WEST FARGO, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Longtime supporters of arts and culture across North Dakota and Cass County, the Alex Stern Family Foundation has provided a $5,000 grant to the Cass County North Dakota Historical Society to match funds pledged by Cass County to complete much needed infrastructure repairs to Bonanzaville’s iconic pioneer village.

The Cass County North Dakota Historical Society (CCNDHS) is the cultural institution in charge of telling the county story, as well as preserving and collecting artifacts connected to the county’s history. CCNDHS owns and operates a museum, event center and prairie village that sits on 12 acres of land in West Fargo, North Dakota called Bonanzaville. Bonanzaville includes a large main museum, 36 historic buildings, a carriage house, car museum, air museum, tractor museum, agricultural museum, and law enforcement museum. Educating 30,000 plus visitors each year on the History of Cass County North Dakota!

The Alex Stern Family Foundation supports the arts, social welfare/human services, education, youth recreation, civic projects and health issues for the benefit of the greater Fargo-Moorhead area. Alex Stern was born in Illinois in 1858 and came to Fargo, North Dakota in 1880 to found Alex-Stern & Company. In 1883 he married Bertha Kaufman, the couple had three sons, William born in 1886; Sam born in 1888; and Edward born in 1896. Alex Stern was active in the community having been mayor for four years, a member of the State Legislature, City Commissioner for four years, City Alderman for three terms and a member of the school board for three terms.