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Luverne was one of two cities that hosted a preview event for “Landmarks of Minnesota: Keeping History Alive,” a potential new program for Pioneer Public Television.
PBS officials, the program’s host, and the producer attended the Feb. 27 preview event at the Palace Theatre.
Madison, Minnesota, hosted a similar event last week.
The 16-minute preview featured six out of the 17 churches, schoolhouses and barns featured in the hourlong documentary that is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. Saturday on Pioneer channel.
Minnesota photographer and author Doug Ohman is the featured narrator and interviewer of everyday people and their connection to a Minnesota landmark.
Ohman of New Hope told an audience of about 90 individuals in Luverne about the year he spent roaming southern Minnesota with videographer and Pioneer Channel’s production director Tim Bakken from Appleton.
“Of all the buildings on our land, our churches tell our stories more than any other structure,” he said.
Ohman contacted local historical societies, inquiring about landmarks in their area.
Rock County Historical Society president Betty Mann directed Ohman to the Blue Mound Lutheran Church.
The church closed in 1972 and currently conducts a once-a-year service the third Sunday in September, according to Dick Remme, who shared his memories with Ohman in the preview.
Randy Remme and Victoria Smook also shared memories about attending the church located in Vienna Township.
Ohman also stopped at the History Center in Luverne, focusing on the center’s display on churches in Rock County. He included his interview with Mann in the documentary.
The preview also featured rural schools and churches in Cottonwood County and a barn in Pipestone County.
Ohman is an author of 14 books that feature photographs he has taken the past 20 years roaming the state.
His most popular book is “Barns of Minnesota.”
Video is a new venue for sharing Ohman’s work.
“We wanted to do something to bring his books to life,” Bakken said.
The result is the “Landmarks of Minnesota” that Bakken hopes becomes a regular PBS program.
Continuation of “Landmarks” depends on viewer response. Airing of the program kicks off the public channel’s spring fundraising campaign.