Lawrence County Historical Society 2008-2014

Kim Keehn of Deadwood (on right in photo) has been named to the Board of Directors of the Lawrence County Historical Society. “Kim brings a love of history and great enthusiasm to our group,” said LCHS president Norma Kraemer (at left) in welcoming Kim to the Board. Keehn grew up in Montana and Wyoming and first came to Deadwood in the 1970’s. “I got a job working for Don Clowser at his Bella Union location; he took me under his wing and increased my love of history tenfold,” said Keehn, who’s held several jobs dealing with history, museum work, narrating the Boot Hill Tours, and working on the Chinatown archaeological dig. She’s also pursued family history since 1991. “It’s my favorite thing to do, and today I have 28,040 people in my tree. I have a family deeply rooted in American history – lines starting in the 1600’s. You never know what amazing things you’ll uncover at the turn of a page or the click of a mouse!” ~~~~~ Click Historical Marker to return to our web site. ~~~~

CA 1888 - DEADWOOD DISTRICT #50 SCHOOL Thanks to Jerry Bryant for sharing this great old photograph. Photo key reads: 1-Nellie Carrol; 2-Effie Kearney; 3-Gene Ducharme; 4-Evaline Ducharme; 5-Teacher Cora Parsons; 6-Ed Carroll; 7-Rosie Kearney; 8-Alf Carroll; 9-Alvina Montehey; 10-(Charlie) John Kearney; 11- ____Montehey; 12-Charlie Kinghorn; 12-Joe Ducharme; 14-Frank Beck; 15-Dave Kinghorn; 16-Geo. Kearney; 17-Elva Swanson; 18-Geo. Carroll; 19-Hattie Beck; 20-Lena Odan; 21-Evaline Ducharme (again?); 22-Alice Beck; 23-Rose Ducharme; and 24-Robert (Cody) Kearney. Click photo to choose a larger size image.

SPANISH CANNON and USS MAINE SHELL October 21, 2012 After his presentation to the Lawrence County Historical Society on Sunday, October 21st, Deadwood City Archivist Mike Runge (left) chatted a bit with LCHS Life Member Ivan Hovland. As we have done for the past several meetings, members and guests enjoyed a superb buffet luncheon provided by Dave Brueckner and the other good folks at the Stage Stop Cafe at Cheyenne Crossing.

At the top of Main Street in Deadwood, you'll find the Lead-Deadwood Elementary School (the old High School). Positioned right next to the front door is the bronze cannon that's been on guard at the school for well over a century.

Here's a closer look at the cannon, which was manufactured in Seville, Spain. Bearing the Serial #9220, the piece of artillery weighs 2,072 pounds. It was one of six 12-centimeter cannons built in 1862 under orders from Spain's Queen Isabella. The cannon was made of recast bronze.

Want to know more? Click on this photo and choose a larger size from the top menu.

Another view of the Spanish cannon that sits in front of the Lead-Deadwood Elementary School at the top of Main Street. Return to the LCHS Historical Marker web site.

BATTLESHIP USS MAINE MEMORIAL This memorial was established in Gordon Park in 2012. Additional information is contained in the following photos and captions.

This new sign in Deadwood's Gordon Park acknowledges the site of the first city park in Deadwood. Click on the image to read the information on the sign.

This image of the USS Maine is affixed to the memorial stone the sits in Gordon Park along Sherman Street.

This plaque is displayed near the ten inch shell that was presented to the City of Deadwood back in 1912. It, too, is in Gordon Park as part of the USS Maine Memorial.

This plate lists key specifications of the USS Maine, which sunk in the harbor of Havana, Cuba in 1898, contributing to the onset of the Spanish-American War.

THE FLOOD OF 1972 NEAR NEMO ROAD There has been considerable coverage about the devastation that hit the immediate Rapid City, South Dakota, area in the massive flood of 1972. As you might expect, there were other areas in the Black Hills region that were affected by the flood. The following flood photos were taken the day after the flood by Vern Kraemer on June 10, 1972 and provided to us by his wife, Norma. Este Creek after the flood of 6/9/72. The bridge crossing the road on Estes Creek on Nemo Road.

After the flood of 6-9-72 at Box K Ranch, near Nemo, South Dakota. After the flood, the little canyon northwest of the ranch house became a torrent. This little home was built for a summer home in 1934 for Grandma & Grandpa Kraemer by Adolph and Laverne Kraemer.

Box Elder Creek. The great flood 6-9-72. The curve below the first bridge below the Box K Ranch. Mouth of Jim Creek in the background showing Nemo Road damage.

Box Elder Creek after the Flood of 6/9/72 just below the Steamboat Rock Campground on Nemo Road.

At the Box K Ranch after the flood of 6/9/72. Looking east across the road north of the Box K Ranch outbuilding north of the ranch home. It is opposite the mouth of the westdraw on Nemo Road.

After the great flood on Box K ranch 6/9/72. Looking from the north end of the Box K Ranch south down Box Elder Creek. It appears Vern Kraemer outlined in pen the water height on the banks of the creek at the height of the flood, but it had already receded some by the next morning. He reports it got within 75 yards of the house next to Nemo Road.

Box Elder Creek the day after the flood of 6/9/72. The second bridge below the Box K Ranch on Nemo Road (Meade/Pennington County Line).

After the flood on Box K ranch water that came out of the canyon at the north end of the ranch 6/9/72. It appears Vern outlined in pen the water of the canyon and Box Elder Creek that it drains into. Normally the banks of Box Elder Creek in this area are about 10' high.

Box Elder Creek after the great flood 6/9/72. The curve below the first bridge from the Box K Ranch. Chester Duren's ranch in the background.

Box Elder Creek after the flood 6/9/72. The bridge below the Steamboat Rock campground. (Today it is called Erskine Gulch Road off of Nemo Road)

Rocks on the road after the great flood on the Box K Ranch, Nemo, SD, 6/9/72. North of the ranch house water, rocks and debris came out of the little canyon to the west of the house, covered the road and went across the field to Box Elder Creek.

Box Elder Creek after the flood of 6/9/72, 15" of rain in six hours. The second bridge below the Box K Ranch on Nemo Road (Today it is next to Chipmunk Drive by the Meade/Pennington County line. To the left is Pennington County and to the right is almost Lawrence County.)

The great flood of 6/9/72 on the road at the Box K Ranch. Bertha Kraemer looking over the damage. Nemo Road looking south. Canyon on right that is normally dry is running across the road the morning after the storm and deposited rocks across the road and out into the hay meadow that Box Elder Creek flows through.

Este Creek after the flood of 6/9/72. Ox Yoke Ranch background on Nemo Road. One of the residents was swept away in the deluge and the body was found later near Box Elder, SD, miles away. Behind the building was where Este Creek flows into Box Elder Creek. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks to Vern and Norma Kraemer for sharing these flood photos and the caption information, too. Return to the Lawrence County Historical Society Historical Marker web site.

HISTORIC FIRE TOWERS IN THE BLACK HILLS Jan Cerney - November 13, 2011 South Dakota writer Jan Cerney was speaker at the LCHS Annual Meeting in November at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center. Her topic was Historic Fire Lookout Towers in the Black Hills National Forest. At left is a photograph of the fire lookout tower at Cement Ridge.

Cerney co-authored a book with Bobbi Sago entitled "Black Hills Nation Forest: Harney Peak and the Historic Fire Lookout Towers." This is the tower atop Harney Peak, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938-39.

Cerney provided an informative talk, including lots of photos, too.

Jan Cerney (left) and LCHS president Jeannine Guern at right.

A good turnout for the program.

Click on the menu and check out the wonderful meal members enjoyed. It was prepared by Dave Brueckner and his staff at Stage Stop Cafe at Cheyenne Crossing.

That's Dave with great "presentation" for the food.

It was a great spread!

Enjoyed by all!

And a chance for fellowship, too.

Jim and Verla Weaver visited the Preston Cemetery on Sunday, October 2, welcomed by a rather overwhelming overgrowth of vegetation. They cut down 40 or 50 finger sized saplings, a couple of two-inch pines, and many weeds. "There were many thistles, some poison ivy, and many other weeds," Jim said. "In general the site looks very good. It was a good time to visit as the fall colors were beautiful and the temp was good for working. As we were approached the cemetery, perhaps as close as 100 yard from the cemetery, we surprised a mountain lion in the the road. He quickly turned about face and bounded into the woods."

The scheduled fall tour for the Lawrence County Historical Society in September 2011 had to be postponed. The poster for the original event is shown here. We'll post new dates once the tour has been rescheduled. You may also visit the "Tours" section of the Historical Marker web site for more information.

Click on this image to get further information about the 2011 Historic Homes Tour in Deadwood held in May 2011 and sponsored by the Lawrence County Historical Society. Below, you'll see a few photographs taken before and during the tour.

Louie LaLonde home 65 Taylor Avenue in Deadwood. Construction on this home began in 1898 and was completed in 1900; first occupied by B. H. and G. L. Fernald, involved in mining boards and carpentry. It was likely a boarding house for a time. The Dr. F. B. Schneerer family occupied the home in 1903 and for many years thereafter. His wife, Verda, was a teacher, served with the Red Cross in WWI and WWII. Active in women’s clubs, she died in 1960.

Louie LaLonde leads the way near the stairwell in her home. Just as was Verda Schneerer, Louie is very active within the community.

Lawrence Kracht home 4 Lincoln Avenue in Deadwood. Built ca. 1880, the original entrance was on Van Buren St. The first occupants were the A.W. Coe family. Mr. Coe was in the real estate business. In 1927 Sam & Sarah Blumenthal Margolin bought the home and expanded the structure. The Margolins had earlier (1924) purchased the New York Store. The family was very active in the community; their home became a hub for the Jewish religion in the northern Black Hills.

Dustin and Laura Floyd home 21 Lincoln Avenue in Deadwood. It was built in about 1898 for Henry Benjamin Wardman, who lived here until 1925, according to telephone directories. Several other persons are listed as occupants during this period and later — perhaps renters. Among them were E. J. Reuther and Mary H. Phillips, E. T. Hinchen, George Pease, and Talvon & Made Cope. One-time Deadwood Mayor Andrew Mattley lived here from 1933-1955. Gordon Pratt and Janet Brown bought it in the 1990’s and were responsible for major renovations and largely restoring the home to its original appearance.