If you make it easy, people will show up and swing a hammer or paint a building, you just have to make it easy, so that’s what we do. We organize the project, put them together, and people show up and do what they enjoy," said Shar.
Take for instance the old carousel, which may not look like much, but Y2V is hoping to restore it back to its original state.
For Alabama native Susan Spencer, enjoyment and community services are one and the same.
“It’s kept us busy, especially during the COVID lockdowns. We were used to doing mission work with our church back in Alabama," said Spencer.
Working alongside the Y2V volunteers is President of Pioneer Village Larry Wilcox.
“It’s a neat group of people. It’s like giving some kids a Mountain Dew and chocolate bar in the morning and the way they take off and they go until 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon. We’re very excited to have (them) around," said Wilcox.
Apart from the excitement of having volunteers, Wilcox said another adventure was being featured on American Pickers.
“They said they’ve been in like thirty museums and they said this was one of the most unique museums they’ve been in.”
‘Most Unique’ isn’t the only words you could use to describe Pioneer Village.
Try American History which these volunteers are preserving, one paintbrush at a time.
Y2V's visit to the Cornhusker State was their 17th state and counting.
