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Home
On The Range
Home On The Range was established in 1950, when Father Elwood E. Cassedy and three boys moved into a granary converted to living quarters on the former ranch owned by Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Lievens of Sentinel Butte, North Dakota. The couple gave their 960-acre ranch to Father Cassedy, after reading of his dream to establish a home for boys in the country. What followed was a flood of smaller contributions from interested individuals and groups willing to sacrifice for the "dream" to come true. In 1955, as the program began to grow and serve more residents in larger quarters, Father William Fahnlander joined Father Cassedy in providing for the needs of the boys. Shortly after Father Cassedy's death in 1959, Father Fahnlander became superintendent of the ranch facility. For over thirty years, he was "father" to literally hundreds of boys in need of support, encouragement, discipline and love. Home On The Range emerged into a new era of services by welcoming girls to the facility in August 1990. The Home On The Range Board of Directors believed we had a moral and social responsibility in recognizing that boys and girls experience the same kinds of problems. Home On The Range has established a reputation of developing and providing realistic and successful programs. Many national programs have proven that interaction between boys and girls can be handled positively, safely and successfully, helping these young people of both sexes to once again enter the mainstream of everyday life as productive, caring citizens.
HOTR 50th Anniversary Time-line 1908 1911 1921 1923-31 1928 1938 1939-40 1941 1943 1944 *April 25 - Cassedy is ordained as a priest by Most Reverend Bishop Vincent Ryan in Bismarck, and given charge of three widely separated missions: Wing, Menoken and Driscoll. At the same time becomes assistant chaplain at St. Alexius Hospital. 1946 1947 *Fr. Cassedy serves a chaplain at St. Alexius Hospital, Bismarck, director of charities for the diocese, superintendent of St. Mary’s Cemetery and a teacher on staff of St. Mary’s High School 1949 *Edward and Emma Lievens read article in Bismarck Tribune about Fr. Cassedy’s dream to start a boys’ ranch. Nearing retirement, they deed the land to Fr. Cassedy. *Bishop Ryan releases Fr. Cassedy from his parish assignment to devote his efforts full-time to setting up the boys’ ranch *During winter of 49-50, Fr. Cassedy travels North Dakota and his home state of New Jersey to raise funds for the ranch. Remodeling of a wooden granary on the ranch begins. *December 28, 1949 - Home On The Range for Boys is incorporated under laws of the State of North Dakota. Incorporators were: Vincent J. Ryan, Bishop of Bismarck, ND; J.J. Rath, Vicar General of The Diocese of Bismarck; Elwood E. Cassedy; T. Clem Casey; and Ray Schnell. *December 30 Bismarck Tribune: Fr. Cassedy announced Friday that a 940-acre (960?) ranch near Sentinel Butte has been donated for the establishment of a home and agricultural and trade school for delinquent boys. 1950 *February - Fr. Cassedy travels to Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home, Boys Town, Nebraska, to learn from Rev. Monsignor Nicholas H. Wegner, director. *July 28, 1950 - three boys welcomed into remodeled granary on former Lievens farmstead: Eddie Schwartz; Leonard Schwartz; Harvey Gifford. *August 31 - Excavation work begins on basement of new dormitory/all purpose building *September 24 - benefit rodeo held at the American Legion Rodeo Grounds, Medora 1951 *October 27 - first official inspection of ranch (had six boys between the ages of 13 and 16. Staff consisted of Fr. Cassedy, farm supervisor and a cook.) *Present Administration Building is completed; designed to house 28-35 boys *First Christmas appeal letter is sent to supporters: mentions 43 head of cattle; 20 calves; 62 chickens; 7 pigs; 22 rabbits; 9 horses; 5 dogs 1952 1953 1954 *Fr. Cassedy addresses his first National Eagles Convention in Chicago 1955 1956 *Eagle Hall adopted as national program at Pittsburgh Grand Aerie Convention 1957 *May 19 - 1st Champions Ride Match Rodeo is held *October 26 - Fr. Cassedy suffers his first heart attack 1958 *Boys from Home On The Range help build Burning Hills Amphitheater. A crew of 10-12 boys work daily, from the time school got out the end of May until June 23. Boys also took part in the drama itself: appearing as cowhands, vigilantes, controlling lights. *Census of 31 boys *Fr. Cassedy unable to attend National Eagles convention, recuperating from his heart attack *Fr. Fahnlander becomes acting superintendent *December: Fr. Cassedy returns to visit the 28 boys at HOTR 1959 *Sunday May 24 - Ground breaking ceremony for Eagle Hall at 1 p.m.; Champions Ride Bronc Riding Match at 2 p.m. *October 1 - Fr. Cassedy returns to ranch after a 2-year rest; pens the annual Christmas appeal letter *October 15 - Fr. Cassedy dies from a second heart attack at the age of 51 *October 19 - Pontifical Requiem Funeral Mass held at St. John’s Church, Beach. Sermon delivered by Most Reverend Hilary B. Hacker, Bishop of Bismarck *Fr. Fahnlander named superintendent 1960 *Benefit performance of Old Four Eyes at Burning Hills Amphitheater *Caged layers added to farm 1961 *Champions Ride moves from May to August *40 boys now at ranch 1963 *56 beef cattle; 38 milk cows, plus pigs *Over 200 boys have called the ranch home *Ranch borrowed money to purchase a quarter of tillable land, bringing ranch to 1,100 acres 1964 *June - Minnesota FOEs purchase International 806 square baler for the ranch, present it at Minnesota FOE Convention in Faribault 1965 *FOE Auxiliaries collecting stamps for school bus 1966 *June - Fr. Cassedy named among 25 "Heroes of Dakota" by historian Bob Kunkel. Others in the group: entertainer Peggy Lee; commentator Eric Sevareid; home run king Roger Maris. *August - Eagles Auxiliaries present new 42-passenger school bus to ranch; earned through Gold Bond Stamp’s *Laying flock increased to 7,000 - provides work of 8 boys 1968 1969 *August - Fr. Fahnlander receives "The Ten Commandments Award" at the International Eagles Convention in Minneapolis. (At that time, he was only the 4th clergyman to be recognized.) 1970 *Beef cattle herd phased out 1971 *Construction began on new dairy barn to house 110 cows; currently milking 30 1972 *Ranch produces all its own meat, milk, eggs and vegetables; staff of 17; 10 horses for riding *November - Grade A operation includes 86 cows in a confinement barn *48 boys on census; 17 staff 1975 *Census of 48 boys; over 600-650 former boys 1977 1978 *Fr. Fahnlander appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Beach, in addition to his duties at St. Michael’s and HOTR 1979 *Champions Ride becomes full PRCA rodeo 1980 1981 *Reality therapy is added to the work program at the ranch *Champions Ride celebrates 25th anniversary 1982 1983 *80-cow Grade A dairy; ranch pasteurizes 100 gallons of milk every week for its own use. Ranch also raises it own beef, pork and most of the garden produce and feed for the herds *Completed Brunet Hall; named after Carl Brunet, Cedar Knolls, NJ, a friend of Fr. Cassedy’s 1984 1985 *Champions Ride returns to matched bronc riding, eliminates PRCA events 1986 *Fr. Fahnlander observes 40th anniversary of priesthood 1987 *Dakota State Eagles Aeries purchase 27 Gelbvieh heifers for ranch; ladies Auxiliaries buy two bulls *December 31 - Fr. Fahnlander retires in December after 32 years with the ranch. He continues to serve as chaplain and on the board of directors; is given the title superintendent emeritus 1988 1989 *April - HOTR Program Director visits Boys Town to develop a training program specifically for HOTR *October - HOTR Capital Campaign kicks off. Money raised will allow for addition of girls as well as general updating of buildings. First capital campaign since 1959 when Eagles raised money to build Eagle Hall *Eagles Grand Worthy President Dale Webster, presents HOTR with a $10,000 Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund grant on behalf of the Grand Auxiliary. He and GMP Kathy Gonzagowski encourage Aeries and Auxiliaries to join in the cause of raising money to expand program to include girls. 1990 *Spring - new sewage system installed *Staff four-plex remodeled for girls dorm; first residents arrives August 20 *Montana Governor Stan Stephens invites HOTR to expand services for girls to eastern Montana 1991 *July 1 - Fr. Fahnlander retires from service to the parishes of St. John and St. Michael; serves as Priest in Residence at Christ the King Parish, Mandan *July - Fr. Fahnlander inducted into the Eagle Auxiliary Hall of Fame at International Convention held in Cincinnati 1992 *Spring - new 10,000 gallon water storage tank buried behind Cassedy Hill *August - Casey Hall rededicated after extensive renovations 1993 *September - HOTR purchases home on 65 acres near Glendive for girls’ residence *November - Big Sky Ranch opens; licensed for 8 girls 1994 *Bernie Keller names first HOTR Alumni Award winner *October - HOTR purchases St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Sentinel Butte, after the parish closes. The building is renamed St. Michael’s Retreat Center and is used for workshops, retreats and public events. 1995 *Tom Newman, Glen Burnie, Maryland, accepts alumni award *June - Diocese of Bismarck holds Town and Country Celebration at HOTR *November - Fargo’s Adolescent Dependency Task Force approaches Home On The Range about operating a facility in eastern North Dakota; planning begins for Red River Victory Ranch 1996 *Spring - Construction begins on Red River Victory Ranch, Fargo *May - Leon Lorz is selected as alumni award winner *June - Fr. Fahnlander celebrates 50 years in the priesthood *August - 40th annual Champions Ride Rodeo *September - Fr. Fahnlander receives the Ruth Meiers Service to Children Award from the ND Conference of Social Welfare 1997 *April - HOTR receives national accreditation from Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children *Lyle Bohn named alumni award winner *October - Winston Satran resigns as executive director after 12 years *December - Randy Satrom becomes executive director 1998 *December - Big Sky Ranch celebrates is 5th anniversary: 53 girls have made the ranch their home 1999 *March - Red River Victory Ranch students attend alternative classroom in Fargo *May - Patrick Petermann named executive director *Ed Dohman presented with alumni award *HOTR Foundation legally incorporated with State of North Dakota *Sentinel Butte Ranch opens alternative on-ranch classroom
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