Winds don't deter history buffs on LCHS Fall Tour

By Norma Kraemer, LCHS President

The fall Lawrence County Historical Society had a great tour on Saturday, September 28.  The weather was bright and sunny, although high winds followed us on our route.  About 25 people drove to the various locations that started with the Anderson Ranch near Whitewood. 

Whitewood native Elaine Albrandt (left) poses with Hank Frawley (right) in front of her painting of the James Anderson Ranch, drawn from a circa 1890 photo.

We were blessed with Hank Frawley being our host and guide to his great grandparents’ ranch. He has spent the last few decades trying to restore the historic buildings that made up a very successful dairy farm before the turn of the 20th Century.  Most of the restoration is completed, which was aided by Deadwood Historic Preservation grants. 

Touring historic Anderson Ranch near Whitewood

The Anderson Ranch had beautiful stone construction that needed major renovation.  Hank found it better to gut the structures, repair the exterior walls, and redo the interiors.  He talked of the challenges of finding historically accurate materials to do the job right.  He also showed us some of the other artifacts found during restoration and talked of how the location of the ranch has probably been a popular place for human habitation for thousands of years, based on the Indian artifacts found.  Because of the spring that supplies water year round at about 40°F, it made the dairy possible before there was electricity. 

Little Dane Church

After over an hour at the Anderson Ranch we headed to the Little Dane Church to view the historic church and cemetery.  While no longer an active congregation, the church and its well-maintained cemetery are a tribute to the Scandinavian settlers along Dry Creek, south of St. Onge.

We then proceeded to the Minuteman Missile site K-05 as we drove towards St. Onge.  After explaining its significance during the Cold War, Vernon Davis talked about his experiences as a contractor in maintaining the sites. 

Next on the tour was a picnic lunch at the St. Onge City Park.  Thank goodness the park had a windbreak so we had a respite from the wind.  After showing historic pictures of early St. Onge and Vernon Davis talking about what we would be seeing we set out on a walking tour of the town to see what remains today.  

An historic building (1910) in St. Onge

Then we drove up to the Rodeo Grounds to see the tombstone of Jimmy Irons.  Headed back to St. Onge we looked at the abandoned school that had an enrollment at one time of 100 students, the last remaining church, the UCC church and then the city cemetery that has two entrances, one for the Catholics and one for the Protestants.  Vernon Davis had grown up in the area and added unique insights to the area history that is much appreciated. 

After this successful tour, we need to start thinking Spring and where we can go next?  

(Note:  Thanks to Sam Namminga, Mary Gallup-Livingston, and Norma Kraemer for sharing photos!  You'll find a wide array of photographs in our LCHS Gallery)

Great weather…great tour…Thank You, Whitewood!

by Norma Kraemer

The Spring Tour of the Lawrence County Historical had 42 participants sign in for a day of perfect weather as we toured the ghost town of Crook City, SD and the survivor of 125 years Whitewood, SD.  The city of Whitewood were our hosts for the day and outdid themselves in teaching us about the history of their town. 

We started the day with the group driving to the site of Crook City.  Jerry Bryant did a great presentation on the location of the old town with a collection of old photographs he used to take us back in time when it was a bustling mining town. When the railroad chose Whitewood as its terminus, it was the death knell of Crook City. Mary Livingston, the Whitewood historian who made the arrangements for the rest of the day, met us at the Crook City location and then led us to Whitewood, pointing out the location of the old railroad bed that went between Whitewood and Deadwood. 

The next location to visit was the Senior Citizen Center in Whitewood, where a delicious lunch waited for us.  The group enjoyed the soup and sandwiches before going on the walking tour of Whitewood (photo above) that Mary led with the assistance of Whitewood Mayor Deb Schmidt. 

Whitewood is observing the 125th anniversary of the town's founding this year, and Mary Livingston has been researching its history. She distributed a great brochure that showed the historic buildings and their stories.  It included the Lane Hotel, the Jones Building, the Uhlig Store, theBonniwell Building, the Whitewood Banking Company Building, the Methodist Church, the Danish-American Creamery, the Whitewood School, and the United Presbyterian Church. At each location the story of Whitewood and its residents unfolded by the able storytellers.  

City Hall had a display of historic photos for all to read and enjoy and the Presbyterian Church windows, dating from about 1911 were enjoyed by all before we ended the wonderful tour with pie and coffee served in the fellowship hall.  

The people of Whitewood made it a pleasure to have our annual Spring Tour.  Thank you!

Editor's note:  Visit our Spring Tour Photo Gallery to get a glimpse of this great tour.

More than 100 persons participate in the Fall Tour

by Norma Kraemer

LCHS President

Forest Service archaeologist Marissa Karchut gave a 

wonderful presentation on the history and restoration 

of the Friendship Tower atop Mount Roosevelt.

The Greek goddess of the day, Hemera, smiled on the Lawrence County Historical Society's Fall Tour on Sunday, September 23.  People signed in for the car caravan with a total of 106 people participating in at least part of the tour.  While a car caravan of the size involved was akin to herding cats, everyone was extremely cooperative to make it work.  At our first stop 84 made it the half mile up the trail to the Friendship Tower.  After people had a chance to wander around and check things out, Marissa Karchut of the U.S. Forest Service gave a great presentation on the history of the tower to honor President Theodore Roosevelt.  After she was done,LCHS member Dr. David Wolff, who wrote a biography on Seth Bullock the instigator of the tower, added real depth the significance of the historic marker. 

After everyone hiked down to the parking lot we ate our lunches and then headed downhill to the site of Deadwood Dick's cabin. LCHS member Michael Runge, the Deadwood Archivist, gave a thorough history of the Pine Crest Campground and Deadwood Dick's cabin complete with visual props that worked in a rustic setting. 

The caravan headed out to the parking lot of the old Roo Ranch along Boulder Canyon, where Jerry Bryant discussed the short-lived Deadwood Harness Racing Track.  Then I talked about the first plane to fly at Deadwood in 1912, taking off from the same hay meadow as the racetrack and landing at the rodeo grounds in Deadwood.

Tour participants explore Barker's Cave, perched on
the side of Whitewood Canyon Creek.

The last parade of cars headed back toward Deadwood and turned right on Whitewood Creek Road.  Much of the road is an old railroad bed with several railroad bridges converted to automobile traffic.  Eventually, Jerry Bryant said it was time to park and explore on foot.  So members explored the railroad tunnel, Barker's Cave, and observed the Natural Bridge from near Barker's Cave across the narrow valley.  Heading back to town we could see the site of Montana City, the slag pile, and the location of wagons being lowered into the canyon before modern roads were constructed. 

A good time was had by all. One man signing in at the start reported that he had given up Sunday football to bring his family on the tour.  I suspect he didn't regret his decision to see the gorgeous fall leaves and scenery that graced the entire trip.

Now we need to plan where we are going for the Spring Tour!

Editor's Note:  Visit our LCHS Fall Tour Gallery to see more photos of the tour!

Despite rain.....Historic Homes Tour a success!

More than 80 people joined the Lawrence County Historical Society for its first Historic Homes Tour yesterday (5/22/11) in historic Deadwood.

Despite relentless rains that had swollen creeks around the area, tour participants began aggregating at the Homestake Adams Archives and Cultural Center (HARCC) shortly after noon, eager to get started on the adventure.

“We were delighted with the turnout,” said event chairman Jeannine Guern. “It was a new experience for us, and we hope to build on this opportunity and create even better tours in the future.”

The Louie LeLonde home was one of five homes
included in the LCHS Historic Homes Tour.

Bad weather and reducing the number of homes on the tour from seven to five didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of participants.

“This was a wonderful experience – rich with history,” one young man told LCHS volunteers after the tour.

For the Lawrence County Historical Society (LCHS), the event netted more than $800.

The society is deeply grateful to the owners of the historic homes included in the tour. They not only allowed participants to come in to their homes – they enriched the experience by sharing information and stories about the historic structures.  You'll find additional photos and narrative information in our LCHS Gallery.

Our sincere thanks go to: Louie LaLonde, Raven Van Tassell, Lynn Namminga, Larry Kracht, and Dustin and Laura Floyd. Without their participation and support, the tour simply could not have succeeded.

The  Dustin & Laura Floyd home is in the midst
of significant restoration and improvement.

Bruce Oberlander of Dakota Graphics was great help with our posters and other print materials, while Mary Kopco and staff at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center were unwavering in their support for this event.

Lots of LCHS volunteers worked long and hard to ensure the success of the tour. Among them: Donna Watson, Jeannine Guern, Lynn Namminga, Jacke Mitchell, Linda Bryant, Norma Kraemer, Judy Farris, Larry Miller, Marshall Raeburn, Mike Runge, as well as Sam and Linda Namminga.  Also, a tip of the hat to Deadwood Trolley driver Richard Marsolek, who did a superb job of shuttling people as needed between locations.  Of course, the assistance and support from the City of Deadwood, which provided the Trolley, was invaluable.

By the way, you'll find a nice set of interior photographs of the Lynn Namminga home in our Namminga Gallery. 

Many thanks to both First Gold and Four Aces casinos for donating free dinners to two lucky tour participants: Barbara Ayer of Nemo and Doug Kraft of Belle Fourche.  Congratulations Barbara and Doug!

Spring Tour: a few notes and photos

Weather put a damper on plans for the original LCHS Spring Tour in June, but it turned a new leaf in July and provided a very nice day for a tour through several sites in Lawrence and Butte County.

Veteran member Vernon Davis provided the background as a group of morning folks gathered at the Spearfish City Park to begin the tour. Within the park area, there's an old stone grain storage building, artifacts from an old flour mill, a Pioneer Memorial that used to grace downtown Spearfish, and more. Not far from the entry to the park is the site of an old stockade that was built to protect local folks just after the Custer massacre.
                     

Next on the itinerary was St. Onge and the burial site of Jimmy Irion (Iron), the gent hired by the Boughton and Beary Ranch to serve as a lookout against indians while men worked in the nearby hay fields. Irion and several other men were killed by indians on September 10, 1876, and buried atop the bluff where he had died.

A stop at the location of old Minnesela was next, and tour members were able to take a first-hand look at the structure believed to be the only surviving building from the once-thriving community that rivaled Belle Fource as a center of commerce in the area. That building is shown in the photo above at right, as tour members inspected it.

Although we don't have tour day photos from the planned stop at the Center of the Nation Museum and the adjacent log cabin that belong to "Buckskin" Johnny Spaulding, we did click some on a preview trip taken a few months ago. Those preview photos, along with a few others taken by Jerry Bryant during the July 10 tour, can be found in our Historical Marker Gallery.  One of the most delightful spots on the tour route was Cox's Lake. We extracted the photo shown here from a neat panorama shot that Jerry Bryant took on the day of the tour. It's in the gallery, too. The lake is along the route taken by the Colonel Nelson Cole Expedition of 1865. You can see Crow Peak in the background at right, as Vernon Davis shares information about this site.

As others provide more information -- and any photos -- we'll add them to this location.

Wild Wyoming!

About 20 people joined us last weekend (9/20/09) for the Fall Tour of the Lawrence County Historical Society – providing a close-up view of coal mining and other early history of our neighbors in Crook County Wyoming.

Bus driver Billy Vaughn of Dakota Bus Service helped members load up for the day-long trek from the parking lot at Black Hills State University in Spearfish to multiple sites in and around Aladdin and Sundance, Wyoming.

We heard comments like “wonderful,” “terrific,” and “let’s do it again!”

Between LCHS President Jerry Bryant and members Jim Weaver and Vernon Davis, there was lots of information relayed en route to our various destinations.

Vernon talked about a few landmarks near Belle Fourche, including old Minnesela, the route used by the Lakota Sioux when they returned from the 1876 battle at the Little Big Horn, the brick factory, the old railroad track bed, and the site of the old Black Hills Power & Light plant. He also shared stories about his great uncle, “Buckskin” Johnny Spalding, one of the many colorful characters whose lives helped create the fabric of western lore.

Jim Weaver pointed out some of the trail used by Custer’s troops during the 1874 expedition into the Black Hills. It followed Wyoming Highway 111 for several miles, including land now ranched by one of Jim’s cousins.

Many folks who’ve raced westward across Wyoming Highway 24 on their way to Hulett and Devil’s Tower have stopped to visit the Aladdin General Store, but few of them have taken the time to explore the Aladdin Coal Tipple, lurking behind the trees on the north side of the road just before arriving in Aladdin.

The tipple is a delight! Built in about 1898 as part of coal mining operations in the Aladdin area, it is believed to be one of the last historic wooden coal tipples remaining in the west. From here, coal was loaded on to rail cars of the old Wyoming and Missouri River Railroad short line for the 18-mile transport to the Chicago and Northwestern Railway line in Belle Fourche.

One of the signs at the site notes that “The tipple consists of two distinct parts: the coal bin, which is the large gable-roofed structure (uphill portion) and the chutes (downhill portion). The gable-roofed structure would receive and store the coal for the sorting and loading process. When the door at the bottom of the bin was opened, the tapered, funnel shape of the bin floor would gravity feed the coal to the chute system…remains of a catwalk are visible on the east side of the tipple. From the catwalk, the tipple operator would coax the coal down the chute, pulling and poking the coal with a handled tool.”

Many of our LCHS tour group navigated to the top of the hill, which overlooks the tipple and allows closer examination of the coal bin, mine entrance, hoist house and air ventilation shaft. In 1899, as many as 80 workers were employed by the mine, and it produced some 7,402 tons of coal.

From the tipple, the tour went to the Aladdin General Store, a place where you’ll find a little bit of everything. Folks who’ve not spent time poring through the merchandise and historical artifacts are missing a great opportunity. Built in 1892, the two-story structure remains a highlight for visitors to this Crook County community of 15 persons!

We retreated across the road from the store to the City Park for a picnic lunch and a briefing by local historian Pam Thompson, who recounted the rich history of Aladdin and the surrounding area, including the tipple.

We’ve included more information and photographs about Pam’s talk–and the entire tour–in our LCHS Photo Gallery.

Then it was off to the Crook County Museum in Sundance, via the route used by Custer in 1874 while he was exploring the Black Hills region. Jim Weaver provided great information about the Custer route along the way.

The museum staff in Sundance went above and beyond the call of duty, coming out on a Sunday to share their hospitality and knowledge of area history. Situated on the lower level of the Crook County Courthouse, the museum claims over 7,000 artifacts, including dioramas of Devil’s Tower, Vore Buffalo Jump, the Custer Expedition, and the first experimental nuclear power plant. Of course, there’s loads of information about Harry Longabaugh, who gained notoriety as the “Sundance Kid,” well-know partner of the infamous Butch Cassidy. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday in the months of June, July and August. And it’s free! You can find more information on the web at Crook County Museum.

Leaving the museum, our group was met with dark clouds, rain, and a bit of wind. Nonetheless, temptation called and several of the group hiked up the street to partake of generously-portioned ice cream cones. “A bit of wind” may be an understatement for the weather we experienced in the vicinity of Warren Peak. By the time we arrived at the historic fire watchtower, only a part of the group was bold enough to scale the steps up several flights for a more rare view of the region. Alas, the nasty weather cut short our panoramic view of Bear Lodge and surrounding area.

Weather and time necessitated that we bypass the Vore Buffalo Jump near Beulah. So much to see, so much to do. So little time.

Such is the plight of history buffs! But chalk up the Fall Tour as another great experience for many LCHS members.

Ft. Meade Tour

By Jim Weaver

Society members and guests gathered at Ft. Meade on Sunday, June 21, 2009, for lectures, a video presentation, a tour of its history museum, and a guided tour of the grounds of this historic military reservation.

Among the subjects covered were base layout and architecture; life as a Calvary post, CCC camp, and German POW camp; location of the Ute Indian camp, and the Historic Cemetery. The post currently serves as a Veterans Hospital and a National Guard training facility. Many of the residential buildings house personnel that are associated with these activities.

The Black Hills National Cemetery is currently raising and realigning the headstones in the Historic Cemetery. When the project is completed, the stones will stand tall and as straight as soldiers on the Fort’s drill field.