Movie crew films at Fulton’s Heritage Canyon

FULTON – Wierenga’s Heritage Canyon recently hosted film crews for “My Heart Remembers,” a movie based on the book by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Members of the Early American Crafters assisted with costuming, catering and served as extras for the crew as they filmed on a scorching hot day in July.

Co-producers Melissa and Melinda Meyers had been hoping to produce the film for years. Director Stephen Folker arranged to film in the canyon at 515 N. Fourth St. with the help of the Early American Crafters.

“We loved working with Stephen and we had lots of extras in the movie,” said Elizabeth Keller of the Early American Crafters, who are volunteers for the 1800s village. “I had three granddaughters in it and my daughter had a speaking role. Stephen contacted us to help with costuming.”

Over the course of the week, extras from the Early American Crafters assisted with the filming.

“This is our first movie, but we put on at least three major festivals during the year,” Keller said. “It’s an authentic 1870 village and the next festival is the first Saturday in October. We dress in period authentic clothes and we use the buildings as they would have been used in the past. Come visit us at the canyon.”

Folker said it can be difficult to get film projects going.

“My producing partner, Melinda Meyers, found the book a decade ago in a bookstore,” Folker said. “She really liked the book, connected with it and decided to contact the author in order to make a film out of it. The production hit a bit of a standstill and so Melinda connected with me over social media. At this point, I had put out a trailer for a thriller and Melinda found my work one day and we met for lunch to try and get the film going.”

Set in the early 1800s, the screenplay follows a girl named Isabell Stanler who is stripped of her inheritance. She goes to her fiancé for help, and when he discovers her disinheritance, he sends her away. She goes from a life of privilege to being destitute. It’s a story of discovery and redefining her process.

Folker is a filmmaker who wears many hats. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, and is based in the Quad Cities.

“When I go anywhere, I keep my eye out for Victorian houses or old cars and keep a mental note,” he said. “You never know when you might need something for a film. I’m pretty outgoing and I have no problem going up to someone and asking if we can film something in their yard.

“As far as my background goes, I’ve been making independent films since 2010. In the pandemic, I was hired by Iowa PBS and shortly later asked to film for new episodes for a true crime show called ‘Killer Cases,’ which is available on Hulu. I get hired to produce, or in this case co-produce, edit and direct the cinematography of films. We have a really good crew and I like to support talent that would not usually get to work on major projects, though we have some bigger actors, too, like Julie Piekarski, who is featured in roles from shows like ‘Facts of Life’ and ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ ”

Folker was familiar with Heritage Canyon and thought its unique features would be perfect for the movie.

“I’m also a full-time photographer, and as a filmmaker, I’m always on the lookout for new locations,” he said. “I’ve been to Heritage Canyon many times over the years and I always thought that it would be a good location for a film. It’s a little gem of a location, but that works to your advantage when filming. I connected with Mark and Tori Wade, who asked permission from the city to film there. It’s a great opportunity for the city. Eventually, when the film comes out and goes on the film festival circuit, it gets extra eyes on the location.”

Folker connected with Keller to have extras from the Early American Crafters be involved with the filming.

“When I was down at the canyon, I asked if they had reenactors who could come down. They said, ‘Oh, yeah’, and immediately I wanted their information. These people have costumes, they like putting on costumes and they’ll know how people walk and act during this time period,” Folker said. “These folks are troopers, too. On the first day of filming, I guarantee it had to be over 100 degrees. They were out in the sun for a couple of hours for an additional scene and they didn’t waver. You could tell they were used to putting those costumes on and riding it out.”

Asked how much filming still needs to be done and when the editors will take over the process, Folker said, “On this project, the co-producers are twins, Melissa and Melinda, who help with costuming, wardrobe, locations, food and script supervisor. Outside of that, I’m the filmographer, director, producer and editor. It’s very outside the norm to have the director fill as many hats.”

Folker said he was attracted to the story for a variety of reasons.

“It’s a little bit different. The book has a bit of faith-based elements, but when I read the script, I took away a very fun historical story. It’s a story of discovery and a young woman redefining her life,” he said. “It’s a really good screenplay and I do think it’s a very good story. I thought it was a good period piece and as someone who grew up watching ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ it’s fun. When we’re filming without air conditioning and in costume I think it adds to the realism of the filming.

“If somebody is interested in acting or perhaps they have a project they’ve been hoping to get off the ground, hit me up. Maybe we can get something going. I also like it if they have a really cool location they want to tell me about. I think in order to support other artists and keep the arts alive, we have to keep making art. I think a lot of other artists get stagnant and hit these brick walls and give it up when in reality that’s when they should keep making as much art as possible.”

To follow Folker’s work, visit folkerfilms.com.

Heritage Canyon’s background

• Mid-1800s-1954: The canyon was a limestone quarry where rock was crushed for field fertilizer, road beds, wing dams and levees. Trucks, trains and river barges hauled it away.
• 1954-1967: The quarry was abandoned in 1954 because dynamiting sound blasts were damaging both sides of the Mississippi River. The area became an eyesore to the community with its junk and dilapidated shacks.
• 1967-1999: In 1967, Harold and Thelma Wierenga bought the quarry. They converted the machine shop into a usable workshop and built their home on the site of the old rock crusher. They changed the quarry, keeping two goals in mind: preserve Midwestern history, emphasizing detail and authenticity, and disturb nature as little as possible as each building is added.
• 1999-present: After the passing of Harold Wierenga in January 1999, his daughter and son-in-law maintained the Canyon for several years. However, the volunteer task of maintaining the Canyon was simply too much for the couple. In October 2005, the city of Fulton was given ownership of Heritage Canyon. In October 2007, Thelma Wierenga passed away. A memorial for Harold and Thelma is on display near the entrance into the Canyon. The Canyon now is maintained by an on-site caretaker, a dedicated public works person and the Early American Crafters.