A bit of yesteryear ...Ice skating at Central City

It may not have drawn the crowds that fill the ice rink at  Rockefeller Center in New York City, but the American Legion Ice Skating Rink in Central City, South Dakota was once a popular place!  That's the big building in the center of this photograph. (Thanks to the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center [HARCC] in Deadwood) 

We're not quite sure exactly when the Homestake Mine closed Cyanide Sand Plant #2, between Deadwood and Lead (probably in the mid 1930s) but we've talked to many folks who remember visiting the spacious facility after it became home to a popular ice skating rink.

Documents at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC) in Deadwood reveal that the rink measured 60 feet by 360 feet.  According to information contained in the August 1963 edition of Sharp Bits, published by Homestake Mine, the rink was operated for many years by a local American Legion post.  What do you remember about this rink?  Drop us an e-Mail!   And you can take a closer look at the structure in our LCHS Photo Gallery.

Members get update on the Fassbender collection

Richard Carlson is the Fassbender administrator

Both the president and the administrator of the historic Fassbender Photoghraphic Collection visited with members of the Lawrence County Historical Society on Sunday (1/20/13) at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC) in Deadwood.

That's where a growing force of volunteers come three days every week to help sort through the massive collection of 800,000 historical images that were collected by the Fassbender Black Hills Studio operation over six decades. 

Administrator Richard Carlson and Fassbender Board President Jean Martin, both of Lead, showed a variety of the pictures, negatives, proofs, and equipment that are all a part of the collection.  Carlson outlined the intricate process being used to preserve, protect, and prepare the collection for sharing with the public.

Purchased in 2011 by the cities of Lead, Deadwood, and Spearfish for $300,000, the materials were stored temporarily in a south Spearfish building until they could later be moved to a climate-controlled vault inside the HARCC.

More than 40 people have volunteered to assist with this massive undertaking -- but it's a process that will take time.

"By my early calculation, if we continued at the pace we started at, it could take up to 16 years to complete the project," said administrator Carlson.

But he noted that they've learned how to more effectively complete the process and save some time -- but just how long it will take is still a question.

"We've got to go through the hundreds of boxes, which have lots of 5 by 7 envelopes containing negatives, proofs, and sometimes prints," said Carlson.  Most of those envelopes have names and numbers that were used by the Fassbenders for filing their photographs.

Volunteers take everything out of those old envelopes envelopes, which are considered to be contaminated, and then carefully place the contents into acid-free paper envelopes.  The names, numbers, and other descriptors are noted on the new envelopes and passed to Carlson, who is putting the information into a database system.

Fassbender President Jean Martin of Lead
shows a sampling of Fassbender "proofs"

"We're even photocopying the old envelopes, since they often have information noted on them that can later be of use," said Carlson.

He gave a demonstration of how materials will be digitally scanned for storage and then be made readily accessible via their computer database.  Eventually, the materials will be available on a web site.   Attendees to this meeting were treating to a PowerPoint slide show of Fassbender photos projected onto a screen before and during the program.  You'll find one of the Fassbender photos -- along with others from this quarterly society meeting -- in our LCHS 2013 Photo Gallery. 

Carlson noted that the Fassbender Photographic Collection web site today is pretty rudimentary, but there are plans to expand it soon so that volunteers and the public can keep up to date with activities related to the collection.

There's been a growing interest in the old photos.  Samples from the collection have been reproduced and exhibited at various location in Deadwood, Spearfish, and Lead.  

Earlier this month, Carlson spoke to the Spearfish Area Historical Society.  Also on the program were Spearfish writer Paul Higbee and Betty Fassbender Johnson.  Higbee gave some insight into the history of the Fassbenders, and Mrs. Johnson offered some first-hand insight into the family business that captured so much area history on film that future generations will be able to enjoy.

Society president Norma Kraemer observed that there may be some LCHS members who would like to volunteer for the Fassbender project, and after the meeting Carlson visited with several folks about their interests.

Kraemer also introduced members of the LCHS Board of Directors -- including its newest member, Cindy Solaas of Deadwood.  This meeting also featured another great luncheon served up by Dave Brueckner and his crew from Cheyenne Crossing.  

The society is planning its Spring Tour on Saturday, April 27th.  Participants will visit the historic James Anderson Ranch just south of Whitewood for a brief tour before proceeding into Whitewood where a variety of events hosted by Whitewood citizens.

Then in May, the society will conduct its next quarterly meeting.  Keep an eye on this web site and local newspapers for dates, times, and further details.

Early image from the stratosphere...

During the past year, a couple of regional events focused upon the Depression-era high altitude balloon flights from the Stratobowl east of Rapid City.

First, a large crowd of folks participated in the September "Moon Walk" -- monthly hikes sponsored every summer by the Black Hills National Forest.  In fact, it was the largest turnout they've ever had, according to Amy Ballard, the ranger who has coordinated the events since their inception more than a dozen years ago.  Some 275 people made the trek to the Stratobowl, now located on private land just a few miles east of Rapid City.  It was a beautiful evening and a wonderful way to learn about one of the many historic events that make the Black Hills such a delightful place to live.

Actually, there was more than one event that occurred at the Stratobowl.  And a couple of them -- in 1934 and 1935 --  related to the above photograph.  These events were highlighted in a posting to Black Hills Journal, an online almanac that features essays, history and photographs about our region.

This fall, long-time Spearfish historian Linfred Schuttler presented a program to the Spearfish Area Historical Society that recaptured some of the events surrounding the Explorer II flight from the Stratobowl in 1935.

Then, last week, LCHS past president Jerry Bryant sent us the above photograph.  It's a fantastic early photo taken from over the plains of southern South Dakota, looking back at the Black Hills and -- in the farther distance -- Wyoming.  Taken in 1935 from more than 72,000 feet, it was the highest point man had ever gone into space up to that time.  You'll find more photos and information in the Black Hills Journal Photo Gallery.  Thanks to Jerry Bryant for sharing this high-flying bit of history!

Searching for a photograph of Sid's Halfway House

Historian and good friend Jerry Bryant of Deadwood is on a mission:  find some photos of Sid's Halfway House that was once located along U.S. 85 midway between Deadwood and Spearfish.


The brief description above indicates some attractive offerings for the right price, although we're not sure of the exact date that of this menu.  If you can a few old photos or clues that might help us track down photos of Sid's Halfway House, please send us an e-mail.  Thanks!

Terry: Once a thriving northern Hills town

Terry is described in the Belt Cities Directory for 1908-09 as follows:  

“Terry, since 1891, has been one of the important small towns of the Hills.  The town is located four miles from Lead, and seven miles from Deadwood.  The altitude of Terry is the highest of any town in the Black Hills, being 5,700 feet above sea level.

There have been some rich discveries near Terry, and the Golden Reward and the Horseshoe Company are in possession of almost all the valuable property at present.

Another good producing property is the old Buxton property, now owned and operated by Lundberg-Dorr and Wilson.

Terry has two railroad lines, the Burlington and Northwest, with narrow-gauge equipment, has good schools, a good fire department, two large general stores, two hotels, one hardware store, a weekly newspaper, the Terry News-Record, edited by George E. Byre.

Terry has good churches, several fraternal societies, the Masons, IOOF, Rebekahs, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of the Red Men, and Court of Honor.

There is also a strong organization of Western Federation of Miners, with about 800 members.”

This was the highpoint of Terry’s existence; the 1910 census lists terry with 1177 people.  The first listing is in 1895 with 500 people; the population dwindled to 174 in 1925, and after that the people were called a part of “Lawrence County Unorganized.”

In 1981 there are about a dozen families living in Terry Gulch.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A recent inquiry from Nebraska asked about the old mining town of Terry, which was once perched high in the hills west of Lead.  This person, a Bennett family descendant, conceded that he was aware that Terry no longer exists as a town, but he was curious to know more about the community.  So we offer the above bit of information and photograph, originally printed in Some History of Lawrence County, the out-of-print book that was published in 1981 by the Lawrence County Historical Society.

Runge talks about that "old cannon and shell..."

Mike Runge traces the history of "the cannon."

More than 40 people turned out last weekend (10/21/12) to hear Deadwood City Archivist Mike Runge share not one – but three -- fascinating stories from Deadwood’s colorful past.  It was the fall meeting of the Lawrence County Historical Society at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center.  And it certainly was an “explosive” presentation.  Stay with us here for a few details!

THE CANNON - Billed as a presentation about the historic cannon that greets folks near the entry of what is now the Lead-Deadwood Elementary School, Runge recounted discovering a couple of letters in a box of documents he was examining back in 2004.

“The first letter was from June 21, 1899, written by the Mayor of the City of Deadwood, Sol Star.  The second letter was dated February 3, 1900 from the U.S. Navy Department.” 

The letters stemmed from a May 2, 1899 meeting of businessmen in Deadwood, trying to find a creative way of celebrating the Fourth of July, while also welcoming home the First Regiment of South Dakota Volunteers for the Spanish-American War.  County Judge John H. Burns told about cannons that were being given to various cities by the U.S. government, and it was determined that Deadwood should try to obtain one.  Mayor Sol Star was to head the effort. 

"Guarding" the Lead-Deadwood Elementary School

Their venture succeeded in securing a cannon, but – unfortunately – the armament didn’t arrive until the Sixth of July.  Nonetheless, enthusiastic citizens simply celebrated again!  The local Hook and Ladder Company hauled the cannon up Main Street and Mayor Star  joined a citizen dressed as Uncle Sam in accepting the cannon on behalf of the City of Deadwood.

According to Runge, a Deadwood foundry created a carriage for the 2,000-pound cannon, and since there was no city park in those days, it was decided that the cannon should be displayed in front of the Deadwood School, where it remains today.

Thanks to the royal seal and a serial number engraved on the cannon, Runge was able to track its history back to 1861, when Queen Isabella of Spain ordered its manufacture.   After it was completed in May of 1862 at the Royal Foundry in Seville, the re-cast bronze cannon with serial number 9220 was part of the cargo on a ship that negotiated the Horn of Africa and the Cape of Good Hope en route to Manila in the Philippines.

USS Maine enters the harbor at Havana, Cuba

THE WAR - On a winter evening in February 1898, the Battleship USS Maine sank in the harbor at Havana, Cuba, following an enormous explosion in her bow – an explosion for which many Americans blamed the Spanish.  The sinking of the Maine would be a key event leading to the short-lived Spanish American War, which the United States won handily, helping establish it as a world power.

Soldiers and sailors returning home from the war were greeted with adulation, and it was no different in Deadwood, where Company L of the First South Dakota Volunteers were welcomed as returning heroes.  And while the cannon requested by Deadwood for the event arrived a bit late – it did arrive and has been something of a landmark and curiosity ever since. 

About 10 years after the Spanish American War, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers received enough money to raise the Maine from Havana harbor, securing the remains of the men onboard and perhaps determine exactly what caused the blast.

“That’s the subject of a whole different presentation,” said Runge.

THE SHELL - By March of 1912, the USS Maine had been taken out of Havana Harbor and sunk farther out at sea.  Many of the furnishings and artifacts from the vessel were sent to Key West, Florida.

During this same period, fire burned several structures in Deadwood, and the city purchased land with the intention of building an auditorium.  Land adjacent to that tract would become the first Deadwood city park – Gordon Park.

Mayor W. E. Adams petitioned the U.S. government to obtain an artifact that might be placed in the new park as part of a beautification project. 

“That’s where it gets a bit sketchy and interesting,” said Runge, who cited a May 5, 1912 newspaper article confirming the arrival of a 10-inch shell in Deadwood.  But rather than being placed in the new city park, the device ended up being placed next to the old Spanish cannon adjacent to the schoolhouse door at the top of Main Street in Deadwood.

“All I can figure is…when they got this shell…they said ‘you’ve got to be kidding…” and ended up putting the shell next to the cannon – a seemingly appropriate placement.  Never mind that the Spanish gun is only a 4-inch cannon, and the shell is a 10-inch armor-piercing U.S. explosive.   Go figure!

For about a century, the cannon and shell have adorned the entry to the school.  Then while Runge was working on an exhibit at the new Deadwood Recreation Center, he started researching the 10” shell.  His research confirmed that the shall had come from the USS Maine, and Deadwood was one of 19 cities that received projectiles of that size.

Fitted with a Navy percussion detonator, the 498-pound shell became a topic of great curiosity.  Runge told many folks about its interesting history.

A 10" armor-piercing shell from the USS Maine
similar to the one received by the City of Deadwood.

“There were several people in this room who inspected the shell.  They said ‘Hey, Mike,  it’s really cool, but you probably should get that thing looked at’”  to confirm that the device wasn’t dangerous, said Runge.

Perhaps the most vociferous advocate for getting the shell examined was Runge’s own father, an ex-Navy man who expressed his concern to his son in no uncertain terms.

“Taking his advice, and the advice of some people in this room, I decided to have the shell looked at.  And guess what?”

On March 20, 2012, ordnance specialists from Ellsworth Air Force Base came to town.

“Yep, it looks like a live one,” Runge quoted one of the Airmen as saying.  The shell was taken to the Lead-Deadwood dump and detonated.  And a video recording was made of the event.

The 30-inch long projectile has a cavity that is capable of holding up to 40 pounds of black powder explosives.  Just how much remained in the shell when it was detonated, we don’t know, but the explosion clearly rendered the shell inert.

“We have received notification from the military that the shell is inert, and that means it can be put on public display," Runge noted.

“And that’s what we plan to do in Gordon Park on November 10^th, 2012 at 11 o’clock in the morning."   For more information about the event, visit this story on the Black Hills Knowledge Network.  We’ll dedicate a USS Maine Memorial as part of the Veteran’s Day ceremony.”

For a few more photos and additional narratives, check our our Historical Marker Gallery!

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!

Beautiful weather for a great Fall Tour!

Dr. David Wolff, a history professor at Black Hills State University, shares background information about the "Friendship Tower" atop Mount Roosevelt during the Lawrence County Historical Society Fall Tour on Sunday, September 23rd. We'll be sharing more photos and information in the next few days. 



President's Note: "...a snapshot of our culture"

by Norma Kraemer

The Lawrence County Historical Society has been preserving our local history since 1969 through the efforts of its members.  One of its most notable achievements was a history book compiled and printed in 1981 titled Some History of Lawrence County.  The book is out of print and can sometimes be found as a used book in local stores.  

However, thirty years have passed and much has happened in that intervening time.  Public history is thriving with the Adams Museum, High Plains Heritage Center, and the Days of 76 Museum to name a few of the local venues.  However, the members of the Lawrence County Historical Society need to realize that they all need to participate in some way to persevere our history before it is lost. While the activities of one of your family members might seem relevant to only your immediate family, they are all part of the larger history of our area and need to be saved.

Many years ago, my sister took me to visit the main cemetery in Atlanta, GA, when she was living there, for a Sunday afternoon.  While we knew no one there, it certainly gave me an education in the culture of the Civil War, the Victorian Era, and the way people saw death up through the 1960’s.  Locally, Mt. Moriah Cemetery gives a different snapshot of our culture.  The Atlanta cemetery’s overwhelming lesson for me was that women, while cherished by the number of stunning angels gracing their tombstones, were still without historic significance in the view of society.  Most Victorian tombstones with the angels were inscribed “Mother” but she had no name of her own.  Under the moniker of “Mother,” it might say that Susie and Johnnie were her children.

 

Lawrence County is dotted with small cemeteries, often in disrepair.  Past groups of members have cleaned up cemeteries and tried to keep them from becoming a victim of a mining project.  The future will be more of the same vigilance to keep this most basic of history preserved.  One cannot hope that surviving relatives of the departed can do this job because often, there is no one left in the family.  The larger community must assume that role.  Therefore, if you know of a cemetery that needs attention please let us know so efforts can be organized to preserve those memories. 

If cemeteries are not your priority, there are also other activities that will preserve our Lawrence County history.  Just bring your ideas forward to see if we can collectively keep our history from being lost.  

Aviation pioneer Vern Kraemer dies at 95

Vern Kraemer (1917-2012)

We are sorry to report the death of Luverne "Vern" Kraemer.  He died yesterday (6/20/12) at the age of 95 in Rapid City.   

The husband of LCHS vice-president Norma Kraemer, Vern Kraemer was a South Dakota aviation pioneer.  Born in Parker, South Dakota, Kraemer spent his early years in Wood -- and later Nemo.  And while he was first trained as a blacksmith, it was aviation that captured his imagination and attention -- a fascination that lasted more than eight decades.

Kramer earned his pilot's license in 1940 at the Spearfish airport, where he later worked as a mechanic for another aviation pioneer, Clyde Ice.  Your can read much more about this remarkable man in this Vern Kraemer online obituary.

During World War II, Kraemer was a mechanic and pilot with the Civil Air Patrol's Coastal Patrol.  Sixty years ago, after working as a mechanic for Boeing Aircraft and later as a commercial pilot, mechanic and flight instructor, he built the first licensed home-built aircraft in South Dakota.  That American Triwing aircraft is now  exhibited in the terminal building at Rapid City Regional Airport.  That aircraft -- and Vern Kraemer -- were recently the subjects of considerable media coverage, including this story and video carried by the Rapid City Fox News affiliate, KEVN. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Norma Kraemer and all of the Kraemer family during this difficult time.

Nemo Road area in the flood of '72

by Norma Kraemer

Luverne "Vern" Kraemer and his first wife Bertha survived the Flood of ’72 at their home at the Box K Ranch three miles south of Nemo, SD. Luverne took the pictures in black and white the morning after the flood on June 10, 1972. The water was starting to recede, but the damage was obvious. He traveled as far north as Este Creek and as far south as the Pennington/Meade County line to take these pictures. Washed out bridges blocked travel beyond these locations. For a month after the flood, he had to travel to HWY 385 using Merritt-Estes Road and then to Johnson Siding to get to his job at the Rapid City airport because Nemo Road was impassable to Rapid City. 

Este Creek flooding at Nemo Road - 10 June 1972

He reports that at the height of the storm on June 9, the lightening was so continuous that it was almost like daylight outside. It rained for six hours for a total of 15”. Box Elder Creek came out of its banks and spread across the valley floor reaching within 75 yards of his home. The home is approximately 180 yards from the creek. Steamboat Rock, a prominent landmark bordering the east of his ranch, and all the surrounding hills were covered with waterfalls. Rocks the size of Volkswagen Beetles were floating down Box Elder Creek. One resident of the Ox Yoke Ranch died by being swept down Box Elder Creek, being found later near Black Hawk, SD.

 

It took the Lawrence County Road Department several days to remove the rocks covering Nemo Road that came out of the canyon north of the ranch home. Vern had to hire a front-end loader to remove the large rocks that extended into the field. Since he has an airport runway down the valley, for years he would give me a bucket when we walked down the runway to pick up rocks and remove them from the possible path of the aircraft to prevent propeller damage.  This was more than ten years after the flood.   

For more photographs and information about the impact of the 1972 flood in Lawrence County, visit our Historical Marker Gallery.

LCHS Spring meeting next Sunday, April 22nd

A double treat awaits attendees at the Spring Meeting of the Lawrence County Historical Society.  The gathering is slated for 12 Noon next Sunday, April 22nd, at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC) at 150 Sherman Street in Deadwood.  

Past president Jerry Bryant will give a short program on the Real "Deadwood Dick."

Then U.S. Forest Service representative Marissa Karchut will provide an update on Forest Service projects and individual graves in the Black Hills.

The proceedings begin at 12 Noon with a buffet lunch catered by the Bum Steer in Spearfish.  The cost is $15 per person.  Then, following a brief business meeting, Jerry Bryant and Marissa Karchut will make their presentations.

Please RSVP to (605) 578-9770 if you plan to attend.