Announcement about McGovern Hill

On December 12, 2018, the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission voted that the Mountain Grand Chalets project covering McGovern Hill would “encroach upon, damage, or destroy any historic property included in the national register of historic places or the state register of historic places” in Deadwood.

Then, the Historic Preservation Commission voted 5/2 to approve building 3 to 4 seven-stories high condominiums across the top of McGovern Hill in Deadwood. This will have a significant adverse effect on Deadwood, since McGovern Hill is an historic focal point in the downtown area.  No historic photos show buildings on the hill

If you think this decision jeopardizes our physical history and historical views, please contact the state office:

Jay D. Vogt

State Historic Preservation Officer

900 Governors Dr.
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 605-773-3458

And the Deadwood Historic Preservation Office:

Kevin Kuchenbecker

Historic Preservation Officer

108 Sherman Street

Deadwood SD 57732

Phone: 605 -578-2082

Happy New Year, History Lovers!

Happy 2019 from LCHS! We're looking forward to a year of Historical fun.  We are also looking for a volunteer to post on our blogspot that you are reading now.  Please contact us at mardavani@yahoo.com if you are interested.
We will announce our activities for the year after our February board meeting.

Thank you and have a Historical day!

Spring Fun: Good Food, Old West Wagon Master at The HARCC !

Come one, Come all to our Spring Member Program on April 15th!
Enjoy delicious lunch catered by Cheyenne Crossing.  See old west wagon master James Liberty Fisk portrayed by Mr. Arch Ellwein.  High Noon at The HARCC, 150 Sherman Street. $15 for Members, $20 for nonmembers (includes a year membership!)  Call 605-578-9770

Fall Meeting: Historic Barn Tour!

October 1st- Be a part of our Historic Barn Tour presented by Mr. Leo Orme.
The day begins with lunch at The HARCC at 11:30 am- a lovely meal catered by Cheyenne Crossing Catering.  At 12:15 pm we will load up the bus to tour Historic barns of Lawrence County, narrated by Mr. Leo Orme.
The tour takes approximately 3 hours.  Wear comfy shoes and consider bringing water.
$25 per person includes lunch and the tour.  Contact Donna Watson for your ticket: 605-578-9770
The first 40 people get to ride the bus, so call soon!
Mr. Orme's book, "Historic Barns of Lawrence County" will be available for purchase as well.

Look for us at The Book Fair!

September 22 and 23 @ Deadwood Mountain Grand
Come purchase golden nuggets of history! We'll be selling the following books at our booth:
--A Timeline of Lawrence County by LCHS
--Deadwood's Mt. Moriah Cemetery by Mike Runge
--Historic Markers of Lawrence County booklet by Norma Kraemer and LCHS
and possibly more!
Stop by or miss out!

Pioneer Families: Your histories are needed!

Attention members: We need members of families who were early pioneers of Lawrence County.  We're currently collecting histories of pioneer families for our sequel book, Some History of Lawrence County, Volume 2.
Please contact us at mardavani@yahoo.com ASAP for more information!

Invitation to the Ft. Meade Museum Social

Attention History Buffs:  We at The Lawrence County Historical Society have been cordially invited by The South Dakota Historical Society to their Fundraising Social at Ft. Meade Museum on THURSDAY AUGUST 18TH -- 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
Come and enjoy:
-Badger Clark poetry set to music by Pegie Douglas
-Free Tours of the Museum
-Beverages and Hors d'oeuvres
-Silent Auction
$25 suggested donation at the door
RSVP to 605-773-6298 or info@sdshf.org by Monday Aug 15.  

Spring Meeting 2017!

Attn LCHS members! On Sunday April 23rd at high noon, Mr.  Richard Kaan will be speaking about the stage coach and freight wagon routes in the Black Hills.
$15 per person gets you lunch and history! At the HARCC (150 Sherman Street in Deadwood.) Catered by Cheyenne Crossing.  For reservations call Donna Watson at 605-578-9770.
Be there or be bored!

ATTENTION LCHS MEMBERS: There is a board meeting scheduled for Monday March 13th at 4 pm at the HARCC (150 Sherman in Deadwood.) All members are welcome, and encouraged to attend.  Your ideas are needed! We'll be discussing our Spring event... We hope to see you there!

Whitewood will commemorate Calamity Jane's last photo taken there

Whitewood, South Dakota will be placing a plaque on the sidewalk where Calamity Jane had her last photo taken.  Stay tuned for more details!

Whitewood To Install a SD Historical Marker on July 3rd, 2016

 

Whitewood  Installs A South Dakota  Historical Marker

Whitewood, SD  -  On July 3 at 11:00 am in the center of town, Whitewood will hold a dedication ceremony for their first South Dakota Historical Marker commemorating the first train from the East in the Northern Black Hills.

“Our entire community has been involved in this project.   We held bake sales to earn the money needed to purchase the marker with people buying a plate of cookies for $20,” said Whitewood Chamber of commerce President Rita Bestgen.   Through a grant, the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation provided half the cost of the marker.  “We are very grateful to the DAR ladies for helping get this Marker,” said Besten.

Chris Nelson, W Historic Preservation Specialist with the South Dakota Historical Society, worked with community members to establish the evidence that the first train from the East in the Northern Black Hills pulled into Whitewood in November of 1887.   Whitewood remained the “End of the Line” until the railroad main line was completed through St. Onge to Belle Fourche in 1890 and the branch line to Deadwood was completed the same year.   One Whitewood Historic researcher commented about how difficult it was to get the wording on the Marker just right..   “To tell the whole story in so few words was hard.  Chris was very helpful with this,” she said.

Over six years ago the Whitewood Library began gathering and filing historical photos, documents, resident stories, and other material on the town’s history.   These files were used to document the information needed to complete the Marker application.

Whitewood’s Mayor Mitch Harmon will introduce the speakers at the July 3 ceremony.  “This is a great day for our small town, and to and celebrate this patriotic weekend.   It is so important to remember the role we played in the development of the Northern Black Hills."  The public is invited.

 

Deadwood Saints and Sinners, by Jerry Bryant

Local historian and author Jerry Bryant now has his book Deadwood Saints And Sinners  available on amazon.com, booksamillion.com, and barnesandnoble.com.  Get your copy today!